Legseleven

Whether or not she was injured is irrelevant to the allegations made by the director of the Mikhailovsky.

I have just seen the announcement that Beatriz Stix-Brunell, First Soloist of the Royal Ballet, is leaving the company to attend Stanford University. How amazing - and how heartwarming to see tangible proof that pursuing a dance career from an early age need not limit future steps in any other direction at all!

I wonder if it might also be a good idea to explain that - perhaps especially if evaluation is done 1:1 - it is as much an opportunity for your daughter to see whether she enjoys the experience and would like to be taught in that way (and whether you get the right ‘vibes’ from the way she is treated) as it is for the school/scheme to decide whether they want to offer her a place. I know she is young and inexperienced but I think we sometimes forget that an audition - or evaluation or interview - is a two-way process. I would definitely second the suggestion that an audition or evaluation is seen as a lovely day out, to take class with a new teacher in new surroundings and possibly then to go out for a meal or to shop etc. Then a ‘yes’, although lovely, is not the be all and end all.

Tyrone Singleton was definitely at Tring until graduation, at the same time as a girl who was at DD’s dance school. I don’t know whether he previously attended RBS itself or whether he was an associate there - I have seen many references to attendance at RBS when in fact it is an RBS associate scheme rather than the actual school. But he certainly graduated from Tring.

Ooh yes, I can easily imagine Corrales as Tybalt!

I couldn’t agree more, Jan! I do think that casting real-life couples shouldn’t be a given, even if they have previously danced together and been magical. I would be very sorry if Naghdi/Ball didn’t happen again, or Hayward/Campbell. I would like to see Naghdi/Muntagirov cast together more often; they are both so musical and magnetic, along with the technical wizardry.

I hope Naghdi and Ball revisit their R&J partnership and would also love to see a Naghdi/Muntagirov pairing. Possibly Kaneko/Clarke? Although perhaps real-life couples pairings might become too much, with Hayward/Corrales and possibly Magri/Ball too?

I believe there is a current Y11 girl who is going on to train at RBS this September.

That is extremely strange about IDTA allowing you to teach all genres when you have only qualified in one! I can’t imagine why that is the case. It could potentially be quite dangerous I would think?

I agree, Anna C. I’m also very sad for James Hay.

I agree with Glowlight that it needs to be your daughter’s decision. I am appalled to be honest that she seems to be getting no support from her teachers in terms of the behaviour of her peers; I cannot imagine how their teasing and bullying is being allowed to continue when a simple statement that everyone goes through puberty at a different time and rate and that everyone will have to learn to adjust to their new body shape as a result should have been made as soon as it became apparent that it was necessary (or indeed, as with my DD’s PE teacher, several chats about puberty and its usually short term effects on sporting ability - and the need for anti-perspirants! - when the girls were about 8-9, so that it was as the earliest developers were at an early stage). I am even more appalled at the attitude of the other parents, who quite frankly should be mature enough to realise that their comments are damaging and extremely unhelpful. If her dance teachers aren’t able to deal sensitively with what is a perfectly normal issue for girls of her age and make adjustments eg to required uniform, while reassuring your daughter that she remains the same lovely dancer she has always been and that although her new shape may mean that she has some issues at first, she will adjust, I would be very concerned about their ability as teachers. And I would undoubtedly be looking at other dance teachers and schools given that your daughter is being failed by her current teachers. It would be criminal for your daughter to feel that she ‘must’ change to a different intensity of lessons or even give up ballet because her teachers are failing her.

Oh my goodness, I wish I was able to see the Muntagirov/Naghdi Apollo! Totally dream casting.

Absolutely, balletbean! Same for DD - at least she could still dance with strapped fingers. Her piano teacher was never thrilled, but her music theory was allotted extra time!

Netball is also hard on the joints as it is played on a hard surface. DD’s teacher (non-vocational) was never very happy about her students playing netball for that reason; I can’t imagine that the vocational schools would sanction it?

KS Dance in Warrington or the Hammond may run associate or similar classes? I have also heard good things about MIDAS, which is Midlands based but not every week as far as I am aware.

In terms of White Lodge and Elmhurst seeming to prefer different student personalities, what was the opinion in terms of what each school preferred? I wonder how that tends to work with those students who are offered places at both schools; perhaps they simply gravitate towards and accept the offer from the school where they felt most at home? Or is the kudos of an RBS place likely to sway any such self-selection?

I couldn’t agree more, taxi4ballet.

I suspect that not wearing underwear was the original way to avoid any possibility of underwear showing. Now that high leg, seamless, high waisted knickers or full bodysuits are available even in smaller sizes it isn’t necessary to do without altogether. My DD didn’t ever forego underwear but we did ensure that it was never visible (even to the extent of ‘remodelling’ knickers when necessary 😉).

Just checked the DAM Health website and they also offer the lateral flow test in Liverpool for £59. PCR tests are also now available at DAM clinics in Manchester, Leeds, Wolverhampton and possibly London (may not yet be open).

If a PCR test will be accepted, I highly recommend DAM Health for anyone able to go to Liverpool (on Rodney Street). Results and a certificate signed by a doctor were received within 4.5 hours of the test for 3 members of my family - results guaranteed within 24 hours of testing. £99 I believe.

Rumer Godden: it’s A Candle For St Jude, not a Candle in the Wind 😂 and Listen to the Nightingale. I confess that I found copies of these quite recently and re-read them with enjoyment and I am considerably older than 12 and read widely and voraciously. Jean Ure: the other one is Hi There Supermouse.

I loved (and re-read as a teenager 😉) the Moth Graham books by Jean Richardson (The First Step, Dancer in the Wings and One Foot on the Ground) and also the dance books by Jean Ure (Nicola Mimosa, A Proper Little Nooryeff and one title which currently escapes me). The Rumer Godden dance books were also enjoyable - ?Candle in the Wind (although I’m now doubting myself about that title - and humming the Elton John song) and at least one more. I shall try to find the correct title/s. I also preferred Curtain Up by Noel Streatfeild to her Ballet Shoes. (I realise that this is probably sacrilege!)

I couldn’t agree more. I got very tired hearing that one associate scheme had continued to reject a particular child for 3 years solely because she wasn’t tall for her age and that another child had only had successes at various festivals because a relative of hers had once been a well-known teacher in the area. It is very easy to ‘blame’ any perceived successes of a child who isn’t one’s own on something that isn’t the extremely likely truth that they were simply a better fit at the time for that particular scheme/festival category, etc.

DD was lucky enough to be taught by Brenda Last on a few occasions. She found her demanding, incisive and exceptionally inspiring. This coaching will be a joy to watch, I’m sure.

Tears streaming down my face at that, Tango Dancer! 🤣🤣👏👏