taxi4ballet

Yes, we tend to think of stress in terms of business-suited middle-aged men, rather than in children. Considering that most young dancers have to do a full day of schoolwork plus homework etc, and then spend nearly every evening at dance classes, it would be surprising if they didn't get stressed!

Got quite hooked on Brain Training on dd's Nintendo DS for a while.

Just finished reading Julie Walters' autobiography That's Another Story. Really interesting, particularly her childhood, and quite an eye-opener in parts. Probably not one for your elderly maiden aunt!

I was talking to the owner of a shop near me who stocks Grishko pointe shoes. She had to go on a shoe-fitting course with them.

I think any costumier worth their salt should be able to fit flattering costumes that take account of a variety of bust sizes.

swe - I can't help wondering if everything is all right at school, and that she isn't suffering undue pressure there. Are there any issues with friends/boys etc or with a lack of understanding from the teachers about how much she does outside school that she might be getting stressed about? My dd had a lot of hassle from one particular (maths) teacher last year, leading up to exams, and she got very run down and emotionally drained over it. I went in and had a chat with the teacher, and explained the situation, and it seemed to do the trick.

Perhaps it is the expectation of the powers that be in the ballet world that female dancers have a somewhat androgynous appearance, and it it is this expectation that we should be challenging. We cannot hope to prevent eating disorders and the like (much discussed elsewhere in this forum) if girls are continually expected to conform to this unrealistic shape from early teen-hood.

There will always be a genuine need for surgery for numerous reasons, including the reduction of a bust which is totally out of proportion for that person. What I object to is the mutilation of a perfectly normal body in order to conform to someone else's idea of the 'ideal' body shape. I wonder how many male dancers would contemplate surgery to their nether regions because the bulge in their tights was bigger than everyone else's?

P is for petrol - we seem to get through quite a lot of it!

My dd likes Dance Line convertible tights, and they seem to last quite well too.

There is no way in a million years I would ever let my dd have plastic surgery. The very thought of it appalls me.

I agree with Ian, the big set pieces with the corps are a favourite with me too. I can sometimes find solos / pdd can drag on a bit, since I don't know anywhere near enough to be able to appreciate the finer points.

I find that I can type really quickly and accurately - until someone looks over my shoulder at what I'm doing. I start to concentrate, and it all goes to pieces immediately!

We are in the position of not having to worry about making sacrifices. What little we have we spend, and when it's gone, it's gone, and that's that.

I have always been keen to teach my dd right from the beginning that cakes, sweets, crisps etc are part of everyday life, and not to consider them as a special treat, or a reward for good behaviour. She has never developed a sweet tooth, and doesn't crave things she isn't 'allowed'. We wouldn't give a child broccoli as a treat, so why would we give them something unhealthy instead?

If you are doing a job you love, and are paid a reasonable wage, I don't think it really matters how high up the ladder you are. Don't spend your life envying the people above you - be proud of how far you've climbed, and admire the view from there!

Just been watching re-runs of Red Dwarf on Dave whilst eating a Terry's Chocolate Orange.

I overheard a conversation between two girls in a London dancewear shop over Easter. One was saying to the other that just before they broke up for Easter, they had all been told to lose weight. The other one said "All of you?" and she replied "Yes, everybody"!

No, my friend wasn't a dancer, it was just an example of how anyone, from whatever walk of life, can get sucked into obsession.

The only time my dd's teacher mentioned this was when she was deciding what the girls were going to wear in the school show. She said the moves are ok as long as the costumes are age-appropriate! Spanner, would your dd's teacher let her do inter foundation modern 'for fun' alongside the grade 5? That way she gets to learn the syllabus early, which can be a plus for auditions, summer schools etc.

This is something that has to be tackled head-on, and until very recently it seems to have been something of a 'taboo' subject. Years ago, a work colleague of mine decided to lose a few pounds so she would look better in her wedding dress. She became totally obsessed with losing weight, and by the time of her wedding she was terribly thin, and the dress was hanging off her. Nothing anyone said made any difference, she was in and out of hospital for a long time, and several years ago she died.

Good

I did it! I tried the spray starch, which did work well, but in the end I decided that what it really needed was more layers of net. Off to the shop, where I managed to find just the right shade of blue net, but none in burgundy. Blue it is, then. It's amazing just how awkward yards of the stuff is: when you've got it draped round the dining chairs, it seems to have a mind of it's own! Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, tussling with the net. Finally got it tamed and cut into right lengths. Sewed like mad so it would be ready as a surprise for dd when she came home from residential Easter school. How wrong I was! When she put it on the tutu net sprang up wildly (I'd obviously used too much) and it looked totally ridiculous. So - off it all came again - let's use a bit less this time I thought. Good job I didn't do it that evening, since on the following day, dd's teacher said she really liked the burgundy net on it, and she had some I could have if I liked... So, checklist - new net - use less this time - child present for fittings - burgundy cotton - several hours - Finished! Now all I have to do is sew on some sequins...

This is turning out to be a really thought-provoking discussion. Perhaps the time to be realistic is at the very beginning? We all want the best for our children and the sad fact is that however much in the way of sacrifices we make, financial or otherwise, dreams and ambitions can't always be turned into reality. I hope that my dd can happily carry on dancing without worrying about how much we spend, or the sacrifices we make. I would hate it if she thought our love for her depended on whether or not our 'investment' proved to be profitable.

If you are thinking of changing the padding inside the pointe shoes - gel pads / cotton wool / sheepskin or whatever, the best time to do this is in the shop when buying a new pair. Depending on the padding you are going to use, you may need a different size/width of shoe.