sparkledust

The tickets are now sold.

I have two tickets for the final which we can't use now sadly. Please DM me if interested, I would hate them to go to waste. Good luck to anyone who has a DC taking part.

We loved it too, and wonderful to see so many talented pupils right across the age range. It was also interesting to see the dancers from the Young Dancer's Show"stretch" /"re-size" (not sure what the right word is!!) their performances to fit the larger stage.

Hi Willow, we also only have experience of Tring but were also in the position of choosing between TA's (theatre arts) and Dance. We took the view that the window for dance training was smaller than for performing arts and as ballet was what she really wanted to do it was an easy decision. It really depends on what your daughter really loves doing (difficult in yr 6 !) but to give an example the junior TA's have a ballet class two or three times a week as Harwel says but on the dance course this will be a 2 hour class a day. Conversely on the dance course my dd had one drama lesson a week and no singing at all. Occasionally children move from one course to another but this is not common. Good luck with the decision, it is a good dilemma to have !

Two cases sounds quite reserved! The worst thing is it all has to go up several flights of stairs and obviously down again at the end of each term - have the spinach ready along with the tissues!

My daughter did week 1 and as arabesque1 said they were packed and ready to leave straight after the performance. Just remember to allow plenty of time for traffic. I allowed an extra hour for a two hour journey and it wasn't enough!

Good luck to everyone auditioning, and all the parents with hours to kill!!

Loved it, I smiled all the way through ... except the final bit on the stairs "ouch". Thanks for posting it.

If she hasn't worn them and you have the receipt I don't see why they wouldn't exchange them for a plain pair if that is what your dd would prefer (even if they have to order them). Good luck!

We have just had a very fraught shopping trip for school shoes, I really wish they could be fitted at school it is so difficult to keep within the "guidelines" and please a young teenager. We ended up with a pair from Camper, but had to cross London to find the last pair in her size . Sorry Picturesinthefirelight my dd wouldn't wear the above for the reasons already mentioned but if your dd is happy with them why not?

Some photos are now up of the second week. (not a huge number though)

I have sent you a PM x

It was wonderful to see so many talented dancers yesterday. Everyone danced beautifully and I particularly loved seeing so many fantastic male dancers - like watching the stars of the future!

Thanks Lottie. My dd also thought that photos hadn't been taken of her group although the photographer was definitely there, so some of you should have some lovely shots - last weeks were super.When I suggested I take our camera tomorrow my dd said "please don't"

Good idea dtadmin. Although i'm not really sure that my photography skills are up to moving images!!

What a shame. I think the same may have happened this week , if so they are missing a trick as I am sure there are many parents in group B who would love a photograph,myself included.

Does anyone know if the photographer takes pictures of all the groups. I know all groups were photographed in previous years but the photographer is different this time. Thanks

We were there yesterday in the madness that was York on a race day, I have never seen so many people all heading to one destination ! (luckily YBSS was the opposite direction). It is dd's first time so she was a little apprehensive but glad to be sharing a room. Unfortunately her room mate hadn't arrived by the time I left so I haven't met her but dd says she is lovely (phew). Just waiting to hear how classes have gone today - although once she is into the swing of it I don't expect to hear anything... unlike the very early text this morning.

One of the girls from dd's dance school heard today. A funded place for year 8. Exciting!

I have PM'd you Angel

A yes here for dd for week 2, she is delighted. It is her first time at YBSS and she will be going to vocational school in Sept so this will be good "practice"

Thanks I have replied.

Hi All4 dancers it is also a year 9 place.

Well done All4dancers! good news here too and much jumping about

My dd went to this summer school for the first time when she was 9. She went on her own boarding for the first time and without knowing anyone. She was paired with a girl for whom it was also her first time and they were well looked after by the house parents who were next door to help with buns etc... She is now 12 and still friends with the girl she met at the summer school as well as girls she met from all over the world. As you say it is not just ballet but they might learn how to apply stage make up or how to do the different classical hairstyles as well as some street or modern dance. I think exactly what is on offer differs from year to year. So, to answer your question, as an introduction to summer school it was great for my dd. - a bit pricy though particularly if you need boarding as we did.