Pointytoes22

How many schools do people audition for generally? My parents are limiting me to schools with A levels and boarding which is Elmhurst, Tring and Royal (Is it right that Hammond doesn't have sixth form boarding?) - not sure i'll audition for royal though as its so hard. I'd like to try for ENBS or Central as well because surely the more places you audition the more likely you are to get a place? However neither 'fit the criteria' with parents and i think they'd tell me not to go for too many. Is it best to just stick to 1 or 2?

I read Darcey Bussells autobiography over summer and loved it and so am keen to read more. Has anyone read/heard of other autobiographies by ballet dancers which might be good for me to read?

My parents have told me I'm only allowed to audition at schools that run a-levels and have boarding as they don't want me living alone, I find this quite limiting though. What is living in the hostels like?

I can't find it, do you know exactly what minutes and seconds its it?

My dance teacher said I might not be that interested in auditioning for central as it is more contempory than ballet. Is this true or is she getting confused with somewhere else? - I always thought as its central school of ballet rather than dance it would be very ballet based!

Theres a rbs audition insight day is on 31st October, enbs have one on 29th October and one on 2nd January and central school of ballet have a dance day on 9th December. Has anybody been to anything like these before? I'd like to audition for sixth forms but am not sure if I'm up to the right standard so I thought things like this could be good indicators and also a good experience in general. Does anybody have experience? Thanks

Very disappointing, can't go today after all as weather is very bad and mum doesn't want to drive on motorway

Just wondering if anybody has done this before and has good/bad experience of it? I have never done a summer course before so I think a 3 day short course might be quite a good introduction, and a good experience as I'd like to audition for sixth form places. Does anybody know if you're accepted by photographs or if anybody can go as the website and application form don't say? Thank you

Just one more quick question how many people were there do you think and were there any other students having an 'audition class' or just you? How many people and how often do you think they accept people to join? Thank you!

No I know, but achieving splits will surely help my ballet eg. Arabesque penche, grand jete etc?

Oh and also did you feel it was like an audition with them watching you a lot? Sorry for all the questions

Sond great nervous though, not sure I'll get in as I want to do extra classes like this to improve (and because I love ballet!) so not sure I'll be at the right standard already for them to accept me - but I hope so! What's Russian ballet like compared to RAD? I've never done it before. What sort of RAD grade do you think most people there would be working at? Just wondering if I'll be hugely behind or not

How do you get your splits down?! I've been about 3-5 inches off front splits for such a long time! I stretch everyday and still nothing - maybe I just have stubborn legs and it will come eventually? Every person I ask (teacher included) just says do lots of stretching but I'm stretching as hard as I can!! Its always been my dream to do the splits, but maybe I have something wrong with my legs so it's never achievable - is that possible do you think?

How was it David?

Thanks everyone

Travelling up to London on Saturday for London Senior Ballet Audition and thinking about getting new pointe shoes whilst up there as i don't go to London very often - local shop doesn't have much stock/variety and I'm not convinced their fitting is too great either! What are the big dance shops in London that I could go to for a good quality pointe fitting? Thanks

I'm having my first audition/class there on 23rd September

What were the lowest and highest grade/ability there do you think pippinpointe?

Thank you, loads of great suggestions!

I'm in the same position swanprincess! I would love so much to do the covent garden summer school (if i got in) but think I would be hugely behind so really don't know whether to apply or not.

Regarding pointe shoes how do you know when yours are worn out? I've thought for a while that mine are feeling pretty soft but am now sure how soft is too soft.

It would be from Plymouth - so quite a long way! I think it would be worth it though, not sure if mum will agree

Completely ballet mad so even when I'm 'resting' need to be involved with ballet! Does anyone know of any good films about/involving ballet available in the UK? Maybe newer ones than the traditional Billy Elliot, Ballet Shoes etc. I tried watching Black Swan but had to turn it off half way through

If you don't mind me asking, where will your dd be catching the train from jaylou62?

Thats the same for me, some of my dancing friends are very jealous because they have not been chosen for vocational so therefore no pointe