Happymum

Danceroo, we also decided to wait till next time but are you sure that they will be doing this additional auditions this November again?

My dd also auditioned last November but didn't get in. We've decided to wait until next autumn to audition again. I am not sure that she has progressed enough yet to make a difference. Especially if there are only a few places available.

She has also started a ballet TPA course on a Saturday and is really enjoying that at the moment.

Well, I have just noticed that I needed to send the application form by 23rd of March, so it's too late.

Hi balletmum20. My DD auditioned last autumn but didn't get in. I'm still not sure if we should try again or not.

7 boys and 4 girls it's a lot! Does London centre always have such good results? I wonder if it makes a difference that some children have JA classes almost every week and others not even every other week. Meaning that they have better chance of getting in...

Sorry! Not sure how I manage to write in your post Katymac!

So once again:

I'm sorry if this is a silly question but are there no A levels at any vocational ballet school?

It's all OK

 

Another Open day and she is 'back on track' (which is ever so slightly disappointing....I had

visions of A levels & uni) with an additional

career path in mind if it doesn't all work out the

way she hopes

 

I'm sorry if this is a silly questions but are there no A levels at any vocational ballet school?

 

 

They are fickle

 

Drdance, what actually ARE the iliopsoas? Are they the muscles the physio has taught me to engage to lift my leg off the bed? Those are

just in from my hips. I have to feel my hips,

then move my fingers in towards the middle by about an inch. That's what I engage to lift.

 

The iliopsoas are the strongest hip flexors muscles and yes, you'll need them to lift your leg.

 

Our letter for grade 4/5 and inter f. Arrived today as well

Our latter for grade 4/5 and inter f. Arrived today as well

Anjuli, what a nightmare! I teach Pilates and I can't imagine teaching without touching to correct. I mainly work with adults but also work with young dancers and whatever their age and experience -correction is needed.

The "touching" issue is a touchy one.

 

When I first started to teach, touching was part of teaching. But as the years went by it changed and now....

 

In the USA, my experince as a teacher has been:

 

In a college/university setting - no touching. Any hint of any un-PC communication - physical, verbal or anything else will immediately be reported. That included not only the teachers but other staff such as the pianist.

 

In a performing arts middle and high school (public school in the American meaning of that) - absolutely no touching.

 

In a private studio - ask for permission and/or clarify policy of studio with parents prior to registration.

 

Even in a non-dance setting, when I was tutoring reading to an 10 yr old girl, with her mother present, I asked permission of the mother before giving the child a hug.

 

When I spent the day going from teaching ballet class in the university to the studio and/ or performing arts schools - it was difficult to remember where I was allowed to touch and where not and whom - so I got in the habit of keeping my hands behind me lest I make an error. Oh dear, oh dear!

 

The reality is of course that in a private studio setting as time goes by students, parents and teachers get to know one another well and there is a trust and so touching becomes the natural part of teaching ballet that it should be. This never happens in a public or university setting.

 

Sometimes, it is just so hard not to spontaneously give an upset (or happy!) child a hug.

 

This is the same with verbal communication. In the public school I was told that all instruction must be preceeded by the word "please." As in: "Please try it this way" or "please stand over there" or "please move your hand forward." I began to feel I was teaching in a prison run by the inmates. Needless to say, not dependent upon my income to eat, I did not seek to renew my contract. Any knowledgeable teacher who could left after a semester or two.

 

Of all the different venues, I preferred teaching in a private studio.

I do think that the younger students are pushed more overseas.The defiantly do more stretching and strenthening,and are expected to push their turnout as much as they can.The teachers can

be very strict.They can touch the students

without any problems.They can shout at the

students and also give lots of love and

kisses!they expect the parents to push them and

help with exercises at home.

Not saying this is right or wrong only what I

have seen from abroad from my dds classes,

(most of her teachers have been Russian).

I agree! I spent 12 years in vocational school in eastern Europe and children are pushed harder and they practice up to 10 hours a day (weekends). Also, what I think is different, they compete against each other from early days (rather then support each other). I'm not saying it's better I'm just saying it's different

Thank you very much!!

Thank you very much! It would be lovely to hear from somebody about WL as well.

Dancergirl24- so physio was just to tell you how to be careful etc? I thought that physio assessment is for the panel - to let them know about any problems, weaknesses so they may decide not to offer you a place.

There are two JA classes. One for Y5 children and one for Y6. The accepted Y4 children do the Y5 class twice before moving to the Y6. There are four Y4 children In my DD's JA class of 16.

And yes, my DD was accepted and she's Y4

Year 7

Thank you JA Dad. And I didnt want it to be a problem for anybody. So maybe not a novel :-) just basic info what's happening during first audition and what during finals. I think that its not the same in each of these 4 schools ( Year 7) Thanks a lot

I have two DC planing to audition to vocational schools in the near future. I thought that now is a very good time to ask you to describe the whole procedure. I was supriced reading the posts about auditions, I didn't know that there is a maths test in Elmhurst and some other tests at Tring before finals. An interviEw at WL? I'd love to know what happens when and in what order in all 4 schools. I thought that if I ask in few months time you won't remember that well :-).

Me too :-)

My DS will have his primary exam in 2 weeks time as well Balletmummy. This is his first ever exam but he's not worried. My older DD started ballet in grade1 ( saying that primary is not a real serious ballet ;-) ) so we also have no experience with Primary. Good luck to your DD.

Sussex summer school - near London, no auditions, no photos etc. For children from 5 or 6 years old till 18 ( boarding from 8 or 9 )

My DD goes to two schools. To Her "main" school twice a week and to the other school once a week. Both teachers know about it, I never tried to keep it secret. Do whatever is best for your DD, don't try to keep the teachers happy. In my opinion if they are good teachers they will understand.

Swayback knees or "banana" legs are not the only reason of heels not touching in first position. My DD is very thin so her knee joints do "stick out" and are very slightly turned in. If she is forced to keep heels together in first then she will need to keep one knee at the front of the other. So she must Never do that! She keeps her knees together properly, is encouraged to contract/lift quadriceps and then she just have this gap between heels - I think it's about 1-2 cm.

2 weeks starting from 28th July. We are planning to do the second week, from 4th Aug.