Pas de Quatre

Surely if you have a borderline abusive teacher you would be handing in your notice anyway! It is not possessive just professional, to expect parents to respect notice periods. Dance teachers are usually planning months ahead, for associate auditions, exam sessions, for shows, masterclasses etc, and they really don't want to be mucked around.

How many schools have you trialled? The sort of commitment is giving notice at the current school. Many schools used to give free trials, but don't anymore and some even charge a higher rate than a single class which will be set against the fees if the pupil enrols. If it is just a case of seeing if the grass is greener then it can be annoying. I have now retired from full time teaching, but I could usually tell within a minute or two on the initial telephone enquiry whether it was likely to work!

Alison, you are right it is a matter of professional courtesy. Many schools continue for decades and the relationship between them is important and can last a very long time. Word soon gets round if a teacher behaves unprofessionally, and it seems "poaching" is more common these days. On the other hand, teachers all suffer from time-wasters too. People who want to come for a trial class but don't turn up, or take the class with little intention of continuing. So do not be surprised if teachers want some sign of commitment before offering a trial.

If the school doesn't do any exams, are they affiliated to, or validated by, any reputable organisation? What qualifications do the teachers hold. Are insurance and safeguarding such as DBS in place?

It rather depends on what you and your daughter are looking for. This sounds like a school that is more interested in short term goals, prizes and social media acclaim, rather than the slow and methodical training needed to produce good technique and a possible future career.

When you say 'weight bearing exercises' do you actually mean working with weights? There is a lot of confusion about this term which basically means you are on your feet - as in running, dancing, playing most sports on a court or field etc. Non-weight bearing means activities such as cycling, swimming, rowing, sitting in the various gym machines. The former are essential for bone maintenance and to avoid osteoporosis, the latter are good for cardio and targeting specific muscle groups, or for when recovering from injury.

Do you have a branch of Cook near you? They may have something suitable.

Thanks Bluebird. Yes it was the trailer in the email.

Sorry Emeralds, I disagree. Rudolph Nureyev was only 5' 8". One of his first partners in the West was Svetlana Beriosova who was exactly the same height, so taller when on pointe. They danced beautifully together and coped with the height issue. However, it was felt he was a better match with Margot Fonteyn who was 5' 3", so would have been nearly as tall as him when on pointe. He went on to forge a great working partnership with Patricia Ruanne and she was Juliet to his Romeo in his version of the ballet for ENB. I don't know her height, but would have put her as fairly tall, not tiny. Baryshnikov was an inch or two smaller, but partnered a variety of ballerinas. My own feeling is that both of these famous male dancers had a strong muscular physique which is perhaps enabled them to be such good partners as well as having wonderful technique. I have just been watching the trailer for the Australian's ballet's live stream, and noticed that in the couple who are dancing Diamonds (not named) she is taller than him on pointe. The finger turn issue doesn't arise as both dancers have their arms raised above their heads and it is easy to adjust the curve at the elbow.

Going back to the question of Lauretta's height, I asked my DD who did various courses with her (although DD was in younger groups). She thought around 5' 6" - 5' 8" which agrees with my estimate.

I have very much enjoyed ENB's dancing for years. Individual dancers at RB may be amazing, and some productions are too, but I don't much care for any of RB's productions of the major classics. They often feel very turgid. BRB and ENB seem much better. Will I be burnt at the stake now for heresy?

The use of apprentices, stagiaires in France, has been normal for decades. When I first auditioned for professional jobs, my teacher warned me that as a first employment I might only be offered an apprentice position, but to accept if I liked the company. In fact I got a full contract in a smaller company and moved to a full contract in a larger company the following year, where there were indeed two apprentices. They were paid less, but gained full contracts the following year. Of course some places are abusing the system now and exploiting the dancers, but not all.

Online research shows Prokovsky creating a version of R & J for LCB to the Berlioz music in 1985. I also found the original list of roles for the first Russian production of Cinderella, the Stepmother is listed at number two straight after Cinderella herself.

The Tchaikovsky R & J is a Fantasy Overture, not a full length work. It was used quite a lot for Gala type Pas de Deux. I have a vague memory that Galina Samsova & André Prokovsky danced a version. So it could be Festival Ballet or LCB, or elsewhere if they were guests.

As there are several people who are members of both boards, I just wanted to make sure that they know anything said by Pd4 on Ballet Pursuit is not by me.

I don't think it will matter, Tulip here doesn't post very often these days as her dd graduated quite a few years ago and is now a professional dancer.

For many years there was an American discussion board, Ballet Talk for Dancers, very similar to this and several people were members of both. I had a different "Name" on both as I wished to keep my identities separate. Recently BT4D had to close for logistical reasons. A new board called Ballet Pursuit has opened, with no connection to the original BT4D. Again, I joined, but with another new name. However, I was very surprised when I logged on today to see there is a "Pas de Quatre" there. Obviously I don't have exclusive use of the name, but just wanted to make sure everyone knows that it is not me. Also there is someone with the name Tulip on there, and from what has been posted is definitely not the Tulip from this board, who I know in real life. So perhaps people over there are looking to this board for inspiration, but it might be worth keeping an eye on it!

These companies at the beginning of the 20th century were not financially stable. They relied on Patronage of rich individuals and were often living hand to mouth. Some seasons were a great success artistically and financially, but not all.

Just checked on RB website dancers bios, and it was Finnish Ballet not Norwegian ballet where Nicol Edmunds went for his first job.

Yes the year he graduated there were no vacancies at RB. I was at a Teachers event at RBS and they were saying it was a double edged sword, lovely that nobody left the company, but hard on graduates. But it was emphasised that we would possibly see some of them return when spaces came up.

Do keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Peanut68 is right, they will teach you in an appropriate way. You can help prepare yourself by making sure you have good strength in the core, upper body and arms. Classical training doesn't always address this, so cross training, Pilates, holding planks & push ups are all good whether you are male or female. If traditional push ups are too hard, do them against a wall or by placing your hands a few steps up on a staircase.

Are we talking about dancers who haven't become professionals applying to Uni alongside others of the same age group. Or are we talking about older dancers looking for a second career? There are different entry requirements for "mature" students.

It is one of the best ballet schools in Europe/the whole world. Dancers are regularly in Prix de Lausanne and many graduates find good jobs. So of course it is highly selective and very difficult to get into. Good luck.

Dear balletmania please do not let your worries overwhelm you. The school has offered you a place, therefore they believe in you. As other posters have said English is spoken widely thanks to films, music, the Internet etc. It might be useful to learn some basic phrases, hello, please, thank you which will be well received out and about. Within the school I am sure it will be fine and many teachers as well as students will help you. I went to France (with just O level French) as a professional dancer in the corps de ballet, and soon became fluent. Several years later I went to teach ballet at a Conservatoire in Spain, without speaking a word of the language but soon learnt enough to get by. The joke was everyone told me I spoke Spanish with French accent rather than an English one!