Stirrups36

I just thought I would take a look and it seems the stream is staying there. so take a look while you can. Beware, it is high quality, so could eat your bandwidth. and maybe it was my computer, but it seemed like Osipova's fouettes were speeded up! or maybe that's actually just how fast she can do them

I don't think there is too much to change. The suggestion about a bigger theatre is just for a one off 'gala' performance as RBS do in the ROH. It is a bit of a squeeze doing the defile for example. For the majority of the run, then yes, the school theatre is fine - as TerryAmos says, there were some spare seats on some of the runs (but how would those who aren't parents or Friends of Elmhurst get those?). finally, I don't think the forum will be setting policy! just a place to suggest and share comments - we can all have opinions, and this thread seems to be pretty fair in getting all views. I think, for example, my option of hiring the hippodrome is a bit too 'out there' following other comments on here. discussion about the bill and casting will always be a bone of contention I reckon, regardless of any solution. Edited to add: btw, what did attendees think of the performance this year? we have seemed to segway into planning Elmhurst performance schedule!

My son and I watched them in Don Q during 2010 and in the PDD Vasiliev did the one arm lift, with Osipova perfectly balanced. Then he went into an arabesque, and Osipova adjusted her balance. Then he rose onto what my son described as 'demi-pointe' and yet again the balance was adjusted! Just one of the many incredible scenes we watched.

I have started a thread on this interview in the news section, as it seemed to fit there - but it will be of interest to this forum as well I think. probably best to keep discussion on that page.

There has been a really interesting DanceTabs interview published with Desmond Kelly, not just about how he started in dance, but giving a really good overview of his life as a dancer and then moving into Artistic Director positions and finally with his thoughts on Elmhurst School for Dance. well worth a read.

we really enjoyed the show - and agree with almost all the posts above! (which saves me having to write my own review) - even though sometimes the result is conflicting! we liked seeing the older ones, but would want to see our DS more as well. I suppose we can't have both. There is an interesting discussion along similar lines in the RBS summer show thread as to why younger ones don't do more. However, Pinapple Poll last year was excellent, and something like that again would be superb. DS made no comments to us about the purplish leotards they had to wear. I suppose wearing some strange costumes is something they will just have to get used to. After all, Edward Watson in Metamorphosis seems to wear a lot of slime and not much else... We completely agree about having a Gala in a larger theatre. The Hippodrome may be a little expensive, but wouldn't it be great to be able to fill that and also have a live orchestra, even if it may not be a full orchestra? I know we would definitely take some time off to see that, and I am sure we would get more family and previous teacher along as well.

Have a great day - and just think about next year Dancingpixie!

a man of few words... sometimes (and what I would have said, had been said)

These shows are always worth a look. Someof the dancing from the teachers (seen on the poster) and pupils is quite stunning. I remember a Nutcracker pas de deux that rivals anything seen in a professional company.

Elmurst does include 2 music lessons as part of the MDS - and all dance shoes and clothing, and physio and health insurance (with £100 excess per year) - which is just another thing to add to the mix when considering which school to choose if fortunate enough to get mutliple offers. Piano and flute for DS - piano for the first time, flute building on previous study. But what an excllent way to help build the musicality aspect of dance. Maybe if you do want to take advantage of the two 'free" lessons, and if your child has no experience of music lessons, use the voice lessons as the extra choice?

The estimate is pretty good. As for overttime, remember that will have an effect next year as your income will increase. Therefore increasing your parental contribution next year. This does need to be kept in mind when doing your budgeting. And paying monthly can be a good idea. We do this although as always with such schemes, you do pay a fee for the yearly credit. So overall it is more expensive. If you can get an interest free loan (!) for theyear, thatwould probably be less expensive.

I'm looking forward to seeing this in the Autumn in London. The reviews have been very good - including that from my son last week.

as I have posted before - and so probably will anoy people - there are over 300 parents of the vocational dance schools views that could count and on here you will hear the views of a minority of those voices (mine included). I feel very uncomfortable reading criticisms of individuals or circumstances as has been seen on this section of the forum at the moment. Of course, I don't need to read them, so maybe it's time for me to say 'I'll be off then' from 'doing dance'.

Congratulations to DS. He will love it. Maybe see you next week. We shall make a point of speaking to parents of new boys.

I add my agreement to all that have gone before. This forum is about doing dance (not that I do any at all) - and I reckon you will still have an important things to offer about doing dance.

we'll be there as well on the afternoon of the 7th watching DS in year 8 as well as all the other years and hoping to say hello to JulieW as it may be one of the last times possible (did the time really fly past so quickly?). so that's me, my wife and 2 daughters

I'm sorry, but I shall repeat my concern that this is not a healthy discussion. If you consider that there are probably 20-25 children at each of the 4 MDS schools (apologies if this is a slightly inaccurate figure), then over the 5 years just to 16, ignoring post 16 traning and allowing for siblings, this makes well over 300 sets of parents. There are FAR fewer than that taking part in this discussion, and therefore it is by its very nature skewed. so bear this in mind. That's not to say that the experiences outlined above were not difficult, worrying, painful even. But there are another 250 sets of parents who aren't taking part in this discussion. if you are considering applying to vocational school - do so, enjoy it and wherever you end up, there will be ups and downs. But getting there is an incredible feat. If you go elsewhere, that's also brilliant, and above all enoy it all. My son loves dancing every day. Whichever school he would have gone to, we and he would have been so delighted with. When there are issues - and coming from an education background, these can happen in ANY school - we have to face them - as we have to do with our other children who go to non-vocational schools. So, ranking the vocational schools? It's not for me.

hmmm. why is the 'ranking' important? ask yourself if your child is getting the training they need for the route they want to take. ask whether they will be happy at the school, safe and cared for at weekends as well as during the week. and about the academic side as well. ask about financial considerations and remember that at sixth form, everything gets mixed up again. So as has been said, it is difficult to compare. Whichever of the vocational schools your child is at/has applied for, then I am sure they will get a very good education. Note the different training. If your child loves musical theatre, then maybe RBS is not the best choice. And note that for every example one way, there may be another example the other way. once all those things have been taken into account, make the decision. Above all, remember that at various points along the way, the decision about continuing at a school may well be taken for you! but ranking them... not sure I like the idea at all.

Just took a look at the RAD website and it appears the Birmingham class has been postponed till 2013. But still classes in Leeds in July, and London in December.

I wonder if anyone else is going/has been to see this? I have just returned from fitting in a visit to the Hippodrome in between business. What a great evening's entertainment. Apologies again for the poor reviewing, but the story flowed, the characterisations were excellent, the dancing superb, the sets seamlessly reflecting the scenes they portray. I enjoyed the humour (including a three legged Kit Holder), the pathos and it's always good to see roles I could imagine my son doing - as leads or in the corps. Elisha Willis, Joseph Caley, Iain Mackay and Matthew Lawrence were all super in the leads. if you are in the WM - get a ticket before they all go.

A short while ago I was contacted by http://www.heelsinharmony.com/ which is based in Australia and evidently collects shoes to send to those who may not be able to afford them - one example given was Dance Base in Scotland for their outreach programme. Are there any other schemes like this? or maybe someone wants to help them in their respective countries. Looking at the collection of used shoes we have - tap, modern, ballet - they are really not doing much in a cupboard. Would this work with pointe shoes, or do they get so 'shaped' to a foot that they would be damaging to pass onto someone else? what would be better, not having a pointe shoe at all, or having used pointe shoes? I really don't know as we have a son, and so the arcane world of the pointe shoe and the seemingly very enjoyable task of embroidering/darning the shoe (I always think why? why not buy a shoe that is already embroidered??? maybe I am missing the point...)

My son never even got on a waiting list - but is now happily dancing classical ballet at vocational school. so no's don't always mean 'never'. They were still difficult though - preparing for no's is important I think, and after all, if they do go onto further training, decision times just happens more often!

well, it's great for you to have persevered so far. i am a dad of a dancing boy, and the comments above are all so helpful. our son started dancing at 3 or so, and still dances at 13. Key is getting your son to boys only workshops if you can at all. as well as getting him specific boys training, they also mean you can start to chat with other parents of boy dancers. if you mention which area you are in, maybe people can suggest workshops. with regards to the school, or son also did tap, modern and these classes were local, and with girls from his school. However just because the teacher that was recommended (Cecchetti method) was not so close, we never had the issue of ballet training near his school. I think it did help though. It is a difficult one, but I would not stop the really useful group lessons because of what people might say. if things get said, then they need to be addressed, not just for the sake of your son in that immediate circumstance, but for all those who will follow. Generally, the children are all right. It is the parents that have the problem. And if he is enjoying them, that is key. point to Rio and others - there are some good videos around with boys and ballet - also some good ballet company members around who have created some good videos. The Boysdoballet site may help (I do have to declare an interest there though!). good luck, and remember before getting tied up in exams/styles - enjoyment is key.

...when your father and son 'preparation for the new term' shopping trip involves mascara, foundation and eye liner.