Ribbons

If this was for me then yes, I have already raised my concerns with my DD’s then WL ballet teacher when we had one of their parent ballet meetings. So they do know my feelings & that of other parents who are brave enough to ask those sort of questions.

Funny though how he said “I have however been concerned about the impact it is having on the students & parents” when he actually shows very little concern for his own students already at WL & who have worked their backsides off & gone all the way through from yr7-11 to find they’re not being offered a place at US, why? Because his very own students can’t compete with the YAGP competition winners! Even after 5 years of training at WL!... sad but true.

Most of the students that keep getting the opportunities seem to have won a full scholarship via Prix or one of the other big competitions. Some I would guess would be on sponsorship. I know that the Austrailian girl who's joining upper school next Sept (who's only 14) is going there on a full scholarship.

I think that British parents have to also be aware that if their DC were offered a place at the RBS Upper Schoool directly from WL or from any other ballet school, then they have to be prepared that their child will be without a doubt be at the bottom of the pecking order in regards to being offered any ballet related opportunities that may arise. My DD is at WL & I've been following roughly what opportunities are being offered to the students at the upper school (ie opportunities to represent the school etc) & it's always the same foreign names that keep coming up time after time! I feel sorry for all of the other students, particularly the British ones, who are also & equally amazing dances but unfortunately will never get a look in!

There were actually a total of six Yr11 WL students (girls) that were offered US this year. BUT out of those six only two are British & have been there since yr7. The other four are foreign & two of those only started in Yr11 last Sept so I wouldn’t class those as rbs trained. The training the girls have received over the years has been inadequate. The teachers that they've had are what I would class as good but not amazing. The students are so far behind the standard of the foreign students that are being shipped in that yes, I would be embarrassed if I were the artistic director at WL. The students work their socks off there, but they can only be as good as the teachers that are teaching them! What also infuriates me is the artistic director swans off to teach & judge at all of these international competitions but I know for a fact that the current yr11 girls have never had a class with him... His own students! Just goes to show where his priories lie!

A "yes" for a year 6 Birmingham RBS place for my DS! He's only been dancing for just under a year & this was his first ever audition, so we're thrilled to bits for him. Good luck to anyone else waiting to hear

DD asked me the other day if I knew what brand & colour the dancers at the Royal Ballet wear when performing... Anyone know?

Ahh, thanks theodore

Hi all, just wondering if anyone knows who the lady was that was on the panel for the appraisals at WL. My DD said there was Diane van Schoor, Jay Jolley & a lady who she didn't know. Does anyone know?

Congratulations to your ds theadore, my dd has also been offered another years training! She's on cloud nine... A great start to half-term! Good luck to everyone else from WL awaiting results x

Hi all, I can highly recommend Stergene, non-bio, colour protect wash. It says on the bottle that its "Specially formulated with anti-fade & colour protection technology" I used to use it all the time on my DD's leotards etc before she started at WL & I must say I found it be excellent! It can be used in the washing machine or for handwashing. I used to buy it from Sainsburys for £4 for a 500ml bottle. Hope this helps http://www.poshrosh.co.uk/ProductsInfo.aspx?pId=225079&pType=product

Glad I could help

I've bought a floral cotton one for my DD, but there's this plain one which seems good for boys, & it fits with the size that WL are asking for - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXTRA-LARGE-LAUNDRY-BAG-NATURAL-COTTON-CANVAS-SACK-/160787657331?pt=UK_Laundry&hash=item256fb0f273 Hope this helps

Thanks everyone... I have no problem with her having it, I was just wondering what the uptake on it was. Think I'll tell DD nearer the time though as she hates injections!

Hi all, I'm wanting to know people's thoughts on the influenza vaccination which WL offers to all of their pupils. My DD is due to start in Sept. The letter from the RBS says "Because of the tight-knit community in a boarding School it is advisable for children to be vaccinated" Ive never had any dealings with this vaccination before so just wondering from people who have experience with WL, do they all mostly go ahead & get it done?

My DD uses this bag for her day to day ballet classes & I must say it's brill. It's a great size, strong material & has good sized compartments that easily fits all of her leotards, shoes, track suit, hair things etc in... Highly recommend!

I think they've taken on board my email (& any other parents that may have emailed them) as I've just received an email (all yr 6 associate parents should also receive it too). Part of it said.... "As the end of the academic year is drawing to a close we would like to thank you for your loyalty to the Elmhurst Associates programme over the past three years. We hope that you have enjoyed your dance classes and have gained valuable knowledge and true inspiration from your teachers. We would like to wish you all well in whatever path you are now taking; continue to work hard but more importantly never lose your love for dance, it is to be enjoyed. As I have worked more closely with Birmingham Royal Ballet marketing department this year we are developing all material for the Associate programme and what might be an appropriate end of year acknowledgement. This year, Year 6 students in all regions will receive a personal letter from Elmhurst." So a great result! :-)

Hi Nana Lily, I sent an email to them yesterday with my thoughts & suggestions, I'm awaiting a reply.

I do exactly the same grumpybearuk, it's lovely looking back at old ballet photo's etc. It just seems odd that when my DD did their associate Easter course this year (which was for only 2/3 days) she came away with a lovely certificate, which she was so proud of. But after 3yrs of associate training & passing her assessment at the end of each year, she has nothing to show for it except a few photo's that I took & the letters they sent me. Yes, I think I will JulieW.

Yes I have to agree watching our children & the full time students was lovely. But for me it was my DD's last Yr 6 associate classes & I was really disapointed that the Yr 6's never even got a mention in either Denise's or Mr Parkers speeches at the end. After 3yrs of attending their Saturday classes (& my DD loving all of her classes with them) I would have thought they would have got them all up & presented them with at least a certificate! (like my DD got when she finished RBS JA's) but no, nothing. I thought at the end it was all about the teaches giving themselves a pat on the back & they totally forgot all about the Yr 6's. I know I'm not the only parent who felt this too.

I took a head & shoulders photo of my DD on my mobile & used the instant Kodak machine at Boots. You get a 6x4 with 9 passport sized photos for 39p!! - Bargain!!

My DD's JA class isn't in London & all girls/boys were given a flyer, regardless of wether they are starting in Yr7 or not.

We're going for the first time with my DD who's starting in Yr7 in Sept. We were given a flyer at JA's a few weeks ago. Yes, fingers crossed for the weather!

Thanks JulieW, One of the PTA mum's also told me this on new parent's day, she said some of the older one's do it in exchange for tuck! lol

Can I just ask, are WL ok about parents using the stick on labels, iron on labels, laundry pens etc? as it would be sooo much easier & quicker for me & DD! Just wondering as the info we received from RBS says "everything to be clearly marked with sew-on nametapes" I'd hate for DD to get told off on her first day!