taxi4ballet

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!

Boogalou, have a look on the ISTD website - they have details about various dance genres on there. Someone described modern to me (I think it's actually called Modern Theatre) as the type of dance you would tend to see in musicals in the west end. There are several methods of contemporary and there are no exams or set syllabus or anything like that, which might be why children don't normally start it until they are a bit older and physically mature, and already have a good technique in other styles.

Wise words as always, Anjuli

Aileen, just to update you, I spoke to my relative and she said that hers is not a typical career path, she fell into it almost by accident after having been a professional dancer. She suggested that your dd could watch as many performances as she can, listen to as wide a variety of music as possible, and get a notebook and write down her ideas and everything she learns along the way. Also she said the best thing to do is to get her out there, and do as many workshops, courses and days of dance as she can - and get her face known to as many people as possible. Hope this helps

Dear All Many of you will have read comments I made on this forum earlier in the week, and, haveing re-read then in the cold light of day I am horrified at the tone of my comments and the way they must have come across. Fate has not dealt me an easy hand in life, and while this is absolutely no excuse, I am sorry to say that it has left me with an occasional tendency to vent my spleen at the wrong moment, and at entirely the wromg people. All I can do is offer my profound apologies.

Boogalou, does your dd's teacher offer classes in modern? Some of the modern syllabus is in a contemporary style

My dd is 13 and will start contemporary classes in September, she also has occasional ones as part of her associate scheme.

Brilliant Fiz, do let us know the title

My dd's friend does Cecchetti, and she says that the arms are very different, and much more in the Russian style.

dancing10, you could try Stella Mann in Bedford

I'm going to see the dance show, missed it last year, but the year before was terriffic.

You are so lucky - remember the shoes we got in an emergency for the EYB casting a fortnight ago? She wore them for that and three classes, and they've had it already!

Does anyone know whether the choice of available A-levels has a infuence on what people decide?

Hi dancing 10, what a wonderful understanding school, she is lucky! How old is your dd?

I suppose what I am trying to say, is that IMHO people with funding might be more likely to take the rough with the smooth, than if they were paying for it. If this thread was about another school, the Royal for instance, people would say,' OMG your dd/ds is at the Royal Ballet School and you are actually complaining about it?!!! Don't you know how lucky you are? Don't you realise how many people there are who wish with every breath in their body that they were in your shoes?"

I have found reading about everbody's experiences, both good and bad, very enlightening; I also agree that everyone wants the best for their children, and should fight their corner should the need arise. Forewarned is forearmed. The thing is, you don't accept a gift horse, look it in the mouth, and then complain about it's age, or colour, or that you don't have a cart for it to pull.

I think perhaps I'm just a bit tired of hearing people complaining about what they do have when there are so many who don't ,and who would give their eye-teeth to be able to take their place.

We've never tried the patches, dd's teacher hates them. I don't think cutting out the satin affects the longevity at all. Have a look on youtube, there are several ways of darning (sorry I'm no good at links). Perhaps you could try with one pair, and see whether your dd prefers dancing with them or the patches, and go with what she likes best?

If our dd was offered an MDS place at Tring, she would make our lives sheer hell if we turned it down! Many of us will never have the luxury of being able to choose our preferred school, let alone be able to afford the fees. I dare say that fee-payers who have chosen one school over another might well be somewhat critical and wish they had chosen differently, but that is human nature, isn't it? The grass is always greener... We would consider ourselves exceptionally fortunate if our dd was offered an MDS place anywhere. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Free up a few places, and give the rest of us a chance.

I have already made my mind up, Tulip.

My dd has never been keen on learning French at school, and one of her associate teachers suggested that German could prove to be very useful one day...