Lifeafterballet

My older Ds has a scoliosis ! It was picked up at a summer school. We went to the GP who refered us to an Orthopaedic surgeon who xrayed him and refered him to a scoliosis specialist and for an MRI to rule out a sinister cause. He has no pain or limitations. We were told that it is not familial and as his growth spurt slows so will the degree of scoliosis. It is all down to the degrees ! His isn't so bad as to require surgery ! He is doing his intermediate exam soon and has no difficulties with any sport ! He has no aspirations of a career in ballet so I dont know how a scoliosis would affect that x

Tring has accommodation and houseparents ! Central worried me for a 16 year old ! Central London on their own ! Maybe at 17 or 18 ! But not for us now !

We used the premier inn on Hagley road for Dd's Elmhurst finals ! It's the only place that we have ever come across that does "bottomless chips " !! Lol !! Drinks yes !! Chips no !!

Thank you x I did a search but couldn't find anything !

We always stay at the premier inn at Rubery ! 15 minutes straight drive to the school, free parking and cheaper and quieter than the inner city ones ! Fab choices of restaurants too ! Good luck x

Are foot stretchers beneficial or not. I am debating as to whether I should purchase one for Dd and Ds. I am getting conflicting views from articles. Physiotherapists don't seem to recommend them. Does any one have any experience or advice! Thank you x

Thank you x Dd tried them on and liked the fit and look it was just the elastic across the top of her foot that she felt made the box bulge ! Going to try another make first but may go back and see how they work in x

Has anyone had any experience of Me Me soft blocks ! Dd has Grishkos at the moment which are a nightmare to break in but fit her lovely ! Thinking of trying these but would like some advice ! Thanks x

Thank you Moneypenny x

They offer places to children they feel are suitable for dance training ! I don't believe there is a minimum to maximum and varies year on year ! My dd is in year 9 and will have to go through the appraisal process in February to determine her suitability to continue with her training ! They all sort of reaudition ! Good luck x

We always stay at the premier inn in Rubery, near the M5. It's about 20 minutes drive from the school. Good pub next door and a variety of restaurants. Free parking ! A lot of the city centre ones are local multi storey parking !!

It's the dance belt that my boys found a bit tricky to start with ! After the laughter had died down they actually found them quite comfortable !

Dd rollers her muscles post class, she says it leans her muscles and prevents bulking ! Swimming ds rollers his before training as he says it warms up the muscles for exercise ! His coach says there is no benefit to rollering after exercise and it doesn't reduce bulking ! Help please ???

At Dd's vocational school girls are voluntarily taking part in a 5 year reasearch program into bone density and vitamin D deficiency in ballet dancers ! Dd has had to record diet, wear an exercise monitor, have a bone scan and give bloods. We willingly signed up for it ! Hopefully the findings will help dancers of the future to adjust their training/diet etc so not to become so fragile in later life !

It means no shoes ! As in just in stockings/socks xx

It means no shoes ! As in just in stockings/socks xx

Ds went through this last year in year 10. He was to sit 6 GCSES early. He dances 4 times a week, one class is a 420 mile round trip, swims twice a week, plays rugby twice a week and then in April successfully auditioned for Matthew Bournes Lord of the Flies !! Like others have said time management is so very important ! The school had to give him permission to have 2 weeks off ! He has a fantastic work ethic for a 14 year old and prioritised his work load ! There was no time for socialising and friends understood ! The school were very supportive ! Compromise as mentioned before is hugely important ! It was tough but he got through it and was so pleased with himself ! Even got an A in RE !! He knows how precarious the world of ballet is and how there are so few 6th form places and jobs at the end of it all ! We have cut our list of schools from 8 to 2 ! GCSES are so important, he has another 7 next year, and although ballet dreams have really to be in motion at 16 the rest can be realised at 17 or 18 ! We have a plan A, B,C and D ! We have studied the audition dates and found a back to back one which will reduce travel costs and time off school ! Good luck to your DD in her auditions and GCSES ! It is only 8 months out of their lives ! I would start planning a lovely summer holiday if I were you ! That's the only thing that keeps us all sane in our house ! Lol !

Just to say that the Elmhurst audition dates etc are now on the website !

It looks as if the applications for full time training are available after the 22nd September ! That is what I read last night on their website !

My DS has done an RAD associate class at Elmhurst for the last 2 years ! He was spotted at an RAD class and invited ! The body conditioning class is new this term ! The other students were all ex year 6 associates who were not at a vocational school ! Good news that they are expanding the program !

Thank you Dr Dance, dd is at vocational school. There are no problems with the short breaks it is just this long 7 weeks and I think the worry of the year ahead that has brought on this behaviour ! She is happy and does have fun and maybe I should celebrate her focus and seriousness but it is a concern about maintaining the right balance ! She eats well, just has become more aware of fat content etc ! She is by no means skinny ! Lean and muscular physique I would say ! I'm sure that she probably has less hang ups than a normal girl of her age but I just don't have one to compare her too !!

Dd has always been focused and hard working in every thing she does. She has always loved ballet but I would not have ever called her passionate. I have seen it in other children and seen the devastation of the dreaded "no" ! As we approach year 9 and the dreaded appraisals I have noticed a huge change ! Our last 7 weeks have been continuous exercise and stretching ! I have been educated in the calorific content of everything ! Every morning of our holiday started with an 800 metre swim ! Then ballet, walking, stretching and more ballet ! I am happy that she is so determined to achieve and that her failure to become a ballet dancer will not be from the lack of trying ! But when is it too much ? How do we as parents judge when passion becomes an obsession and a problem ! Or is this what is required to succeed and we should just sit back and support them as best we can ?

Since she was 11 dd had worn the smallest nude bikini pants from Marks and Spencer's. Invisible under her tights and leotard and comfortable.

Mime workshop with Marion Tate and Desmond Kelly

Ds a lot happier this year ! Still far behind his peers and finding the classes challenging but loving it ! BRB dancers very encouraging and supportive ! Enjoyed the pas de deux ! So pleased there are some little ladies for him to dance with ! Lol !! Still waiting for that growth spurt !! Can't wait til Saturday !