HAIRBELLES

This made me smile to myself as I too am a dreadful nosey Parker I can remember things written on here about other peoples children yet can forget half the things off my shopping list. Welcome to the forum hellogoodbye your dd sounds like she is in around the right grade for her age . At 8 I would say most are only doing one class of ballet, tap and modern a week and is usually when many will start auditioning for associate places at Royal and Elmhurst etc. Are there any classes you could tag onto the Musical Theatre when you are in London ? I don't know if you are aware of another forum called Notapushymum lots of children going for roles in Musicals and acting too .

I have lots of different items I will post when I've looked through them. Some ok as spares a couple of new leotards possible a bit too big don't forget on MDS you will get £650 to spend on dance related uniform . And no pictures nobody wears the scarf although boarders do wear the coats ... I may have a pair of track suit bottoms if I have I'll bring them next week for you .....ps don't forget the tap shoes

Fantastic news news Ebony .....so pleased for your dd I remember how upset you said she was , she must be over the moon . And at least you've got longer than 6 days to prepare

Same here .... Network coverage is fine unlike when elder dd was first there , she had to hang out of the boarding house window to maintain a signal

Hi Lema another potential cost if your child is not on a funded place are learning support lessons. Also at Hammond there are 2 types of funded place the MDS and school bursary . After having 2 DCs at vocational school I would also consider , although it does feel a little early to be doing so , if it's a purely classical route you would like your dd to take or if she is an "all- rounder " good at modern , tap, singing etc she would be perhaps better at one of the schools that offer more than just ballet to a high standard. If you are not keen on the idea of boarding and do not live too far away from Leeds the CAT scheme at Northern Ballet is seriously worth considering also funded by the MDS. Good luck it is quite a stressful time.

Hi Regattah the only suggestion I can offer is maybe appealing to any students who live with host families at colleges in the surrounding area as they are now on holiday ... My DDs host family take students for the colleges short courses . I'm presuming all who go to ENB live independently . I hope you find a solution sending best wishes for your DDs op and a speedy recovery .

We are in the same situation for elder dd although she is at a MT college. She explained to me that it is more of a showcase for the graduate year and you are lucky to be dancing in any of it. Next year she will be in a production that features just the 2nd year students. So I've had to book 2 nights in a hotel and 2 nights worth of tickets for 5 people , a good excuse for a weekend away !

I wish we were in your position Tulip Congrats to your dd for gaining a place this year........ My dd on the wait list again !!!!! Although my dd is for lower school. You can garauntee if I send money for another SS a place will come up. I'd offer to pitch up at tent in Richmond Park if I thought it would get her a place lol

Hi C4d Well done to your dd !...... Please pass on my and my dd's Congratulations to her xxx

At Hammond the number of awards varies each year . It is dependant on the number of awards there are in the leaving yr11 . When my elder dd auditioned there were 13 , when her sister auditioned there were 15 , I believe this year there were only 8 . It isn't many considering children are auditioning up to yr 10 entry . Everyone at RBS has an award if they qualify for it .

Well done to all the those with places and good luck those still nervously waiting. This time of year , reading all your posts , always makes me feel a little nostalgic . I loved my my girls" time with the JAs , we met many lovely children and parents some of which will be life long friends. JAs is a lovey opportunity you and your children will be invited to open days and workshops at Covent Garden and some may even dance with the company ,enjoy the ride you never know where it will take you !

Hi do you still have these for sale ?

Not sure how I managed to post the quote before the reply . Well put Mumofaballetmaddaughter ! What will be will be . Even though my dd is at vocational school she has only just matured enough mentally to realise how hard she has to work. Had she got to WL she would more than likely have been assessed out . She was a JA but has been on more SWL for Royal than I care to remember but with each letter she just says "oh well " and I remind her how well she's done to get on the waiting list . The more knowledge and experience I gain from this journey the less I get my proverbial "knickers in a twist " . You absolutely cannot second guess these establishments . A change in AD can also alter what a panel chooses from one year to the next .

So pleased for your dd celb, what a huge relief for you all .

Thanks for posting the link Linm but it does state that it is "not suitable for children or young adults under 18 ". Thinness does not equate to dangerously unhealthy! My dd is very slim and has a robust appetite she is lucky to have a naturally fast metabolism. I find it rather insulting that someone would presume she was unhealthy or ill because she is slender . Sorry Spanner I was typing this as the other replies were posted. .

She was fine Thankyou a long time ago now but little did we realise how good she would become at singing. In yr9 she decided her passion was Musical Theatre and has just done amazingly well in her first singing assessments at college . Like you said take the lead from your daughter and how she feels . It's hard to imagine what life will be like once your dd is away and how she and you as a family ,will want to spend precious time together .

Hi Dancing2003 They usually grant permission for things as long as it doesn't involve missing school although I imagine there will be exceptions to this rule The first term at Hammond my elder dd entered the vocal section of our local festival , I felt that although our local festival allows Vocational students I wasn't comfortable with her dancing but as she had only entered the vocal once before she went away ,that this would be ok. She won the Vocal Cup. This went down like a lead balloon with the other Mothers and one actually reported her for being a professional . Edited to say posting at the same time Dancing 2003

Hi Pas de Chat The Induction day appears to be on the 2nd July . The date was in an email I received as part of the PTA . Good luck to all your DCs exciting times.

Hi Dreammaker I have a dd in yr9 and my elder dd left last year after 5 yrs in Hammond Lower School . She is now training at Bird college . I feel sure she would not have gained her place there without the all round training she received at the Hammond. I cannot really add much more to the above posts if there is anything specific you would like to know feel free to pm me .

Another cost my friend hadn't banked on was tube fares . These are usually free for 16 yr olds studying A levels but because the Diploma is level 6 and counted as higher education her dd didn't qualify for the free travel.

Ebony I have pm'd you .

Try not to get too stressed I also know of DCs with multiple offers as well as Hammond . Like 2dancersmum has already said some of the funding auditions and prelim auditions have not taken place yet. Unlike MDS the Dada process takes a lot longer. Last year my DDs place at Bird wasn't confirmed until June so that was one back in the " pot " at Hammond . Not sure how the quote got in a separate box .

Hi Sharry 01 Please can you let me know what size is the skirt is, waist and length. Hope all well and good with you and your DD. Many Thanks