HAIRBELLES

Thanks Tulip Thats a great help! Would you mind asking her if she used her practice (is it s or c can never remember) tutu I have got that ....I'm relieved we dont have to take bedding as we will be going on the train. Did they need much spending money?

Can anybody help who have had experience of, or who is going to Elmhurst Summer School? I know I could ring the school but sometimes they say "oh don't worry its ok if you haven't got it don't go out and buy it" but I believe my daughter's friend says it is quite strict. Already I have found out she needs character shoes and a little wrap around skirt neither of which are on the list. Back to the point,my main concerns are will she need a national character skirt and do they wash their dance kit for them? Any other useful information will be much appreciated!

Hi All If anyone would like to buy my daughter's skirt here are the details .....also the zip up top and leotard were only worn for the last year and would be ideal for spares........PM me for details The skirt has to skim the floor when your daughter kneels up.....our JA teacher lined them all up every year to check them .... Skirt measurements are as follows: length inc waistband: 19inches with a 4inch hem waist approx 21 iches with room to make a little bigger I know there is the selling thread but I thought more JA mums might look here Good Luck ladies! I am lucky my Mum is pretty nifty with the old Singer sewing machine.

Hi Sodor Ive sent you a PM

A very subjective topic especially if any of your DC have attended any of the 4 schools as we will all have had different experiences.........but I would have to throw the CAT scheme at Northern Ballet Academy into the mix ....apologies if you are only discussing the main 4. I have no idea statistically how NBT measure up but the small amount of training my daughters have had there has been a very positive experience. After RBS and Elmhurst its classical training must come close to Hammond and Tring....

Hi Tutugirl I have 2 that would fit the 8/9 yr old......has a pancake skirt but a soft velvet bodice white with pearls from bennefiss x

My younger dd danced with 2 sets of twins over the 3 years with RB associates.... Shashee you can't pass up this amazing opportunity like most have posted there may be some movement at London and a place with become available at a later date.

Hi Sodor My friend's daughter is there today....she's a dancer.......I'm sure they will be having a great day! ps. I quizzed my eldest asking which music teacher had a daughter who may be joining the school....as usual she was clueless ;)

Sorry Moneypenny just realised I wrote the same thing!

A very well done to all the yes's and so your journey begins. Eight years ago my daughter received the unwanted no letter .........it didn't even cross my mind to try the year after . After a casual conversation with the ballet teacher she tried again.....I also tried her for the Northern associates at Warrington just in case she didnt get in Royal.....she was vey lucky and got both...... Like many have posted before no is not a never and it just maybe not this time. My daughter is now about to finish her 4th year at vocational school!

Moneypenny......as audition dates for Elmhurst were announced in the Dancing Times a couple of weeks ago I decided to begin to look into post 16 options for my daughter. I am very concerned with the funding aspect.......therefore I decided to ring the department that governs the current dada funding......I was advised to ring the schools and colleges concerned ..... Dancersdad......yes maybe had I been a bit better informed when we started down the vocational route, we may have made different choices "hindsight's a wonderful thing"

Hi tutugirl I have a gold victorian style satin dress with net underskirt and bloomers matching ballet shoes......very pretty!.....You may have seen similar at festivals as there was always someone else in one......I would say it would fit around age 7/8yrs Pm me if you would like measurements...... not sure how to get photo on here but you could maybe message me on facebook Good Luck with the costumes x

BRAND NEW NORTHERN BALLET CAT UNIFORM for sale 1 x tracksuit never worn 2 x light blue leotards 1 has shoestring straps the other 3/4 length sleeves, the one with sleeves was worn for 2 weeks summer school 1 x light blue wrap around skirt sizes are XS to fit 9/10 or petit 11 yr old All can be viewed on Planet Dance £50 inc postage PM me for any details measurements etc Also needed to purchase practice tutu ( I think it means a practice one someone please correct me if I'm wrong) suitable for Elmhurst Summer School to fit age 15yrs

Hi My younger dd attended the summer school a couple of years ago to give her a taste of boarding...........the only other info I can recall to that of Famcandance is at the end of the week they gave a short performance in the theatre ,it was lovely to see all the children were really enjoying performing. My dd came on leaps and bounds after only one week of the teaching at Hammond.......she hasn't done any other residential SS so I have nothing to compare it with . Sodor my elder dd doesn't like the food but I am inclined to believe your husband!!!!!

I don't think it will be the first or the last time Miss Lewis will be upset .......a few years ago when my dd did EYB she couldn't believe it when she and her friends saw Miss Lewis stuff a bouquet of flowers in the bin .......they were an apology for dropping out !

All the info for Cecchetti Scholars and Associates is in this months Dancing Times p68.

You may already know this .....there is also Cecchetti associates at Kate Simmons Warrington........maybe you could ask for this years timetable to see what potential clashes there would have been ......the timetable from London associates.....(just read this back and it sounded to me I was implying ask at Warrington)

Primrose I did not mean to cause offence and I didn't intend to start the selling property debate again........my post was more to make a point that I have had lots of enjoyment out of all the money spent too.......All of us are in different positions and as this is where the majority of our savings lie in the equity of our house Iwould consider releasing some of it if a fabulous opportunity arose..........So when I made this remark it was only my personal circumstances I was referring to ........and also a little' tongue in cheek' as I'm sure we will never be in this position.

Well put Nana Lily......2 girls with very different tastes is hard enough to feed but a whole school I don't envy the cook with restricted budgets etc. At any age it is hard to resist the lure of junk and sweet foods ...............but for teachers to be making comments then school allowing them to have limitless amounts of tuck is sending mixed messages .......a lot more could be said but it is getting off the subject of this thread.

I have and still am paying a small fortune for my daughters dancing and education.......all I have ever asked for is maximum effort on their part with classess and academic studies......they also know that if they decide it is no longer what they want to do they don't have to carry on ....they are both aware it does cost alot of money and they are very priveledged to be given the opportunity (youngest would not be there without the MDS) to attend their school. All this aside I have had a great deal of pleasure from all the money spent too!...and have met some lovely people along the way! As many people have already said the cut off point is purely a personal descision......I feel that having spent 5 years at vocational school my daughter should be able to secure a funded place at college . I would not sell or remortgage my house for training at 11 but what if one of my daughters was given the opportunity at 16 to train with say,The Bolshoi then I probably would!

If any teacher felt that either of my daughters needed to lose weight I would prefer a phone call first to discuss the matter with myself first before any negative comments were directed at them.....It is far to easy for a teacher to make a general comment to the whole class...some will brush it off and others will take it to heart and its generally the ones that take it to heart that the comment is not aimed at in the first place....not forgetting anorexia is a mental illness and doesn't always start with dieting ....most people who want to stay at an ideal weight will have to watch what they eat. I always tell my daughters to make wise choices and dont deny themselves anything. Does anyone out there with DD's and DS's at vocational school have an issue with tuc ? should I start a new thread ?

Don't forget to tell me next time Nanna Lily x

Very true.....my youngest dd a ja for 3 years only made swl the second time we applied and didn't even make the final when most of the class did. Great news for all your dd's given places from the waiting list it seems to make it all the more exciting. Sniffymum ....will your dd be joining my youngest in september?

Unfortunately it is all assumption and guess work. I have been connected to this school for nearly 4 years and cannot fathom out how MDS awards are given. At an educated guess it is given for potential I could be wrong but I am sure an outside person from MDS is on the final panel. Wilderflowers I will pm you in a few days (away until sat) about your bursary question.

With pleasure Sniffymum...I will pm you tommorrow x