Bluebird22

Apologies @The red shoes I meant the boys who were asked to stay were only asked to demonstrate a few barre exercises before they were let go. The main audition earlier in the day was far more dance-y. 

Boys content was barre, tendu, plie, looking at facilities more than dance quality/ability

Some boys were definitely held back last year at the end of the day. My student got a yes from that group, quite sure another one of the boys called back got a yes too

Hi @Wimdancer the following places may be worth looking at for associate style programmes : Stagebox, Urdang Associates, Hammond Associates, West End Kids (I know a few children who have done their summer intensives), SLP, bbodance jazz scholars, Wilkes Academy Associate Programme, Performers Elite, Graeme Pickering associates, Denman Associates. I am sure there are lots I’ve missed but they are just ones kids I know have done or auditioned for. Hope that helps

I feel for all the dancing kids grown ups, for the most part you haven’t a clue what you should be doing and nor should you, that is why you pay us dance teachers. The announcement next week will determine how my students proceed, I have never left any parent to their own devices with photos and application forms. I am hoping to go and take photos on doorsteps and drives otherwise it will be zoom 😩. Last year when the guidance changed to allow people to meet outside we filmed audition videos in parks, bandstands and gardens, complete with a portable floor. I have my fingers and toes crossed for some meetings outside and a little tiny bit of sun. Good luck everyone and please ask your dance teachers for help, I’m sure they will be glad of a distraction from the endless zoom calls and news doom scrolling

I’ve seen some current white lodge students have had offers 

I only know kids who attend weekly. The development team (Manchester & Leeds) also attend weekly from my understanding and I believe they have some weeks offered in the holidays. The elite team are weekly but also take part in the holiday intensives and produce the videos, which are always pretty amazing. 

I would email to ask when you will be getting a response as others you know have heard

I have had quite a few students audition successfully for both development and elite 

I would second that @TwoDancers Zoom auditions for young children especially are really tricky. One scheme last year had the children learn the barre exercises with their back to the barre then turn to face the barre with their back to the camera, in a normal audition the children would have people around them not necessarily to copy but there is a sense of reassurance when you see you are doing the same as the others around you. Similarly with things sideways to the barre, generally the teacher moves around the room so they can be seen by all students. 

I do think video auditions are the best possible option for young children. The Ballet Boost videos last year were an absolute joy to help my students prepare and had been well thought out to take into consideration any space issues students might encounter. The Royal videos are no different and while I appreciate it is frustrating that they are reusing the same video, it is fit for purpose and covers everything the panel need to be able to see, generally the content is very very very basic. I would say reviewing applicants in this way takes up considerably more man hours, normal auditions see around 30 children at a time and I have a sneaking suspicion they start whittling it down as soon as the children come into the room, which I suspect is what they will do with audition video 1.

Do parents heights on the form really make any difference ? What about those children who don’t know their parents ? It’s not like the schools can actually check the height of the parent matches what is on the form. 

Another view on Elmhurst, think this makes it 3 views, all quite short though! I really hope we aren’t left waiting until the 28th 

Last year the offer for year 7 boys White Lodge came on the 10th March, which I’m sure was earlier than we anticipated

Looks like we have now had 2 ENBS views in the past week, although with no one else having views yet I’m starting to think these could just be someone else with the link. 

I think we’ve had very short views on both, but I’m not convinced it wasn’t someone else with the link

Has anyone had views on Elmhurst or ENBS videos?

Both the bbo & IDTA give comments on the report. With some exam boards now doing digital exams you would think it would be easy to get all exams to be reviewed by a second examiner when there are results queries. I think the nature of dance boards is everyone knows everyone and they have to be seen to trust the original examiners decision so as not to cause offence. When I took my GCSE & A Level dance exams I had an examiner and it was recorded (going back quite a while now 👵🏻) I personally think all exams should be recorded it covers everyone that way.

We created a YouTube link before we received the application form not realising that they wanted it uploading in a different format. Very stressful few hours on Monday trying to work out how to get the file across to my student so she could upload. I will be so glad when schools go back to auditioning everyone in person!

I saw something similar to this but a bit taller during lockdown - at first I thought it was a parents attempt at making an adjustable height barre 🤣

@jonacAbsolutely love this book! My copy is very well worn having referenced it in many essays and then loaning it to various students! 

I think Olivia Cowley has talked about Dyslexia in relation to ballet. I’ve taught a lot of dyslexic and query dyslexic students, little things like using fixed points like door and window instead of left and right help. Theory questions and free enchainments are always the biggest hurdle but the exam board I use are always very accommodating of reasonable adjustments. Theory in particular I encourage them to learn to answer in their own words rather than memorising. 

I found this today, might be of interest to someone

https://bbo.dance/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm%2Fevent%2Finfo&id=359&fbclid=IwAR2dxcAiBDGUSFlaBVLgvjJSCv9--7KSNbtOL97os-K7FnOhTaDYBKbjKGg

We have rescheduled exams from during lockdown scheduled, it’s exhausting! 

I could cry!

Oh she’s delightful too! The JA teachers at Birmingham are so lovely