Oldermum

Well done to our friends DD & DS who were offered full-time White Lodge places starting in September from this year's White Lodge summer school

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125652452@N03/ at the moment there is only one photo

Some use train buddies to travel by train currently about 5 or 6 travelling together on dd train getting off at various stops. She started travelling with a 6:1 in yr 7 now it's a mixed group next year will be yrs 10, 9, 8 also in early days on return journey especially in winter we took it in turns a parents to chaperone going back. Also car sharing works for leave outs but not so much at end of terms when they bring everything home.

Jealous Kiwimum6 had to work yesterday, looking forward to next week, I didn't get my email regarding details of times do you have them please?

Any feed back on 1st week, how it went, new venue, today's watching? Does anyone know if they took photos and how long before they come online?

BBB you'll probably find it was a boy as year 9 only have 3 boys so there was a year 11 and year 8 most likely chosen because of height. Also some of the parts are being shared between performances. I know in year 8 the girls have made sure they are dancing when they have parents family in the audience. Also different year group boys performed in the Scottish as with 16 girls all needing a partner the only way to accommodate is to use boys from different year groups. I for one thoroughly enjoyed the whole of lower school perform and am looking forward to going to watch a combined lower and upper school performance.

Good luck to all you dd & ds dancing on Sunday, I know of some fab dancers in Senior final it's going to be tough, hope you all have a great time x

Is that because she's gone into 6th form training as know of full time students who have been in the finals who have gone through, qualifying festivals and regionals even though they'd been in full time for a couple of years. My dd gave up festivals as she respected this what the school guidelines said, she gained her place in a full time school and for her that was a bigger prize than she could win at a festival. We didn't even consider going to regionals last time even though she'd qualified before going into full time education. I must admit I miss seeing her dancing solos. but for us it was going away full time or staying home and continuing with festivals. I must be naive as I thought your dance school is the one your attending so if your at vocational school, how can you dance for another school surely you left that school to attend your vocational school and I've a feeling you are supposed to be a pupil of the school under whom you're entering the festival. Just a thought Proudmum what if all White Lodge, Elmhurst, Hammond & Tring pupils entered the festivals then how would you feel?

Good luck to all those who've made it to the finals on 8th x

And mine

Good luck to all those who auditioned in York today, fingers crossed for a successful outcome

Hope everyone had a great day at regionals today, anyone any idea how many are through to finals from each venue & age group. Well done to finalists, hope the rest enjoyed the experience.

My DD going for first time in the silver class.

What about Wells Week in Morocco?

That's great news AFAB hope hope your DD enjoys it we'll all look forward to hearing about it

She'll have rehearsals for end of year school performance. I thought it might be another avenue for summer schools for any 16 year olds who will have finished school after GCSEs, as places at ballet summer schools seem like gold dust with so many talented dancers out there.

After watching the Vienna State Ballet on TV today I browsed their website and found a link to the 1st Summer program 2014. Although it seems my DD wouldn't be able to attend as it is held 23rd to 28th June, I thought some might be interested. opera-balletschool.com news Applications from age 11 years registration before 11 February 2014

That's great very near the bus stop you can use to get to Elmhurst,

There is also a X service from the same stop this is a limited stop which only stops 3 times before school. £2 single journey but £3.90 all day, this option is great if you've to go to school, then come away and then go back and then back into Birmingham. child fare is £1 single journey. buses run every ten minutes and only takes ten minutes to school. Most drivers are helpful so if you ask for Priory Rd and ask them to tell you they'll give you then nod.

I haven't seen Lady Of Shallot for years, I did it at about 13 borrowed a book from the library with the poem so I could understand the character, also Ophelia or Lady Macbeth. Princess and the seven swans. Jayne Eyre has many story lines, Jayne Eyre in the Red Room. Anything to do with ghosts stories. Anastasia. Medussa.

Well done getting to the finals

Hope all the Grade 1 & 2 junior ISTD ballet award competitors have a very enjoyable day. Let us know your experiences. Good Luck

Hi BillyElliott, my dd at same school as your ds. She hardly rang at all her first term she said it made her feel more homesick ringing home, as the school year went on I got more phone calls especially leading up to leave out or half term when she knew she was going to see us. This year she's rung every night and I'm finding it harder to cope as I notice every little change in her voice so if she's tired and she sounds a bit down or less enthusiastic I worry more. It was also like drilling for teeth as she wasn't forthcoming with what she'd be doing but happy to say she's better at filling me in now - I think that's because she wants to tell me things before I find them out on here or facebook. I know it's hard but follow his lead and I'm sure he'll settle into a routine. Also dd wanted a new phone and I told her there was no point as she had a phone so she could home and as she didn't phone she'd no use for a new one. Hey presto phone call every night and 2 or three times over the weekend.

5 - Year 7 Elmhurst leotards excellent condition only £3 each ideal for spares 2 sizes please message me for more details. 3 are for smallest girls and 2 next size up.

Well I preserved and I might have sore fingers but I wasn't beaten - pointe shoes darned yeah