Legseleven

Spamcat, we always had this issue too - very long legs and a very petite frame meant that any leggings/trousers etc which were long enough were comically huge around the waist, hips and bottom. Gap’s Long and Lean jeans and leggings were the only ones which ever came close to looking ‘normal’ - and then they stopped selling this range! Thank goodness that waists can be taken in 😉

Just managed to watch the trailer and I found it disappointing. Jennifer Hudson is really straining and I agree with AnnaC’s comments about the bizarre changing size of the cats and their much less feline appearance when compared to the original production. 

What role does Francesca Hayward play? I assumed that it was Victoria, the white cat, which is not as far as I remember a main role in the original production - but may of course have been adjusted for this film. 

I have read good things about Northern Ballet School’s summer school but have no experience of it so I can’t assist any further. If most of the students attending stay in the school’s accommodation then I’m sure that your DD would soon make friends with others and travel back and forth together, make evening plans etc. Manchester is a great city with lots happening. Perhaps a call to NBS to ask about accommodation and any evening plans and student safety might set your mind at rest?

If you would prefer a more sheltered environment then we can personally recommend York Scholars’ summer school, which is usually held in early August at Queen Margaret’s school, Escrick, North Yorkshire. The students stay on site in the school accommodation and the teaching was great when my DD attended, with Brenda Last and Olivia Pickford amongst others. - I have just Googled it and it is from 5th-8th August at Queen Margaret’s, offering ballet, jazz, contemporary and musical theatre classes. I don’t know if there are spaces available but can recommend it. 

Another vote for Capezio Juliets here. Great quality and fit.

My choices would be Morera and possibly Hayward in Coppelia and Naghdi and possibly O’Sullivan in Sleeping Beauty. The ‘possibles’ are those I would like to see but at least will have further performances in the future, whereas I would choose to see Morera and Naghdi this time (although I know that Naghdi will have further chances in the future).

Is there any possibility that your DD’s teacher could go with you for her first pointe shoe fitting? We were lucky that this was available and it meant that although DD obviously didn’t know how pointe shoes were supposed to feel, she had the expertise of her teacher as well as that of the fitter so we felt much more confident that those were the correct shoes for her first pair. 

If it were me I would go for Morera/Bonelli given the reviews they have received. Hayward will no doubt dance Manon for some years in the future. But that’s an amazing choice to have and I’m sure that they will all be amazing!

High cut knickers for young girls are very difficult to find, unless things have changed from DD being 6 or 7 and wanting to wear knickers but having been trained by me to consider the prospect of their showing under leotards with horror 😉 We resorted to customising plain white knickers in a size bigger than she needed by cutting the legs as high as possible and then binding the cut edges whilst reducing the waistline. They looked quite odd! but were perfect and invisible under leotards. 

DD’s favourite tights are Capezio convertibles. She has also liked Danskins. I can’t remember the make but she had some cheaper ones which weren’t long enough even when we bought the large ones and these were stretched to their greatest extent, so we tend to stick with Capezio as these are tried and tested. 

Yes, as you say it must be much cheaper to fund all eligible CAT students. Just such a pity that unless you are within reach of Leeds (and able to transport your child to the Northern Ballet CAT scheme there), classical training from 11 when an MDS is needed means hoping for one of the few places at one of the ‘Big Four’ and in particular for an RBS or Elmhurst place. 

On 12/06/2019 at 08:51, annaliesey said:

Hi

 

they are for everyone who needs one upon successful audition 

So are successful applicants for Hammond and Tring, who need MDS funding but may not be awarded it, in a worse position than successful applicants for CAT schemes who need MDS funding? 

My friend’s DC is considering applying for classical vocational training. They would need MDS funding and aren’t able to get to the Northern Ballet CAT, which we understand is the only classical ballet CAT scheme. Do they have to pin all their hopes on a place at RBS or Elmhurst or that they will be lucky enough to get one of the MDS funded places at Hammond or Tring, as they don’t want to apply for a place at their local CAT scheme which is contemporary - but for which they would be funded?

I would think that perhaps Corrales will be judged solely on his Royal Ballet performances, as it would seem unfair to consider promoting him on the basis of his English National Ballet performances? It’s a great shame that injury has affected so much of his first year with the RB - and indeed has also affected Bracewell. No doubt both will be considered for promotion in the near future and it seems that they are very different dancers whilst both being very worthy of elevation. The RB has such a variety of strengths at all levels; let’s hope that both Corrales and Bracewell will continue to flourish. 

Are the CAT schemes also covered by MDS funding? If so is this allocated to every eligible student or is it limited?

Slightly rambling detour comment coming up - it looks from this photo as though Naghdi is shorter than Nuñez and Osipova - and possibly only very slightly taller than Hayward? I have often thought that she isn’t perhaps as tall as she can sometimes appear and that her leg length gives the illusion of rather more height than she possesses. 

Naghdi and Muntagirov dancing together - I so wish I was there!

Are Morera and Sambe otherwise engaged? (Or I may have missed seeing them on the programme.)

5 hours ago, Farawaydancer said:

Again...

 

This is the third year that they’ve held an extra late audition, which seems very unfair on those children who auditioned in November!

As far as I remember this happened in 2013 and again for most years since. And it does indeed seem unfair on those who auditioned at the usual time! 

If it’s just at the front that the leotard sits too low for you, would the invisible/nude coloured elastic used for pointe shoes be of any use if sewn across the ‘cleavage’ exposing section of the leotard? A 6’ tall dancer at DD’s dance school once did this with a leotard which wasn’t long enough for her to feel comfortable that she wasn’t going to expose too much at the front. 

I agree, balletbean. I can’t imagine why a vocational school would insist on a specific brand of pointe shoes when they must be well aware that it’s an extremely personal choice - and there is so much choice now available. It can only unfairly compromise those dancers for whom Freed is not the best choice. 

We certainly saw that the transferable skills learned from extra-curricular activities (not the activities in themselves) can make a difference; a girl at DD’s dance school was told that her explanation of how her ballet (she was at RAD Advanced 1 level) had given her those skills at her interview for a top medical school had propelled her to the top of the admissions list. 

RAD expects its teachers to include free work at all levels as far as I know? DD has always done RAD and has always done some free work in most classes (except perhaps just before exams). 

Fiz, I’m so sorry to read about the loss of your mother and your accident. Thinking of you x

Capezio tights have always lasted well here, both in terms of non-laddering and of colour retention. 

I have seen on social media that a dancer has been offered finals for a Y9 place. 

Karma is clearly doing its thing for your daughter with an extra session - great news!