Bluebird22

I've got a pupil auditioning for Manchester next weekend. And 1 auditioning this weekend in Birmingham. One of my other pupils is just finishing up her final year at elmhurst associates she's loved every minute. She was gutted to nt get a place full time there. I guess it really does depend on the child. As a teacher I know some children respond far more to my way of teaching than others, but it's swings and roundabouts, equally some children have swapped over to other teachers because they find their style more suited to their needs.

Hi will the guidelines for junior ballet change with the addition of mid ballet scholarships?

No it isn't, I've not heard of that teacher.

Could anyone tell me what time Birmingham JA (year 4) classes are? And what the differences are for the fortnightly kids, if any?

I think you can still audition for elmhurst closing date for applications is the 20thof June I think? That may be Manchester though? I'm sure you will find this forum immensely helpful. I'm a dance teacher and I've learnt so much from all the lovely ladies/gents on this forum, as a result I now have 2 MIDAS associates that wouldn't have even auditioned if hadn't seen it on here.

I suggested plasti-kote as I swear by that for everything. I even plasti-koted a pair of pointe shoes, ask didn't have time to colour them in! The joys of costumes and dancing!

I've never met her but I've always been told shes very old school. And yes I think the jump from pre primary to primary is huge!

And Pictures did that teacher terrify your DD?

Yes orange tap shoes (I think they are doing 42nd street)! Cue panic from the girl and her mum! I may be wrong but I'm sure he does. One of our ex pupils had him when she was a jazz scholar and I'm sure when she moved to Hammond he commented that he remembered her from jazz scholars. I'm assuming this happened in class. He did his level 5 teaching when I was doing my teaching quals and I very clearly remember all of us terrified newbies squeezing into the kitchen at headquarters only to find mr Needham dancing and singing to an Emma Bunton track!

Pictures is your DD looking forward to Mr Needham teaching her at the Hammond? He's just set one of our ex pupils the impossible task of creating an all orange outfit right down to her tap shoes, he's been very specific on shade etc!

David Needham is brilliant he taught me at what was concourse I think or it may have been dance days? The dance days are also worth looking into as they are residential and brilliant fun. The BBO are also very keen for teachers to continue their development so they do allow teachers to observe classes etc which really helps strengthen the link between associate classes and their ordinary classes.

Fusster don't lose hope completely it could happen. But I think probably best to ease off the postman and if anything does come of it, it will be a nice surprise to both you and your DC. Are you planning on auditioning anywhere else?

Hi lemongirl, I was BBO ballet scholar and I also did their teaching programme, Gillian Hurst was our teacher and I really benefitted from her class. My brother was also a ballet scholar and the format had changed by the time he was a scholar( there's a 5 year age gap) he really enjoyed it as be also got to experience a little national dance and pas de deux. Since he was a scholar it's changed again and now my pupils are split into male and female classes. The boys go to headquarters with Simon Horrill which they love as he's very into inspiring the boys. The boys are not split by age and are all together which pushes the boys and also means the younger ones have someone to look up to. The girls are split into junior and senior. My junior girls have classes in Manchester with Gillian Hurst and I believe another lady called Lindsay Kidd (I may be wrong!) she works them very hard. The senior girls have Brenda Last who despite scaring most really does know how to pull the absolute best out of them. There is als the jazz strand which I can't say as I know that much about! Sorry! I can ask about though if you need more info

Fusster, I had a boy pupil on the waiting list year 4, 5 & 6. The first time he was just on the waiting list for his chosen venue, then the following 2 years his mum spoke at length with someone at RBS (I forget what her name was) and she placed him on waiting lists for multiple venues. He never got a place, so I'm guessing not many children decline their place. Similarly I had a girl placed on the waiting list for year 5 and she didn't get a place either. I do know of children on waiting lists at other schools that have gained a place. So maybe it's just Royal? I would imagine more children on waiting lists get places at MA and SA level because of people taking up vocational offers?

I had 3 girlies audition this year, 2 no thank yous and 1yes please. 1 of my no pupils has auditioned for year 4 year 5 and year 6 and has never had anything other than no! However she absolutely loves the class, never expects to get in and I suspect rather enjoys the day off school! It's all good experience for the dancing world and life. Be a sponge and soak up as much as you can from every experience!

I've pm-ed you pictures

Hi my little pupil auditioned on the 10th of may so less than a month. Waiting to hear from my 9th of may auditionee and my 3rd of may auditionee was a no, but she's not phased! I wish I'd been brave enough to audition for Royal but I was terrified! That's why I'm always super proud of my pupils when they go for auditions I know how nerve wracking it is!

My little pupil has been offered a year 4 place at Birmingham! Me and her mum had a little cry on the phone! Congrats to your DD is she fortnightly or weekly?

Maybe it was because mine stayed on my feet and didn't have the chance to collapse in? I really have no idea, but now everyone has said it it does seems really strange as really water and pointes shouldn't mix! I have just finished off a pair of grishko pointes, I will try and experiment with the bath technique and get back to everyone, since it was a good 8years ago !

Yes as soft blocks. The last time I remember seeing them, they were so worn all of the satin had peeled back, as had the canvas to reveal all the innards of the box! I really wear my shoes till they are destroyed, it pains me to buy new ones when I'm so attached to my old ones!

You would think so, but I really only have fond memories of them. I'm trying to find them to investigate what sort of state they were in. I remember my mum being happy to try it since I already had a pair of soft pointes and I could no longer use them as pointes. They were definitely the pair I wore for my intermediate foundation and intermediate exam so they must have been acceptable!

My first pair of soft pointes were porselli and were absolutely perfect I adored them, and they were pink not peach! I then had a pair of porselli pointe shoes which were again gorgeous but lasted me no time at all. My teacher at the time was ex ENB and she told me to wear my pointe shoes in the bath, and then leave them on to dry. I can't remember if we deshanked them but I will try and find them since they were perfect. I also wore toe pads and they were too loose without, so bathing in them really helped mould them to my feet. Also they weren't noisy at all! We've also done this quite a few times with satin ballet shoes to get that really snug fit.

Picturesinthefirelight I think "positive" and "gentle" stretching is fine and to be encouraged, its also much more enjoyable with a stretching buddy, me and my brother used to stretch together when we were younger, though there was a slight sibling rivalry and competitiveness! One little girl I teach desperately wants to improve her flexibility, so I got lots of stretches and exercises for her to work on at home. And when I checked up on how she was doing with her mum, she was slightly embarrassed to admit that her little DD insists that she does all the exercises with her, much to her husbands amusement. The little girl likes to check her mum is also improving!

I've always been spared the cat "gifts" since my little Bella is the fussiest most spoilt Princess-Cat. Ive tried to coax her outside on several occasions to which her normal response is to watch me almost pityingly before flicking her tail and continuing in her pampered indoor existence, which in fairness only cements her position as MY cat since I'm very much an indoor person. Speaking of pampered, does anyone else's cat get into bed with them? Bella finds her spot and sleeps snuggled under the duvet like a human, or on warmer nights on the pillow. Funny little things aren't they cats, I find them much more like humans than dogs are. Patience (our dog) has a much simpler personality with 2 speeds energetic or slow, whereas Bella is far more complex and has varying moods which can change at the drop of a hat.

Hi w445403, We are based in stoke on Trent, and the week is £80. Pm if you would like some more info