Oldermum

Has anyone tried cafepress.co.uk the have themed items for everything just type ballet in their search engine, also you can customise items as well. Whe my dd went away to school I had a water bottle with her name and photo on and a mug with a dance them, it's not just ballet but tap, modern. Items included t-shirts, ipad cases, mugs, pillow cases and more enjoy.

Thoroughly enjoyed the school show DD is now all fired up for starting in Sept it was good to see how easy it was for the new year 7 girls to get on, Glad to have met so many friendly parents. Angela you're in for a treat tomorrow the showcase was great, nice to have met you.

Inspirational, good luck for Friday x

Hi elly, thanks for the advice. any ideas for the British theme I wonder should it be clothes or items??

Can anyone advise what normal clothes to pack for summer school, we got the dance wear items but what to take for free time? Also what sort of thing are children taking for the British theme?

Hi My dd was also a ja and last year the year 6 JA were invited to London during October half term. They undetook 2 days of lessons, mock auditions and talks to help them prepare mentally for the audition proccess. My own DD thoroughly enjoyed the 2 days which took place at Upper School in Covent Garden and she finished the 2 days feeling very excited and looking forward to the auditions - in fact she came away deciding to audition for White Lodge, Elmhurst and Tring. The also prepared in the JA class. My DD didn't have any extra classes or private lessons associated with auditioning. I just told my DD work hard, listen and enjoy your dancing and let everyone else see how much you enjoy it, getting offered a place is a bonus and if your good enough to get to the finals and aren't lucky enough to get a place you still have your current dance schoool where the teaching has got her where she is today, and if you don't get in keeping working to improve, keep loving dancing and maybe it will be your turn at a later date. Good luck also you make some lovely friends from all over the country so enjoy it.

Hi Lala We've had a letter today telling us about my dd MDS.

No we have heard anything yet, I think it takes a while. Which year group is your dd/ds going into my dd is going into yr 7. Looking forward to 7 July

Hi also just arrived home from Janet Cram, yes the competition was amazing congrats to your DD's friend and teacher, my DD got junior runner-up I found it extremely emotional and my DD's friend tied with the junior solo award for her dance. Very enjoyable day.

Closing date is 1 September and is held at ISTD2 studios in London.

Letters have been sent out to dance teachers my dd was in grade 4. Our letter says Junior Scholars Day (grade 3, 4, and 5) is on 25 November 2012, Senior Scholars day Grade 6/inter foundation, intermediate and Stella Mann is on 4 November 2012 classes are taught by Senior Faculty Examiners or Guest Teachers. The cost to finalists is £25 but prize winners, Stella Mann prize winners, Musicality Cup and Class commendtions become a scholar for the year 2012/13 and their day is free. Hope this helps.

Thanks Angela for posting this it's useful for me too.Exciting times ahead but it's good to get advice from those who have been there before us.

When you realise most of these sentences apply to you and you just sit reading and nodding in agreement.

When a weekend away is to take dd dancing somewhere other than local dance school.

Great facebook page, best of luck

Hi Kiwimum I've sent you a pm. hope it helps Oldermum

Dancingmom glad your dd had a good day, fingers crossed for her, keep me posted.

My dd on waiting list for wl, but having dancers who'd been offered WL that had no reflection on her at Elmhurst final as she got yes. Not everyone that gets a yes at WL gets Elmhurst and not everyone that gets Elmhurst gets WL. But I think that maybe some parents of dancers who'd already been offered wl just wanted to make sure their dd/ds had made the correct choice. The deadline to accept a place is so short that even if Elmhurst had been their 1st choice you'd have to accept wl cos if you didn't you miss the deadline. You can't really judge people without the whole story, as hard as it is to be given a no, you've no guarantee it would have been a yes if these dancers hadn't gone to finals. I'm sure everyone does what they think is best for their child. Unfortunately there aren't enough places for all the talented dancers out there, but you've got this far at your current school - as been said before it's only a no for now not a never. What's worse getting a no now and maybe a yes later or a yes now and to lose that place to someone who got a no originally - just food for thought.

Good luck on Tuesday for all those at funding audition

I'm so sorry for all those with a no and I hope you all keep dancing, you're all special to have got so far and good luck for the future and with funding auditions this week. We are very lucky at this house my dd has a yes for yr 7:)

I also rang Elmhurst today and was told they are going in the post 1st class tomorrow. Watch out for the postman Saturday morning, good luck to all those waiting xx

I'm with you on this one dancingmom, the waiting is painful, hope the postie arrives tomorrow

Hi charlie4dancin, Sorry for any confusion, I've been told there are only 3 on reserve for yr 7 places at wl - not sure about other years. All these three were at Elmhurst on Tuesday as well as at least one who had been accepted for yr 7 wl.

Dancingmom, my dd also on reserve, I believe there are only 3 reserves, fingers crossed, like you we were at Elmhurst finals Does anyone know if all 12 beds were allocated, and are any of those from the London school going as day students.

Nice to have met you yesterday Afab, hope you had a safe journey home.