sarahw

Hi Happygirl,

Based on our experience a long travel is exhausting on top if a class, which at 2 hours, is already long for a little one. So I would strongly recommend applying to closest centre. Help with travel costs may be limited to this as well....

Regarding if your dd enjoys ballet enough to enjoy it why not try and increase hours at ger local school and she how she gets on. I think it could be a valuable experience even if she has no intention of being a dancer. (Lucky you...)

Good luck!

Why not just sleep on it for a week or so and try to put to the back of your mind? (Ha ha!) If your DC is lucky enough to be offered a place you may find the answer ready by then- often your brain just sorts it out subconsciously.

Personally I agree with thequays that u r much more likely to regret not doing something. ......

I would say (personal opinion) that WL has a more traditional style of operation. I'm not saying one is better than the other just different. I have found similar scenarios when looking at local secondary schools.

Hi von Rothbart,

I would say the benchmark for ballet is different at Elmhurst but not necessarily lower than WL. The attitude to children and parents is different so I suspect different types thrive in each place.

Hi C4D, I can understand why you feel like that. Sometimes our dc surprise us by the motivation and determination they have. My Dc has had a bad time recently and their motivation is up again before mine and pulling me on. Try to take inspiration trom her. She sounds amazing......

Has she tried knitting? Tapestry? It must be so hard...

Love to you all

Talented and hard working rather than lucky I would think! Well done.

Have just realised one of the festivals I had in mind now has an alternative modern section so people double up acro and lyrical. ..

We are in North west so maybe unique to area?

Manchester results took 12 days for lower school

People have done 2 dances - lyrical and modern in modern sections I've seen.

I think this is a fab thread especially for novice dancing parents. It is so easy to get caught up in the audition frenzy without looking at the long term outcomes and issues.

Thank you to all contributors.

Thanks- your reasoning makes sense!

It's all a bit odd as those who auditioned prior to Xmas heard quite quickly. ..

Hi all

Has anyone heard from Tring 13 January yet? 4 weeks is so long..

Good luck pictures! !

My dc has very slim feet. Lisa at www.danceandleisurewear.co.uk managed to get us a pair of bloch ss black modern shoes with front elastic (rather than the side panels). I think these may not be a current product as they weren't on the web site. They fit a lot slimmer. I can look at the product code if would be useful....

Or maybe taking JAs distorts the process as selection is heavily dependent on JA teacher report which may be affected by the relationship between them?

Just speculating, find it all so strange. ..

As a dance novice I am surprised by the high wastage rate from the schools. (Puberty Body changes aside which are hard to predict. )

I naively thought that the audition process at 10/11 which is so stressful was at least accurate ! I would expect issues with flexibility certainly to be predictable at that age. Surely if you're not flexible then it tends to get harder with age?

I have to assume it must be a very difficult prediction to make at 11 as surely somewhere like WL should be 'skilled' at selecting. Especially as they mostly take JAs of whom they have extensive knowledge.

Congratulations pirouette 26 and to your dd. Fantastic!

Sorry I don't expect you to name the school but the rest applies. .

Kathy and Julie

Are you referring to WL? That is shocking. What a way to treat the pupils and their parents. No respect.

Our GP didn't charge for letter but I know why some do..... GPs are effectively self employed so cheque may well be to them individually. ...

The variation in cost might relate to whether a letter is required only ie a review of notes or if needs an examination.

This is exactly the type of career counselling I would love to give my dc.....

Maybe you could speak to a teacher at school who teaches dance? The dancing my dc does at high school does not seem to be technical in any way. Maybe teaching dance at high school requires a PGCE and therefore a degree? My dc dancing at high school is taught both by pe and dance teachers.

I can see why you want to keep as many options open as possible. ...

Hi all,

Remember all the money doesn't go to the gp. They have to pay staff, pay for buildings, buy IT systems etc etc Anything like this that is not covered by NHS has to be funded. But I know it's unwelcome after all the audition costs and before the fees.....