balletbun

Clara my dd is 12 yr 7 was at Hammond until today. she was so distressed it was clear she needed someone to take control of the situation and remove her, caring environment, hardly but don't worry I'm sure the instigator is fine tonight !!! This kind of thing goes on at all levels and the only thing my dd is worried about now is that this person has won got the better of her and made her feel more worthless than she already did. So much for pastoral care

I bought the Gaynor Minden book for my dd as a keepsake, it's become her bible. ( it's a much better bible than the previous one, the Argos catalogue !!!) ????

Welcome to the forum curious

If your dd has good local training and is progressing I wouldn't worry about associate classes. If there on your doorstep that's fine, but if not you have to way up the other aspects involved as its more expense. My dd was lucky her associate class was an hour away and both her and I loved it, i think more so for the social aspect. But as she's got older the opportunities are further afield and I am now weighing up, it's a lot of money, yes they enjoy it but how much will they be earning at the end if it all if they ever get a job. If you can fund your children into adulthood that's fantastic but if you can't, what we pay out now is a serious question and like you I would like to know if I'm getting my money's worth or am I just being sucked in to all the hype ????

Sharry01 I used a company called health on line, the health insurance is underwritten by axa ppp healthcare. It was £157.44. So cheaper than schools

Check your bill from school though as their bupa cover was also added, it's now been removed but I could have easily missed it

*live and learn ehh x

No Bloch !!! Silly me, in my quest to do things by the book I failed to do what was best for my dd, you and learn ehh ????

Regattah, The dance shop x

We were told last year Hammond don't like grishko, so allowed her to be fitted with Bloch, after they broke I asked if she could go back to grishko as I thought they suited my dd more and her dance teachers reply was yes !!!!! Get what ever suits child not the make. It's very easy to want to play by the rules of what you think you need to do, but in hindsight go with your own gut instinct I wish I had ????

Evie did you get the photo I sent you yesterday of your ds and my dd grinning like Cheshire cats ? if not somebody somewhere has a lovely photo on their phone x

...You will spend more on ballet, tap & jazz shoes than you'd ever spend on your own shoes ????

Too true drdance if there's one thing I have learnt from this last year and a half its that you are completely at the mercy of someone's opinion. When you look more deeply its seems that the rules are not always equal x I was all set to make my dd end with all the noncence but I've since realised she should absolutely keep going if that's what's she wants, her smile is infectious xx

 

I don't actually think all schools are fixated on it.... It's just that some schools can afford to be so ridiculously choosy that they can be fixated on it - and then perhaps this filters through to panels selecting for the associate programmes?, and staff who teach for the associate programmes then teach elsewhere but keep to this ideal, or parents of students then discuss it and believe that it is totally necessary?

REEM even though my dd has auditiond for ja's once and been unsuccessful and mid's once and also been unsuccessful I would always recommend new ballet shoes, however I've just taken the most armature photos for elmhurst summer school and she's got a place !!! But even with my OCD i would never have her turning up in dirty ballet shoes ( and believe me they were dirty) I would always go with your own gut instinct and if that's to get new then do it xx wish your dd well the ja audition is lovely and something to cherish on this very very very long road xx

Swanprincess honey please keep going and keep trying. even if you never get to realise your dreams as a ballet dancer, you will gain so much more from your sheer determination. I've followed your posts with interest and you seem to be a grounded well rounded lovely girl, keep in there and be proud of your determination whatever the out come I wish you well xxx

I do have to say in this poor woman's defence, I am from Yorkshire, I don't live there anymore but when I do speak I always feel I'm less worthy. As soon as you open your mouth people stare. I have a child at vocational school and I'm so proud of my Yorkshire heritage and and I encourage my dd to be the same. But when you hear the very upper classes talking about the ballet world it's very difficult to see where you will fit in, apart from being the token council house kid ????

LinMM I have sent up a pm????

Thanks c4d, ????

No worries just ballet. There is ray of hope for all our dd's it just takes them a while to believe that !! And thanks for the hair pins by the way my dd got a lovely Christmas gift from your shop from a friend, when all else fails at least the hair is perfect lol xxx

Ahh dramascientist I have a young dd of 12 going through a similar thing, she has acurrent place at vocational school but has to leave due to lack of funds. the problem we face is that the local comp is also full and cant accomodate her either. she feels as if no one wants her, all around us myself included have been saying to her hold your head up high and don't let the bug**rs get you down !! But to such young people its really hard to keep fighting. My dd has spent year at vocational school made lots of great friends, but with the best will in the world will probalby never see them again. If only we could see inside and tell them this really is not the end of the world and life really does go on and if you really want to keep dancing just go for it !!!! We love you whatever ❤

I wish your dd well xx

My dd could do the splits in all directions and has got what you would call a good ballet shape but she was never successful at ja's or WL auditions. But did get accepted for elmhurst ja's and is now at vocational school but coming home soon due to lack of funds. So the mad merry go round if auditions will start again soon!!!! But if its taught me anything it's that you will never ever fathom out the decisions the powers that be have over who gets in and who gets what. So you just have to let it go over your head and hope that they enjoy it enough to keep putting thereselves and bonkers parents like us through it time and time again ????

So pleased she is on the mend and so glad she has something positive to look forward to . Before dd went off to Hammond a young boy said to her

"Reach for the moon, because even if you miss you will land amongst the stars"

I thought this was lovely, and have to keep reminding her of this, just lately.

I'm just so glad you are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong it will all come good in the end

Hugs to you both xx????

I have a friend who's dd has very short hair, shorter than a bob and wears a very effective fakes bun. I also have a friend who's dd has very fine hair and she wears a false bun. That do look very effective I think they were found off eBay. As a hairdresser I was at first very sceptical about fake hair but they really do work .

Wonderful news c4d you both deserve some happy news. Big hug from a&m ????xxx

Fabulous news encouraged, and well done for having the courage to question the schools bizzare dicisions in the first place. Feedback is so important in any other aspect of life so why not dance schools

I wish your dd every success

At Hammond they have a health screening at the school in the first term. I think it costs around £40 ????