JoJo

My daughter did Prague for the second year running this Summer - the faculty includes Principals and Artistic Directors from renowned companies. Here's her review if you'd like more detail: https://talaleeturton.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/prague-international-ballet-masterclasses/

Hi should have updated this a while ago but the tutu is now sold and gone to a good home!

I treated my Mum, a massive Northern Ballet fan, for Mothers' Day. It was a really lovely evening! My favourites were Daria and Vadim - such a lovely and special treat. My daughter will be attending Daria's masterclasses in Prague again this Summer and she speaks very highly of her as a person and a dancer, as a result of meeting her and being trained by her (and Vadim) at the masterclasses! I also agree, Terpsichore, A Northern Trilogy was lovely - innovative, inventive and humorous - Yorkshire Pudding was my favourite too. And I also loved We Never Said - performed so beautifully! I attended the 40th anniversary gala five years ago - and was impressed then, and also last night, by the amazingly articulate David Nixon, introducing the audience to the programme. I was also sat at the front in the stalls and didn't see any empty seats!? I thought there was a lovely atmosphere and a real buzz with the audience clearly appreciative of wonderful array of dancers and choreographers on show.

Or try Bristol Russian Ballet School - the Directors are Bolshoi and Vaganova trained: http://www.bristolrussianballetschool.com/easter_and_summer_courses/

Vaganova Academy run a summer school in Mikkeli, Finland - see attached link: http://provivaladance.fi/en/master-class-2015/ My daughter attended two years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a very high standard with final year Vaganova Academy students participating and Vaganova Academy teachers. Mikkeli is a lovely place too.

Oh - I don't think I can edit the original post - can one of the administrators help out? Thanks

Thanks Jane - so 61-62 cm (24 inch) waist and 81-89 cm (34/35 inch) hips. I'll edit the original post to show this!

It's difficult to know really but I think more 6 than 8 - it actually says 34 on the label, if that's any help?

I have a black, Grishko practice tutu for sale. Worn just a couple of times so in pristeen condition - happy to send pics. About an adult size 6/8. £100 plus p&p or collect from South Yorkshire. Edited by Anna C to add: 61-62 cm (24 inch) waist and 81-89 cm (34/35 inch) hips.

Some really good seminars yesterday aswell - well worth a listen, particularly where professional dancers are sharing their experiences!

The Bolshoi run their summer intensives in the States (NY and CT) in partnership with an American organisation http://www.bolshoiballetacademy.com

Sorry - reading backwards and just realised Ellie has already posted!

This is a really helpful site http://www.balletposition.com

I recognised that the training my DD was receiving in her UK vocational school was not benefiting her and was fortunate enough to learn of a school in Bristol that offered Russian-style training, Bristol Russian Ballet School. She trained with them for almost two years at weekends and during the holidays, outside of her attendance at her vocational school. They suggested my DD audition for the Bolshoi at 16. She was offered a place and has trained there since 2012. I really wish that we had discovered Russian training before - with hindsight (and if I had been brave enough) I would have sent her at a younger age. Her improvement has been remarkable though she is playing catch up to the Russians and other international students who have been in receipt of this kind of training for much longer - the standard of the Russians at the Bolshoi is awe inspiring!

Sadielou, I can very much relate to everything you have said! My daughter was selected to attend a UK vocational school yet was constantly made to feel that she wasn't good enough! I believe that if she hadn't discovered teachers external to her school to supplement their training she would have given up dancing - her passion - soon after she started her post-16 training. I believe that her potential, lovely dance quality and performance was trained out of her - along with her confidence! It took a while for her to get that back. I agree it really has to be down to the training - the lack of nurture and support, the steadfast reliance on "safe" training and the seeming reluctance to show what all their students are capable of (through performances and competitions). We are able to compare the UK training with the training she is now undertaking in Moscow. There is no comparison - both in terms of her experience as a student and my experience as a parent. Even though I have have much further to travel - there is no issue with getting to see my daughter's classes and she gets the opportunity to perform regularly - even if it just in second cast or rehearsals - and she is supported if she chooses to enter competitions. I think that makes a vital difference - when she was at her UK vocational school I was lucky if I got to see her in one dance class per year and catch a two minute glimpse of her in the end of year performance - the only performance she would have the opportunity to take part in. My daughter's ambition is to work for a ballet company - she recognises it is a very competitive world and will have to work hard to achieve this. I do feel that when she completes her four year training in Moscow she will at least have a chance. Something significant would have had to have changed for me to say the same had she stayed in the UK vocational system.

[quote name="slavetoballet" post="114040" timestamp="1420996667 JOJO, when you say the bolshoi - im assuming in russia? Yes, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow - as Rowan pointed out earlier in the thread, gymnastics is common to all Russian training. It is built into the training from an early age. My daughter has been training there for three years and it has made a big difference. She does recommend in her post that the type of stretching she is demonstrating is done with a teacher in the first instance.

My daughter trains at the Bolshoi where gymnastics is an integral part of the training. Their method for gymnastics training is very thorough and has benefited my daughter's flexibility and core strength no end. I have previously posted a link to her blog which shows her interpretation of her Bolshoi gymnastics classes into an hour long pre-ballet warm up that she also does at the end of each day as well. Here's the link again http://talaleeturton.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/my-pre-class-warm-up/

She adapted to them straight away, even without the suede tips! Maybe it's to do with the hardness? You could try the harder shoes - i think they go to extra hard.

. Yes the first half focuses on the Bolshoi company and the second on the Academy. My DD was interviewed for the programme and features briefly in the second half along with another British student.

My daughter converted to Gaynor's about 6 months ago and now swears by them. She did have non-suede tipped ones to start with which were not as stable as the suede tipped one so just checking you have the suede tipped ones?

I read the Dancing Times article and found it really interesting. Aside from the unfortunate comments on 'sense of entitlement', I did think his comments on over-schooling and the need to perform were right on. I recently uploaded to the forum a post from my daughter's blog - A day I the life of a Bolshoi Academy student - which demonstrates how intensive and varied the dance training is there. Six days a week and including academics (in Russian)! In addition, it also demonstrates how much opportunity the students at the Bolshoi get to perform - 2 shows a year, a graduation show, 2 full length ballet productions, character festivals, tours etc. - hence reinforcing Christopher Powney's point about developing artistry and performance capability! My DD has experience of the UK vocational system as well as the Bolshoi - and this wasn't the case in her UK school. She has improved immensely in her three years so far at the Bolshoi, visible even to a non-dancer like myself! This is largely down to the fact that she feels valued and nurtured. It's also very open at the Bolshoi. When I go over to visit, I am able to go and see as many of my daughter's classes as I like. The teachers all take time to speak to me (via a translator) and are really genuinely pleased that I am watching their classes! The students are free to enter competitions if they choose - and their teachers will spend time helping them with variations. The graduation year exams are performed in public on the stage. The Academy has nothing to hide. I didn't get this sense of openness and access as a parent when my DD was training in the UK. Whilst my daughter has made lots of progress in her three years at the Bolshoi, she is in awe of the Russian students who have trained there for many more years. She says they are the stars of the future - and they have an obvious flair and confidence. It's not surprising that the artistic directors of the top Russian companies (and elsewhere) watch their exams and final graduation performances and snap them up. So our experience of Russian training has been very positive and I think offers lots to learn from!

Just through chatting to people!

There were 12 dancers in the ballet second round and 20 in the contemporary. The five who go through to each category final will be told next week ( according to the man from the Beeb who introduced both sessions). The programmes only listed the names of the dancers with no other details. There were plenty of candidates from vocational schools though.

Couldn't agree more CeliB, this is definitely an important additional cost to consider for parents with DDs and DSs abroad and I totally buy in to your rationale as I have followed the same principle while my DD trains in Moscow. Travel costs were also one of the biggest expenses when my DD was training in the UK during peak diesel/ petrol prices - as others have noted. 5 years' travel to Tring and Bristol from the North of England was not cheap! Also critical must haves for overseas training - health insurance (a minefield to work through the options and noone wants to cover Russia!), internet and mobile phone packages (a UK sim and a Russian sim as those living between two countries will know only two well), money for living costs (the Bolshoi fees include meals but they are basic and not veggie-friendly which is no good to my vegetarian DD), costs of kit - aswell as normal training kit, exams at the end of the year are colour coordinated so students purchase identical coloured skirts and leotards. In Russia too, at the start of each year and following each exam, each teacher is presented with flowers - it's a lovely tradition but still an extra cost for each student! Training whilst back in the UK is also an additional cost! Other additional costs are those associated with auditions and getting ready to approach companies for work - preparing a professional portfolio of photos, videos etc, fees and travel costs for international competitions and summer schools to get seen by artistic directors etc. Lots to bear in mind aswell as the core fees!

Thank you, Harwel, I will pass that on to her. She enjoys writing her blog - information was so scarce when she was applying so this is her way of making it more accessible for future applicants.