I would just like to add another comment after reading about CeliB's experience. My son was the first teenager of either gender/boy over 10 to attend the school (he is now nearly 21). He was in a class of adults for the time he was there - older Gennya is an amazing teacher (he's the ex Bolshoi dancer) and was able to bring my son up to Bolshoi school audition standard in such a class (some classes were for complete adult beginners but my son wanted to go every day and they had no teenagers' classes way back then). My son coped and it was good training, having to make conversation with adults, for going to Moscow by himself at 15.
This school is not unique in not wanting you to attend any other school - my son has attended a school in Surrey when he was much younger that did not want him to audition for National Youth Ballet and another which frowned upon him going to the Central associates. So, you cannot criticise them for this. And if they are heavily subsidising your child's training, do you not owe them some loyalty?
