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Rest assured you will make many new friends who will share all the highs and low with you. And its sounds as if your dd will be welcome any time at her old school. And no doubt her teacher will go and watch on teachers days, always exciting.

I've always really missed my ds when he has been away and remember anxiously looking at my phone every five minutes- his first text from White Lodge was "fine". Just that- not even a punctuation mark! His first phone call was to tell me about how his first lesson was "how to move the barres" and "the other boys are crying because they're homesick". I used to ring the houseparents to check he hadn't lost his phone!! But what kept me going was that it was absolutely his choice to go and the conviction that he really would not have been happy at the awful comprehensive round our corner that was at the bottom of the National league tables. If anything we were so excited by his wonderful opportunity and thrilled at the wonderful pastoral care, not just from house staff but teachers too. DS did have problems coping at times but no different to those experienced by many young people in any walk of life and in fact probably had more expert care. So how did I cope? Well I've a very busy 7 day working week and my ds used to have to follow me around most of it so being at boarding school instead, doing something he loved just made me happy. And being around like minded students was also great for him, especially being an only child! It also meant the times we were together were wonderful quality times. He is finally leaving home next week but how can I be sad? He has reached his goal of being a professional Ballet dancer and isn't even leaving the UK! So enjoy the journey everyone. Sometimes its horrible but its always exciting and whatever happens remember that you are doing the best you can as parents by letting your children go. Be warned they always come back he he.......

No worries- I will no doubt get to a few . Will probably arrange a school trip to Rickmansworth but take family and friends to the lovely theatre at Dunstable (1st December) as the larger stage there shouldl be able to accomodate the entire set. (If Sleeping Beauty is anything to go by then it will be impressive!) I was disappointed about Worcester because thats where my mum and family are based! (they are not ones for travelling!)

Indeed you did!

I got feedback about my ds when I wrote to the RBS expressing concerns about him re auditioning after a year on the waiting list. It was such an achievement for him to have got that far , I was hesistant to let him try again in case he didn't get that far thus knocking his confidence. To my astonishment I got a phone call that not only gave me feedback but also exercises for him to improve his flexibility prior to his second attempt- these he did everyday. Then after his 2nd audition I got another phone call offering a weekly place as opposed to the fortnightly session I'd requested (due to financial reasons!) i still cringe when I remember how I gabbled on over the phone- I was so overcome.But I must point out that it was known that I am a teacher and that is why I got feedback- I have since had feedback about other students in a similar position. It was actually explained to me that theu do prefer to talk to teachers because its they are more likely to understand the feedback. Likewise I was entrusted with the exercises because of my experience as a teacher.

I can't, as I will still be teaching then

Tout dates for Christmas Carol in the Autumn are now on the Ballet Theatre UK website!

Tour dates for Ballet Theatre UKs next production, Christmas Carol are now on their website. I for one am very disappointed that they are not going to Worcester this time but it does mean that different areas such as Dorchester now get a chance to see this super little company.www.ballettheatreuk.com

Are you talking girls or boys? Even in past years its not been unusual to have 14 or 15 students of either sex in any given year, especially if a couple are day students. However all of the 14 girls that were eventually in my sons year were boarders. Its a good sign if places are being filled, hopefully bodes well for the future of ballet in this country!

Come on folks! I think the fee is very reasonable, especiallly compared to the hundreds I pay out to various dance societys!

As far as I'm aware the average is still 12 boys, 12 girls boarding but ballet class sizes can vary if there are day students also attending. I believe also that sometimes extra room (boarding wise) can be made if a certain year for example isn't full- this would obviously free up space should a really promising student for any of the older years audition- the Royal will not turn real potential away if there is a place. But likewise they will not fill a place unless they are certain that the student will benefit from the training. A glance at the year groups in the end of year programmes shows quite clearly varying class sizes. In my sons year 11 there were 14 girls and 12 boys but the year 7 group that year had 13 girls and just 10 boys. When I had my 2nd look around before accepting ds place I was told that the previous director would sometimes take as many as 30 students a year! Can you imagine how crowded the dorms were! But the new boarding blocks simply don't have that many beds. Incidently, however large or small the year, be it 20 or 28, the students are still streamed academically which means smaller class sizes than most schools as far as education is concerned which is taken very seriously by the wonderful teaching staff there. Even though its now been 3 years they still ask after ds!

I am not surprised, the RBS really are not as wealthy as people think and millions were spent just to get a rather shabby building (I remember being so disappointed on my sons audition day!) up to date with the 21st century- I imagine that will take years to pay off. Yes the fees are very expensive but class sizes are small and all the students are means tested, very few fall into the wealthy benefactor bracket! And consider the costs involved just to maintain a listed building never mind all the staff fees- not just ballet teachers but the administrators, excellent boarding staff, health professionals, academic staff etc etc I personally can't see the harm in generating some extra income by hosting a few weddings ( what a lovely place to get married, especially if you are a dancer with links to the place!) Obviously I am sure it goes without saying that they would take care not to impact adversely on the running of the school and there is no need for such events to be held anywhere near the sprung floors!! The fact is that there are many weeks when the school is unoccupied and it surely make sense to utilise the facilities. And as for Queen Mary turning in her grave, well the Royals held many grand parties there, afterall White Lodge was built as a hunting lodge!

I ve had students just miss distinction because their average marks for free movement and character were not as high as their classical mark and vice versa.

And gives you just that little extra bit of freedom ! The 3rd years have to find their own accomodation anyway so it doesn't hurt to do it earlier rather than later. And Tring is a nice little town, I certainly felt better about my ds living there at 16 rather than London.

I also have had some students who do better at vocational grades. When looking at suitability of students for exam entry at this level, I don't look at the overall mark for their graded exams but just at the "classical" marks. If these marks are consistent with a good merit or distinction then I will consider them for vocational exam entry if they so wish. (and my if boss agrees!) Generally though the standard required for the vocational examinations is very high and it is a shock to some students who are used to sailing through with high marks when these are not achieved at vocational level. But students should not be disheartened or think its going to reflect on their future one way or another. I know of students who have consistently got high marks because their teachers knew exactly what boxes to tick as far as the criteria were concerned but who will not make it as professionals. And I know people such as myself who managed to get every mark possible (including "unsuccessful"!) who became professional! I do like students to take exams because I find that many work better if they have a goal to aspire to and if their performing opportunities are few then at least they can perform for an external examiner.But I try to stress that the journey to get there is what matters and if the student has really worked 100% then I am proud of them whatever the result which is afterall subjective on one particular day for one particular person. To be even considered good enough to take the exam in one of the large schools I teach at is achievement in itself!

What a shame that your dd friend has talked about giving up! Could she not try a different school? Or maybe a local summer school (although possibly too late now) where she could meet students from lots of different schools and see if any would suit her better.Its a big, exciting world out there and it seems a shame that your dds friend's experience has been so limited in comparison. I don't know whether the RAD really mind about the proportion of presentation classes to exams.At the end of the day its all income! But it does seem hard for tthe examiners to go to a place just to see presentation classes! It seems to me that the students might just as well do non syllabus classes and learn a lot more- rather than continuing to only learn the same exercises week in week out just for a piece of paper!

Sounds like your daughters are experiencing the joys and tribulations of a full time dancer! It is always a good idea to have 2 to 3 pairs of shoes on the go as it were. Yes it is expensive but an essential tool in a female ballet dancers life. Ideally I recommend getting one pair "performance ready/exam ready" and when they are at that just right stage, put them away and start to break in a new pair. That way you know that there is a pair that will be perfect for performance. Even better if you have done this with another pair as well- maybe a slighter softer shoe will be needed for choreography that is less demanding whereas a piece that includes a lot of pointe work will need a stronger pair. There is an entertaining piece about pointe shoes on Ballet Theatre UKs latest blog BTUKBlog which I think all students should read as it does give an insight into what we expect these shoes to do!! Hope the link works. If not, go through the website www.ballettheatreuk.com

He he yes I did!! Can you imagine 11 years old having to do advanced point work!!

Intermediate foundation is the earliest vocational grade but like advanced foundation is not compulsory- that is you can progress to the next level without doing the exam. Schools vary but where I teach students tend to start the vocatioal grades at around grade 3/4 and continue studying the other grades as well (which go up to grade 8). Vocational grades are; inter foundation, intermediate, advanced foundation, advanced 1, advanced 2, solo seal. These exams are not necessary qualifications for getting into vocational schools but you should be about advanced 1 level at auditions for such places. Intermediate is the minimum standard required in order to start teaching qualifications which are pretty tough as they require extensive knowledge of not just correct classical technique but safe teaching practises as well- mere syllabus knowledge is a very small aspect!

Please don't thimk your Merit is feeble.it certainly isn't and you have done very well. It always concerns me when people post about their distinctions that it deflects from the achievements of those who also passed but didn't quite make that magic 75%. Its always lovely to get distinction I know (I think I told the whole world when DS got 86 for adv 1!) But these exams, especially in the higher grades are an achievement in themselves, whatever the mark, which afterall is a reflection of what happens on the day in front of a particular examiner. The schools I teach for have an all inclusive policy (so we don't only enter a small number guaranteed to get high marks) which means very large sessions with a mix of all marks. It always upsets me if a child is upset with pass or merit, especially when they have done extremely well as individuals to reach that standard. At the end of the day the whole experience of working for an exam (my ds says that hours of exam pracice stood him in good stead for hours of rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty!), performing for a stranger, reaching the required level- well this is achievement in itself. So well done everyone on their results, whatever the mark.Incidently DS got 58 merit for grade 3 the year before White Lodge- one of the "lowest" that session. And he is a professional dancer now whereas all his apparently better peers from that session have long ago hung up their shoes!

Lemongirl, The Three Counties Youth ballet sounds to me a great opportunity for a young student and Aileens advice about telling your dh that its only committing for two terms is very sensible. Its also a great way for your dd to find out whether dancing is something she wants to pursue more thoroughly bearing in mind that the older she gets the more schoolwork she will have. Incidently,years ago, we let our ds perform in Royal Ballets Cinderella because knowing how tedious long rehearsals can be and how tiring, it was a way of finding out whether he still wanted to be a ballet dancer once he'd experienced how hard and unglamorous it is. Unfortunately or fortunately,depending how you look at it, my ds adored every minute and its now,many years later, his career. But seeing him so happy with his experiences with Cinderella was a factor in allowing him to train full time. Finally, does your dd really want to do it? If so then she may resent having to pass up on this opportunity now, especially if when shes older she still loves to dance but school work or other factors prevent her from doing as much. I know far too many adults who get really upset that their parents stopped their ballet lessons because they were expected to follow the accepted University route!

Fab pics! Thankyou!

Well at least her hours are condensed into two weekdays with the little bit of weekend work you describe. And 1.5 hours,home in time for tea on Friday is good. My inter foundations who are same age don't finish until 6.45pm on Fridays. As for homework, well many of my students come straight to the studios and do homework while waiting for classes. They often say they get more done that way than at home. And some are motivated enough to work in lunch break at school so as to keep evenings as free as possible. Obviously it depends on the students but Im forever amazed at how well some do, many of my students seem to do amazingly well in both GCSEs and A levels alongside ballet, modern and tap! The vast majority then go to University. I think dance students very quickly realise the importance of effective time management.

One of my advanced dancers suffered a serious, freak accident performing a grand jete whereby she broke her leg during take off. It turned out that , as a growing teenager her muscles and tendons were stronger than her skeleton, it was in fact a tendon that broke the bone- it at the time being stronger than the bone. This wonderful dancer was nearly 15, very strong physically and sporty too. The specialists told her that whilst an unusual case it could have happened during any physical activity because in her case her bones were not developing as quickly as her muscles and tendons. But to look at her and watch her dance you would never be able to tell, as she looked very healthy and was an advanced dancer. Fortunately she has made a full recovery. But to my mind a very good illustration of how vulnerable teenagers are during growth spurts however strong they may outwardly appear.So I for one would definately want to err on the side of caution as far as pointe work is concerned.

I love telling Taglioni's story to my students. They were enthralled to hear about her" celebrity" status and how supposedly one of her slippers was eaten!