taxi4ballet

While trying to find some shoes that dd doesn't wear out in 5 minutes, I thought I might ask! Which make/style, how much dancing you do etc etc.

famcandance2, what a situation to be in, it must be so hard for you all, really hope something works out well in the end.

Re MDS funding - I dare say the government is having it's purse strings pulled really tight at the moment. They probably only have the funds for a certain number of MDS places, so if YDA were successful in gaining some, the places would probably have to be taken away from somewhere else's allocation. Just a thought...

One of the reasons we moved dance school was because her associate class teacher pointed out that corrections she made re dd's technique were not also being consistently corrected by her regular teacher. She was being allowed to 'get away' with things all the time which made the associate teacher's job much more difficult, and was frustrating for dd, as she made less progress than she should have done.

Does anyone know whether MDS places are usually given to Year 7 entrants, or can older applicants get them too?

Following on from the car debacle, hubby now in the doghouse with dd. he found the remains of a chocolate bar in the fridge and ate it (as you do!). DD then says "Where is my chocolate?" so he owns up and offers to replace it. She then points out that it was special chocolate, not availble in the shops here, and was a present from her best friend who brought it back from France! Whoops

Grouping by ability rather than age does sound like a good idea to me - how does it work if, for instance, you are much better at one style than another - could you be in the top jazz set and bottom for ballet (or whatever)?

Trouble is, it's me who has to drive around in the darned car, and people will think I did it! Not going to bother getting it fixed, as it's cosmetic really, and hubby's pride was dented more than the car tee hee!

smallbythesea, I remember your previous posts, and I'm really pleased that you've managed to find a good local school that can offer your dd so many classes, and the audition support too. ps, if you find a money tree, can I have a cutting please!

SWL is short waiting list, I think.

Much the same here, Spooky, I drink tonic with ice and lemon and no-one bats an eyelid... I don't drink because I've got some kind of food intolerance to alcohol, but people started giving me funny looks when I said I didn't drink for medical reasons, as they seemed to think I was some kind of reformed alcoholic and wasn't allowed to touch the stuff. Now I just say I'm allergic to alcohol and I get loads of sympathy from everybody instead!

Difficult one, perhaps it might all depend on how you think your dd would cope with possible rejection if she were to audition and be unsuccessful. Although, having said that, there is always the thought that you have to be in it to win it, and she could be offered a place! What does her teacher say? Have you thought about dance days and workshops as well? They are usually quite reasonably priced, and are good for helping students pick up new stuff quickly (a useful skill in auditions).

It isn't necessarily the actual London ticket price, for us it's the cost of travelling into London as well!

A rather sheepish hubby came back from filling my car with petrol yesterday. He said he hoped I wouldn't be cross, but he'd pranged it at the petrol station, and dented it, scratched lumps out of the bumper, and scored great lines along the light fitting. DD and I roared with laughter - the reason? He's a qualified driving instructor!

DD thrilled to win first prize yesterday at our local craft and produce show for her Mint Choc Cupcakes. I won first prize with my Meat Loaf (had to chuck it away though, as it had sat in a hot village hall for 6 hours...)!

Yes, but on the other hand, lots of people may think that the arts should be at the very bottom of public spending, and should really be paid for by the well-heeled, rather than the general tax-payer!

Not in my dd's case, they were just wrongly fitted according to her teacher, too tapered for her square toes and a shank not hard enough for her high arches. Won't be going there for pointe shoes again, great range of leotards though.

Fiz, I think there's somewhere in Letchworth that does adult classes, is that reasonably do-able for you?

Last time we went, we must have been unlucky, as the staff in both Dancia and Bloch were a bit casual and offhand and didn't actually listen to what we explained that dd needed for her (rather unusual) feet. Sometimes it really is pot luck, as previously staff in both shops have been extremely helpful...

With the current recession, and the general public wanting to put funding for the arts at the very bottom of the list of public spending, I think this is absolutely the right thing for the Royal to be doing. When Arts organisations are looking for public funding they really must also be doing all they can to raise as much money as they can themselves.

We were in much the same situation last year, and dd decided to stay where she was - I don't think she was emotionally ready to give up the security of going to a school she'd been at for 10 years. Then, in about March this year, realisation dawned and she said: "I'll never get anywhere if I stay where I am, will I?" The decision was hers, and so she moved to a different dance school, and is thriving there. I don't think it would have worked out if I'd instigated the change - it had to come from her.

You should have been watching Cash in the Attic - mind you, clearing out the attic is yet another chore!

One of my favourites is the music for 'Local Hero', by Mark Knopfler - the theme is used all the time on trailers for tv programmes etc, you will be bound to recognise it.

My dd's feet suddenly stopped growing when she was aged 10 and a half, so you never know...

I shall probably have nightmares tonight - this morning I added up how much money we're having to fork out for dd's dance classes this term!