Legseleven

Mine still does when in the mood, Fiz - also remains very slim so far...here's hoping...;)

Aileen, I couldn't have put it better myself. I am tired of people's choices as to how they spend their own money being berated or mocked, as this 'reviewer' chose to do. We all have very different priorities and values and no-one should feel entitled to sit in judgment on others because they have different preferences in terms of how to spend their available money.

Penelope, that's what I find interesting - and refreshing - that you and my friends, all with technical knowledge, thought that Tierney Heap outdid Melissa Hamilton but that Geoff's friend, also with technical knowledge, singled out Melissa Hamilton. Perhaps it is simply that the Royal Ballet has such an embarrassment of riches at the moment that they can field several different casts, all of exceptionally able dancers.

Different people SEE different things - sorry!

It's interesting that different people are different things. I was told by friends when are experienced teachers and had professional careers in ballet that the second cast dancer in the same role in Rubies (Tierney Heap I think) had, in their opinion, far outshone Melissa Hamilton who was as far as I know in the first cast. I wonder what Kevin O'Hare's opinion is.

Perhaps her vocational school teachers have information on available schemes/teachers? The dance world is small so they may even have personal links that could assist in planning a dance timetable for her sixth form years?

Could she apply to the CAT scheme at 16, Pictures? They may be willing to allow application later than usual in the circumstances if she explains the situation and asks to be allowed to audition?

Ugh, the dreaded Allegro number 2 exercise in IF and Intermediate! Definitely not choreographed by a long-legged dancer! Sophie, DD found these difficult with inside leg measurements at c 34" long at the time, so I can't imagine how you managed it so well at 6'+ - amazing!

AMAZING! Huge congratulations to your son and to his supportive family! How wonderful to have such a decision to make - I wish him all the best in his deliberations and hope that he has time to think about it and discuss with his teachers, friends and family. I can't wait to hear where he decides to go xx

Pictures, you really have been missed! Perhaps you could set up an alternative ID for posts which your DD may not appreciate, as Sarah suggests?

Oh my goodness Viv, I couldn't agree more with your post. As you say, physical limitations do affect some desired professions and although this is unfair, that doesn't change the reality. I understand the parents' wish for Pollyanna to be able to take exams alongside her friends but if this was their real aim, she could have changed to a dance school where presentation classes were available (if they aren't available via the ISTD, I don't know) as an alternative way to mark and celebrate her progress.

I don't know about the ISTD, but the RAD has presentation classes as an alternative system of marking achievement and the move to the next level of ballet, with a comment sheet and I believe certificates and medals for each child. Presumably this would be available to this little girl and to other candidates who find that the 'reasonable adjustment' system in the traditional exams doesn't assist them. Alternatively a system where no exams are taken by any candidates would have suited her better and allowed her to keep dancing, although I realise that most schools in the U.K. follow an exam system as that allows for a recognised and standardised way of marking the level at which a student is dancing - and is understood by the education system in that higher level exams are known to be achievements at the same level as 'ordinary' educational achievements. It's also difficult as there is no way of telling whether Pollyanna would have achieved the same exam marks as her fellow candidates in any event, even without her disability. There are usually children in each class who will work just as hard and love dancing just as much as their fellow students but for various reasons won't achieve higher than a pass mark in exams.

DD's teachers like vocational grade students to wear soft pointes for all classes from intermediate upwards because they have to be worn for the exams. Soft blocks are required for the terms leading up to an exam and are much preferred at all times so that students are used to balancing in them. They don't require IF students to wear them for classes or for their IF exams as their view is that while it would be helpful to get used to wearing them all the time, there is little point wearing them for an exam when they aren't required, as flats are so much easier to balance in (and make even ordinary feet look more arched than soft blocks would do) and are worn by almost every IF candidate (this information came from her examiner teacher).

Definitely saying the steps inside your head, hearing the accompanying music alongside it, for me. It was always how I remembered choreography, even without realising it; I can still say 'pas de basque and heel and peep' and hear the music for the RAD grade 2 Breton dance and do the same for each RAD grade up to the senior grade variation - and for tap. ( I can also still say the loathsome RAD elementary adage inside my head but it needs dragging...it was never and could never have been a favourite....;) )

It is a worry, especially when children are naturally slim anyway, if they start to obsess about food choices. We never weighed our DD as a routine matter as I was very conscious that when I danced (serious non-professional training with a few girls going on to Hammond and musical theatre colleges) there was a lot of discussion about weight but apparently no understanding of how a dancer might weigh more than another dancer because of height/physique/muscle mass etc. We have taken the view therefore that whether one can fit into favourite clothes - especially skinny jeans - is a better guide than weight ? I agree that school lessons can do more harm than good and really don't like DD drinking 'diet' drinks with all their additives and chemical nasties. She's lucky that she prefers water most of the time anyway. I also wish that the analogy of expecting a car to run without appropriate fuel was used in primary schools as most children will appreciate that. I suspect you're right Xanthe and that those little boys have been hearing about how strong male dancers must be to lift those frail-looking but very strong and fit ladies! Which I entirely understand and applaud - another weapon in the armory should it be needed to counter spiteful comments about boys who dance - but empathise with its unfortunate knock-on effect for your DD! I'm sure that as you are aware of it and are talking to her about it things will remain manageable.

Can't believe that. She was the one I thought was weakest in terms of reaching out to the audience. I was fascinated by the elements of many other dance forms in the ballet finalist's last solo - ballet really is the 'core' dance form to learn.

I suppose that at upper school auditions the top schools can choose students who have all of their own preferred physical qualities and current preferred height and are musical with performance quality. Many students will have reached their final height and body shape at 15 or 16 (although certainly not all, as Cotes Du Rhone has confirmed) so the upper school auditionees have fewer variables than at lower schools.

I am very much aware that teachers do lesson preparation, marking and organisation in their spare time and during the holidays, by the way. A vast amount of work is involved. It's just that in comparison with many, if not most, people in other jobs or professions they often seem to complain extremely loudly whilst not doing much if any more. (And the unseasonal 'bah, humbug' in me is now, thankfully, finished.)

My friends who are teachers constantly sighing over how 'they have really earned their holiday' and how teachers apparently work harder and for less reward than anyone else. Rather tough to take when a few weeks' holiday a year, constantly expected (and performed) unpaid overtime, including being available at all times by email or phone even when on a booked holiday, very early starts and very late finishes and all for what I know is a very similar salary to that of a couple of teacher friends is the norm. I should add that not all of my teacher friends indulge in this. But those who do do so with wearying regularity as every school holiday approaches and during the holidays. If they feel this is true for them I would really rather they kept it to themselves.

DD didn't enjoy tap very much and stopped at the age of 8. She does have very bendy banana feet and hyper-mobile ankles so her teachers were not averse to her stopping tap before it got too technical, although if she had loved it and continued they told me that they would simply have kept a careful eye on her in terms of ankle stability for pointe work. I think tap may possibly help some children who don't have innate musicality simply because it is very obvious when someone is out of time and tapping! Not so great to watch an unmusical tap dancer though...;)

Mnemo, as far as I understand it your DD wouldn't be required to do Intermediate in the RAD syllabus as the RAD accept a pass at Intermediate in any other recognised syllabus as the required qualification so that students can take Adv 1. I don't know whether she would need to re-take Adv 1 in the RAD syllabus to be able to take Adv 2 RAD although I suspect it may be the same attitude as with Intermediate. I would contact the RAD yourself if not sure.

Perhaps you could contact each other via PM to ascertain names and ages and then both ask ENBS if your daughters could swap if that seems possible? Might be easier for the school to deal with a straight swap of names?

My DD has often danced with girls up to 4 years older than her, that was simply how the grades worked out. There has never been an issue, certainly once her concentration, self-effacing nature (never wanted to push herself to the front of the class, which I imagine did help ) and ability to keep up was seen. She has danced in those classes at her teachers' suggestion because they noted that she was getting bored and felt that she would benefit from being challenged - surely your DD's teacher can see, given that she has said she is ready to take her exam, that this is also the case for your DD. I can't agree that she should stay with her age group at all costs - what's good for one child isn't good for another.

To be honest I'm appalled at the teacher disbelieving your child and telling her so! - and that she is indicating that she will pander to the feelings of little girls in grade 3 rather than consider moving your DD, who is clearly talented as she is an RBS JA, up so that she doesn't continue to feel bored. I would move her sooner rather than later. As you say, you don't want her to lose the passion for dance.

DD skipped her grade 2 exam and went straight into grade 3 instead. You don't have to do all the grades (or indeed any grades). If the teacher knows she is ready to take her exam and is bored and yet won't offer to move her up/at least allow her to take grade 3 classes as well, then I would look at moving her to another school, especially as the teacher also appears to be contradicting the JA teacher in terms of extra classes etc. Perhaps ask the JA teacher for a recommendation of an alternative school and definitely go to watch classes at any possibles. And don't feel you are being a pushy ballet mum! The teacher agrees your child is ready to take the exam but won't allow her to do so or to take grade 3 classes alongside the grade 2. With a talented child who is also a RBS JA, she will be bored and you don't want that to impact upon her love of dancing.