Picturesinthefirelight

I can get them from dance direct or IDS as well but it seems a bit wasteful to spend £4 on postage for a £1.50 pair of socks!

If as many of us do you travel with your dc to classes, auditions and rehearsals on the train its really worth getting a railcard By following the Daily Fail link you can get a free one for 2 months then you can buy one for a full year with £10 off. The offer ends early next week. Even if your existing card doesn't quite run out yet its worth getting forcthectheatee discount. We usually save the cost of the annual fee on our annual trip to London alone. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/prmts/article-2321452/A-free-month-Family--Friends-railcard-Daily-Mail-readers.html

Hmm that could be a problem then as we don't have any socks & the local dance shop only opens Friday afternoons and Saturdays (both days I'm at work 40 miles away).

Age 11

Do schools like auditionees to wear socks in general or are convertible tights OK

Having a dd in year 6 and seeing how usually over subscribed schools still have places I wonder if its because 01/02 was a low birth year (everyone wanted millenium babies) Dd has a late audition next week for a school that still has year 7 places. It's a long shot but if you don't at least try you'll never know.

We find satin ones get holes in after a month or two. Leather ones last up to a year (the time it usually takes dd to go up a size) so well be sticking with them I think.

I was quite annoyed with the licsl dance shop when we went to get dd some new ballet shoes. After explaining about her incredibly high instep and wide foot and that orthotics are being considered and she needed to develop strength because of it and that I wanted leather not satin as they are more hardwearing the assistant (who was also a dance teacher) brought our a pair of split sole canvas. Dd's eyes lit up. I said no they are not allowed those. Dd said some of the older girls have them (the Grade 5s, dd is 11 and Grade 3) I said no Mrs x says you have to have full sole for exams. I can't understand that said the assistant. We let ours wear them for class then they just buy a new pair for the exam! ( yes from your shop next door to your dance school) I stood my ground despite dd's pleading saying we use the same shoes for class, shoes and exams while they are still growing. It's different when they have stopped or are doing more than 2 classes a week and just a waste if money. Grrr.

The Lowry CAT would be closer to some of your students too but I think the auditions are this weekend.

Dd likes RAD because of the character. When we were choosing a school however we didn't so much go for the exam board but dh had worked with one of the teachers in the past and it had the sort of ethos we were after. Originally she began ballet to complement her drama. Now the dance has taken over a bit more but her ambitions lie in MT (she's 11)

I've mentioned this on a different thread but dh is looking into running workshops for dancers looking to audition for post 16 dance/MT courses. Singing auditions for dancers sort of thing as he sees a lot of kids at audition who are terrified by the singing part. Just looking into venues/costs/course content. Your older students may be interested maybe.

And I've got a dd not a ds (well I have a ds too but he won't dance unfortunately except for a street dance class at school

I thought you must be from round here!

Hi Bluebird. In wondering whereabouts you are as BBO is quite big here (though my ds goes to an RAD school.) I run a drama/MT based school but my dd also attends a local ballet school. My dh teaches at a vocational school after spending several years teaching voice to undergrads/diploma students at London based drama/dance colleges. He loved it but wanted to be closer to home. It's great you are looking for opportunities so many schools ban their students from doing stuff outside their dance school.

Stokies read booooks and cooook too!

She can't go to the party and be in the show. It isn't fair to make exceptions for my own daughter. Parts are being handed out this week. And to be honest apart from a very small group of friends the rest arnt very nice to dd ( but one of the reasons she wants to go is that she is an outcast at school already and most of them are going to the senior school) The teacher would read in (I'm her boss shell do as I say) but the other parents might complain. It's going to he entirely up to dd. if she dies choose the party I'm going to have to boom a taxi and send her in that on her own though.

Sorry she only does 15 mins if ballet a week and is going en pointe??????? Or have I misunderstood?

Have you read Bounce: How Champions are Made by Matthew Syed It's really interesting and shows how much difference hard work and expert coaching can make over raw talent

Tell me about it Clara Oddly enough dd has been used as a swing when the older group were rehearsing for a show in February covering absences (she knew everyone's bits in the partner work but never actually got to perform it) This party is one being organised by a parent who has hired the village hall. I'm invited too!!!! At the moment dd says she wants to to the rehearsal but she's bitterly disappointed.

The party us being held on the day school breaks up. We go on holiday the next week (day after the show) to return in time for her ballet school show. Her choice but I can't make exceptions for her.

A sizeable monologue in the drama piece Oh - and Dh and i work for the school so favouritism can't be shown If she attends the party she will have to pull out if most if the show except for two small dance pieces (already performed at a festival and not due to be rehearsed until the next day) Snother younger girl has already arranged to leave early to get to a ballet performance but its at a theatre 5 mins down the road and she is mostly in the opening numbers.

I'm at work now so can only post briefly but rehearsal is 4.30pn-7.30pm. Party starts at 5pm and us about an hours drive away. Rehearsal is being held at theatre school, there will be a tech atcthectheatre the next day. Dd has a minor role in one piece (she comes on and says the wizard will see you now in One Shirt Day but she has significant part/solo in the Matilda medley and she has a sizeable monol

Year 6 leavers party or final rehearsal before a theatre school 10th anniversary show. I have to tell dd of the clash tomorrow. She'll want to do the party and the show but can't.

Sometimes teachers leaving can be for the better.

We are regretting it too taxi for different reasons. I think it's still possible to get an audition but funding finals have already been held.