JulieW

Made me smile We also used to get asked a lot about his back-up plan (he didn't have one - we thought we'd cross that bridge if we came to it!). But this also applies somewhat to my dd (not at vocational school) who wants to be a vet. Someone asked me what her back-up plan was the other day (she's just doing AS exams now) - she doesn't have one either - she's going to do everything she can to get in to vet school for the next couple of years and if that doesn't work then she'll have a re-think! Back to the main question though - I agree with all the sentiments above - it's up to you to decide what's too much (I was going to use the swimming comparison too - all those hours spent doing early morning training before school), but do bear in mind when comparing to the time spent dancing at vocational schools, that they generally do fewer hours of academics.

This would work really well on a facebook page - but only if everyone has a FB account..... Let me know what you think

I get that - but the "character" section of the lower grades at RAD are National steps based on a different country for each grade (or so I thought) - not rep dances which I could understand being named differently

They don't seem to get the difference between a National Diploma which is a level 3 qualification (same level as A levels) and a "diploma" which can be at any level, but in the context of some of the dance schools is usually a level 6 diploma. But, as you've said, I wouldn't argue with them if they want to keep paying. We won't getting any child benefit after January next year, so I've given up thinking about it! At least I managed to almost get all three through full-time education (I'll have 2 in different years of sixth form)

Gosh, yes, I'd forgotten about the National part of things (and on that note, I've always wondered why the RAD insist on calling it "Character") Our classes in London used to vary too with my two children (both did fortnightly classes which were mixed sex) - anything from an early (ish) morning start, to middle of the day, to the end of the day. The end of the day ones worked out quite well as we went to see lots of ballet at the Opera House (£6 ish a ticket for the upper slips - bargain - and my children got to see lots of ballet)

But I wonder what's going to happen with DaDAs next year - isn't it all changing?

Welcome to the forum Black Swan

I believe (although of course I can only speak from experience of one centre) that they are basically the same classes wherever you take them - although with different teachers things will vary a little I'm sure. So from my own experience (and this was a few years ago now) they spend quite a chunk of time at the beginning of the lesson on their exercises that they are meant to do at home - feet, turnout, core. Then it's lots of barre work - everything's done very slowly and carefully - that was the main difference we noticed from our local classes. They do also do centre work. When we talk about them starting from scratch in year 7 it's not like they treat them as if they've never done ballet before - but they do go back to basics to a certain extent to iron out any faulty basic technique.

Absolutely - my daughter has always had fantastic exam marks, but there's no way she'd get into a vocational school! Other way round with my son.....

And a bit more: http://balletnews.co.uk/northern-ballet-in-arts-troubleshooter-documentary-this-weekend/ (Incidentally - Josh Barwick who is mentioned as an apprentice is an Elmhurst alumni)

Can you clarify El Ingles please, as Lemongirl asked if it was full-time training or associates and you said both. But then you told me there was not full-time education.

I haven't looked up info on the school yet, but thought I'd ask... what happens with academics for those going full-time?

Thanks everyone - thought it was a little unusual. I forget that every other year it's a "summer fair" for friends and family rather than the "open day" open to all (as we've been every year, regardless - probably more a a "friend" on occasions!! There's actually no restriction on who they let in - it's just not publicised so widely. When it's the summer fair they don't do guided tours etc, but I still think people love to come and see the dancing. Has anyone got any details on the "dance workshops" they say they're doing?

You might not have seen this tucked away in the news part of the forum - it's under Jubilee Celebrations: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/756-white-lodge-museum-diamond-jubilee-events-3-may-79-june/page__hl__%2Bwhite+%2Blodge And the info on the school's website: http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk/calendar.php?s=2&e=1 I thought that some of you might be interested in going to the open day and it's unusual to be at the end of half term like this. I usually meet up with lots of "old" friends and have a lovely day - this will be my 10th or 11th . I remember one of the first times I went, I had my son (who did end up at WL a year later), daugter and a friend with me and a lady in the queue going in was chatting to the girls, asking did they dance etc, and would they like to go to the school - I had to point out that it was my son she should be talking to...... The timing's worked out well for us this year as ds won't have gone back to Elmhurst so he's coming with me - he's looking forward to seeing some staff members he hasn't seen for a while - last time he visited was about 4 years ago. Hope to see some of you there

I'm sad we're just about to leave Elmhurst after 5 very happy and successful years of involvement - especially sad as we'll be missing out on Robert at the helm (although it's been a delight to have Desmond Kelly there for the last 4 years, so I consider us to be very lucky really). He has taught my son's ballet class and pdd classes on many occasions and seems to be a very inpiring teacher. I wish him lots of luck in his new role.

Absolutely - I only posted the link to the newsletters as I thought some people might find them interesting reading, and how lovely I thought they were generally with news on awards and what past dancers were now doing. I'm going to close this topic now - I don't think anyone's gaining anything by carrying on the discussion.

We did a whole show called "Stateside" about 3 years ago - I'll get the DVD out!

I noticed on Facebook that the closing date for applications for the next intake is midnight tonight. Here's a link to their website: http://www.midas-dance.org.uk/ From the info and pics I've seen on their facebook group it looks like a worthwhile thing to look into

Message to all Let's not start picking the newsletters to pieces. They are available on the the EYB website for anyone to read but of course it's from their side. If those who were directly involved would like to comment, they are of course free to, but let's not make suppositions about what happened. And before anyone jumps down my throat, of course you are all entitled to your opinion - as are we all on here, but as we've already discussed this a lot on the other thread, let's draw a line under it now. There is an interesting point being made about dancing with injuries but can someone start another thread if they would like to talk about that more and not talk about this dancer in particular (dancers are frequently dancing with minor injuries and as long as they've taken sensible advice and they are unlikely to do further damage there's no real reason to stay of dance completely - any further comments please start another thread) Thanks everyone

Thought some of you might be interested in reading the EYB newsletters - they give a great insight into what goes on at EYB and some lovely mentions of the children who have performed with them: http://www.englishyouthballet.co.uk/studentsnewsletter.html

I'm a glasses wearer (very short-sighted) and find it best to adjust the focus on my binoculars so that I put them right up to my eyes - I either just slide my glasses down my nose a bit or push them up onto my forehead! Like others - if I can only see a performance once (rather than the occasional luxury of more than once when I would try to sit nearer for one and higher up for another) - I would choose higher up for ballet (but have decided that for more contemporary pieces, closer is possibly better) and just use my binoculars occasionally to admire the scenery/costume detail/expressions. Have a wonderful time - I love the ROH

Well - kind of - although that's probably not quite how I'd've put it . They all have to audition for whichever schools they would like, the same as everyone else, including the school they're currently at (although I'd be interested to hear from Hammond and Tring, because I think some children are offered funded - either DaDA or continuing MDS funding - fairly early in the year). I was going to say that, generally they do stand more chance of getting into their respective upper schools/sixth forms if they're already at the school - but that doesn't really give an accurate picture. As the students already at vocational schools at various schools, plus they're joined by non-vocationally training students, there's a lot of competition. However, if you look at RBS and Elmhurst upper schools, for example, there are more students who were from vocational schools than not (in most years). And then of course the whole systems changing next year (?) but noone's said quite how yet! Also - not all year 11 students are after classical places - several each year go to places like Laines, Performers etc and some might stop full-time dance training altogether. Does that answer your question?

Just "friend" would have been easier for us

Ah yes - that's the one (not Bloch as in my previous post!)

I'm off to a proper Zumba class for the first time tonight (done a Rosemary Conley club version of Zumba which is a bit tamer, and then did a two hour "Zumbathon" for charity last week which has spurred me on to do it properly. Wish me luck...... Have fun tonight Fiz