HAIRBELLES

Wonderful news !!!! ....I love reading posts like this. What an exciting half term , Good luck to your dd .

Hi Piccolo My dd has been in this position for 3 years running and like yourselves , would have been there in a shot. I've never taken time off work but I have booked other Summer Schools around the Royal dates just in case. Maybe apply and if she isn't given a place outright book a holiday .

One other thing ....all the students on a CAT scheme are entitled to MDS not just the lucky few . The forms ask the same questions but if memory serves me correctly the thresholds for financial help are lower.

Thanks Pictures ! .....Sorry Spacy I feel like I've somewhat hijacked your thread ..... Please keep me posted on what advice you get and what route to recovery you decide on for your dd .

Thankyou for posting Janet , what an inspirational article. Dd is a reticent ballet dancer, and I've questioned on more than one occasion ,wether striving for a career in ballet was for her. When in hospital waiting for her op ,she announced her 'life was over' if she didn't dance I felt this was a turning point , excuse the pun . I have been told a few times that the dancer can come back stronger than before . She has a renewed determination so hopefully she can too.

Hi Dancing 2003 yes I do , I will pm you .

Thankyou thequays ....... Victoriapage it's good to hear of dancers still able to have a successful career after such a serious op .

Hi Angel it's ages 14-21 yrs ........ From what I have heard it's a really good course with a mock audition at the end of the of it .

Thanks for the good wishes ladies x

For any DCs wanting more all round dance training Urdang run their pre-audition course in half term .

Thankyou so much for that 2dancersmum very reassuring to hear others have been through the same thing with no adverse affects to their training !

Hi Spacy I can empathise with your situation wholeheartedly ..... This summer little dd broke her leg badly in 2 places , luckily for her she narrowly escaped having it plated and pinned back together. She has been unable to return to her Vocational school ,missed all her summer schools and I have had to cancelled dance forward at half term and ENB . By the time she is able to return fully to dance she will have missed nearly a year of training which brings us up to auditions for 6th form. I agree with Ecarte , I contacted The dance again foundation and had a lovely reply from Celia Widdoson who said they don't normally deal with under 16s but she would send me some questions to ask post plaster removal . They may give you some valuable pre -op advice. Besides physio we have gathered support for her rehab back into dance so she doesn't do any further damage to muscles etc. As for the auditions , we have turned this setback into a positive ,after having such a long time off she will probably leave auditioning until later so she can concentrate on her GCSEs without the added stress. By putting a plan into place has also stopped me worrying about her immediate future . One of my concerns if auditioning injured would be the if the physio check, others who have been through the Ballet 6th form process will have more knowledge if this would have a negative effect on gaining a place . As usual some very good advice from everyone , wishing your dd a speedy recovery !!

If it's the Birkenhead centre that my dd attended years ago it was a church hall type venue .... I have a feeling that the Liverpool centre is at Elliott Clarke , I could be wrong !!!

Thanks for that Bailarin ... I have no idea what "paint in windows" is either but guessing it's some sort of file to upload the pictures in .... It's honestly putting me off applying for dd this year as the last 3 years she hasn't been successful anyway .

Hi Sophika9899 my DD started college last year and was quite homesick. I was really surprised just how upset she was as she had boarded for 5 years previously to this. I don't think I had taken into consideration what a huge step it had been for her leaving the close friendships she had , being so far away from home , living with another family etc all at only 16 . She found the 6 week chunks too long so we divided half terms again so she came home every 3 weeks as she had done at school . We timed them so she was at home at the same time as her sister. I can't think of any helpful things to say except it will get easier for both of you and if it is feasible to come home every weekend why not ? I'm sure once she gets settled she won't want to .

What a shame for both your DDs , wishing them both a speedy recovery . It's a worrying time when they are injured , my younger dd has sustained a very bad injury this summer , I hope your girls are not too down about it , roll on next year !

It is a nightmare wild flowers , I was going to do the same as Celb but couldn't get past the page with the height and weight on it kept saying I was putting in an invalid number ???? I am presuming the same about teachers signature but it does say something about a parent being available to sign it .

Hi Ebony I have skirt virtually brand new waist 24 length ... Inbox me if you are interested ... I also have various other items good enough for spares .... Track suit , blazer , modern leotards x 2 , dd also says her warmer is too small ( not on uniform list but many have them) ...... Hope your dd enjoyed her first day x

I have just had a look and Summer School applications are done as said and are actually on-line . I have only ever had to do one other application like this before and had a nightmare uploading photos onto it . You cannot see what is required beforehand as it won't let you look what comes next without filling in the information on that page first . Maybe when someone has filled it in you might share the format with technophobes like me .

It says from 8th but I can't see one either .

Vocational school is a huge step for most children even those who have always dreamt of going to a ballet school . Quite a few friends of both my DDs have thought they would like to go to their school until it came time to audition , one or two are going this year at 16 and a couple of girls have waited will be auditioning this year . It is so easy to be caught up in the whirlwind that auditions seem to create and in my opinion you and your dd are being sensible in questioning wether it is right, or not right now for her. If she decides against it for this year she keeps her lovely teacher and from another thread I've read she can carry on classes at Elmhurst . A friend once said to me about my younger dd " what is for her will not pass her by " and this will be the same for your dd and with a bit of luck it will be when she is ready for it. Hope you feel better soon .

Hi Aballerina At different times of the year the RBS will hold Audition Workshops , which give you an idea what to expect in an audition. Last year ther was one at the end of October . There is a calendar of events on their website maybe keep your eye on that to see if any dates get added for this year or your parent might ring up for you. From the limited info I get out of my dd the auditions are fairly basic . Good Luck .

Another one here too. Elder dd was asked to audition by her teacher for what must have been a year 4 place , I say must have been because I was clueless also never knew forums like this existed. She was unsuccessful and the year after it never entered my head to try again , it was only a chance conversation , the following year wilth the owner of the dance school about what it had said in the letter that she suggested she try again . She and her friend got a place for yr6. Younger dd audition for yr4 and was lucky enough to get a place straight away , but has since only made Waiting list for Summer Schools and Mids neither made the finals for White Lodge ! So what they like at 8 might not be exactly right at 10/11 . Both DDs ended up at Vocational school. We are just one of many stories like this , the more you know the worse it is when they are not successful first time around . There are so many children competing for so little places and is not a reflection on anyone's future success. Time and time again I've read articles on successful Ballerinas who never got places on the Royal Associate scheme . So I say give it another whirl , make it a lovely day out, you know what to expect now , and who knows it just might be a yes this time .... Good Luck x

I seem to remember last year they went on walks with the houseparents as the school is surrounded by lovely fields and woods , I would pack old trainers as dd went in her new ones and I had to take her another pair luckily we are only 30 mins away. I would also pack a torch or a small lamp it is very dark , no street lights once lights out . Maybe leave a small amount of pocket money just in case they go for ice cream or suchlike . Hope she has a good week they are lovely very caring teachers .

I cannot remember what my DDs were doing at 8 , My youngest I think it was just one lesson ballet ,tap and modern plus festivals. She was a Royal Ballet associate a Hammond Associate now currently at Vocational School. Only my opinion but I believe a strong foundation in ballet will help any dance style . The best advice I have , coming from the viewpoint of hindsight is at such a young age keep it fun !!