taxi4ballet

I found the part of the article about how dancers walk in everyday life particularly interesting - they do seem to walk differently to everyone else - I'd always put it down to painful feet and aching all over!

You're absolutely right Anjuli - I would never be able to think of all of this!

From the description, it sounds to me as if the pointe shoes have had it and are not supporting the girls' feet!

I suppose that potential being recognised by a teacher is really only the start. Alongside that, perhaps what is also needed is a robust constitution, extreme fitness, a steely resolve and determination, single-minded ambition, enthusiasm, motivation, a strong work ethic, and enough of an ego to be able to cope with setbacks without it affecting self-esteem and confidence in their own ability. Hang on a minute - am I describing a ballet dancer or an Olympic athlete?!!

You could always give the Freed London shop a call and see what they say. I know that you don't need an appointment in Dancia or Bloch.

Hi, do you know how many NATD grades there are?

Delia's Bible, and my late mum's copy of a Stork margarine recipe book My childhood copy of 101 Dalmatians Most of my Dick Francis books are literally falling apart

Years ago, my friend and I were highly amused by a variety of crisps on sale in Ibiza called 'Bum' !

It's a real trial and error process isn't it!

Reminds me of a quote from somewhere - 10 percent inspiration, 90 percent perspiration!

I haven't heard of this one before, it will be interesting to find out more.

I was wondering if anyone knows which London shops offer a student discount, and is it just for full-time vocational students, or associates as well? Do any of the on-line shops offer the same? Any help and advice gratefully received.

Porthesia, with more than one cat, it could be a territorial thing. They need to 'mark' their space, and will go on top of another cat's business to do this. If it is a nice sunny day (haha, fat chance), have you tried putting the tray just outside the door? Sometimes it works if you move it an inch or two towards the door each day, so they don't notice too much.

Fingers crossed for everyone that things are sorted out soon.

One of my sandals slipped off my foot as I was getting on a train and went down the gap between train and platform and onto the track. I got off at the next station and hopped over to the ticket office. They helpfully phoned the other station for me and asked them to retrieve it and put it on the next train. Waited an hour for the next train - no sandal. Phoned again, and they said they'd got the sandal, but hadn't put it on the train as they didn't have a lost property bag to put it in. Pointed out that it wasn't lost but found. Made no difference, so I had to wait another hour to get the train back to where I started. On the journey - you've guessed it - I passed my sandal taking a ride on a train going the other way. AAARghhh!!!

If anyone is interested in an easy (and very humane!) way to deter cats - either your own or other people's - from digging in your garden, try leaving all your orange peelings scattered on the flower beds. They don't like the smell. Another idea is to add a tablespoon of garlic puree to a watering can of water and water the plants with it, sprinkling it on the foliage as well as the ground. The plants take up the garlic, which cats dislike, and it also helps to stop greenfly; they don't much like it either.

Saw it the other day, double wow! especially the 'Band of Brothers' boys dance near the beginning, the PDD and the Queen finale.

Well done to all your dk's Seagazer, and to you too!

Perhaps we'll stick with Blochs then, as she has their pointe shoes, and just give them a good walloping to knock the sound out. Next time we're in London dd can try on some other makes too, just in case they are a better fit - she does have funny feet.

And armbands!

Hi, does anyone have suggestions about the best demi-pointe shoes? We've tried de-shanking her old pointes and turning them into softblocks, but since dd wears toe pads, they come up too loose. She has worn Grishkos, but they're too tapered and cramp her toes a bit, and were really hard to soften up, and Blochs are comfy but her teacher says they are noisy. Help please!

Could you and any other parents rally round and ask the school to change their minds? Or even perhaps ask the current German teacher to set up a German club at lunchtimes or after school for those wanting to continue.

Interesting you should mention this as it's such a new theatre - the acoustics should be top notch. Was it just that somebody had turned the volume up to No 11?

After a recent less-than-thrilling exam mark, dd was told not to worry, because they don't look at paper, they look at the dancer!

Thanks everyone!