taxi4ballet

Well, I am not going to comment on other people's decisions because there may well be more to it than meets the eye. But - If my dd ever tells me that she wants to pull out of a production because she thinks she's too good for the role she's been given, or that she's better than someone else and should have got that part, I know how I will react. I'll tell her not to be a spoiled brat, to take a good look at her attitude, and to get on with it. But then, that's just me...

Having just read the newsletter, and all the above comments, (plus comments elsewhere in this forum about dancers deciding to leave EYB during rehearsals because they were unhappy about the parts they were cast in), I find myself thinking: Professional dancers really do need to dance with minor injuries whether they like it or not - they have to earn a living and if they take too much time off it has an adverse effect on their career. Although it is understandable that some might be unhappy with the part they have been allocated, it probably doesn't do them any good if they up and leave because of it. A career in dance very often means that you are cast in roles that you wouldn't necessarily take from choice. It's much better to adopt a positive attitude, accept what you have been given and do your best. Your turn will come.

Can't help wondering what the seven dwarfs are wearing !

I hate computers.....

I liked the newpaper headline this morning - 'Bone Idol' !!!

Being able to balance on one leg with arms stretched also helps when you're out picking blackberries!

Interesting.... thanks

We've got this book, (unsigned though ) and dd loves it. I would hang on to it if I were you, we might see you on the Antiques Road Show in a few years time!

Associates - the RAD syllabus classes. Met a neighbour in the library the other day whose granddaughter is going. It's the first time she's auditioned for anything and she's really nervous. I said I would see what I could find out and let her know.

Sorry, what I meant was - are the Tring Park Associates and the Day pupils in the same saturday RAD classes together or are they taught separately?

Careful choosing of the 'first' ballet to take a child to is a bit of a must - the first one I saw was Petrushka when I was about 5 and it gave me nightmares!

Do the Tring day pupils join the Associate classes for RAD or are they separate?

Anyone going to the auditions on 26th May?

Good idea, my dd gets water retention and no amount of holding her stomach in makes any difference!

Not sure if this comes under the housework umbrella, but one thing I find really tiresome is getting DD to do her homework. We never really have enough time to spend on it, and the school seems to take a perverse delight in giving her the most homework on the days she has the least amount of room in her schedule....grrr!

ENB often do workshops / talks / backstage tours in conjuntion with performances at regional theatres - you never know, it might be worth asking them if they could organise a 'special'.

Could be, it all depends on the shape of your dd's arch. I've found that with my dd that the ribbons gape if I sew them on at too much of a slant. I tend to do them at right angles now. Don't forget that the inside ribbon needs to be about a hand's width longer than the outside one, since it goes round the ankle an extra half-turn when it is tied.

We've always liked Katz satin ballet shoes, they are a nice colour, fit well and last a long time, and seem to suit all but very wide feet. (I've recently been helping dd's teacher by fitting them when she's busy in class).

We could carry a rolled-up copy of the 'Dancing Times' My dd is really looking forward to it, she's been to the Christmas and Easter courses at Tring before and feels really at home there.

Well done Fiz, hope you don't ache too much this morning!

afab, My DD is 13, she does RAD inter and has recently taken her grade 7 exam. No idea what that equates to in Cecchetti grades though!

I've heard of the NATD as well, don't know anything about them though.

Thanks for that, we probably won't bother with lessons then. On the paperwork it says either greek tabard or leotard/skirt for the greek classes, but I was wondering what others have worn in previous years. Also it is an Olympic themed party this time, so they might be doing more greek than normal...?

I wear my driving glasses at the theatre and cinema and have found they work really well.

Had a letter this morning to say DD has a place, she is going to be really excited, expecially as she's never done any Cecchetti before and we didn't know if she would be accepted. I've got a couple of questions for people who've been before... Would it be helpful if she has a few lessons from a Cecchetti teacher before she goes? (She has an RAD exam soon and I'm not sure if it would confuse her re arms etc, as I believe the styles are quite different). Reading through the stuff, it mentions Greek classes, what do people normally wear? Will she be ok in a leotard / wraparound skirt? I don't want her to feel the odd-one-out if she hasn't got the right tabard or whatever, and looking at the prices on eBay I don't want to have to buy one if I can help it!