Picturesinthefirelight

MDS & DaDa cover different courses & qualifications. MDS as far as I am aware are for schools with a 6th form offering vocational education alongside academic quals of a level equivakent So places like Cheethams school of music Dada are for institutions often colleges offering a higher level of qualification (the trinity level 6 professional diploma) which is more on a oar with degree level I think where a slight anomaly comes is that in drama & music it would be more common to continue at school until 18 then go on to music college/drama school at 18 whereas dancers are often accepted onto the trinity courses at 16 (presumably because if the limited career span for dancers).

The Ted Baker ballet themed vanity case is thus weeks star gift in Boots.

It's compulsory for the whole school. However dd missed it last year as she was in panto (under licence & missing several school days).

Places like Bird & Mountview offer degree courses for 18 year olds which are funded in the same way as normal degrees. You still get the vocational training but with an additional academic element runnin conjunction with a linked university.

I do sort of agree and dd would never audition for anything if she was not prepared to put it first. When she did Her Benny she didn't miss a single rehearsal from April to September for example including all through the Sumer holidays. The carol service is a whole school event but in the evening. The choir has never taken part before it is a service not a concert. Dd only found out 2 weeks ago they were going to sing a couple of carols as part of the service.

Part if the problem is that ds (who is not in the choir but has no clashes either) also does not want to go to the carol service. If I let dd off do I make ds go or let him off too. The service is just for 1 hour from 6pm-7pm but its right in the middle of dance which is 4.30-7.30 Choir have never taken part before.

We opt not to do dance festivals as I feel that it would impact too much on her other commitments & family time.

To answer a couple if questions. When she joined the school choir she commited to the autumn concert, the music festival next spring, the summer concert & prize giving. The carol service was only added to the schedule 2 weeks ago. Last year she was annoyed because half the choir didn't turn up to the festival (we moved hell & high water for her to go as it clashed with ds coming home from a school residential & me working) plus several children opted out of a big choir concert with the high school that had been on the calendar for ages. If she went to every party on a Saturday then she would never have been at drama anyway plus the fact I work Saturdays at the drama class too so I would have had to get her grandparents to take her in addition to looking after her younger brother.

Dd was a Nell

Yes!

Oh no you didn't offend me. It's just the way we are with everything. Font commit unless you can totally commit. It's the same with ds martial arts which is totally recreational. He asked to go I paid so he goes.

If I've paid for it she goes unless its exceptional circumstance. It's not about "making it" its about not letting people down. She would much prefer to go to class than a party or school fayre anyway. Both her & ds are asking me to write to school to say they can't go to carol concert. Ice said no do far but am wondering if I should let dd miss it.

She loves choir but doesn't like the carol service. This is the first year choir has performed at the service. Usually it is just a church service thing with everyone singing the carols and some readings She only found out choir were going to perform a couple if weeks ago She has never minded missing parties etc. the only time she did ask to kiss drama was when our local team got to the FA cup final and her grandparents got tickets.

Since the age if 4 dd has missed every birthday party, school fayre, everything that has clashed with her dance or drama. Last year she was in panto so missed the compulsory carol service. This year the service clashes with her modern & tap classes. It is the last week of term. She is in the school choir who are performing too but doesn't really want to go to the service as a. She is atheist!!!! And b. says they are boring Do you allow your children to miss school events in favour of dance?

By the time dh got around to asking for feedback they could only remember her "personality" rather than her level of technique. Was told she was a performer!

Cabaret was or phantom will be. Cabaret had 2nd & 3rd years in I think.

Is your dd in year 9 now hairbelles. I have it on very good authority the year 9s are fab singers. The Matilda excerpts were fab I agree. Dd is currently learning quiet which she will sing in a charity concert at Xmas. Dd so wishes her dance was a bit stronger but we have to look at what might be- not at what wont be.

This musical is just for lower school years 9-11. The upper school do a separate Musical in the summer. Last year it was cabaret and was the MT students but I don't know with the change in how the course is structured how it will work next year

Yes it is phantom

Straying off topic I'm looking forward to seeing next years Hammond MT show.

She started off as a competition ballroom dancer then discovered Musical theatre & that she was good at other forms of dance didn't she?

Mind you choices can be just as limited at academic schools. The school dd will go to does not offer either gcse or a level dance or theatre studies, only music.

Hi Katy! I turn up everywhere don't I?

Dd has decided not to audition for Hammond and has been offered a place at a selective academic school She will only take 9 (or 10 depending on double or triple science) GCSE's as the school feel that's all they need.

I can only comment as an audience member but there was quite a bit if contemporary dance in the Hammond end of year lower school show and it was if a high standard. The teacher was very good. I didn't get chance to see the upper school dance show. Dd did the summer school last year and had done very little if no contemporary dance before. She really enjoyed it but obviously she's a lot younger.