tabitha

Thank you. I didn't realise there was already a thread about A-levels on line, I will post on there.

Does anyone have experience of taking A levels through a distance learning provider or any recommendations? My DD is considering this as an option to do an A level which is not offered by her school and I am not sure whether it is a good idea or not or how it works. Are you tied into a set timetable to do the coursework and exams e.g. one year, two years?

Well I definitely wasn't disappointed. Programme one was amazing and I loved it - such an amazing display and I think the audience agreed. There was a lot of cheering from the balcony. Would have loved to have been able to see programme two as well but actually not sure I could have coped with Bella Figura. Seems a step too far to have them dancing topless, even if it is to make an artistic statement, I'm sure there are other ways of delivering the same message. Seems gratuitous and I worry that the dancers feel they have to do it, regardless of whether they feel comfortable.

Well I seriously hope this is good. I stupidly paid for full price tickets several months ago and now I find that not only were tickets given away half price but it clashes with Andy Murray's Wimbledon final. Serenade is my favourite ballet and now I find it described as 'lacking'. Oh dear!

Oh dear! I wish I hadn't booked full price tickets several months ago, especially as it clashes with Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final.

Shame the weather wasn't better. They managed 2 out of 3 performances outside between the deluge of rain. The students were amazing and professional as always. They must have been freezing at times (we all were) but you would never have known as they all had such lovely smiles and performed beautifully. If anything, I think the wind was stronger than last year which is probably why they didn't risk the maypole!

I think there is a lot going on at the school at the moment and the staff are quite stretched. I think they felt that opening to the wider public this year would stretch their resource levels even further, so they have decided to keep it as a smaller event restricted to those connected with the school.

The new Klear was reformulated about 2 years ago. My DD was using the old and changed to the new formula when it came out and hasn't noticed any difference. The new stuff is just as good. We tried Ronseal wood hardener once and didn't think it was very good really. It is lethal stuff; highly flammable and gives off fumes. You also need turps or something similar to clean your brush afterwards.

I am undecided about going but have just looked online and there are a lot of seats left for Nottingham Theatre Royal. Prices seem a lot cheaper than Birmingham. I don't remember seeing BRB go to Nottingham before. Is this new?

Thank you. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you but much appreciated.

Sorry, I thought I did answer the question by saying I know nothing about these classes. You would have to email Benoit directly with any questions.

I don't dance myself and know nothing about these classes, but Benoit has taught my DD before and he is lovely and well qualified. I have cut and paste his biog below: Benoit Egloff studied at the École de Danse de l' Opéra de Paris & at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Danse de Paris before joining the Junior Ballet de Paris. In 1998 , aged 19, he joined Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montréal & in 2001 Ballet Basel as a soloist. He teaches for a number of schools & companies around the UK, including the prestigious Dance Partnership and Access Scheme run by the Royal Ballet School and the CAT (Centre for Advanced Training) scheme. Benoit is a director of Ampersandance Company, based in Nottingham. Maybe you could get the train from Grantham to Nottingham? It's about the same journey time as by car; about half an hour.

Hi Michelle, Not sure if Nottingham is too far, but thought I would post details of Adult Ballet class there: The classes are taught by Benoit Egloff who has the highest credentials. Adult Ballet Classes Mondays, 11 - 12.30pm, Fridays, 11.30 - 1pm £5 per session Adult classical Ballet classes in Nottingham for adults of all ages, levels and abilities. Email for details: benoitegloff@yahoo.fr

I know this might sound strange, but has anyone got any good tips for selling a second hand car? e.g. best place to advertise, how to do the transaction and make sure you don't get ripped off etc.

Spooky that is really encouraging to hear, thank you. My DD also has a foot injury but it is a tendon issue which has flared up through overuse. The schools have been understanding but I just worry that if she can't dance full out or do much jumping, they might not see her full potential. Also she is not as strong as she would have been due to being off class for a couple of weeks this term. Such a shame for her.

My DD is currently auditioning for 6th form ballet schools but is nursing an injury which means that she is unable to do some of the audition exercises. Despite this, she has got through to a few finals, but even though the schools know all about the situation, I am wondering whether she can be successful at final if she can't do some of it. Has anyone got experience of auditioning with injuries and do you think that the people at the audition can see through the injury to the real dancer?

My DD attended the WL final for year 7 about 4 years ago and for some reason that year there were only 25 girls for 12 spaces. Good Luck everyone!

Best of luck and fingers crossed DL!

Sorry I can't recommend a dance physio in the southwest. Apologies for hijacking your post Primrose, but would be interested to hear if anyone can recommend one around the Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Grantham areas as well.

Congrats Julie and others must be sad to come to the end of all that training and exciting to see them actually get a job! Keep us posted on their progress.

Hi Lala, My DD started at vocational school in year 10 this year. It was a tough decision as she was so happy at her normal secondary school, doing really well academically with a great bunch of friends. However her determination to do whatever it takes to improve her ballet overcame all of this and we felt we had no option but to support her to go away. It was a bit daunting joining a very different social culture and established group of girls at age 14, but they were very friendly and welcoming and she has settled in really well. Academically she is finding that she is repeating a lot of work that she has already done, as her previous school started GCSE courses in year 9, but frankly this is a blessing as its one less thing to worry about in the first couple of terms. Her ballet technique and strength were behind the other girls as you would expect and she is having to almost work twice as hard as them to try to catch up and it has been quite exhausting at times, but after 2 terms, she doesn't regret her decision for a minute and is still very much determined to be a ballet dancer. In some ways it has been harder for us as parents. We miss her very much and feel very lucky that we have had her at home for the last 3 years and managed to delay things until year 10. If we lived within access to plenty of high quality ballet training locally, we probably would have delayed the decision until 16. It is really something that only your DD can know if she wants, but I do sympathise as it is a difficult age/time to be making big changes in a young person's life. Good Luck

My DD went to the final for a year 9 a couple of years ago and there were only 3 of them and one was offered a place. As said above, it is often not the one you think who gets a place; it is all about potential. I think they are happy not to fill places rather than take children who are not exactly what they are looking for. It is still a great achievement to get to the final. Good Luck Sniffymum.