JulieW

Nina G - which school's graduates are you referring to?

Depends which bit of the coast I suppose

Taxi4ballet and Everhopeful - As above - I actually think all the places will now be closed for those going into year 10 in September, so you'll need to be planning ahead for post-16. I realised I didn't answer all of Tomuchtallent's questions - Music teaching at both WL and Elmhurst is excellent in my opinion, especially with the relatively new teacher at Elmhurst - he's really enthusiastic and has brought life (and more students) back into the choir. In our day all the children in WL (perhaps just in 7,8 & 9) were in the choir. The MDS award at Elmhurst also paid for one lot of peripatetic music lessons (hopefully it still does) - and the last couple of carol services made you feel like you were at a music school rather than a dance school. Many of the children at both school are very musical - and that is nurtured. Other styles of dancing - again, may have changed over the last few years, so hopefully some current lower school parents will chip in, but at Elmhurst they do some Irish, Flamenco, jazz, tap - not sure which years they start what - we came in year 10. But the emphasis is on ballet! I think advice on auditions should wait until after the summer

Fabulous news Swe - congratulations to your daughter - got there at last

Just a reminder, now that we have a site capable of posting videos, to please only post videos/photos - if they are of more than just your own child - that are already in the public domain, eg YouTube. This is a public forum and we don't have the privacy setting like we have on Facebook for example.

I forgot to mention numbers of students: RBS - on average 12 boys and 12 girls are taken in each year - but it does vary a bit Elmhurst - numbers flucuate a lot but I think the school can take up to 30 in total (boys and girls) in any one year Funding: RBS - all students are on MDS places (well, as far as I know, but I have heard about the odd one in the past who wasn't). Elmhurst - most students are on MDS places and there are also scholarships and bursaries available, but I don't know how they decide on those, or how much they are. Some students are offered places without funding, so pay full fees. I presume International students at both schools pay full fees, but I wonder if they can get a scholarship of some sort - best to contact the school and ask.

I think there's another thread on the "assessing out" business but I'll have to look for it later. But the answer is that it varies! My son was assessed out of WL, auditioned for Elmhurst and got in. Others from WL have gone to Elmhurst, Tring or Hammond, some go home and carry on dancing with a view to auditioning again for upper schools, or just recreationally, and some give up dancing altogether. Depends on the reasons why you were assessed out (which neither school are particularly good at explaining if I'm honest - but I'd rather we avoid moving the discussion that way on this thread as it's been talked about a lot recently and I'd like to keep this one to discuss the original point)

I'll start the ball rolling.... Royal Ballet Lower School (White Lodge): Auditions held on a few dates annually for entry into year 7 and above (see the school website for details of audition dates and how to apply). The majority of the children who get places in year 7 are already RBS Junior Associates, but not all. I’ll leave someone else to give details of day-to-day hours of dancing etc as my son was there over 5 years ago and things may have changed. Children have the chance to perform each summer at the open day/summer fair (most do something – dancing is done on the lawn – now on proper flooring!) and in the end of year performances at The Linbury. The younger ones tend to do mostly character/national type dances with only a few chosen to dance anything classical so be prepared to not see your child do any ballet for a long time! The main stage performance at the Royal Opera House is mostly Upper School students but they usually put in a couple of items from the Lower School and at the end all the children dance, fleetingly, in the Grand Defile culminating in a spine-tingling moment when they all appear on stage together. Some children are also chosen to dance with the Royal Ballet in productions like the Nutcracker (most of years 7, 8 and 9 take part when that’s on) – other productions might just need a few students. Other performances at charity events occasionally crop up. There’s also an annual choreography competition and parents do get to watch class occasionally. The school is lovely in lots of ways – it’s situation in Richmond Park, the historic buildings now with new studios and boarding houses, the staff (especially the pastoral, but also academic and dance). The children exude a confidence that comes from the fact they’ve got into the Royal Ballet School, but that carries its stresses – some feel a lot of pressure, especially around appraisal time, and disappointment when the usual “favourite” students get picked for things regularly. Appraisals happen every January/February – and you hear in Feb half-term whether they’re offering you another year’s training (or two years’ at the end of year 9). Elmhurst Lower School: Auditions held on a few dates annually for entry into year 7 and above (see the school website for details of audition dates and how to apply). The school is in purpose built premises in Edgbaston, Birmingham so the building/studios etc are lovely. It’s a very welcoming school. The students have a formal uniform, but day-to-day wear school tracksuits. Again, I’ll leave someone else to fill you in on time spent dancing as things have changed since my son went into sixth form. The end of year performances are held in the school theatre (I hope that eventually they’ll get a “gala” in a proper theatre) – all children are involved, but the younger ones don’t do much in it as the Upper School are also in the same school (they do more). Students are also chosen to dance in productions with BRB and some charity type events crop up occasionally. But again, be prepared not to see your child dance very often! Parents are invited into watch class 2 or 3 times a year and there’s an annual choreography competition. BRB dancers often come into the school to work with students. We’ve loved our time at the school – the staff are lovely, the facilities are great, the physio and healthcare is outstanding. Assessments are held every year but children are only asked to leave at the end of year 9.

My son was on the waiting list for JAs (going back a while now - he's nearly 19) and we were rung in July offering him a place. He went on to go to WL, Elmhurst and now has a job to go to. My other son (now 15) was on the waiting list for JAs - had a very nice letter in October saying sorry there was no space - gave up dancing a couple of years ago. Funny how differently things turn out.......

I must say, I've always tried to give my honest opinion about the schools we've personally experienced (Elmhurst and WL) but am always careful to bear in mind that our experience may be different from someone else's so I'm only speaking for us and not other people. I do also know lots of people at different schools so can comment on things I hear from them, but only in a way that wouldn't break any confidences. Anyway - I've gone off on a complete tangent now...... Please feel free to start a new thread if anyone feels they'd like to start a new topic - it makes it clearer for people who haven't necessarily been following this one to find information they're interested in (please remember to make headings really clear for that reason - not everyone reads everything and a good "headline" might catch someone's eye if it's something they're interested in) I've also been careful not to identify my children in my postings - not because I say anything that would embarrass them or put them in a difficult position, but because I feel that I'd be invading their privacy somehow, as it's a very small world. Obviously, I know some of the people on the site personally so they know who we are (and have made friends through the site too), and now that we're much further through our journey it's become apparent to most people who my children are - especially Josh (there you go - the first time I've mentioned his name on the site in over 10 years!) - because he was Head Boy at Elmhurst last year - but I don't think he'd mind. He finds it funny that people say hello to him when they see him at the school despite having no idea who they are.

I've been visiting the site for the last 10 years and I'm still learning

And I don't think Evie was right (not that it really matters) - I think they had a girl assessed out of year 8.

How funny we were typing at the same time - and thanks

Ever since my son got his place at WL for year 7 we've tried not to think too far ahead. It was my husband's main concern when he first got the letter - the worry about whether there was a future/any money in it. He soon came to the conclusion (through some trouble in his own job) that it was better to follow your dream to do a job that you love, than to have regrets at not trying. We've always known that there was always a possibility that he might not end up being a ballet dancer (we all know that few who start out on this route actually "make it") but we were willing to take the risk and give it a go. I'm delighted to say (as most of you know) that he starts a two year contract in a classical company in August and we've always known that there was a high probability that he'd end up in Europe as there are so few very classical companies in this country and he's the first to admit that he's not one of the "elite" top students - but we all couldn't be happier that he's going to have a chance to earn a living doing what he's been working so hard for.

Well three-fifths did (if you consider the average numbers are about 5-7 dancers out of approx 12 - give or take the odd one up or down - it's no better than normal)

LTD - about to send you a PM

Thanks Saved me looking! Edited to add - that accounts (perhaps) for the higher number of girls this year as that's slightly more girls in the year than usual

Apologies for my rather vague reference to Robert's "vision" - just re-read my post!! I can't find the article where he was interviewed about it at the moment. Anyone else??

My finger was obviously "off the pulse" on this occasion then I suppose I knew lots of people who went, and many on the old forum who said they were going and didn't hear about the ones who didn't. Such a shame for anyone to miss out - it's a lovely summer school - but it's obviously over-subscribed - there's only so much room.....

I think Robert'll be great. The students seem to love him and he appears to have a vision of how he wants things to go. We're sad to be leaving.....

afab - this is the orginal post.....

That's a tricky question to answer as few people have experienced both - although I know a couple of students at Elmhurst who went to ENBS and came back again who might be able to comment. From a personal point of view, my son chose to stay at Elmhurst for upper school rather than go to ENBS (despite the temptation of being nearer home and in London where lots of his non-Elmhurst friends are) as he was so happy where he was, a small class of boys, great teachers and Desmond Kelly in charge!

Oh LB - so, so pleased for you - congratulations

Certainly a good year for the girls! They must be delighted, although I feel for those not selected for US and hope that they've secured good places elsewhere. I'm not sure how many there are in year 11 in total lildancer - I can have a look at last year's ROH programme later and count them for you! The number who get US places obviously varies each year, but is usually 5-7 of each sex.

Only guessing - but I would think you'll hear by the end of this week. I know it's agony, but it's nearly over