Lifeafterballet

There wasn't as many as I thought there would be ! We had a lovely day in London and Ds enjoyed the class. Good luck to all those there today ????

My advise would be to visit the schools. Open days or on audition day. We knew as soon as we walked in that it was the right school for Dd. There are sacrifices to be made but also so many positives. We could not have let her go anywhere else ! It's weighing up what is right for your child and family. We live 200 + miles away from school so dd stays weekends. In year 7 she didn't even want to come home at weekend leave ! Now she would love to ! We think it gets harder as the seriousness of the career pathway they have choosen increases. Spending quality time together during holidays I feel is far better than having her here for tea every day ! The two of us are off to Morocco for a ballet summer school tomorrow ! I certainly wasn't a ballet mum but I have learned so much about the world she is entering into ! It's scary ! But there is always plan B ! Academics are important ! Do your homework before you commit ! And Good luck xx

So very sad ????

Watched A1 too this morning ! Wow ! My dd looked so little ???? The standard was very high ! Well done to all the dds and dss ! Very proud parents today x

Don't the RAD offer GCSE and A level Dance ?

Just a thought ! If it were that bad why would they be doing it in our vocational schools ? The curriculum is the same wherever !

Funny, we feel the same about GCSE and A level PE ! Lol ! I guess we were lucky ! Dd will do GCSE dance at her vocational school so it will be interesting to compare !

I had to twist Dss arm to get him to take GCSE Dance. He loved it ! And is now taking A level Dance. He has learned so much about choreography, expression etc that it has really complemented his ballet. Parents were invited to watch all of the GCSE and A level work in an evening sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the performances ! The standard some would say wasn't particularly high but the enthusiasm, passion and love of dance shone through in these young people. I would rather watch that any day over an RAD class.

The school use TOA Taxis for the students. 0121 427 8888 x

That's very sad ???? At Dds school the day pupils are included in all the activities. As are the non residents at the summer schools. A majority of Dds year group go home every weekend so trips etc are mostly attended by the ones that can't ! No child should be left out whether they are boarding or not.

I think if we had known others that were going that week then Dd may have been confident to go on her own. As it turns out we know a couple of girls. I may have missed out then though ! Lol ! I look forward to meeting your girls. I think my Dd knows your little dd already. Harwel, I'm sure in some of the pictures I have seen a couple of boys. Might be worth emailing !

Price wise it is the same as this years Senior Elmhurst Summer School. Of course then there are the flights. We collect Avios points for BA flights so this makes it a lot more affordable.

Thank you Angel x we are going week 2. Dd won a bursary at the Christmas masterclass but didn't want to go on her own. We are really looking forward to it. I can't wait to spend time just watching her dance. I don't get to see that very often. X

Dd and I going this year ! Can't wait ????

Half way through ???? Good luck to all our Dd/Ds ????

I think that with the Saturday commitments, RAD etc, full time vocational students will find it hard to attend. And they have to have permission too ! Can't see a lot of them being there, I my opinion.

Oh and the more you earn the more you pay !!

What is included in the MDS varies from school to school. Dds school includes a uniform allowance, dance and day wear, BUPA cover and a music lesson etc. I know others at other schools have to pay separately for certain things. The finance dept at your Dds school may be able to help you. I know we had lots of questions. It's an anxious time. Good luck xx

The girls wear what they are comfortable in ! Dd wears M&S nude pants and has just progressed to thongs ! There are no rules x

Don't forget you have £682 uniform allowance on the MDS. We kitted dd out with everything she needed at the induction day and still were able to get things for the following year at the end of the summer term. It goes a long way before they start wearing lots of pointe shoes or soft blocks.

She did amos73 thank you x She is now at vocational school and has just made me smile with a quick message "❤️" . Says it all really. I feel it's about love and luck ! And you need a bucket full of both x

When my dd auditioned for a year 6 RBS JA place, at the suggestion of her teacher, she was only doing one graded ballet class a week. She couldn't do the splits, achieve flat froggie, bend double or have practiced any of the exercises discussed on here. She lined up with the other 21 year 5 girls and I wondered what we were doing there ! They chose 2 that day, my Dd being one of them ! I still don't know what she did in that audition. It remains a mystery to me. When I watch her dance now I see her love of dance, maybe that was it ! Good luck to all your little Dds and Dss ! Enjoy the ride x

The MDS uniform allowance is £682 per year. My dd is not heavy on pointe shoes so has never gone over. We have always managed to buy the next years leotards to finish it off. If you don't use it you lose it ! We get dds pointe and soft blocks elsewhere and send in the receipt to Elmhurst to claim it back. I feel that the allowance goes a long way in the early years ! A majority of the girls wear Bloch Zeniths soft split soled canvas available from the school supplier. No sewing required ????

Bad poor grammatical error / habit JulieW !! I love them !! Lol !

I believe there is a discount for 2 children in an MDS ! None for an MDS and a DaDa !