taxi4ballet

I never realised just how enormous herons are until I saw one standing on my shed roof the other day. I knew they were big, but crikey!

What needs to be remembered is that many people have dc who are still in full-time vocational training and saying too much on here could very well mean that they and their dc is 'identified' in real life. There is also the thorny issue of not daring to stick your head above the parapet and say anything in case it jeopardises either their dc's place or their future dance career. Nobody likes a whistle-blower.

This is pretty much an identical experience to DD's. It took nearly six months of them thinking she was a malingerer before her injury was properly diagnosed. She went through hell and I shan't ever forgive them.

So do I. We were advised during the audition rounds (by someone whose opinion I respected) that should DD be offered a place at one of the 'Big' schools, then she should take it and turn down any others. DD was in the fortunate position of having several offers, and she did indeed take the top offer. Big mistake. With the benefit of hindsight she was small fry in a big pond, and would have done far better being a bigger fish in a smaller pond. She once said to me that she wasn't sure she wanted to be at a school where they thought she was mediocre and she was never going to be one of the favourites. I also think that if her injury had happened anywhere else, then other schools would have handled things very differently. She was viewed as an also-ran by that school, and was basically discarded like so much flotsam and jetsam.

Support, yes. Enourage it to the point of her missing things like birthday parties and other events in favour of dance, no. She did miss a lot of those things, but they were always her own choice, and her friends got used to her lack of availability. Some even went so far as to check her schedule before arranging their own parties. Do I regret the time, effort and money involved? On the whole, no. Even though it all went pear-shaped at the final hurdle.

If they have any sense they'll turn round and go back again!

I know of two dc who have been offered places at WL this year. Both of them go to local schools I'm aware of, which are run by exceptional dance teachers. The schools have a strong track record of getting students into full-time training, both lower and upper (and by that I mean several each year, every year), and associate programmes. Neither school does competitions or festivals, and as far as I know, the young dancers do not have a big online presence themselves either. The reason these two got offered places this year is down to their natural ability and potential, and the truly outstanding teaching they have received.

I had a surprise earlier today while waiting at traffic lights to cross a bridge over the river in a village near me. There was a group of about a dozen house martins having a high old time flying around over the water, and as I watched, they were joined by a swift. Quite early in the year for them all to appear, I don't think I've ever seen any in March before.

Perhaps you could announce on social media that the school has a policy of not 'following' or commenting on any students under the age of 18 on instagram etc.

Great minds think alike Anna!!

That's just it though, isn't it? There are many opportunities for adult amateur musicians, singers and actors to continue to learn, rehearse and perform with others. Orchestras, bands, choirs, amdram groups, all sorts. Ballroom dance enthusiasts have many clubs and dance schools who teach large numbers of adults. You can participate in most sports as an adult. But adult ballet dancers? Very few dance schools have classes for adults, and those that do will probably have one class a week for all abilities. Unless you happen to live near a big city or have the time and money to travel, there's nothing.

Yes, MDS is for ballet only. From what I remember, the school has a set total of MDS places, so the availability each year depends entirely on the number of MDS leavers freeing up places. Some years there are more than others. They sometimes have other scholarships and bursaries available for MT etc.

I agree - and it hasn't changed much since my so-called career advice when I was at school all those decades ago! The thing is... that school career advisers are usually teaching staff. And most of them have left school, gone to university, qualified and gone back to school again to teach. There aren't all that many whose eyes have been opened to the wider world outside, and maybe they just don't know what's out there.

They are awarded at finals, I believe.

A teacher who is negative and is destroying your dc's confidence is not the sort of thing you want, regardless of the prestige of the school. This alone is more than enough to leave the associate programme to be honest.

At 16, then one of the most important things in my view is the pastoral care and support given to students, both at the school itself and when they are offsite in accommodation, whether school-run or privately rented. Also, how much (if indeed any) feedback and/or discussions with parents will be allowed. On degree programmes, the schools normally have to abide by the regulations of the awarding body, ie the university, and those regulations normally state that the students are adults, all information is totally confidential and the school will not talk about or discuss the student with parents whatsoever. Even in the most dire circumstances. In my view, for the younger 16/17 upper school students, this is totally unacceptable. They are not yet adults, like most people going off to university. The penny has not dropped with the universities that ballet degree students are frequently under 18, and essentially still children, and no allowance in their regulations is made for that. Youngsters on degree courses are expected to advocate for themselves, and this can prove a daunting, or indeed impossible prospect, especially if there are issues with either staff or the school itself, or with the student's own physical/mental health. I honestly cannot stress this point enough.

Having 'banana' feet with high insteps and arches might gain admiring looks from others, but it means that you can go through pointe shoes at high speed and it costs a fortune. My dd once broke the shank of a pair during just one class. It is also very difficult to find shoes that actually fit and support properly without you going right over forwards or falling out of the front of the shoe. It's interesting to see what Anna C says about the Russians preferring the look - my dd's shoes had to be handmade in Russia in the end, they were the only ones we could get that fitted her.

These days we're barely even allowed to call ourselves women.

There's a certain section of society which really does not like Mumsnet; nor the freedoms of speech it gives women. If you get my drift.

Can you imagine the raised eyebrows if British companies specified that only those holding British passports could apply?

Perhaps the reverse might also apply and British companies will employ fewer EU dancers and more British ones.

I met a few parents who said that a lot of people apply for associates, but I believe it is easier to get into than the CBA. That was a few years ago though, could be different now.

I don't think that was the intention at all. The poster was just saying that even at Royal (which people think of as a feeder school into the company) only some students who start in Y7 will make it all the way through the system and become professionals.

Your dance teacher knows you, your feet and your current level of training, so really they are the only person who can give you appropriate advice.

The schools running degree courses are bound by the awarding university rules and regulations regarding confidentiality. The students are considered adults (even though many are under 18) and the schools are simply not allowed to discuss the student with parents. They will refuse to do so. It is like talking to a brick wall.