Pas de Quatre

Oops - rushing starting thinking of R & J not Don Q!

ENB presented Nureyev's Romeo and Juliet as part of their 60th Anniversay celebrations in 2010. It was in Southampton 20 - 23 October 2010.

It is not necessary to have passed any exams to be considered for Vocational training and/or professional employment. We seem particularly fixated with them in this country, but many schools who are not exam based have just as much success with their students..

http://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/dance-science/products-services/screening-packages/fundamental-screening-package I thought this might be of interest to anyone considering Vocational training.

Slightly off topic, but taking empty bottles through security and filling them afterwards also works at airports.

Goldsmith's and Laban use McMillan Student Village at Creekside, but McMillan also have other locations. Students' leases ended at the beginning of July so that they can rent out for summer schools. It might be worth checking availability.

Have added a link to a youtube video of her in Bejart's Squeaky Door - absolutely amazing!

http://www.danceagain.org/ This is a link to the foundation set up by Jack Widdowson's family, Jack made an amazing recovery from his injuries. It says they have a network of doctors and physios for dancers. Perhaps they can help.

For several years Tina Marsh has run her workshop weeks in the summer, this year it is "Fille Mal Gardee from Scratch" 23rd - 28th July (dancers age 8 - 21). This year she is also offering "The Professional Experience Advanced Ballet Workshop" 30th July - 3rd August for dancers Intermediate and above. Each week costs £120. I have no connection to Tina, just that several of my pupils have done her "Scratch" courses over the years and I think they are excellent, and numbers are always good. However, numbers for the Professional Experience are just on the cusp of enough people to make it viable. If anyone in the southern area is looking for a summer school this might be just the thing, Tina has a BA Hons in Dance, and was a professional dancer with Ballet Cymru for several years. She needs to make a decision this weekend on whether the Professional course can go ahead. Just a few more dancers are needed. To find out more you can phone Tina on 07903 753167 or email tina.marsh@hotmail.co.uk Mods - if this is inappropriate please remove.

Congratulations to all those graduating - please keep us up to date with their next steps!

Thanks for posting this - so sad to hear the news. I have lovely memories of Leo Kersley. He was great friends of my teacher, and when I was a student he used to invite our school to take part in his school's summer performances. Famous guest artists included John Gilpin, Marilyn Burr, Lucette Aldous and Wayne Sleep in his graduation year. We felt so proud to be in such illustrious company, but he made us feel very special too. He even arranged for small bouquets to be presented to us at our final curtain call, and I still have the silver foil holder, flattened out in my scrapbook.

And snorkel!

Julie - I love Cold Comfort Farm, just shows we are all different. Every time I prepare music for choreography I work hard at "the counting" and think of this novel! Agree with MAB about the Bloomsbury set though!

As taking ballet exams is not so common in the rest of the world, and particularly in 6th form there are overseas candidates, I don't think the schools take much notice of them. For summer schools they can be a quick indicator to help in class placement.

We are all on this board because we care. So if emotions get high it's because we care so much! I am sure everyone realises this, taxi4ballet - so no worries! Cyber hugs instead!

Best of luck, Jack - we'll all be following your career and cheering you on!

Elly, I really like your metaphor. I must have still been typing while you were posting. Yes they kept trying to send my dd to a destination she had no interest in.

Like Primrose, at the first audition for 6th form in Tring there was no mention of the fact that pupils would be allocated sets with a different mix of classes. We were given glossy flyers outlining the 2 year and the 3 year course. Those on the 2 year course would take more A levels and could audition for the 3rd year at the end of the 2 years. The 3 year course would be intensive, with obligatory morning classes and consequently a maximum of 2 A-levels would be studied. We signed up for the 3 year course. When dd started there was absolutely no distinction between the two courses, and the pupils were allocated sets immediately. Only a few were in the "Classical set" and the others were in various sets which seemed to change from term to term. None of this seemed to tie in with the information we had been given previously.

Try to get hold of the small paperback book published by Dance Europe - it is a guide to companies and updated every couple of years or so. Most major towns in Germany have an Opera house with a ballet/dance company. For generations British dancers have found employment there. It is not as easy as it used to be as many of the bigger companies now have their own vocational schools too, so lots of graduates chasing every job. Some companies are more classical, but many are now contemporary. However, in general everyone auditioning will have to be able to do both.

We used a beige/tan coloured catsuit and painted the stripes on with fabric paint, then sewed on a tail - face paint completed the effect.

Tristram Shandy!

Don't go - we still need your views from a perspective further along the journey. Consider yourself one of the "elders of the tribe" (please don't misinterpret) with much to contribute to our ongoing discussions.

In that case taxi4ballet I really don't think it makes much difference whether auditions are early or late. It is a very personal decision which perhaps you could discuss with her teacher. I would only consider aiming for a late one if she has been going through a growing spurt and is at an awkward stage, a later audition might give time to gain strength again.

That is what I used to believe - unfortunately at some places it just ain't so!

If this is your dd's GCSE year, try to find out when the "mocks" will be. My dd and her dancing friends from other places found schools varied wildly. Some started them before Christmas and others not till later in January/February. It's best not to have too many things going on at once.