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Dance*is*life

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  1. Dance*is*life
    We are fund raising to send two girls to the UK preferably for a two week course, so these are English as a foreign language teenagers - we can't really expect them to start making train connections etc. That's why I wondered about London courses (apart from the RAD, which I'm familiar with).
  2. Dance*is*life
    Saw this ballet yesterday and as usual I was bowled over by this amazing company. What I love about the dancers is how technically versatile they are, whether it's pure ballet, contemporary style or as in yesterday's performance 1920's flapper girl dancing! I also love how expressive they are. Truly wonderful!
  3. Dance*is*life
    I am sorry about the duplicate postings - I shouldn't try and post on my phone! It wouldn't let me post so I tried again and then it posted both!
  4. Dance*is*life
    I'm so happy to get positive appraisal of Lauren in the lead - I am seeing her on Saturday November 5th. Got really good tickets - probably because of its being Bonfire Night!
  5. Dance*is*life
    I am seeing Lauren on saturday November 5th. I'm so glad you all praised her - I haven't seen her in anything dramatic so that's great. I got front row tickets in the centre of the Grand Tier - have no idea why they were still available - everyone going to Guy Fawkes Day fireworks perhaps? I go so rarely that it felt okay to splash out and actually the tickets were relatively well priced at £80 each.
  6. Dance*is*life
    We feel it's a bit too much to ask parents to pay an international flight for a 5 day course, that's why we really want 2 weeks. I think Central is also one week now and as you say non-residential. Okay, thanks everyone. We have a preliminary meeting on Friday - we'll break our heads then!
  7. Dance*is*life
    Probably 14 to 16 I think. I don't know yet - the auditions will be in December, but we have to decide where we want to send them - also depends on how much money we raise.......
  8. Dance*is*life
    We are looking for a two week course to send students on scholarship - they will be flying in to Heathrow or Luton. We are considering YBSS, but the journey up there from London seems to be too difficult without a chaperone. All the RAD summer schools are now only one week and we would prefer two. Does anyone have any suggestions??? Or alternatively ideas on how to get the girls to York safely????
  9. Dance*is*life
    What I was pleased about was that the photos can now be taken in soft shoes - pointe shoes are only now required for the actual pointe pose. That will help the balance with leg a la seconde!
  10. Dance*is*life
    I will never forget watching a summer school character class in the States. The teacher was Russian and the girls were really good and working so dilligently! One unfortunate girl couldn't get a certain step - she just didn't understand what she was doing wrong - but instead of explaining and showing her, the teacher simply ranted and raved and totally humiliated her verbally, bringing the poor girl to tears. The woman just kept making her do it over and over again, shouting at her when she (of course) continued to get it wrong! Eventually with a loud sigh, she showed her again and the girl immediately got it right and the class continued. I just thought what a waste of time and energy on both their parts! And this all took place in front of large glass windows which had phones that allowed you to listen in to the class as well as watch (bit like visiting a prison!). Yet no-one complained - I imagine they were used to this tyrant!
  11. Dance*is*life
    Slightly off track, but do students sometimes get spotted at Summer School and get invited to audition for full time?
  12. Dance*is*life
    Very glad she's left - good move - and her sister is better off leaving too. It all sounds most suspect.......
  13. Dance*is*life
    I don't know IDTA I'm afraid, but if I equate it with RAD, I would say that for a 12 year old to be working at grades 2/3 sounds too low, but on the other hand to jump to Intermediate from there sounds far too much of a jump! How many years has your daughter been learning ballet and tap? It may be that she was previously placed too low, but still this strikes me as being too much too soon.
  14. Dance*is*life
    I saw Don Q in Russia and I didn't like their version as much as the ABT version with Baryshnikov (my yard stick for comparisons!) as I found there to be too much character work. Perhaps it's just me?????
  15. Dance*is*life
    Perhaps in the first two acts?
  16. Dance*is*life
    Thanks for the clarification! My student is only 14, so that's a big relief to know thst if accepted she doesn't have to miss the school performances!
  17. Dance*is*life
    They're very difficult so don't despair! In fact although the boys do them as great leaps, we ladies can actually use jete elance type grand jetes - ie lower and darting along the floor rather than a high leap. Think of going down on the coupe chasse en tournant in order to build up impetus and then dart forward extending both legs at the same time.
  18. Dance*is*life
    I tried this the other day with some students - maybe it will help. Stand in 1st and place your hand on the inner thigh. As you tendu to 2nd and close, the hand should stay the same - if you are holding the turn-out. Also don't forget that it's the simultaneous use of the back of the thigh just below the buttock muscles together with the adductors that holds the turn-out.
  19. Dance*is*life
    I get furious when kids come in with shoes 2 sizes too big and the fitter has pulled up the drawstrings in an effort to make them fit. When I say that they are too big, the usual answer is that they tried a smaller size and it pressed! I simply retort impossible and release the drawstrings completely. When they then try them on with the shoes bagging everywhere, they finally agree with me. So try letting out the drawstrings completely before you put the shoes on and then get her to stand with full weight on her feet. Then check how much spare cloth there is over the toes, heels and sides. Pull the drawstrings gently and see if the material has folds in it. Sometimes a narrower shoe half a size up will look better, sometimes a wider one that's slightly shorter, but you shouldn't have to pull up the drawstrings too much in order to make them fit properly. Oh and of course when she points her feet in them, there shouldn't be too much spare material at the heel or toe.
  20. Dance*is*life
    I haven't found anywhere that says the second two weeks are only for vocational students! I hope not - that would hardly be fair - regular schools also break up late in July don't they?
  21. Dance*is*life
    My profile picture is of me at 11 at a festival and I adored doing them. Dancing on stage from an early age made me the performer I became professionally. We didn't do many -about 3 a year, but at the peak I did six solos, 2 to 3 duets and groups. I think the duets and groups were particularly helpful in preparing me to dance professionally - most of us start as part of a corps de ballet - solos come later - and it's important to learn to control the ego and be part of a group working together. I never really did it for the competition, but because I loved being on stage. With the right attitude festivals can be a very positive and rewarding experience. I hope she'll have fun!
  22. Dance*is*life
    I think it's important that they have some fun dancing classes too and not just ballet technique and exams. That is not to say that ballet can't be fun - on the contrary! It's just that it's really important for all students to remember that they dance because they enjoy it and come what may that enjoyment should stay with them always.
  23. Dance*is*life
    There was a fascinating sculpture exhibition in the cloisters of a cathedral we visited a few years ago. Each one represented a different sports physique and there were huge differences in build and shape and strength - even length of leg - I found it very interesting!
  24. Dance*is*life
    Lucky you! I dream of seeing Osipova! She has the most amazing elevation I have ever seen in a woman!
  25. Dance*is*life
    I went to see Bejart on Friday lunchtime and I realised there is a problem in going alone - there's nowhere for your elbows! Both ladies on either side of me took all the elbow space and I ended up clutching a large programme, cardigan, handbag and bottle of water with arms cramped up for the nearly two hours of interval-less performance! Another thing that was difficult was going to the loo - I wish they had a little shelf in each cubicle as well as a handbag hook. Are we supposed to hold the programme in our teeth? As mentioned above - it was a very large one!
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