hfbrew

On 29/10/2023 at 16:15, Peanut68 said:

I used to use bubble wrap to fill in space between tights over toes & shoe & to protect rubbing at front top of the box…. Worked really pretty well (must say never had bare feet as seems to be todays fashion/dancer preference which I suspect would lead to sweat issues as PDQ suggests…)
You did get the occasional ‘pop’ noise as a bubble came under pressure & burst

😂😂😂

It was my very non dance Dad’s suggestion (he came from an engineering background designing steel supports for underground tunnels….maybe shouldn’t got him to turn his design skills tl designing  the perfect point shoe 🤔) 

I used bubble wrap too. Was too poor for any thing else.

Saw this with my son this afternoon and really enjoyed watching both Jacob and Hannah. (we have known Jacob since JA days) 

Despite my hearing problems I was able to follow the dialogue well. 

Found the whole piece really interesting, both dancers were excellent. And the cellist was wonderful too. 

Communication is key. The worst thing is people just suddenly not coming with out explanation. If fees are not paid either then I have to chase them up. I feel that it's only fair that I do so out of respect to those who give proper notice. 

I have often carried fees forward to the next term if I have been informed about illness etc, especially if its long standing loyal students. Pretty certain many teachers on here have done the same. But we can't help if we have not been informed. 

Yes, the DVD is in the correct order. The examiner will not deviate from this. You can find the list of the exercises on the RAD specifications page. 

That said you should check with your daughter's teacher about the settings that are teacher's own arrangement such as Transfer of Weight. 

I assume that your daughter's teacher is aware of the issues? She can submit a reasonable adjustment form with the exam entry asking for examiner awareness. 

And please tell your daughter that it's the "how" not the "what" that is more important. A candidate dancing beautifully in the wrong direction will still be awarded better marks than a candidate going the correct way with no understanding of technique! 

I got special consideration marks for a set which included a deaf student when the nervous interpreter missed a couple of vital cues and put all the candidates off. 

I so regret throwing away my syllabus books and notes from that time. I had a whole teaching file written out in long hand. 

Senior Grade did not come out (I believe) until 1979. I was one of the first students from my school to pass with Honours. 

I still remember the solo variation. 

There are very comprehensive guidelines for filming in the members section of the RAD website. When filming teachers are meant to allow students appropriate rest breaks as would happen in a normal exam. 

It sounds as if the regional organiser needs to enable video submissions on the drop down menu, I had this problem too in that it simply wasn't given as an option so I had to contact the regional organiser. 

The teacher does not have to complete the form before submitting the video. So I suggest that you "get it in the can" as it were. The "paper work" can be sorted out later. Which is just as well, I am having to postpone some planned filmed exams due to covid (not me personally) so I will simply remove the effected candidates from the finished entry and filmed another time. 

14 hours ago, MCOS said:

Thanks hfbrew

I never realized the quality of a gopro would be good enough!  Having something that we can setup and leave alone for duration of exam would be great.  Did you reposition it between barre and center work?  Or just leave it in initial setup for entire exam?

I think I will also invest in one.  It will also come in handy for filming auditions, etc.

It depends on the exam. For a single candidate I could leave the camera alone but for a set of four, then yes the camera had to be repositioned between Barre and centre 

I invested in a Gopro 8 camera which has a very wide field of vision so I can put it on a tripod and leave it.  

Make sure that the exam includes everything, I inadvertently left out an exercise in Grade 6 so ended up having to tag it to the exam entry separately. I now make sure that I have a list and my pianist also knows to speak out if things are missed. 

From the candidate point of view really perform as this element can get lost on film. 

Good luck 

Good luck. This was me exactly 17 years ago. Even down to the fact that it is Friday 12th. Breathe deep. 

9 hours ago, Peony said:

Taking dividends instead of earnings is a way of reducing your tax bill though. If they’re not declaring it as earnings for paye, then it’s fair it doesn’t count towards earnings for the furlough scheme either! 
I’ve heard some schools insist on their regular teachers working on a self employed basis (which I believe is contrary to employment law if they are to all intents and purposes ‘employed’ rather than just independently using the studio space). Presumably that has meant they couldn’t access the furlough scheme when really they should have been able to

The fact that the people who work for my school are on self employed basis has meant that we all got the much needed financial help. (My teachers and pianists also all work on this basis at other places too.) As I understand it, those running limited companies could furlough staff but they could not do this for themselves. A friend of mine furloughed staff but was not able to access financial help herself. 

My little school is only just going, it would not exist any other way. As it is I still endeavoured to pay pianists and teachers whilst waiting to reopen and had to pay other overheads too. 

When thanking a parent for paying full fees the day the lockdown was announced she said that "I want there to be a Ballet school for my daughter to come back to." 

Fortunately the majority of parents had this attitude. Others just didn't seem to understand that we were not a "club" run by volunteers temporarily shutting down. "no body else is charging" I got told by some. (not true, many charged full fees for a term via Zoom.) 

We provided free online resources and pre recorded tutorials who paid, or part paid fees (we were flexible). We also did free Zoom classes. And I am currently still honouring all the lessons paid for,including spring term. 

All this on top of all the necessary risks assessments and extra work associated with making venues safe. This has also impacted on the business as although small classes are lovely, none of them now make a profit. And like many others, this is my livelihood, not just a little hobby on the side. 

Everyone's circumstances are different, I consider myself to be very lucky to have a business at all and a roof over my head. 

Once again I quote the kind hearted lady "I want there to be a Ballet school for my daughter to come back to." 

2 hours ago, Peony said:

Apparently ballet classes in England for children can restart from 4th July with safety measures in place (not too specific about what these are!), but unfortunately just children so more waiting for news for the adults...

Do you know the source of this information? 

I am not going to even be using the Barres for now and have allowed for cleaning between classes, I prefer to do it so I know that it's been done!! Tiny classes in large well ventilated premises... 

Unlikely now to be able to open soon but I am well prepared.... My car is full of PPE and cleaning paraphernalia now instead of Ballet gear! 

40 minutes ago, Dancing unicorn said:

Thank you for coming back so quick! It obviously depends on size of studio/room! Need to get measure out

Got DH lying on floor atm as a rough guide, 2meters square is not very big at all haha 🤣🤣 sort of ok to get older/teens to comply with that but thinking of my 2yr olds 😳😳

Yes ironic isn't it, although in theory we can have early years back going under the umbrella of education, they are the classes that will be the most difficult to manage. Not least because they will need adults coming on site to help get them ready for class! So I have actually closed my nursery class for now. 

Whereas my older students, especially the vocational ones are furious if parents dare to even leave their cars! 

I laughed at the thought of your dh lying on the floor as a guide. But it's interesting isn't it to realise that 2 metres is not a large size. 

My studio markers are now 2.5 metres apart and still look too close for how I normally run my classes so I don't feel that spacing students will be any different to normal. 

It's what happens outside of that is concerning so me and my team will be walking through all the procedures before allowing students on site. 

20 minutes ago, Dancing unicorn said:

Interesting read Hfbrew! Great to have someone’s insight into how they will be running classes as and when we can return! I’ve had a few ideas of how I can run classes but it’s interesting to see how others may cope! I wasn’t sure whether to start another thread on how us teachers are going to cope going back!

 

I have 2 locations I teach at, 1 small and 1 larger! Can I ask please, how many are you limiting in your class? I have a mix of class sizes and it’s my larger class sizes I am worried about 😳 

The larger venue it's 12 down from 16

I have not accessed the smaller one yet but it will probably have to be 8 to be really sure. 

I am barely going to break even but safety is paramount.  

I have begun new risk assessments and a social distance policy as even if classes cannot resume until September these things will still have to be in place. Studio space is now marked out to ascertain safe numbers , my classes are already small, most have single figures in a large hall. 

One of my findings was that 2 metres square was a smaller area to move about in than I let my students perform in anyway. It was surprising to me to see how small two metres actually is (length of a Barre). They will definitely have to take turns a lot more and when waiting, stand in their designated area, rather than huddle together at the back, it will be an opportunity to learn instead of talk!

Hands on correction will be a no go area but given that teaching is undertaken online at the moment that is now happening anyway. 

My main concern is the management of students entering and exiting premises safety and without excess grown-ups and siblings. I have to also alter the timetable to allow for thorough cleaning between classes. So apart from waiting for an ease of restrictions I will not open until I am satisfied that this is sorted. 

I am frustrated that some sports may be allowed to resume, some of which involve using a shared ball (think football or tennis) but there is no real guidance for those whose disciplines which actually need personal space (be it Ballet or other exercise such as pilates).  

Well what do you know I found my sons copy of the poem today that he read at the Royal Ballet School Christmas Carol service all those years ago. 

It was an adaptation from TS Eliot by Gerard Benson. 

Lock down has meant a long overdue sort out of the lodge at the bottom of the garden and said poem had been hidden in plain view all this time. 

4 hours ago, glowlight said:

 

If you rent premises will you be eligible for the Small Business Grants Scheme for businesses which pay little or no business rates?

 

I know it doesn't help with the immediate cash flow problem, as you have to wait for it to come through.

 

I doubt it. I don't fulfil the criteria and use several different venues so it is not straightforward. But I appreciate your suggestion. I will be happy with the help in June if and when it comes, in the meantime I have had lovely messages and early payments today from some who are in a position to pay and who value my school. The deferred July tax payment is going to help too. 

I personally would be very sympathetic to students who are struggling regardless of talent as dance is good for everyone. All I ask is to be communicated with! 

A rest won't do her any harm 

I have guaranteed that all my students will get the lessons that they have paid for even if the summer term ends up being the autumn term instead. Those who pay, or part pay (even if just a little) are being given access to the free resources and online tutorials that my ds (who has RAD PDTD) is putting together. But these will not be a substitute for the "real" classes. 

But I do need the fees in in order for the school to survive as like the vast majority of dance teachers I am self employed and do not own my premises, some which I may risk losing in a very competitive area if I cannot pay the rent! And I also aware of the impact for my self employed pianists and teachers, we all have to wait until June for any help. 

I fervently hope that any struggling parents will be upfront with me so that I can waive notice fees at my discretion if they can no longer afford to pay for lessons. What I HATE is people not bothering to contact me and communicate with me which means that I have to chase them up. I'm also fond of my students and its awful when they leave without warning. 

So short answer is if you can no longer pay do at least discuss it with your dance school.

When thanking one parent for the next terms fees she said that she wanted to guarantee that her daughter would still have a class to go back to. 

Not the same situation as Vocational schools but I have already received some summer term fees from very kind (and financially able) families who want to help my Ballet school survive. They know that they will get the lessons they have paid for even if having to wait a few weeks /months. We are going to offer free online resources and tutorials to anyone who has paid, or part paid for the summer. This will be in addition to normal classes, whenever that may be. 

My worry is that young children in particular and their parents don't always realise how important correct posture, placement, turnout is and so I am dubious about livestreaming a Ballet class. 

My sincere hope is that eventually, with the right precautions and restrictions in place we will be allowed access to our venues to film the cancelled exams. 

In the meantime I have asked my pianists and teachers to help me with ideas for online resources in lieu of the lessons I have had to cancel this term. They are all freelance and very worried about the future. 

So those of you who are in a position to still be able to pay fees please know that us Ballet teachers are extremely grateful because we still have to pay our bills.

That said, on a personal level I am in support of the social distance measures because of the number of family members, friends, staff and pupils that I know who are in the vulnerable list. 

17 hours ago, drdance said:

Thank you. It's very worrying for those of us who run schools and programmes. Believe it or not, many of us live pretty much hand-to-mouth. There are no reserves of profit in the bank to tide us over (with perhaps some exceptions of very large schools). 

 

Those of us that prioritise things like smaller classes, quality tuition, expensive teachers etc just about cover the costs of the classes we run. Those teachers who lease studios will have rent, bills, business rates etc still to pay. Teachers who hire community facilities may be luckier; in my small provincial school I hire 3 venues. One has allowed me to cancel immediately, another is looking into their own rent situation and the third which is a big leisure centre has billed me for the next month and no further into the future, but have said that I can have the same time slots when I reopen later in the year. 

 

Everyone is trying to do right by their pupils but ultimately, there is a risk that we will lose customers during this time. It's very scary. 

I am totally with you on this. I am also concerned about the pianists and the young teachers that I employ who will be without work. The halls that I use have gone into lock down so I can't even film my candidates who have had exams cancelled next week. 

I am shutting a week earlier than planned now my exam session has understandably been cancelled by the RAD. 

My son and I have been arriving extra early at our studios to clean and our students have been super careful at hand washing. 

Many students have been staying away anyway. Health is more important than Ballet. 

I will be putting lots of Ballet clips on the school Facebook page for my students to enjoy! 

9 hours ago, BattementBatty said:

 

Yes I suppose so.  She's slim but not a skinny rake but has long arms and legs.

It may be that she has that indefinable magic, something special that says that she is a musical and well coordinated dancer as opposed to a bendy machine. I have seen many year 7s over the years at WL who were not in flat splits etc. to begin with. 

9 hours ago, Balletmumlife said:

Year 7 boys audition done today! All done, still smiling and now the waiting! 😜

Blimey for me and JulieW that was all of 16 years ago!!! Our sons have retired now! 

Good luck everyone, its a hell of a ride