HAIRBELLES

Have visions of racks & implement of medieval torture being used prior to an audition day to try to reach the 'golden leg to torso ratio'.....Please, please can't all this ridiculous measurement idea stop being talked about? How are our kids going to feel if we start getting a tape measure out? They are not stupid....they will ask what it's about then how did they measure up. Then what? Oh - your the ideal 'length leg' (so how do you explain a failure then?) or sorry, your legs are the wrong length (so then say well may as well stop dancing?) !!!!!

We would all say it is wrong to discuss bust sizes for maturing girls in the big wide (non dance) world & the imagery of big is best in the 'celebrity' world leading to boob jobs being sought by very young women is universally condemned. Well, this is surely just as bad.

Sorry I got it mixed up you're right Tinydancer .

I have just seen the note I did the calculation on .

If I'm right it's

Height x 100 divided by inside leg measurement .

Please correct me if I've done it wrong anyone ... Still looking for that article .

 

Edited to say I have visions of poor children being frantically measured lol .

I will have a search and see if I can find it . Unfortunately my history clears itself , if I cannot manage to link it I will post the title of it .

Hi All

I wasn't going to comment on this thread but everyone in one way or another has valid points.

As a mother of a dd with a physique that has been described in her school report as having " beautiful proportions" I know that it's about a hell of a lot more than physical attributes.

Dd has just been unsuccessful in her quest for a place at Elmhurst 6th form ..... Naturally she was upset but she has surprised me by wanting some sort of feedback. I myself am not at all keen for feedback , she has worked hard to overcome her injury and maybe "stiff big toes" are a game changer anyway I digress this thread has given me the idea to do a lot of googeling ( is that even a word) about ballet physique and the body as a whole.

I watched the 52% Vimeo and yes I've measured dd although a 33 inch inside leg she only has a 50 % leg to body ratio.

I also found a very interesting article about how likely it was that a child assessed at age 10 would be ideal for ballet training at a later date, it seems that there are a lot of other factors why some attributes are desirable. For instance a long back is possibly more flexible and less prone to injury . How do you have a short torso yet a long back ?

The article went through everything from the head to the toes and things that I thought would be an advantage are absolutely not , it also went on to describe what could happen to the individual in the long run if they carried on training with say less than the desirable bone structure of the foot . That even a child who did "fill out " would still have the same proportions they did when they were 10.

So looking at my dd through the eyes of this article I can see she has many things that could be "deemed" wrong with her , but she looks nice at times "stunning "and she will continue her quest at least 'til next year .

Everyone deserves a chance to fulfil their dreams but for some it will just not meant to be wether through physique , injury, not as good as the next girl etc etc ......

It does seem to be normal practice to tell them ..... Dd was told she had stiff big toes , no idea if this is a game changer

I think the physio is looking for things that are more major that would hinder their training in the long run.

A lot of minor things can be worked out with the correct exercises.

We are here now and the boys have just gone in to change. Nerve wracking times!!!

I have just arrived in Birmingham with one very jittery dd !

Good luck Gollyrox and all the boys .

I cannot wait to get tomorrow over with then the dreaded wait ..., who'd be a dance Mum

There was a video posted on Facebook yesterday of a girl that had to have her lorwer leg amputated due to cancer.

She had major surgery and a prosthetic so she could dance en pointe again.

I have no idea how to link it to this page I'm complete technophobe ...... I am in complete admiration of the true determination of these young ladies.

Feel free to correct me anyone but a no is a no regardless of how good a rival is perceived .

If your child has everything a school is looking for they will either be offered a place outright or be placed on a waiting list .

 

All 4 MDS schools differ in that at Tring and Hammond you know if you definetly have a place and only go back for funding.

Hammond offer very generous bursaries that can work out cheaper than your MDS contribution.

Massive good luck to all attending finals for Lower and Upper schools this month

Sorry just seen it in the title

Hi Yorkshire pud

What size are they ?

Hi Pictures

I will FB you with details of dds ex landlady.

Fabulous family, they take a few girls together , a couple of girls your dd knows from yr11 have stayed with them X

Peoples reasons for attending or not attending an audition are so incredibly personal & unique that I don't think we should be critisising anyone's decision.[/quote

 

It does all work out in the end.

I don't what anyone thinks of the way I have approach results this time (4th time I have been through all this) it could be useful to some of you.

When dd auditions there will only have been 2 finals therefore there will be young ladies in her audition that will get multiple offers.

A no is straightforward but she knows a wait list is just that and that some of the students will definetly turn down their place .

I sure some of you are thinking well yes what's your point but do your children really understand that this does happen a lot!

I have drummed this into my daughters head that's whilst an outright yes would be wonderful she would still be happy to be in with a chance.

For all you new mums on here my dd got her MDS 6 days before the start of term .

Here's hoping everyone ends up with somewhere even if it's not the place we all set off to in the beginning .

Just to say to those of you awaiting Hammond funding finals.

I'm not sure how many MDS places they have this year - in the past it has been more than Tring possibly due to the fact that Tring's MDS are spread though both lower school & 6th firm whereas Hammond's are only spread through lower school.

But the school wish they had more awards as everyone they take to finals is worthy of a place & so are trying to fundraise to increase their bursary scheme which can be very generous so that may be a possibility.

It should be quite a good year for MDS this year at Hammond as nearly all the boarders in yr11 have one ,so they will go back into the "pot" . When my elder dd was in yr11 only about 3 girls were in receipt of one.

 

Ballet4boyz try not too upset , easier said than done , lots of us on here have similar stories to tell and our DCs are still going strong .

My younger dd nearly missed out altogether at yr7 , it is your sons first final and he has done amazingly well to get to that stage at Royal .

Good luck to all for the rest of the finals .

You would think so but there are a lot of really good girls out there .

I am always quite amazed at the standard both in ballet and commercial dance . There must a lot excellent non vocational school across the country.

Dd broke her leg badly 18months ago and her foot is still a little stiff another concern as well.

I feel sick at the thought of opening that letter and it's weeks away.

Thanks Dancing10 I really do hope it's exciting when it comes .

Yes she is Dancing10 .

She is at The Hammond , she loves it there and is quite happy to stay but she would love to be somewhere that has a stronger classical focus .

This will be my 4th round of auditions , 2 lots of lower and 2 for Upper.

I dare not even think about DD getting a place , it still seems so unreal she has a final at her dream school.

My biggest problem is how to calm DDs nerves she is on the phone or texting me every day worrying about how good the other girls are going to be.

Maybe I should start a thread for some tips..

My favourite saying ,What is for you will not pass you by . I truly believe this and it is only in retrospect ,wherever your child ends up ,you realise it is or was the right outcome.

 

Good luck to all you Mums ......and stock up the wine fridge .!!!

I m sure for Dada it will be April 2015/2016 , I cannot remember if you can estimate your earnings like you can on the MDS.

The Dada is means tested only once in that first year , you pay the same for the next 3 years regardless of a fluctuating income.

The only element that is re- assessed every year is the maintenance if you qualify for it.

I could be wrong about the tax year .

I see your dd has finals for Tring , it's possible to cut the costs by using a landlady rather than the boarding at Tring.

Good luck the finances can be a real headache .

Great news Dancing10 worth waiting for !!

Oh no !! I've just logged in to see if you'd heard anything , maybe tomorrow .

They seemed to have quite a few auditions that week didn't they . I'm wondering wether that has had an impact on them getting the results out .

What date was your audition Dancing10 , I've had a look at previous posts and can't seem to see if you have mentioned it .

We were at Tring on Mon 18th they said 3 weeks so I'm figuring we will hear on Monday .

Fingers crossed for all those waiting .

Wait list for CG here too. Never expected to get a place, was really just testing the theory that all those at voc school get wait list. Any opinions?

I think it could be right A4D , it has been said to me that all apply from vocational school if they don't receive an outright place are put on the waiting list .

This is DDs 5th time on the wait list . The first year I felt she was too young to go so didn't apply . It was a no for yr6 then 5 years in a row on wait list and she is vocational so that would tie in with the theory .

Well done to all with a yes !!

Thanks Kkelsieballet , we have never had a place from the wait list but do know others that have.

No they don't all get wait list , the first year we applied it was an outright no .

Thankyou . She is yr11 so it's SS at Covent Garden .