Legseleven

DD found that she could roll through her feet even in the green bag, hardest shanked GMs - just because it is possible to allow them to help ‘pop’ you up en pointe doesn’t mean that is what will always happen. As far as we could gather a lot of the prejudice against GMs was because they are new technology rather than the traditional shoes and can be used to ‘help’ dancers who perhaps don’t have the strength or the experience of others. DD also found it more challenging to balance on flat because of the slight curve to the shank, so would very much dispute that they are ‘cheat’ shoes in any way. 

Hi leotardmum. DD found that vamp elastic (2 criss-crossed pieces) on the green bag with the longest vamp possible GMs worked for her. The vamp elastic was a total game-changer for her even with the hardest-shanked and longest-vamped GMs. It may perhaps also work for your DD?

DD’s feet are highly arched and strong. She loved Grishko Vaganovas (she said the shanks were like cement but felt safe - NB they were very tapered so not absolutely ideal shape wise, but an emergency purchase just before her RAD Intermediate, having had her Freeds die on her after two lessons). She also loved Bloch Serenade Strong and Gaynor Minden’s strong shanks. (One pair of the Blochs were great comedy value by squeaking when the shanks started to die 😉) 

Agree with everything you say, Anna. The Border collie was gorgeous. I also liked the jaunty Irish terrier. And the poodle almost seemed to be tossing his head to get the bouffant hairdo out of his way 😉

You certainly weren’t, Alison! 

Nor do I Kerfuffle - it’s just that the horror of showing off interfered with mine and my DD’s ability to feel relaxed and able to perform, in case it was interpreted as showing off. It didn’t help DD that another girl at her dance school was unquestionably very talented but was also the biggest show off I have ever met, literally moving and dancing in front of DD to keep herself forever in the front 🙄😉

Goodness Anna, your comments about showing off really struck a chord! I too believe I transferred my horror of showing off to DD and added to her own reticence it did not translate to her feeling able to perform with confidence. Such a difficult balance to be struck. (Although I would still rather err on the side of ‘not showing off’ than being someone who permanently pushes themselves to the front 😉)

Another vote for chocolate milk here - from DD’s dance teachers and sports coaches. Very good for muscle recovery we were told. And it’s quick and easy (and tastes good 😉). 

I also felt that no-one really praised John and Johannes for swapping the lead in their dances - and despite their ‘Jotato Radebe’ fail at the end of the salsa there wasn’t much mention of the feat of John, the untrained dancer, lifting Johannes, who is a similar height.

However, a fabulous final!

Absolutely - all subjective and it’s my opinion, which is only as valid as the next person’s. Based on last night’s dancing I just felt that John and the - absolutely amazing! - Johannes were more impressive in all 3 dances. And their show dance was exactly that, whereas I felt that Rose and Giovanni’s show dance was very similar in feel to their couple’s choice dance. 
 

Probably a controversial opinion, but although Rose was an amazing contestant and a worthy winner, I felt she and Giovanni were outdanced last night in all three dances. 

And the final is, I think, decided on public votes alone.

If you aren’t wanting to lie down and weep in an RAD intermediate class with no previous ballet training, you are clearly doing pretty well! It is the level of the old RAD Elementary, which didn’t have a great pass rate, and as has been mentioned it is the (minimum) exam level required for training as an RAD teacher. 
I second the suggestions to find an online beginners’ class with a teacher whose style ‘clicks’ with you as a supplement. But I’m genuinely impressed that you haven’t been frightened off by Intermediate and so glad that you are loving your classes and that your teacher is clearly doing a great job. And I agree that there is nothing quite like a ballet class to meld beautiful music with extremely hard physical exercise and an intellectual workout to boot.  

As does Caroline Wright, whose Centre Pointe school was also used as the Manchester RBS Associates’ base. 

Nicola Tarry classical ballet training in Kent - on social media - offers a training programme for elite students who don’t attend vocational school. 

The only classical ballet CAT scheme is at Northern Ballet, Leeds if that is a possibility?

I believe ?Nicola Moriarty in the south-east may have started a scheme for vocational students who wanted to stay at home but to train at a vocational level. I can’t find any posts but I believe it may have been mentioned on the forum? My apologies if I have invented it! 
 

I believe Natalia Kremen in London may also offer a vocational level scheme.

I agree with Jane - if it were me I would contact the principal and others in writing (so that it is documented) and possibly phone them and ask to arrange a meeting in addition, maybe when you collect your child for half term? If you aren’t allowed to know how they have dealt with the bully, you are surely entitled to ask for clarification of what support your child will receive and from whom and that they have put in place measures to prevent recurrence for your child or for any other child.
I would also include in the letter that boarding school is a new experience for you and for your child and that their confirmation of how things are being dealt with in relation to caring for your child and prevention of recurrence will understandably go a long way to reassure you and your child and help them settle. If you think it would help, couch it in terms of suggesting that you are possibly being over-anxious (I stress that I don’t think you are being over-anxious at all, but it won’t hurt to put the ‘blame’ for your wanting assurances as to how it is being dealt with onto yourself, rather than your child) to ensure that you and your child are reassured simply because they are already dealing with settling into a new school and boarding life. 

And I am still astounded by John and Johannes’s performance. Absolutely amazing. DD and I keep re-watching it 😉

There is a stage presence, an understanding of the style of the dance and a ‘likeability’ factor about Judy which goes a long way in my view and allows me to overlook her less than stellar dancing more than would otherwise be the case. Oddly, despite being an actor, I didn’t think Katie ever (in all 3 weeks) had that same stage presence and distinction between dance styles. I think Katie’s dance off performance was much better than her competition performance but lacked Judy’s ‘selling’ of the dance - and neither of them is a good dancer. Katie also seemed quite ‘clumpy’.

I would have saved Judy because of her ‘sparkle’ and the way she ‘sold’ the routine. Having stage presence and ‘selling’ a routine can’t be taught. 

Possibly because Tuesday was the opening night and an opening night which sometimes seemed destined never to happen, with the lockdowns and Covid restrictions? I’m sure my emotions would have been on a knife edge of joy had I been there on Tuesday but perhaps that is what is missing (understandably) today?

So do I, hfbrew! Music too. I have a copy of the 1984 revised syllabus book and am swamped in nostalgia whenever I look at it. Some seriously difficult moves in early grades! 

I have read something about new trainers technology which may be part of the reason for very fast times. Will try to find it as I am now thinking that I have dreamed it!

My heart was in my mouth watching her get back out there. Such courage! 

Goodness, I wouldn’t have realised that! 

Is Nunez taller than 5’6” then?