Legseleven

Wishing you lots of luck for the two exams and I hope you enjoy every moment! If you relax as much as possible and try to show the examiner how much you love dancing I’m sure you will do very well. I’m surprised that you say that the Intermediate is exercise-y not dance-y, as we are accustomed to IDTA friends criticising the RAD syllabus for being exercise-y not dance-y; not our experience at all and certainly not the current RAD vocational syllabi. Just shows that we all have our own opinions!

Disappointed that Naghdi isn’t cast in Mayerling.

We have a habitual stater of factual untruths in our office. When questioned or corrected they can become quite aggressive and will insist, even in the face of their demonstrable - and often demonstrated - inaccuracy, that they are right. Goodness only knows what they are like at the theatre or a concert or sporting event, where they have a different and captive audience. It is very wearing and I wish I felt able to suggest that some sort of counselling or psychological treatment (or even presumably psychiatric treatment) for their habitual lying to ‘big themselves up’ would be appropriate.

How amazing to have a choice of two such fantastic schools! I second the advice to go with your gut and decide which place feels right. Looking back on decisions made in various areas, the ones I ‘just felt were right’ - even if in some cases they were the wrong choice on paper - are indeed the ones I am happiest with.

Wonderful news! Please let us know how she gets on x

I don’t think the RAD or indeed any particular set syllabus would expect that a teacher would ONLY give the set barre or indeed centre work exercises. Indeed, as far as I understand it, the RAD makes it clear that they expect their teachers to teach new work and to consolidate on acquired knowledge without relying solely on the set exercises. Certainly that is how DD’s teachers teach (RAD syllabus but as they have Cecchetti and Royal Ballet School training, I’m sure this gives an extra dimension to their teaching).

Absolutely. But this is not what this teacher is doing. She is leaving the room and while she deals with administrative matters outside, these young unqualified assistants are supposedly teaching the class. Ridiculous to have such a complete role reversal!

That is great news, both about the offer of extra classes at the other school and about the RBS associate application! I think you would be absolutely right to inform your current teacher that your DD WILL be taking up the offer of extra classes rather than asking her - you know what her response will be. On the basis that your DD wants to do more ballet and that this is not going to be offered at her current school, you don’t have a choice. (And the requirement that exams are taken in order is nonsense - what if a beginner aged 10 started, would they have to do all exams from pre-primary onwards?!) Your DD will make friends at the other school and that may sway her in favour of a move after all

Would the teacher consider your DD doing grade 2 alongside grade 1? That way she could be ‘stretched’ as well as getting some extra training. I don’t think it could reasonably be considered a problem as you said that children her age are in the grade 2 class? Also, remember that there is no requirement for all of the grade exams to be taken (or indeed for any exams to be taken at all) - my DD missed her grade 2 RAD ballet and went from grade 4 to intermediate foundation with no problems at all; her teachers just ensured that she was working at a level they considered appropriate for her and that she was taught all of the increasing technique ‘vocabulary’, just not necessarily by means of exam syllabus work. Having said that, the fact that the teacher isn’t actually teaching for most of the class is a HUGE red flag for me. You are paying for expertise from a qualified teacher - and one who is apparently worried that your DD going to another dance school as well might mean that she wouldn’t receive the appropriate quality training! - not for older students to be left in charge! This is dangerous and is also frankly taking money under false pretences. I would certainly be voting with my feet if a discussion of my concerns in this regard didn’t result in a complete change...

Wonderful news, Pictures! And MrsMoo2, that sounds pretty positive - lots of luck for his Associates trial class and here’s to his continuing ballet journey x

The issue of differing fees for English students wanting to attend Scottish universities or this alternative fee nonsense of discouraging Scottish students from attending Ballet West makes me very cross. I shall now keep quiet as otherwise my level of incredulity could easily derail this thread

I couldn’t agree more, MAB. Acting cannot be taught, although drama schools polish and provide invaluable contacts and connections, especially now that the old repertory system has declined.

Taxi, you will be much missed. I wish your daughter all the very best with her new journey and I hope that you will keep an eye on the forum and continue to advise and comment; your dance knowledge and expertise is very much appreciated. Don’t leave us for good! Xx

That certainly wasn’t my intention Lynette - I simply remembered the furore on Muntagirov’s departure and think this casts a different light on the view of some that he had to have been ‘poached’ rather than deciding to leave for his own reasons.

I know, but the discussions on the forum when Muntagirov announced his departure for the RB did include accusations from some that he was leaving both Klimentova and Rojo in the lurch and that this was not appropriate behaviour. At that stage those posters did seem to take the view that ENB had been wronged by his decision to move to the RB. I meant that now that these further matters have been aired it casts a different light on that viewpoint.

Perhaps the uproar when Muntagirov left ENB for the RB, with the accusations of poaching by the RB and of his having left Klimentova and indeed Rojo in the lurch, should be looked at in a different light now?

I had understood that Yonah Acosta had been unhappy about being unable to guest elsewhere; has he also suggested that he lost out on roles to Hernandez?

We have also been very impressed by Move Dancewear, whose deliveries have been amazingly fast. You could also contact the wonderful Just Ballet, whose service is amazing.

Yes, that was my understanding of it Kate_N. Certainly the girl who applied for medical school didn’t try to use the UCAS tariff points she had amassed via RAD exams to assist in her application, but she did explain to the interview panel exactly what her dancing had given her and they stated that this had given her a real edge over other interviewees. Other interviewees may also have had similar extracurricular interests but may not have discussed their benefits with the interview panel as eloquently and with such insight, if at all. I do find it annoying that ballet, music in particular seem to be dismissed by some because they are seen as elitist middle-class interests. As I said previously, whatever the extracurricular interest is and whether or not it is possible to gain UCAS tariff points by pursuing it, it adds to lives and builds character, tenacity, time management skills etc. That is just as much the case for someone who does sport only at school level as it is for a county or national level player and just as much the case for someone who undertakes community work as for someone who goes to ballet or music lessons. Ballet or music, sport or community service or whatever the activity is in itself may not get you where you want to be in a different field, but will help you develop skills required in adult life and an understanding of that may well help your application to stand out from those with the same level of academic qualifications.

It is the ability to understand how to explain the ways that ballet, music, sport, community involvement, youth leadership - whatever the interest/passion/commitment may be - have helped which can be important as far as I can see. Being able to discuss how one has developed tenacity, time-management skills, teamwork, self-discipline etc as a result of extracurricular activities may well make a difference. It certainly did in the case of one of DD’s dance teacher’s students who applied to read medicine at a prestigious university; the admissions panel stated that her clear explanation of the benefits of studying ballet at RAD Advanced level had propelled her straight to the top of their list of provisional acceptances. Yes, she had excellent academics but it was the discussion about the benefits of continuing with high level ballet with a universally recognised exam board which had made her stand out.

I don’t disagree bridiem - I just remembered that Hayward hadn’t been cast in the traditional tutu lead roles before she became a principal and thought at the time that perhaps she hadn’t been considered the best choice for those roles. As you say, she has now danced the Sugar Plum Fairy and Aurora and obviously any doubts as to the tutu roles have been dispelled. I suspect that Hayward’s casting as Manon and Naghdi’s as Odette/Odile does indeed ‘balance out’ the roles for the most junior principals, as Sim suggested. We are certainly in for several treats this season!

My apologies, I hadn’t realised that Lauren Cuthbertson is cast in Swan Lake - great news! I stand by my belief that seniority shouldn’t always be the main concern when casting a role and perhaps as Sophoife suggests it is Liam Scarlett who has cast his Odette/Odiles rather than - or together with - Kevin O’Hare, according to a particular view he or they have of the requirements.

Francesca Hayward and Yasmine Naghdi are very different dancers and if I remember correctly Hayward hadn’t danced a lead ‘tutu’ role before she became a principal, which in itself is surprising but may suggest that she was/is considered less suited for those roles than others. As Lauren Cuthbertson and Laura Morera are also missing from the list of Odette/Odiles this time, there doesn’t seem to be a seniority issue outplaying any other concern and clearly Kevin O’Hare is simply casting the role as he sees best at this time.

Yep, it would be helpful if DD only danced and we only had to try to fit in various classes (which in itself is a mission). Sporting and other commitments are lovely but just add even more stress for all of us! Ah well, wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if we were un-stressed 😉

I wouldn’t want to move her to a new school where she finds the ballet ‘far too easy’. Whether it is or not is not the point, she has assessed it as such and moreover the new school would want her to stay in that same class for some time; she will become bored and disillusioned with ballet. Even with the new competition work to focus on, the ballet is required to participate in the competition work at the new school and if it were me I wouldn’t move her if she has to stay in a class she immediately said was too easy. I would chat to both teachers, especially for more information as to how they will correct her turning in as that will be very important as she progresses in dance. I would also find out whether she can attend both schools and stay in her current ballet class if both teachers have clear plans for the turning in. I would also be a little wary, as taxi4ballet says, about tap at this stage when she has been identified as having the issue with turning in and her ankle. Surely tap could wait until this has been resolved.