Happymum

I've received RBS audition details today. My DD is getting more excited now! I just wanted to wish good luck to all DDs and DSs and their parents. Auditions start in few days - 1st May in Newcastle. We need to wait till 20th (Bristol). All the best and let as now how it went.

I sent my DD forms to RBS and Elmhurst the same day. RBS reply after couple of days but Elmhurst after almost 3 weeks. I was just about to give them a call.

Ops! Didn't do it very well. Just wanted to thank you!

Thank you all for great advice. Re: leotards. I have been told that it's good to have a tight, small-ish leotard. So it's not important if it's new or old as long as it looks smart ( clean ) and it's not too big at all.

Thank you all for this information. I spoke to children ( and teachers ) who did try last year and they said: few exercises at the barre ( incl plié ) skips, gallops, jumps plus some extra high and slow jumps and stretching exercise - hamstring stretch sitting, frogs (some said on back some said on tummy) back stretch (cobra from yoga ish) and box split. One ballet teacher runs the class, couple of them seat at the table and another one walks around and take notes. Hope that it helps! But I agree that children just should enjoy it. Its good to have an idea what to expect but a lot of it it's just the talent and potential - they can not practise it.

Hi Grumpybearzuk! My DD did a be a JA for a day in Birmingham. Was you DD there as well? When is Birmingham audition? My DD also has JA friends and some in Elmhurst and it makes it even harder for her to accept that she may not get in. Told my DD to do her best but also just to enjoy it as a normal class. Good luck to your DD

Sorry, DVD not book

Well I'm sure that not every Pilates instructor can work with children and specially with ballet dancer. Our local ballet school offers Pilates and had recently 3 children offered places in vocational schools ( 2 with scholarship ) and some got JA places. I think that Pilates might be a part of this success and just wondered how common it is to have Pilates classes as well as ballet tuition. And please spannerandpony let us know where did you buy this book.

Thank you Angela, that's very helpful. My DD is only 8 and will be Y4 next school term. I've heard that they are not many places for Y4 but my DD is desperate! We are trying to keep her hopes low but she just loves dancing and planned her future already :-)

Do your DD and DS do Pilates? Of course there is Pilates training in vocational schools but I wonder if any of the "ordinary" evening ballet schools offer Pilates as well? Or did/does your child do personal training Pilates session or adults classes etc

Maybe you are right Amber21. Maybe the whole point of these auditions is to see what potential is there. They may not want children to lern something and "perform" on the day. But still I just wanted my daughter to know if she will need to dance on her own or in group/lines etc. And how long do we need to wait for result? I read some posts and I feel for all children and mums (and dads I think as well) who are waiting at the moment - it must be really hard! So back to my question - if my dd's audition for JA is on 20th of May when we may expect a letter? And also - are there any other mums of 8 years old auditioning for the first time?

Thank you for your reply. We did JA for a day but that was to see how the class will look if they are invited to join. My D was brave enough to ask the teacher after the class if the audition looks similar but was told that no! Was told that they will do some high jumps and galops and that this will last for about an hour. But that's it. We will audition in Bristol.

Hello, This is my first post on this forum. I did try to find some informations about auditions but didn't succeed so hope that you will be able to help. My D loves ballet more then anything in the world and she is a good dancer but she also is very shy. She finds it difficult to stay on her own in place she doesn't know with people she has never seen before. It is strange because she can perform beautifully at the front of the big audience etc. Anyway I would love to help her a bit and let her know what she may expect on the day. I've heard that teachers are vary nice and it is a nice experience for children but it would be great to know bit more - which exercises do they do? As a group or in pairs or individually? If your children did tell you something last year please let me know :-) And good luck to all little girls who will audition this year for the first time.