taximom

Slightly off the topic but try and find something different to create the solo to. DON'T use just silence as this can be interpreted as lazy! My dd did her solos to Baz Luhrman's "Sunscreen". A spoken piece draws attention as it is more unexpected and will help to make the dancer stand out of the crowd.

My dd is too old at 22 and a graduate from London contemporary dance school. When will he be auditioning for company dancers?

What summer school is this? Can't find any information about it?? Thank you

I would still give them a call and see what they say, you can only ask! THey may have another suggestion even if the answering no!

Just call them and say she is a CAT student and they may say its OK, look for the level 2 class.

For those worrying about a clash between EYB and GCSEs, my DD did EYB for her 16th birthday in June of her GCSE year. As we live a long way from the venue I let her leave school early on a couple of occasions to get to the audition and casting. The main rehearsal was during the May half term. School did not like us taking her away for the half term to rehearse as they were putting on revision classes etc but it was the best decision we made as she worked hard for both the exams and EYB and having the scholarship and main part for Sleeping Beauty she did have to work hard but it took the stress off her for her GCSEs. So moral of the story is if dance is your child's life it may help distress with the exams, it will take their mind of the exams and will give them a wonderful memory. We had already decided this would be DDs last EYB and it was a wonderful truly memorable time for all of us without her getting stressed over exams. She exceed her own expectations gaining better GCSE results than anticipated.

Yasmin is highly thought of and on a number of people's radar!!

What a brilliant account of the experience, clearly you both had a great day out and enjoyed yourselves which is exactly what you were meant to do and not worry about the "what ifs". Please try not to mug the postman as you wait for the result now! Well done to your dd!

Just checked the contact info for Chris at Crystal Dance and as well as the email, the landline is 01905 739160 and mobile is 07880 666 601 Chris says leave a message if there is no reply. The machines in the unit are noisy so she doesn't always hear!

Contact christine@crystaldance.co.uk. Chris is a professional costume maker with a small business in worcester who has never had to advertise since she set the company up a couple of years ago. She supplies all the local school plus contracts for other companies. Mention that the contact has come from me, I am sure she will be able to help you. Heather License

My dd was also a lone candidate for advanced 1 and just slotted in with others she didn't know, just like an audition really. At higher levels it should make no difference if they know who they are with or not as they should be independent dancers. When going in with others my dd was always first as she was always the smallest and felt this showed she knew the syllabus as she couldn't copy even if she wanted to.

My dd is a contemporary dancer but the height issue is not only a ballet one. She has lost out on at least 4 auditions in the last few weeks purely on height which is 5'2" if stretched. If she wanted to consider cruise ship jobs she couldn't as again she is too small (as well as getting sea sick!). It doesn't matter that she graduated as one of the top dancers from London contemporary dance school last year sometimes the costume dictates. She is 22 next week but look about 14 so that doesn't help either. There are male contemporary jobs out there at the moment but not female. Whichever route your dance ambitions lie and however good you are it might still not happen and plan B, C .......... Is always needed.

The allowance for dance and music exams is usually only made if the degree is in that subject and, I think, at the discretion of the university. They usually offer perhaps one grade below I.e. if the usual offer is DDM then the offer allowing for this might be DMM.

Remember that usually rehearsals take place in a school rather than the theatre.I know you still need to know about the locality etc but possibly not as much time there as you might at first think!

Don't forget the CAT scheme at dance xchange. Well done for being so proactive, more teachers need to be like you!

As some one who helps to run a Festival, we do not allow dancers to dance out of class, for one thing we do not have time usually. It is also upto the Adjudicator if they want to do it. Quite unusual for this to happen in my experience.

Roberts from the railway children?

Swan princess have you considered welsh ballet.co.uk and their Summer School? Although its Jon residential I have heard nothing but good things about it with professional dancers and very good teaching, might be worth a look .

It's one I also know very well and has won at All England Finals on at least 3 occasions.

Give dance direct a call. I have found them really helpful in the past and you can always return for another size if you need to. Alternatively our own Just Ballet offers an amazing service and is VERY helpful so would try her first!

She has chosen Central based on her preferences. She is a beautiful ballet dancer but from the same 'stable' I.e. dance school is Tom who was the only UK dancer in the finals of the Prix. She is able to make the choice based on her ability and preferences as well as taking the funding into account. She is doin by well this week at our local festival that I help run and has been a pleasure to watch in all sections.

Heard of one young lady at our local dance festival today has accepted Central over Rambert, Elmhurst and Tring all funded places so her places will b going out to another dancer very soon if not already gone!

Be aware that some Summer and Easter courses bring in guest teachers who are not teachers on the full time courses. I am not saying this is the case at Northern but it is something worth checking out especially if you are 'trying it out' before applying for full time training.

What wonderful news, a great place to be offered, congratulations.

You also need to make sure there is a good balance between the song and the dance!!