tomuchtallent

I dont live in the UK at the momment and was wondering how strict are the teachers? Now,my dd has had 3 russian teachers.She started when she was 4 and is now 9. They take ballet so serious,even when she was 4 and 5.Long lessons,so much dicipline,you can just about breathe!! every lesson she comes out sweating and they are very hands on.This might seem very harsh and it was for me to start with,but the children love the class and none of them have left and its been 5 years!

If my dd was offered WL and that was her first choice i would never even think to attend any other final!There is no point,but others have different reasons! I know this is a difficult time,and i have this to come in a couple of years, but surely if the school cant find exactly what they are looking for they wont take a child. If there are lots of what they are looking for then they must need to decide who is more suitable and then the others will be put on the waiting list.If your not on the waiting list then maybe there wouldnt be any difference if the ones from WL auditioned! But at the end of the day,they are all so young and develope at different times!Some kids might be very tallented but started ballet much later!I know this from experience!! I started dancing at 16 many years ago!everyday for three years.Then at 19 i auditioned for Laines,London Studios,The place and Labon.I lied about my age and said i was 16 though!I was offered places at all of them and a scholarship to 2 of them.In the end i didnt go to any of them for personal reasons but my point is its not over for the beautiful little dds that didnt make it this time.If you have a tallented dd they will make it in the end xxxxx

My dd is really flexible and over the years only ever stretched in class.She is now 9 and is more aware about her body.When she feels stiff she has the need to stretch wherever she is!but she always warms up first and understands and takes it quite seriously.

Hi,im new so maybe this question has already been asked before. My dd loves ballet and takes it quite serious.She has great turnout,flexibility,nice feet and has the sort of body i think is good for ballet.The only problem is that she also sings very well and loves musical theatre.She has been in 2 musicals playing main roles so far. We live abroad and have been looking at tring and she has fallen in love with it.She also wants to try the other main ballet schools aswell. We are very confused about which course would be best for her at Tring.Does anybody know how much singing and acting are encluded in the dance course,and also the other way around.She would be devestated if she wasent doing point and performing ballet,but also she would be so upset if she wasent singing and involved in the musicals. Any advice would be a great help. Thanks xxx

Nice to know that there are some very good dance schools around!I will have to becareful where i move to and do plenty of research. Well,the associate courses sound fantastic!Feeling very positive now. Thanks everyone xxx

Interested Parent, That seems totally unfair!!How can you be in 2 different associates.As there are only afew places available on each associate course,I cant believe that they are the only tallented children in the country!!Make some space for the other tallent students!!!!

Thank you Dancingmuppet, Now i definatly understand why most would want associate classes! Not sure about the normal local ballet schools!Only 1 class for 45 minutes a week!

Am i right in thinking that they only take the best trainable students and that there are not many places available? How sad! So that means the other studends dont get all the lovely extas!

Hi,im new today! I am currently living abroad and have no clue as to how ballet lessons are taught in the UK. It seems to me that in this forum most people have or want their dd/ds to go to a associate group. Are the lessons different to a normal ballet school?do they do different excersizes?is it a status thing?are the teachers better?or are they meant for the schools in question to train the kids to how they want?are they really important? I am very interested to know as i might be moving back soon and need to understand the system.

In order to be super flexible you must stretch every day and be disciplined.Im sure the children at vocational schools stretch everyday!

Hello, Im a new member and posting for the first time!! I have really enjoyed reading all the posts. I live abroad and my dd goes to a very nice ballet school.Classes are only at the weekend..All students of all ages have a 1.1/2 hour class.They have at least 1/2 hour of stretching in the lesson and also have to stretch at the end of the class.All the students of different ages and abilities can do the splits all ways.I personally believe that if you stretch enough almost everybody can achieve the splits.My footballing son who is 11 was so stiff and he started stretching at home last year and he can do the splits now!Please,dont let anybody tell you that you will never be flexible,its just not true!