Kat09

Congratulations Arucaria , so happy to read that your hard work and tenacity has been rewarded. Good luck with fund raising , maybe start by researching charitable trusts that might be able to support you.

On 19/02/2015 at 16:49, hopeforpointe said:

I've seen them being sold on etsy to be used as house decorations, because they have the 'real, used' look, and unfortunately there is also the foot fetish thing, which is quite creepy.  I've heard they can sell for as much as you originally paid for the pair, sometimes more, so depending how you feel about people's reasons for buying them, it could quite easily help you pay for new shoes!  I've been thinking about selling my old ones, but was a little worried about getting such messages, and then I thought, well if it pays for the pair I recently bought that came in at £65, does it matter?  I'm still making my decision.

Drat - I just put 50 pairs into the skip 😱

I would say, please don't worry adjust work hard towards your next goal. When you audition for Upper School, the panel are interested in seeing you dance, definitely not what your past or even latest grade was.

Goodluck with everything

9 minutes ago, AliceK said:

Hi!!

 

if you could send a photo that would be great.  Email address is amandanaan75@gmail.com

 

xxxx

will do ... Sunday

8 hours ago, AliceK said:

Looking for a Tutu bag for a professional tutu that needs to be stored ASAP as it’s getting bashed about in my daughters school costume department!  

I have one available ... £20 plus p & p   able to send a photo on Sunday if you let me have your email

9 hours ago, Pas de Quatre said:

I am interested in the portable barre if still available.  Can collect.  PM me if still available with your address.  Thanks.

I'm in Milford on Sea - have sent pm

10 hours ago, Maria said:

Hello Kat,

Which harlequin floor is it please? We would be interested in having one of the floor pieces,

Thanks,

Liz

Hi Liz - i'm not sure "which" model of floor it is - it's grey - as you see in a ballet studio. Happy to take photos and send , however i cant do that before Sunday as i'm away at the moment.

Is Birmingham accessible to you? Elmhurst has an Associate programme

2 hours ago, Kat09 said:

Dismantling home studio and have 2 pieces of Harlequin flooring 147 cm x 402  - £100 per piece plus postage  .... great for practice

 

Ballet barre - Free standing - portable - £100 plus postage

 

Wooden ballet bar to affix to wall -£75. plus postage

 

wall mirror = 5" x  5' - slight damage at bottom LH corner  £50 

 

any questions or need of photos just ask

 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Fitness-Practise-Katz-Dancewear/dp/B015HFBRBS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549027208&sr=8-3&keywords=portable+ballet+barres

south coast ... near to Christchurch

Dismantling home studio and have 2 pieces of Harlequin flooring 147 cm x 402  - £100 per piece plus postage  .... great for practice

Ballet barre - Free standing - portable - £100 plus postage

Wooden ballet bar to affix to wall -£75. plus postage

wall mirror = 5" x  5' - slight damage at bottom LH corner  £50 

any questions or need of photos just ask

35 minutes ago, kiwiballetmum said:

Also has been offered a trainee position with Ballet de Catalunya.. It appears more of a bridge between school and company as they offered a scholarship for the school and then she gets paid per performance with the company. So if anyone knows anything about this we would love to hear! Still have a few more auditions next week and will get her to look into those junior companies thanks @2dancersmum and @Kat09 ! 

Hello- we know girl that had a contract with Ballet de Catalunya and she only has good things to say of her experience .... I'm sure that she will be happy to speak to your daughter -send me a PM and I can put them in touch.

1 hour ago, Rein2019 said:

We are on the south coast. 😊

If you are Hampshire South Coast I can recommend someone - send me a PM if I can help

Have you looked at Cinevox in Geneva? It advertises itself as a bridge between school and professional company .... good luck with everything

spiraboo ... if you would like medium size I have some unworn 

18 hours ago, ArucariaBallerina said:

Hi, sorry if this is in wrong place. Just thought I'd update on auditions so far.

 

So, first was my audition for KS dance. They were very kind, and the classes (ballet, pointe, contemporary, physio and interview) were amazing, but did not hide anything from you. I have been offered a final audition in May. They don't think that I am tall enough yet but as I am forecast to grow (delayed bone age), they said they would like to give me as big a chance as possible, because they liked my dancing. 

 

Elmhurst was a very expected no, and I've just got the result back from Central with another no. And I know I'm a very lucky and usually very happy girl, but I just feel very down-trodden. Am I just not good enough? Am I just not tall enough? It's so so hard, I am trying to use the rejections to spur me on to be a better dancer (I'm seeing a fantastic dance/strength coach who has devised a brilliant programme to help with my weaknesses) but I don't know, Just looking for some advice and happy ending anecdotes haha. 

3 more (+KS final) auditions left to go! 

 

I hope other auditionees are doing well and merry Christmas everyone x

 

Arucaria - wishing you all the best - have you considered The Academy of Balletic Arts - refreshingly different training 

2 minutes ago, LinMM said:

Well Miko has been very successful dance wise when you consider all the girls who don't make it at all!

so not a terrible result really.

Also she is now not only successfully pursuing another career but  still maintains contact with ballet in the way that she chooses too and now enjoys teaching. 

Overall she has done well in her life even if not a principal dancer with a Company.

The life she wants ... BRAVO!!

9 hours ago, Xandra Newman said:

 

 

 From what I have read the same happened to  Australian Claudia Dean: she was individually trained and coached to dance solos at galas and at competitions, but when it came to thriving as a professional dancer in the RB corps de ballet she couldn't mentally adapt to dancing just corps roles, she wasn't mentally prepared to do her time in the corps. As a corps de ballet dancer she got a few solo roles as a test, and I think it must have posed a problem for her to accept that one day she could dance a solo role but on other days she had to return to being a corps de ballet dancer, as that was her rank after all, she wasn't a soloist. When she didn't get the promotion she thought she deserved she gave up. 

Claudia Dean trained at RBS from the age of  15 -17 1/2  before entering into the RB Company. I believe that her decision to leave was in no way associated with her position in the company. She took the brave step, after the realisation that company life was not the life she wanted, of leaving and returning to her native Australia. She has found her calling in life in training the next generation dancers - she is generous with her time and experience in encouraging these young girls. I for one find her a breath of fresh air and would like to applaud her.

9 hours ago, Xandra Newman said:

 

 

Signed and shared .Sending my heart felt condolences ... so many of our young people being short changed when they need help, I'm so sorry that Oliver was failed by a system that is not fit for purpose where mental health is concerned.

30 minutes ago, Jane said:

Know your dd’s school got more contracts than the school my dd attended. It paints a grim picture of vocational training and the support or lack of it during the course. Not just pastorally lacking but for those that complete the training not much guidance on finding contracts and even being penalised for taking time out of school to attend company auditions. 

This was contracts from original 1st years , more were gained for those that joined in 2nd and 3rd year, so as a whole the graduates were successful.  - my post was to indicate , in answer to The original post , that , in my experience there are quite a high percentage that leave after experiencing difficulties after starting at 16. The question that lingers is, had appropriate support been available , could/would they have overcome their difficulties and achieved their undeniable potential.

  As they say in The Hunger games - “may the odds be ever in  Your favour” ... 

18 minutes ago, Vonrothbart said:

I think some of the DC's parents, after reading a few of these posts, will be glad their children weren't successful in gaining a place at VS. It would be interesting to know, for those about to start US, just what the odds are it happening to them. If it's a very small minority, it's still too many.

Popping in and felt some figures might be helpful . Of the original cohort of 14 girls in my daughters year, 4 left (before finishing the course) with  health challenges . Others left due to being assessed out or choosing a new path ... 1 gained a contract before starting  3rd year . Only 5 completed the 3 years and graduated, 4 gaining a Company contract in Europe and the other a part time contract .Grim results given the time , effort, talent and not to mention money . Of course this is only 1 year in isolation and maybe not indicative of other year groups at the same school or elsewhere.

I'm not sure that this will help with calculating the odds, but hopefully indicates that it is best to take a keen interest in your DCs welfare and follow up if anything appears to be out of place. 

10 hours ago, sarahw said:

Kat09 I wish you and your daughter all the best. It is a very moving blog. I am sorry you've had such a traumatic experience. 

Thank you sarahw x

Thanks Cara - I’m so sad that I will never see my daughter dance again however that pales Into insignificance when I dare to think that I might see and enjoy her being happy and healthy xxx

Wishing your dd a fabulous time at uni and beyond xxx

On a very last note - I’m staying here (for the ticket news ;)) if anyone needs a friendly shoulder - somewhere to offload without judgement - I am here - do feel free to send me a pm - I really have walked in your shoes . Best wishes Kat