Nana Lily

Bless you, you have a burden (but a good one!) blessing and a burden. Burden in that you need to control your sway backs, blessing in they will give you  great lines. 

I am 54 and was made to put my heels together... not right for sway backs , you need that gap at the heels in addition to other advice (which I can not give) 

good luck!! 

https://northernballet.com/academy/training-programmes/summer-school

 

6 hours ago, Nicola H said:

which they may do  during term time  , but not during the summer period 
the processes and systems of work for Halls  accomodation are different to the  processes and systems for using the same  buildign for summer tourist / conference accomodation 

 

 Liberty do offer accommodation for SS at 16 independently.

Accommodation

The Academy of Northern Ballet is a non-residential course. The Academy, in partnership with Liberty Livingstudent accommodation, can offer students attending the course accommodation for the duration of the Summer School at student complex Liberty Dock. Students can book a room within shared flats at the residence which is a 10 minute walk from Northern Ballet. Students under 16 must stay with parent or guardian – family packages available.

 

https://northernballet.com/academy/training-programmes/summer-school

 

if you look at Liberty Living they take students from 16. Central SB and RCS use Liberty for their 16 year olds. Also the Northern SS in Leeds use Liberty in Leeds for 16 and upwards. Shame you didn't uncover this last year. 

Congratulations on your daughter being offered both places! 

 

Both myself and three other responders to your question (all lovely friends 'met' partially through the forum) have had children at a number of vocational schools simultaneously from Year 7 through to and upper school (and employed professionally) and they have given good advice.

I have two DC's gone through the vocational route from year 7 to sixth form and beyond. 

I have a couple of thoughts, as asked previously what does your daughter want to do when she graduates? Joining Mathew Bourne is a great goal, but there's is only one MB NA so ask her to think beyond one conpany. 

From first hand experience of one of those schools and close friends of DD's at the other the only thing that Laine and Rambert have in common is neither have their own accommodation and use home stay or the students rent flats. Then comparisons end. The courses, content, environment, qualification and end point are very different. 

Key considerations are what does your DD love the most and what does she feel she will do best at?

 

At Rambet she will do ballet and contemporary only (add in Pilates and conditioning). Days are long and to anticipate adding other genres apart from holidays isn't realistic. Most of the students are over 18 and often beyond.  How will she feel about this? If ballet is key, Laine is dance/MT ask how much ballet is there on a daily/weekly basis? 

 

For you, which environment will your DD survive (yes survive) and thrive in? Your DC can have all the potential, training and performance in the world, but if the environment is not right for them the reality of sixth form vocational training and living can end those dreams for a multitude of reasons. 

 

Dig deep, both be honest with yourselves. 

 

Good luck with her decision

 

NL 

The university halls Liberty Living accept students under the age of 18, this is where many of the students from Central School of Ballet live. Liberty Living have a number of halls in central London. Access to kitchens, security is excellent. They do offer short term summer let's 

I am so thrilled just had an unexpressed offer of a ticket from a friend for the Matinee tomorrow so I will be there LTD and Janet if you would like to say 'hello'

 

NL 

Thank you ladies. I had to contact Emma, looks like I am not on the SS mailing list. 

 

Jane I have sent you a PM

 

NL

Have posted this in Tickets Exchange too, but I know lots on this part of the forum don't often look there..

I have spare seats for both these performance, (over bought to cover all casting possibilities!)

Thursday 13th July at 19.30 three seats I16, I17 ,I18 in the stalls

Friday 14th July at 13.30 four seats, front balcony L25, L26, L27, L28

Performance at Stratford Circus Arts Centre. All three years groups are performing including Ballet Central

Tickets are £20 each face value

Thanks NL

Hello I have spare seats for both these performance, over bought to cover all casting possibilities!

Thursday 13th July at 19.30 three seats I16, I17 ,I18 in the stalls

Friday 14th July at 13.30 four seats, front balcony L25, L26, L27, L28

Performance at Stratford Circus Arts Centre. All three years groups are performing including Ballet Central

Ticket are £20 each face value

 

Thanks NL

Anyone know when we will have the timetable and info for this years summer school. Thanks 

We will be visiting New York this August, I have looked at the ABT and NYC Ballet websites and I am unable to find performances during August. Are there any visiting companies in New York City during August? Desperately hoping there are this will be our once in a lifetime visit and we would love to see a great ballet.

I would like to draw attention to the announcement on the web site that the two Central students were selected following a weekend of auditions.... so a competitive scenario for their associate appointments!

 

https://www.facebook.com/MBNewAdventures/?fref=ts

Not good news for all the talented dancers in other schools who won't get this opportunity. Such a shame that someone like Matthew Bourne has identified a preferred school when he of all people has a reputation for taking a wider range of dancers. I really don't know what is to be gained from these types of collaborations other than to deny others opportunities. Companies should just take the best dancer for the job regardless of school attended.

 

RBS have associations with Royal Ballet Company and Birmingham Royal Ballet, Elmhurst have associations with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Tring have students have opportunities with ENB, ENBS have associations with ENB, RCS have associations with Scottish Ballet. Rambert School students get opportunities with Rambert Company. How wonderful that Central now have an association for the grad year with Matthew Bourne. Any additional collaboration for our Upper Schools is positive. Mathew Bourne has regular open auditions for the Company and will take the best dancers for professional contracts irrespective of where they have trained. 

Thank you everyone for your priceless advice I have taken it all into to consideration and I believe tring is the better place for her though she tells me Elmhurst but still not sure luckily she is incredible fortunate to have received an MDS for both and distance does not matter for us. This makes the decision better on a way but much harder as we have to make it ourselves entirely. One more question "do many of the Elmhurst students from year11 get taken on at some of the high level upset schools I.e RBS?

Interesting question as Elmhurst is a high level Upper School ????. However 'yes' they do. Last year and this year places were offered at RBS, ENBS, Central and Rambert and Tring. You will have seen from other information that it has been the same for Tring. Ultimately the dance training is excellent in both schools. The environment differs for reasons mentioned, broader curriculum other genres, larger/smaller numbers, differing boarding environment, distance from home etc. I had two DD's at Elmhurst, one thrived, the other didn't, but a change of vocational school resulted in a much happier child. Both have/are entering top Upper Schools.

Get back to the schools, have discussions, work out where you feel which environment will be best for your child and also listen to what they feel. Most importantly if it isn't working don't be afraid to address... It's your precious DC, clearly very talented to be offered two MDS places.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

NL

Apologies should have mentioned edited as from my phone

My daughter, an associate, danced in last night's show and loved it. Feedback from the Artistic Director was that they did brilliantly.

We watched again today and it was fantastic.

Well done to all and to the staff.

Several of the students were in tears at the end of the Grand Defile and nearly had us in tears too! Wonderful performances!

 

It was very lovely to see the Associates during the Friday evening performances, so young and yet so composed and beautifully delivered, ages just 8 to 11. Really lovely to see them included this year X

How could I forget the 'Flamenco'!!!! Three sections, two very traditional, but different styles, one by year 13 the other year 11, then the third an Asian/Spanish fusion, all with live guitar, percussion, vocals. Very lucky students to have access to these musicians and choreography.
Additionally in Elite Syncopations the on stage musicians were students from the Birmingham Conservatoire and should be congratulated by their phenomenally professional performance. My friend is a musician and especially commended the trombone.

 

edited for spelling

How diisappointing was this prerfonrmace ,,the choreography of most of the items was poor ,Elite needs good performances a hard ballet to get across even with pr.os

I was also not impressed with the standard of the lower school ,poor foot work and port de bras

It is my opinion ,many will have love,d it

I will state up front that my daughter is in year 11 at Elmhurst and is now moving to another school for the final years of her training and my elder daughter also attended Elmhurst from Associates to end of year 9 before moving to another vocational school.

 

The Summer Syncopations show of 2016 was in three Acts. Act 1 was Elite Syncopations by Sir Kenneth MacMillan and delightfully delivered by two different casts over three performances. Hardly 'poor choreography', additionally the grads performed Paquita by Marius Peptipa, which was delightful on all three performances. Other ballets were choreographed by Elmhurst staff, all high regarded ex professional classical ballet dancers and very experienced teachers and choreographers and I really enjoyed all the classical pieces.

 

In the past I have felt that the 'jazz' numbers haven't always been 'up there' however this year they were exciting and well executed with choreography from Sarah Moore for the grads and the year 7's, all very age appropriate. As always Miss Lewin choreographed a delightful folk/character dance for the year 8's enstiling strong national dancing in the young dancers vocabulary with a wonderful Mazurka to Paquita.This year saw the contemporary programme strengthen with pieces from teacher Jenny MacNamara, and guest choreographers Becca Thomas, Hannah Lockyer, and James Rooney, you can google them to see their excellent credentials.

 

How could I forget the 'Flamenco'!!!! Three sections, two very traditional, but different styles, one by year 13 the other year 11, then the third an Asian/Spanish fusion, all with live guitar, percussion, vocals. Very lucky students to have access to these musicians and choreography.

Additionally in Elite Syncopations the on stage musicians were students from the Birmingham Conservatoire and should be congratulated by their phenomenally professional performance. My friend is a musician and especially commended the trombone.

The performances were ended with the wonderful Grande Defile.

Nana lily

There is a fabulous programme which can help all children with self esteem, instilling kindness and coping mechanisms if experiencing bulling type behaviours. It's called Bucket Filling or a Bucket Full of Happiness. If they are experiencing negative behaviours from others there are coping mechanisms for 'keeping a lid on your bucket' to keep the happiness in.... Some corporations use this too and it is used by schools on the US.

 

http://bucketfillers101.com/free-resources.php

 

Hope this helps

 

NL

I agree with Frogsmum this is an excellent book. It is recommended reading at my eldest DD vocational upper school. I have found it extremely useful for myself also having (and continuing to) go through a major change in my own fitness, strength and lifestyle changes.

Kate N

'One of the professional performers in my family has made a very good career outside of the UK, in spite of training here.'

Are you questioning the quality of your relatives UK training? Or are you saying that although he/she trained in the UK was able to gain employment internationally?

The same could be said for the British Ballet Schools too.. Post 16 training when reading the names on the school programmes there are a great many names who aren't British. All these schools have tax payers funding which in the case of DADA funding is for any European national where the parental income is £90k or below. While also these schools rely on 'self funding' pupils (British and International) to survive there is clearly a mix places awarded to pure talent (can pay or not), talent who can pay (international or British) and those with talent who don't qualify for DADA, (but can't afford to pay) and those who qualify for DADA ( but can't afford the accommodation) and those with talent who qualify for DADA and are on low incomes so get extra help for accommodation but still often can't afford accommodation.) do I need to say more? It's now a numbers game if you end up affording to go to vocational school with funding. It's no longer based on talent alone. Schools in Europe in general are free (not neccessrily accommodation) but this isn't the case with Brutish Upper Schools so this undoubtedifly filters through to companies

Hello Plie22 and welcome to the forum!

Can't help you with classes in your area however have you taken a look at this website?

 

http://www.davetriesballet.com/

 

We have followed Dave's journey and I am sure there will be information and encouragement on his website/blog

 

Good luck and let us know how you get on.l

 

Nana

Elmhurst said they would be taking about 40 to finals. Last year they took on 7 non-Elmhurst students into upper school. Don't know about Tring yet.

They took a more than 7 non Elmhurst students into the current 6.1 year group. I just took a look at the program for the recent prelims for the solos competition and there are 9 girls and 1 boy who weren't at lower school in year 11. This list wasn't the full year group either as some students didn't dance due to injury. Last year there were over 60 students at the final. I don't recall from our meetings how many students they said they will take to finals. if you have all the requirements they are looking for you will be offered a finals audition, they don't limit the numbers, those decisions aren't made until finals when they have to make choices due to bed numbers and funding. good luck everyone

We have a piano which is no longer played. It is a steel frame. In need of tuning. Free to good home. Collect from Prestbury, Cheshire.

As the teacher of your student you will have access to your students associate teachers and with RBS JA's you are invited to watch the class and enter into discussion, so why not take up this opportunity and ask the question first hand?

As a dance teacher you have clearly been successful, what route did you take?

Good luck to your student he/she clearly has potential to be accepted onto both associate programs.