Happymum

Thank you!

Does anybody know if I can by Russian pointe shoes (Rubin) online (or order by phone)? I Would be grateful for links and shop names. 

Sadly sold out in Just Ballet and Dancique is shut for 2 weeks...

(Of course putting aside the obvious importance of proper fitting in a specialist shop)

Actually I've never asked the school, maybe it's possible to simply pay monthly, would be great! 

2 hours ago, 2dancersmum said:

To be honest, we looked into this and after seeing the interest charge decided to do our own version.  We opened a specific bank account for vocational school and worked out how much we had to pay over the year. We then paid into this account weekly/monthly . We started May before DD actually started at vocational school so there was already money in the account by September. It meant it was far easier to budget - we still paid the school termly but with money going out of our accounts by DD monthly we never had any lump sums to find and it made finances easier.

Yes, I started to think about a similar way of "saving" for school fees yesterday. I looked up how much we will need to pay for SFP and thought how many pairs of pointe shoes we could buy for this amount of money and decided against. But it does look nice and easy, very convenient and everybody's case is different so I can see how it might work very well for some. I'll need to come up with someting else like 2dancersmum did.

Thank you all very much!! 

I'll have a look at the website now. 

I think that some (long) time ago somebody on the forum mentioned some kind of company/organisation which helps spread out payments. If I haven't imagined it it allowed you to pay smaller amount monthly (weekly?) rather then  1 big payment a term. Hope somebody can help. I thought I'll check here before I ask at our school but maybe each school has a company they work with and I should check with them? As proud and happy as I am for both my children I'm dreading September...

Yes, Olivia told me that this year they will finish 4pm sharp (or I guess that not later then 4pm) as people have flights booked etc. 

She told me my DD will be in the middle Advanced 1 group. It's her first time. Any information about this group? Age range, uniform needed, any other DC from this group? We don't have the practice tutu and probably won't buy one but do majority of girls in this group wear skirts? 

It was nice to receive a phone call from Tring today, inviting my DS to another class (audition?) as there might be a funded Yr7 place available - they want to have a look at a couple of children again.  Anyway we have declined as DS is happy with his place at Elmhurst but I hope that the offer goes to somebody else on the forum! 

Edited to add that it's for an MDS place on Dance course 

What about Tring? They do jazz and MT and Contemporary and its residential 

All sorted now! Thank you everybody for your help. 

DD was sinking so too much pressure on big toes. Shoes have (suddenly) softened so got wider. 

New bigger ouch pouches fixed it - no more pain - she could danced in them on Wednesday if needed. But one shoe is definitely dead anyway so she has new pair and will be trying hard to break them in for Wednesday morning. 

Of course I'm so greatful to ladies at Dancique! My DD said today that she absolutely loves the shop and I totally agree with her! So so helpful! They were fully booked today but still managed to fit my DD as an emergency! Thank you, thank you, thank you Dancique! 

19 minutes ago, Moomin said:

Yes I love Russian pointes but they always stretch and I end up sinking too.  Same as your daughter it's a sudden thing and they're not soft just a little worn in. I definitely wouldn't want new shoes just before an exam either, I would ask to try a box liner if possible. I've had shoes that have got soft enough on the platform for my toes to start hurting but at that point it was obvious that they were soft and flexible. Russian pointe platforms are really hard though, I've never had them go soft, they always soften in the wings & shank well before then!

Thank you Moomin, that's very helpful. 

I wonder if an adult pair of ouch pouch over her usual junior ones is going to do the trick ?

Thank you all. 

Yes, she has a very compressible feet, already wears toes spacers. 

These are Russian pointes. 

Feet haven't grown, the shoes were Perfectly comfortable yesterday (well as much as pointe shoes can be!)  suddenly today the pain in the big toes! 

I also thought she's "sinking" though she says the shoes don't feel soft and don't look any different then yesterday. 

I think that whatever she says I'll take her to the shop on Sunday anyway and hopefully they will advise what to do. 

Not a good timing! 

My DD has an important exam on Wednesday. She has a pair of pointe shoes bought not long ago. They were absolutely fine  yesterday and today all of a sudden big toes in both feet very painful in every single exercise! 

I don't know much about pointe shoes, DD is young so not much experience. Is it possible for shoes to  "die" so suddenly? Both shoes exactly at the same time? 

I'm thinking straight away about buying new shoes on Sunday but she says she can't have new just 2 days before the exam. Help! Her plan is to use lambs wool (normally uses just ouch pouches). Is it a good idea? (Just to say, the shoes haven't been properly used for around 3 weeks during Easter, last couple of days DD had them on for the first time after the break - not sure if it makes any difference). 

Any thoughts? I'll be grateful for any advise.

I am interested in the formal blue top if you willing to sell it separately, maybe also the skirt. Will pm you

Utter shock, the no letter we expected was infact an mds place, so thrilled for my dd x

Fantastic news! Congratulations!!!

Starting early Happymum! !

I know, but I've learnt my lesson and want to be better organised this time!

I'm looking for Elmhurst blazer (also tie and trousers) for a tall and slim year 7 boy. Approx height 156cm at the moment.

You can see on Elmhurst (and other schools) website the sliding scale of your contribution. You can then roughly guess what your contribution might be. The forms aren't needed before May/June to give time to all the companies and self employed to close their financial Year - you'll need to give them all the details from current financial year. It won't be till end of July ish until you receive your first invoice - only then you'll know exactly what you need to pay. But the information available is rather accurate.

You can always contact the school's finance manager - they are helpful

Fabulous news Happymum! To have your DD and DS together is something very special!

Yes it is indeed! They are both sooo happy today!

I'm so proud of them ????

Fantastic news TBG! Congrsrulations to both girls.

Thank you all! I really am a very happy mum now!

Fingers crossed for more good news from other parents.

I can't believe it!!!! Boys results are out! It's a yes for my DS!!!!!!!

Good luck to upper school girls tomorrow!

It's been a week since lower school girls finals - I hope that results arrive tomorrow.

Definately not 50 places! It is around 12 in Elmhurst and in RBS (sometimes a couple more). Not sure about Hammond but in Tring is more like 7 ish. Of course not all of the accepted are JAs.

My DS had a great time at Elmhurst today. He enjoyed his audition and came out smiling.

The parent/candidate discussion was just a friendly chat with a child about school, boarding and dancing.

I guess we will receive the results next Friday (Thursday if we are lucky).