hfbrew

Nothing wrong with being "different" anyway! So sad that there is still this attitude about boys dancing. One of my senior boys insists the blinds are down in the studio during lessons because he says if certain people saw him they would make his life hell. So sad. But back to the topic, if a young person is happy in whatever activity they are pursuing then they and their families should be left alone - only when a student is obviously doing activities under duress to please parents should concerns be raised. I'd rather raise concerns about hours and hours spent on facebook etc or late nights "out" doing goodness knows what - I've seen teenagers far more exhausted and depressed from a lack of focus and ambition than I have from our dedicated ds and dds!!

Anyone got, wait for it, size 12 mens character shoes out there? One of my senior boys pretty desperate...

I echo what Spanner says, gentle jogging on the spot is a good start. Circle wrists, shoulders and turn head slowly from side to side. Parallel and turned out bends of the knees (not full plies!) (if wearing tights then this way you can check that they are not going baggy at knees!!). Also tendus and glisses to warm up feet effectively. A few forwards and sideways lunges to gently stretch out the legs too. DO NOT get drawn into an unspoken or otherwise competitive display of flexibility ie shouldering legs, box splits and forward splits etc. This is not effective warming up and is no indication of a persons ability to dance! In fact, just feel sorry for those who are trying to show off or intimidate as these traits can be very off putting to a panel of judges- they want those who are pleasant to train too! Hope you daughter enjoys the day - its another chance to dance and that itself is a good thing!! Oh and she must stay hydrated, especially in this lovely weather. Good luck!

Short answer is that if your dd is serious about the possibility of some sort of career in dance( and she must be talented to be on an associate scheme,) then no. she is not doing too much. Especially if she loves it. If she was at vocational school she would still be doing more - at least 15 hours a week depending on age as well as academics and even singing and piano! (My ds did both singing and piano at one of his vocational schools.) But it is far harder to get sympathy if you are in mainstream education from teachers, friends and relatives alike. I remember my mums horror when I first started 2 hour lessons - bliss for me but she was always concerned that I was too tired bless her. Incidently if your child wasn't destined for greatness in dance but simply loved it anyway then I would still say the same. I have many students who do a similar amount but who have no plans to become professionals. They and their parents see it as a valuable part of their lives, keeping them fit both physically and mentally with a cherished circle of friends which keeps them busy in the evenings. My GCSE and A level students say its a welcome break from revision although some do obviously cut down their dance hours at this time. I am far more concerned for the many children in this area who "do" gymnastics, ballet, modern, tap, swimming, flute, violin, extra maths coaching, tennis coaching and even mandarin in on childs case (in addition to the list I've descibed!) Its great that your dh is so supportive so do what is best for YOUR family unit and don't worry about what others say. Some people really do not understand the level of commitment required if dance, especially ballet is to be taken seriously.I really like your dh point that its training for a possible future and not just any old leisure activity!

This really depends on what syllabus, what grade,how often the students attend and style of teaching. Also age and ability- I have some very talented 13/14 year olds (who dance at least 3 times a week) in g6 and inter but also 16 year olds (once a week)who have just taken grade 6. Generally in lower grades the schools I teach at take three to four terms, grade 6 onwards four to six terms and obviously the vocational grades can take at least that long, especially advanced. But we only focus solely on syllabus during exam terms as we don't believe that only ever teaching the exercises of whatever grade the students are on is the right approach. For example one school I teach for has a show every two years in which everyone is involved and no exams are undertaken at that time. As for content of syllabus, that varies too from different exam boards, the RAD for example, has a mixture of ballet, free movement and character for grades 1-8 with its vocational grades focussing on ballet. The amount of exercises for barre, centre, pirouttes, adage, allegro, pointe work/virtuosity varies but is generally fairly evenly spread.

The schools ask for details of exams taken only to give them an idea of what level you are at - sometimes they are then able to put auditionees of a certain level together. Similarly it gives them an idea of what you can be expected to do in an audition, for example someone who is,according to the form, at intermediate level won't necessarily know what a fouette saute is but the panel would take this into account. Someone who has lots of potential will thus still stand a chance. On the other hand someone who has had years of vocational training prior to 16 will obviously be expected to reflect this. Someone not doing exams should get a letter from their teacher explaining where they are at in terms of achievement. Marks are absolutely irrelevant - I know professional dancers including myself who have had every mark from failing through to distinctions - a panel will judge what they see not whats on paper. They are only too aware that a string of of high exam marks, especially in a young dancer may mean that that student has just gone straight from one grade to another without variation and thus just been engrained in syllabus work. Far more important is how they dance at auditon! To answer the original question the average age of grade 5s where I teach is 14. Average age of intermediates is also 14 at the moment but I've often had them much older, 16-18. My advanced ladies range from 16- 60 (yes 60!) And as Julie Milner said it matters not one jot when auditioning for dancing jobs- the companies will take who they like the look of regardless of any pass, merits or distinctions!! Where the vocational qualifications matter is if you are interested in teaching.

Also in Bedfordshire, alas not one cuckoo!

Well in my DS year at WL they definately didn't start straight away. It was one of the few bits of news he thought interesting enough to tell me! I remembr him saying, with some awe, that some of the girls toes bled!! However I couldn't tell you exactly when they started. But I can say that all the training starts right back at the beginning- as if they've never done a ballet class in theiir lives. Needless to say they progress very quickly, afterall they have been selected with all the right aptitudes to do this.

Thankyou so much for all your trouble. And thanks everyone else too- I think I have enough material to fill two shows now, never mind the 10 dances I'm expected to produce! And its all in aid of charity too!

You are all brillant- my boss is going to think Ive spent hours researching all these wonderful ideas....

Gosh, thanks everyone - all these ideas are brilliant. x

Basically, what it says on the topic title! Forthcoming show at one of the schools I work is based on America. So far all I can think of is hoe downs, wild west (for my boys) and disney parade for little ones. Aaaagh! Any ideas Anjuli? Anyone?

Really do think this post should have been heeded. Lets draw a line under it now.

Well maybe I'm looking back with rose tinted glasses but certainly my performing career was more fun than pain!! And my ds ,now touring with a ballet company is also having a great time. Yes he is exhausted at times but then so are most working people aren't they? And most working people don't get to follow their hearts desire.As for dancing through injury, well its hard when its a VERY small company but DS says they have frequently worked around health issues to ensure that no one suffers - for example a dance was re choreographed to rest an injured dancer. However DS suffered a nosebleed mid performance the other night so not sure how they all coped then.!

I saw this production on Sky a while age now. The actual ballet was fascinating but I found myself too distracted by SWs costume to fully appreciate the production- I kept trying to work out how it was all put together.! I too don't do pretty and pink, that can also detract from a dancer. Costumes should be complimentary to a dancer, enhancing lines and certainly not a distraction which for me SWs costume certainly is.

Well I am going to be different and say that I have hardly ever bothered with binoculars in the theatre although I have plenty as a keen bird watcher! I always sit in the amphitheatre as I feel that Ballet is best seen from above. Les Noces has particularly interesting group patterns that can't be appreciated as much from the stalls. I find that I just want to enjoy the action as a whole. Talking of annoying audience behaviour, one that got me was a woman constantly fishing in her bag and then swigging from a bottle of water- would have been ok just the once but all the way through? She kept bumping me in the process and was quite offended when I asked her to stop. It quite spoilt the evening for me as I really like everyone around to be as absorbed as myself. Found myself missing the ROH on Monday when at a performance of Les Mis late comers were still admiited after half an hour! Then two people left and returned to their seats during the first half. And every now again a woman was standing up, thankfully not in front of me, singing along and waving!!! So I actually missed the stricter rules at ROH! Anyway Marieve, do let us know how you find the performance. I remember my first visit many years ago was to see Giselle, and oh! the joy as when I was halfway up those old stone stairs (anyone remember them) to see that Lesley Collier was standing in that night!

The styles are different but if she has an RAD exam soon then don't worry about Cecchetti lessons. Best bet is to call them and say that whilst your daughter is really looking forward to this, she is a bit concerned about not being familiar with the style so could the teachers be made aware of this. And then you can also ask about uniform requirements for Greek.

Well I have a DB.......dancing bunny!

X is for X-ray - hopefully not too many needed! T is for tutu , or tights

Yes, huge congratulations to Sami, I am sure that she is the breath of fresh air ENBS needs! I did see her dance and was quite a fan so it was strange making beds together when our sons first went to WL! I agree with Julie that she is lovely. And hopefully ahe will bring her additional experience of motherhood to the role!!

Your daughter sounds lovely (actually both of them do) but I suspect many of our DCs would say the same. Afterall what is a "normal" teenage life? For some its endless hard academic slog (in the affluent area where I work) , others its hanging round streets getting drunk,smoking or worse with no career ambitions (where I live) , , again for others its to drift from home to school to parties to shops to hair salons and then school again and then perhaps go to Uni without a clear idea of what they'd really like to do with life.And for some its endless hours on computers like us ballet.co junkies lol- my DB has just jumped up next to me to find out why I have a laptop on my lap and not him....

Absolutely. Which is why I do feel that families do have to be realistic from day one and I feel that members on this forum are.I know that many people on this forum have quite sensibly been very honest with their offspring about the cost of vocational schools and many have not taken up offers of places because to do so would impact adversely on their families. I have a student who has successfully auditioned for a vocational school three years in a row now in the full knowledge that without funding she can't go. And she is fine with this- she is just gratified that her parents at least let her try and she is happy that even if she never gets off the mds waiting list she was still good enough for that place. But she herself explained to me that with older siblings at university they would have to sell the house to afford vocational ballet school fees- and if she then didn't like it ,SHE would feel guilty. In my DS case the education he received was far superior to what he would have received- as was his quality of life. I was dead against him going but I am so glad that we didn't deny him the chance. However we made it quite clear that he didn't then have to feel obliged to us in any way. Just as parents shouldn't feel guilty if their own personal circumstances prevent their offspring from following a certain path, children should not be made to feel guilty if they no longer wish to pursue ballet/music/sport etc regardless of the time and expense.It works both ways. I have seen too many people unhappy because they followed the path decreed right for them by their parents.

Any dancer who is happy in their work,having successfully got work in this day and age, is not a second rate dancer! And the reality unfortunately is that even those in recognised top companies are not earning satisfactory wages- you really do have to be born to dance to put up with it. And I would argue that the dancers in smaller travelling companies are extraordinary- no hiding behind a large corps on a bad night!

I had to have a payment plan too at one point and was still paying long after ds left WL. Happy to say I no longer have any fees to pay!!! Paying off the credit cards now.....

Well I proved her wrong, Deborah is only a little bit older than me and I can say that at 11 I was still only on grade 2!!! and definately not vocational material- it wasn't even considered. It was only as I got older that the passion for ballet really got hold- I practised daily and read every book on the subject, even the Ballet dictionary.As mentioned earlier I even failed to get into vocational school at 16 and my teacher strongly suggested University. But I was a stubborn madam.....I am forever ever grateful to my parents who let me and my siblings follow their respective paths. Ive never been rich financially but I am happy in my working life- in fact I don't see it as work... I actually suggest everyone give up if you want to make money, go into accountancy instead!! Joking aside I do think that its important to be realistic from day one, the journey to be a professional dancer is long. hard and expensive with no guarantee of financial security even if you do make it. So yes, follow the dream, enjoy the journey but also keep up with the school work and if possible enjoy other interests too.