2littledancers

Do we have any idea who the placing s were ??

My DD has just turned 10 . Hoping that she won't look too much younger than others . I don't know what to expect really . 1st timer !!

Can anyone tell me what the average age is for the junior section ?

My dd will be doing the Janet crams for the 1 st time this year , don't really know what to expect , what happens , is she a bit young ? You know , all those questions !! Any guidance great fully received !!

Yes 9 years . That reminds me , have got one of those that needs engraving !!

It is so friendly , unlike some others , the people are lovely , so welcoming to the children .

Did I see you mentioned your daughter is in the 8 year old section ? Mines in the 9 s .

Ballet , modern , s and d , tap , Greek , character a couple of duets , trio and endless groups !! Although only doing a few groups at Luton .

She adores festivals although my bank balance doesn't !!!

I think they all are in the south , south/east ! Especially when you get to the London north semi s!!

Does your dd do many solo s ?

It certainly is !!

Ooh , we have Craig Bartley in a fortnight , then Chris hocking s ! Loving the male ajuducators at the moment . Just finishing with Nathan James next weekend ! Anyone had much experience of Mr Bartley or Mr Hockings !! Where have they been hiding ? Breath of fresh air !!

It was only last year that the section s at a couple of our festivals were separated , up until then I'd never heard of it . I think it's something that is definitely filtering through but I suppose the reason why most say only one dance to be danced when they are not separated is that according to All England , they are not separate sections , they are the same disapline .

Yes , it makes a pleasant change . I few on the all England panel look like they are not going to see the weekend/ week out let alone see what's on stage .

You can def tell the energy the younger ajuducator s relay to the children .

He is a fabulous ajuducator , his ballet is as strong as his MT and is very constructive with his criticism . The tap shoe thing is a def , one of his pet hates , but all adjudicators have these .

He is very fair and encouraging and love the fact that he is on stage sometimes prior to the children at the end of a section .

We have Nathan James in a couple of weeks ( for the third time on the bounce ) who is also very constructive , appears to be from the Geoff Lucas school of ajuducating !! Let the festival season commence !

I agree as the ages could be quite vast between the two . My dd is 9 in the grade 4/ section , took grade 3 last summer , not sure if she ll be in line or young .

I think its def a case of an all round secure performance wins the day , with solid technique,  a sense of performance and a great deal of confidence. But also the same as anything with all performers , if your face doesn't fit , it doesn't fit . I think many adjudicators latch on to a child and they then get placed in all sections , but as everyone has said , it comes down to personnel choice.

It has been nice to see some younger (especially male ) blood on the adjudicating panel recently , as many of the older ladies were looking rather tired , especially the ones that have been around since i was dancing !!!!!!

My daughter has always been very fortunate at festivals placing 9 times out of 10 but always agrees this is a bonus , she enjoys the festival circuit immensely making copious amounts of new friends from different dance schools . which will be (like i made ) friends for life !! 

Festival mums/kids are not all MAD DANCE MUMS !!!

Thank you for the thred , interesting reading.

It looks like they have changed the format slightly , Category 1 grades 2 and 3 9.15-10.30am 

                                                                                Category 2 grades 4 and 5  11.00-12.15pm 

                                                                                 Presentation of Junior Award 12.30 pm 

Then it goes on to the senior sections in the afternoon , is this different from last year ? , can anyone give any idea s of numbers and standard and also the average age for 2nd cat Grade 4 and 5 ?

Had a look at the rules , and it appears that this thinking only applies to groups ;

Rule 11  .......A School with a group placed 1st at the national finals may enter a group with the same choreography in the next competition but thereafter not for the subsequent TWO competitions , regardless of the placing achieved on the second occasion .

Hope this helps .

Yes there have been quite a few changes for the next two years , festivals moving area s etc and they are changing the numbers of qualifiers from the semi s AGAIN !!!

I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience of these awards ? DD has entered these awards that are being held on the 2 March 2014 in Brentwood. All info would be appreciated.

My understanding of the rules are the same , that you can't enter the same group/choreography for two subsequent All England years (so effectively 4 years ) this probably applies more to groups than solos as schools have been inclined to swap the children and keep the same music/chore/costumes for years on end . 

Barbara Sharples is now an All England Ajdudicator , she adjudicated the London North Semis this year . There is also the Barbara Sharples Choregraphic Competition that has just been danced a couple of weekends ago in Manchester.

It is still indeed the youngest at the beginning of the week and you are in fact right , hardly any in the younger sections and 20 plus in the senior s . Seems so unfair as the a and b categories are still just as talented for there age ! Also applies to normal festivals when adjudicstors refuse to give anything over 86/87 for the younger ones and are dishing out the 89/90 s for the elder competitors . If you read the wording re the marks it doesn't tally !! The standard at London north finals has been absolutely amazing , that tied with the new rules , the standard of the finals should be something to behold !!

Well done to anyone that has got any dances through to the finals , the finals are such a fabulous experience , DD had the experience 2 years ago with her ballet solo and loved it !! We have been at London North regional finals all week and still have more to do later on in the week. DD has come second in both ballet duet and Greek solo so far , only for the adjudicators to put no one through in those sections at all , when the standard has been amazing , disappointing , but apparently they have been told not to put every section through. Hopefully we will have more success at the end of the week , if not ill just look on the bright side and count the money i will save !!

I do think it s interesting how fees differ so vastly.

Amber 21 , my daughter is also finding the grade 4 very easy , but im sure this will not be the case once starting the new grade 5 !

Lemongirl , if this release follows the trend of all the other new grades , the new syllabus is released this January 2014 and wont be available to be examined for a couple of terms after that , so I assume you can carry on taking the old exam up until that date.

At my dd dance school though , the last round for the old syllabus will be November exams , then after xmas everyone will start on the the new syllabus.

I do like the idea of the solo performance awards , something our dance school does not do , but I suppose the thinking behind that is that our students receive a great deal of performance opps from dancing in many festivals.

Think if I am correct the new grade 5 comes out in January , with teacher classes scheduled before that . DD S teacher will then dispense with the old and start with the new . She goes on to the new as soon as she has learnt it. If the other grades are anything to go by it will be a great deal harder and a lot more enjoyable .

Does anyone know off the top of their heads if there is an age limit for grade 5 . I know there is one somewhere in the middle but wasn't sure if it was grade 5 or 6.