HAIRBELLES

DD is Wait list AGAIN for what feels like the millionth time !!! ..... Good luck everyone !

Hi Elfin Whilst there is a certain kudos attached to RBS to gain an associate place at Elmhurst associates is in itself a massive acheivement. I have actually said to friends that I think it better to be an Elmhurst associate than a Royal associate. Both my dds have been Royal associates and when both in yr6 only one girl got a coveted place at White Lodge whereas many Elmhurst associates were successful in gaining places at Elmhurst Lower School. At Elmhurst you have the actual teachers and the AD on site , they have the opportunity to see how the children are progressing , something that cannot be observed from an hours audition. It is often the child's associate teacher taking the audition too and will have coached the children in what they will be doing. Royal only take 12 girls and 12 boys into lower school , Elmhurst have the capacity to take more . My younger dd was a Royal associate for 3 years and ended up at The Hammond from where it is still possible to gain places at a more Classical Upper School. Of course you may not be looking that far into the future but take a look at the bigger picture and you might find your dd ends up in a better position even if she never becomes a Royal associate

Hope everything resolves itself quickly for your dd Best Wishes To you all x

Thanks Gollyrox.

Hopefully everyone will have done better than they think . Can anyone tell me what level they thought the class was and how many were on the panel ? My dd has done 2 auditions at Elmhurst and always looks like startled deer in that last 10 minutes when you watch. Personally I think Elmhurst audition is more like a competition .Not having the confidence to bring herself forward , dd got herself boxed in by 2 girls who were all over the place . Reading all your comments is making me nervous for her already and we are not there until after Chrostmas. Good luck to All for the results .

Thankyou Harwel for your good wishes and sharing what sounds like a painful time for you . It does help to hear when others have been and got through similar experiences . Happymoocow hope your DDs anxiety gets better soon . I will look at ordering that book , DD2 is prone to spells of uncontrollable worry .

Hi Lisa O'Brien thanks for your concern. She has indeed given up dancing,, unfortunately I cannot put it down to not eating properly, lack of daylight hours etc but the confusion my dd is suffering would have manifested itself eventually. It has been a an upsetting and worrying year. Dance has been part of her life since she was 2 years old. The whole episode has changed my view of vocational training at such a young age , letting academics slide to some extent and don't get me started on the cost and sacrifices to family life. All that said I do not begrudge her a penny and am only interested in my daughters happiness and well being. It does however bring a sadness ,she had a strong and natural talent and I never had any doubts that she would eventually work in her chosen career. To some extent I think we are all living vicariously through our young performers and of course their dreams become our dreams but they are young and can change their minds and with that all your hopes and dreams are gone . My biggest regret for her is that she didn't feel she could return just to finish the diploma.

Dramascientist I have been in your shoes to some extent. Dd had a blip same time last year , nothing wrong with college just very down , this was her 2nd year .... I spoke to her landlady who assured me she had great friends , college loved her etc . It came out of nowhere . She had previously been at Hammond for 5 years and it transpires amongst amother things , that it was there and the support of the boarding house that she was missing . I strongly advise you utilise the pastoral care of the college , they are used to dealing with these situations . They will allow your daughter a break with a view to returning at a set date . I'm sorry to say my daughter never returned to college . I wish you and your dd well x

Your little DD is a beautiful dancer, it's only natural she will and most of the children starting Vocational School will be having bouts of apprehension about a number of things. Tell her from me that people usually post their best pictures on social media. Wishing her the very best of luck from both myself and DD x

Well my first thought , for what it's worth, is that this would be ideal for a dancer , like my dd who just could do with a little extra time before auditioning for Upper Schools. She is an August birthday and anyone who knows me personally , I've always said she is more like her peers in the year below as far as ability is concerned especially after "leg-gate".

Some of the colleges run associate classes . The only one I'm sure of is at Laine and I have a feeling Urdang do a juniors . Hammond do an associate programme but I'm guessing that it would be a bit too far from Suffolk. Your friend might find Notapushymum a good place to look for information.

Will do Swanprincess thank you x

Hi Swanprincess and Mimis mom ..... Could I have the DVD Swanprincess if Mimis dd prefers the download .

Do you mean a chance of receiving an MDS award ? If you do then the answer is yes he is . My dd received hers 6 days before the start of term , it came as a complete shock as I had put the chance of someone turning down their place at such a late stage right out of my mind . Not all the MDS awards come from the same year and a pupil already at the school may decide not return in September. Don't lose hope just yet ,fingers crossed you get a call in the coming weeks.

I've only just seen your awful news Regattah . Sending virtual hugs , hope she continues to make a speedy recovery . All the best for today and fingers crossed for the Central results. X

Hi DancingpicklesThe DCs who are awarded MDS have a time limit to accept the award , some may have multiply awards and choose a different school free- ing up one for another child on the list. After this date ,unless it is different to years gone by , some people are offered bursaries which can sometimes work out better . I think all go on the waiting list , I have known DCs to eventually be given an award and some on the list who don't . To give you hope my youngest dd was offered her award 6 days before the start of term . Fingers crossed for your dd .

Congratulations to your dd Mae989 ..... I'm just sat at The Hammond now waiting for dd to finish for Easter . It's a lovely school I'm sure your dd will be very happy here .

Fantastic news for your young men !. Personally thrilled for Belljul and Haggis , I've heard lots of great comments about your DS's. Well done to all who have secured places so far .

My heart goes out to the children very upset this week. This is the first time I have personally known Mums and children on both sides of Royal US choices. What I find dreadful is the timing of such devastating results for the ones hoping to stay. I wish them positive thoughts to find the resilience needed to get through the rest of the finals , GCSEs and school year . Going off at a tangent I feel the whole process of lower school should be more transparent right from the first lesson of JAs . The results this week should not have come as a shock to anyone wishing to stay on . I feel the school has a duty to prepare the students who will not be staying so they can do their absolute best to secure their next choice of school/ college, instead of dropping a bombshell a week or two before .

Hi Sarah761 The year my dd auditioned it was June before her place was actually confirmed. We were the first year of the new dada rules , a possible theory as to why the letters are now worded differently. My dds offer came on the same day as the students from the pre-voc course, possibly they wait to see who they want off this course . A couple of friends were waiting on a place and one was told there are 4 waiting lists according to their strengths, therefore it would depend on who gave their place back as to who then received it . Please do not take this as gospel as it is 3rd hand information but just thought it was worth a mention .

Boys love the bouquets too .!!! They can be done in favourite colours and themed , I've done ballet ones, Frozen, One Direction , Spider-Man the list is endless . If they weren't so expensive for me to post I'd offer my services

Sweet Bouquets are a similar idea, they look like flowers but made from chocolate or retro sweets. I have made these in my spare time for dancers with a good luck balloon attached to them.

Hi Mae989 I can empathise totally with how you are feeling , I was in your very position . That year nearly all the JA class reached finals except for my dd also after the teacher had given me false hope after our yearly chat . I must say the following lessons were very hard listening to chatter of leotards and trips to Richmond Park. I knew getting into the school would be difficult but I was hopeful just for finals. Our local teacher was lovely and she received very positive feedback from Mark Annear that made perfect sense. We have turned her Royal disappointment into a bit of a standing joke as every year she has tried for Summer School and has been placed on the waiting list four times also MAs wait list at the time. I will PM you later when I have more time with our little story ( she's at a Vocational School) But for now my favourite quote that I constantly tell myself " What is for you will not pass you by"