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Picturesinthefirelight

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  1. Picturesinthefirelight
    Sorry dd hasn’t worn jazz pants since she finished Stagecoach 5 years ago and then they were going out of fashion and most were switching to leggings for jazz class. I’ve never known anyone wear them for tap. It’s always leotard and footless tights.
  2. Picturesinthefirelight
    I think a compromise definitely can and should be reached. If the teacher is accredited with any of the major organisations then they should be following their equality policies. However be prepared they may not have considered this issue before. The big issue will be attitudes of other students. Is the class going to be full of people who are used to going to school with and working with Muslim girls who won’t bat an eyelid or are you going to be gawped at? If the latter then it’s a great opportunity to educate your fellow classmates but that will take confidence and resilience at the same time as you are trying something new. I really hope it goes well for you.
  3. Picturesinthefirelight
    You bring up a topic that has long been a bug bear of mine whenever anyone talks about increasing diversity in the performing arts. Having seen friends of my daughter have to give up ballet past the age of 7/8 and having noticed that despite living in an area with a significant population of people of Pakistani/Bangladeshi origin when I look at local dance schools and youth theatre companies none of these girls are represented. Other minority groups are talked about, initiatives put in place etc but in the general conversation on increasing BAME participation no-one seems to want to address this fundamental issue that traditional ballet uniform and perception of it prevents participation of Muslim girls past puberty & if adaptations to the uniform were made It would open the door for wider participation.
  4. Picturesinthefirelight
    There is also a clinic in Bath too. I would highly reccomend them.
  5. Picturesinthefirelight
    They used to sell large portable flooring squares that came with a wooden underfloor. Dd has one in the conservatory we bought for christmas a few years ago.
  6. Picturesinthefirelight
    There are different sized btecs. The Extended Diploma is equivalent in size to 3 A levels and most colleges who offer this course treat it as full time and you would find it difficult to do an A level alongside. However some schools and colleges offer the btec that is equivalent in size to 2 A levels and so wou would study either a 2nd btec in a different subject or an A level alongside. There is also a btec equivalent to 1 A level.
  7. Picturesinthefirelight
    You would need to have either taken GCSE Dance at school or Grade 4/5 in one of the main dance forms at a part time dance school. They are both Level 2 qualifications.
  8. Picturesinthefirelight
    I would say that unless the btec is at a specialist college that runs on vocational lines rather than a school 6th form or large FE college you would be better off finding a local dance school and starting to attend classes in ballet, jazz & contemporary combined with strength and conditioning classes if possible. You could then do A levels at your institution of choice. however A levels are hard, a big step up from GCSE and you have to be focused and motivated in order to suceed. Your sister (and parents) will find that schools and colleges have their own ideas about who they will accept onto their courses, you may or may not have to have an interview and certainly it is you applying for the courses, not them (unlike Year 7 secondary applications). Ultimately they may not have a choice where you choose to study although I guess they could refuse to support you financially.
  9. Picturesinthefirelight
    The first thing to remember is that tax is cumulative, National Insurance is not. As Bangorballetboy said you will have a personal tax allowance of £11,850, however because you have started work in the middle of the tax year you have 6 months worth of unused personal allowance so until April you may find that you are not stopped as much tax. National insurance however will be stopped straight away for any month you earn over the Lower earnings Level of £702 per month.
  10. Picturesinthefirelight
    Hmm, thats tricky then. I know for a "normal" private school we were asked to pay a non refundable deposit by the end of January for a place offered in October and I ended up paying a full terms fees in lieu when dd was then offered a vocational place mid May as the private school's rules were a full terms notice needed to be given even if the child hadn't started there yet (although they were very quick to waive that requirement when they wanted to get rid of ds) So I guess what I am saying is that for what are essentially private institutions they can pretty much set their own rules. How over-subscribed is the school asking for the deposit? It might be worth trying to negotiate an extension but also check the notice periods.
  11. Picturesinthefirelight
    If the school is one that offers DaDa funding then they should not be asking for deposits until after 1st March.
  12. Picturesinthefirelight
    If in the future your dd joins the MU they have a Musicians Hearing Clinic and will produce custom made ear plugs at a vastly reduced cost for eligible members. Dh dh has an appointment soon as he has an ear condition and needs to protect his remaining hearing as much as he can. He he has raised the issue of noise levels in tap classes.
  13. Picturesinthefirelight
    Dd is 17 but I'm sure I read on NIDMS that they treat children too. But we do have a fantastic GP which makes a big difference. Updated - It appears they can treat patients aged 14 and over. https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/sport-and-exercise-medicine.htm
  14. Picturesinthefirelight
    They looked at things no-one else seems to have considered such as her calves. Her initial ankle injury has healed but her continuing weakness isn't necessarily due to the ankle itself being weak but from having over compensated with other parts of her body during that time. They are giving highly specific physio excercises to help with this and can also work alongside your private or school physio (with permission)
  15. Picturesinthefirelight
    I just wanted to re-iterate to everyone on this forum what a fantastic NHS resource this is. Dd had an initial appointment yesterday with a consultant physiotherapist and they are so knowlegable, so specific and so aware of what is needed for aspiring professional dancers. If your child is injured and you have any conerns at all about their recovery and its effect on their dancing please do ask your GP for a referral to this clinic even if you do not live in Birmingham. We travelled up by train yesterday and its so easy to get to, I will have no problems with dd travelling alone for her next appointment.
  16. Picturesinthefirelight
    Most dance shops have thin ballet socks or pop socks the same thickness as ballet tights you can wear to try on the shoes with.
  17. Picturesinthefirelight
    It all depends on the shape of your foot v
  18. Picturesinthefirelight
    Have your student's feet changed much? The shop dd used (Dancique) were happy to post shoes to dd at school if needed.
  19. Picturesinthefirelight
    Hi Poppy'smum. I have no experience of RBS associates but back when dd was in year 7 at her vocational school there was a girl accepted who had never danced before but her potential was spotted at an after school outreach dance club type class. She started at vocational school and she didn't know what a plie was.
  20. Picturesinthefirelight
    Dd is loving being away from home (although its only about 40odd miles) She had some problems at first due to getting injured (not being able to dance makes her unhappy), tiredness and organising lunches (supernoodles for lunch every day does not make for an energetic, healthy dancer) and an adjustment of social groups but she is loveing the independence and the fcat that there "aren't many rules at home"!!! Accommodation : For us and her living with a host family has been the best of both worlds. I don't think she would have got through her initial hiccups half as well if she'd beenin independent srudent digs. It costs £130 per week and includes breakfast and evening meals. She has to buy her lunches. Hidden Costs : Taxi fares to physio. Theatre trip. Adapting to Moving Away - As I said above there have been issues but the school has excellent pastoral care and communication which has helped. Safety - I have no concerns in this regard. Ages: Some are 16 year old school leavers, some are 18 year olds who have done A levels and btec. Apart from a couple of house parties where alcohol has been available I don't think there has been any issues with regards to the different ages from what I have heard.
  21. Picturesinthefirelight
    They do have some school scholarships which apparently mirror Dada funding.
  22. Picturesinthefirelight
    Another question then. Does Whatsapp reply on the people you are communicating with knowing your phone number or email address? (I don't give those out as a general rule). On Facebook you can add people without knowing those personal details.
  23. Picturesinthefirelight
    I think its very unlikely that 5 hours of dance per week is affecting schoolwork that much. It's much more likely to be something else, friendship issues, moving into Year 5 so heading towards SATS in year 6 and extra pressure. Others in her class at school being late bloomers so catching up academically or just a sudden discovery of social media, Fortnite or whatever the current trend is. Does she sleep well?
  24. Picturesinthefirelight
    I have no idea why it’s allowed other than it’s seen as more akin to a high quality summer school/performance opportunity. The one dancer I know who did it rehearsed in the summer holidays and the performances were at her “home” theatre.
  25. Picturesinthefirelight
    I’m fairly sure that it would not be allowed. He would be dancing 6 days per week as it is. Occasional one off workshops & summer schools are allowed as well as English Youth Ballet but regular classes/associate schemes are not.
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