taximom

I would add London Contemporary Dance School to the top of the list of pure contemporary dance schools along with Northen Schhol of Contemporar Dance and Trinity Laban School of Contemporary Dance. However there are just as few jobs out there for Contemporar dancers, especially females, virtually nothing.

One of the things dancers seem to need to do is to build up stamina. dancers are more like 100m athletes than marathon runners. To help I know my DD tries to swim and I wonder if this is a possible option for you? it doesn't hurt any body part, can be helpful to support injuries and will build up stamina? Heather Aka Taximom

There is a ballet unit available for staff to choose but I would suggest that your own level of dance, especially ballet, needs to be maintained and the Btec is unlikely to offer that high level. My DD did Btec dance but had already passed her Adv 1 before going there and was studying at the place CAT. She therefore did no external dance classes. She was at a very very much higher level of ballet than anyone else on the course but was challenged and stretched in other ways. Hope that helps. Heather Aka Taximom

That is correct Swanprincess. The whole qualification is a 2 year one but usually split into 2 x 1 year quals. The 90 credit diploma is equivilant to 2 AS levels. I have students who will complete their 1st year in 2 weeks but who won't, for a variety of reasons, be going onto their second year. As you say, they can come back to complete their second year at a later date, subject to funding. It is the deal option in your situation! There is an academic element to the course and we certainly expect the students to work just as hard on this aspect as well as the practical side. The bias is is probably 70/30.

I am sure there have been a number of discussions on this but I would aim for the Btec in Dance for the very reasons you have outlined. The course will give you a wide variety of dance and will get you dancing all day. Bare in mind that each course is only as good as the teachers so find out where their graduates have gone onto in terms of schools. The full 2 year level 3 extended diploma is worth the same as. 3 a levels and is considered in exactly the same way as a levels for university, havering the same points value. Vocational courses at higher level prefer Btec students as they are used to working hard and for full days, studying longer dance pieces as more like schools rather than a levels which tend to only look at short extracts.

It depends on what school they use. When my DD did that one, her first of 4, 11 years ago the school was a couple of miles from J2 and a long way out of Wolverhampton. It might be worth asking Miss Lewis.

Just ballet.co.uk will give you a contact form but also a phone number!

Contact our own Just Ballet, she is brilliant!

You need to have been resident in the UK for 3 years before being eligible to apply for student finance I think. Check www.gov.uk and follow the links for eligibility and it has full details there. They are also very helpful if you call them for clarification.

Btec level two is equivalent to GCSE dance,

If you are studying the higher grades or vocational grades it would be worth reminding the school that these levels attract UCAS points and are highly regarded when applying to any Uni as they show versatility, dedication, time management, multi tasking ..... And the lst goes on. Hope all goes well next week, it will certainly help with mom in your sued as well.

BTec is much more vocational and is very highly regarded when applying at higher level as the student will have more experience of longer length works, whole plays, whole musicals, long length dance projects. A high academic standard should also be expected. Remember, as with everything else, if the teachers are good the students experience and outcomes should follow suit. It is getting late but not impossible to apply for sept 2014 entry. Depends where you are in the midlands but can recommend Kidderminster Dance course and Worcester Performing Arts both level 3 courses, the equivilant of AS at the end of the first year and A level in the 2nd year. Heather Aka Taximom

Looking at the stands for various schools you need to have your eyes open as it all becomes a little overwhelming! remember to ask what qualifications are being offered and what funding is available!!

I had a student who did their audition class for a scholarship last year but discovered that the funding was for l3 btec, the course she was already doing and she would have to find and fund accommodation so not worth looking at for her even though she got through the audition against some 100+ auditionees. The routine was commercial and very fast paced.

Have a look at our own 'Just Ballet' website. I know she will answer you very quickly if you have any questions as well Heather Aka Taximom

Have a look at Participation - Young People - Holiday Projects - Youth Intensives these are for 9 - 16 year olds and require no previous experience. If you are uncertain give them a call as they are always very helpful and will point you in the most appropriate direction. There is also a little gem in their cafe which has wonderful dancers food and is soo friendly.

The Place - thee home of London Contemporary Dance School and Richard Alston dance Cmpany run Easter and Summer Intensives where you can choose what to do and at what level. They are non residential but the YHA on Euston Road is very good and only literally around the corner opposite the British Library. I would certainly recommend these sessions.

I would recommend the place where there are both adult and young peoples classes. The CAT ( Centre for Advanced Training) has just opened applications which could also be considered. the Place is the home for Richard Alston Dance Company and London Contemporary Dance School.

Christine at Crystal Dance in Worcester makes costumes for many different people. She made all Tom Edwards dance wear for the Prix last year. Give her a call, if she doesn't answer it's due to the machine noise! She will make to measure and is brilliant! 01905 739160. She doesn't have a website as she has so much work by word of mouth!

Try putting her level of ballet qualification in education speak and pointing out the UCAS points value!! Heather Aka Taximom

Don't rush to take action, speak to her other teachers and see what happens when she starts back again. It must be difficult for her to have you as a teacher as well as for you. Is she getting problems from any other children who know you are their teacher, is that a factor in loosing her sense of performance, is she trying to fade into the background in case someone says something nasty? She may also have been tired with academic school as well as lots of dance. I think CAT provides such a good complementary training that can only enhance a dancers experience but it is no easier than ballet in gaining employment after top class training. I do hope your DD regains her performance but worth looking for what is going on!! Heather Aka Taximom Edited to add signature!

Brilliant news!! When will you find out about the dada or do you have to go for a funding audition there?

Speaking from a personal point of view only!! What is the reason the teacher thinks your DD might be overtraining? Between the ages of 14 & 16 I think my DD was dancing a similar amount including attending CAT and Central School of ballet exam class on Saturday and Sunday and weekly youth dance company. When she was 16 she went to college to do BTEC dance, stopped dancing at her local dance school for various reasons, continued in London all weekend and youth dance company and was doing many more hours dancing than previously. There would have been an overtraining issue if she had continued with the local dance school. We were advised by her CAT regarding the training. Do all this boils down to why there might be an issue? Taximom aka Heather Edited to add signature!! And edited again to make some sense where predictive text didn't make sense!!

Have a look at Ballet Cymre from what others have said this is a brilliant non residential summer school and you could look at a holiday for the family at the same time whilst your DD attends class.

Is the reason your DD couldn't attend because she will be in UK school still? if this is the case, as it is towards the end of the academic year and often not a lot is going on, schools will consider this opportunity as 'educational' and can agree to time off school for educational reasons. Many schools will appreciate the opportunities this will present, especially if you point them out, and are able to agree without too many issues! Good luck!!