follycat

They are rehearsing for Sleeping Beauty ….and short rest over Christmas…

Hippodrome extremely busy as tickets for les Miserable went on sale today (or yesterday)

Just like to add that my daughter was fortunate enough to be at a top vocational school and is now with Birmingham Royal Ballet. She was about the only one in her class not doing extra classes in the holidays...she liked her holidays and family time too much!

I am not suggesting summer schools are a bad thing but just pointing out it is possible to have a career without extras. Incidentally, she was also fortunate to be the only one never to have an injury. I am not saying one was the result of the other. I used to 'panic' sometimes hearing about what everyone else did in the holidays but glad we went with our gut feeling and now have a lovely but more importantly, well grounded daughter.

Yes it was.....

Indeed, my question as I am unaware that BRB is any more underfunded than any other company and I have my daughter in the company. 

It was Jo Caleys final performance with BRB.

My daughter went years ago and really enjoyed it. Lovely surroundings and a fun time with hard work thrown in. 

I have to say I really liked the winner and I'm very much a ballet bod. Good job we don't all like the same things! 

Elmhurst....

Feel for you all. 10 years ago we were waiting too and feeling very anxious. A no doesn't necessarily mean the end. My daughter did not get into WL nor did she even get finals for upper school but got a job with BRB straight from another vocational school. Rejection at the time felt like the end of her dream but it wasn't. Mind you we did have to visit quite a few tea shops to console ourselves.

I found this topic all rather depressing and all gloom and doom. As a mother with a daughter in the company, I perhaps have a different take as have the dancers who have been informed throughout. Perhaps let not write them off just yet.All the arts are having to adjust.

Having physio several times a week and have explained about the ballet and what I want to be able to do when recovered. I know it is never going to be as good as before but just wondering whether others been through it and have suggestions/encouragement. Just a little despondent this week!

Just wondering if anybody out there has had a knee replacement and still managed to do ballet after? 50, dance teacher and recovering myself from partial replacement, so could do with some realism/encouragement! Grand plies and developpes seem a distant memory.

Not sure if she is in matinee?! Some weird headdresses and masks so I'm awaiting instructions as to how to spot her....looking forward to it though...

Will be watching on Saturday evening. Daughter in company but costumes and make may make her tricky to spot!

We still pinch ourselves!

Hi Lema,

Yes she was fortunate to get into another vocational school and plodded her way through and then to our delight was offered a full time contract with BRB at the start of her graduate year. Looking back RBS would not necessarily have suited her and despite getting an offer at 16 of another London School, she decided to stay where she was where she thrived. Despite what some company programmes have you believe, not all UK students followed the RBS path...

I remember very clearly the feeling 9 years ago when my daughter didn't get into WL and I had to tell her after school with a visit to the village newsagent on route home to soften the disappointment (for me as well as her). I felt horrid for days but it got better! I kept asking myself what was wrong with her. iIn my experience children normally bounce back better than the parents .Anyway all in the past and despite not going to Royal in year 7 and not even getting finals for Upper school (that wasn't a good day either!) she is now a company dancer with BRB. Looking back there was a bigger picture..... Many congratulations to all those with a yes but to  those with a no, remember bigger picture........

My daughter not a principal but is with BRB...never went to White Lodge, nor the RBS upper school...it is possible.....

Go for it if you can......my daughter is in the company now but was in the nutcracker ...she loved it!

Thinking of every parent who finds themselves wandering into an empty bedroom this morning...you will always miss them (even after 8 years) but it does get easier and the bonus is there is more food left in the fridge....

Ruth Brill......

Enjoy everyone, the years will fly by and soon they will be graduating!

Our thoughts are with Delia Mathews...and the cast who were affected by it.

As far as I am aware, most if not all of the company have gone to Japan, including the lower ranks...