Nana Lily

Good for you, shoes are very expensive in the UK. Don't compromise, its your reputation at stake and most importantly the dancers feet you are supplying. My DD had a pair of pointe shoes where the backs separated in a peculiar manner. When she needed a new pair, I took her old pair with me to her fitting. The fitter looked at the old pair and decide something was "amiss". Phoned the manufacturer, sent them back and we received a new pair free of charge. She wouldn't compromise on her standards and neither should you. You know what is right. Stick to what you know is right and dancers will return time after time! Best wishes! NL

Thanks for the update thequays! Looking forward to more information! NL

Thanks for posting Ian, though I too am unable to find page two on this link. On the school's Facebook page the whole story seems to be there. http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-education-news/2012/06/07/egbaston-dance-principal-wants-her-school-on-the-birmingham-map-65233-31128864/ NL

Just to follow up on Ian's post, here is a radio clip on You Tube where Tala Lee-Turton is interviewed as well as commentary from Luke Jenkins, ex dancer and dance critic with the Observe who shares his perspective of training at the Bolshoi. A good listen. Good luck to Tala. http://soapweek.co.u...fmhF4/offset/22 typo edited

Well done to your DD Primrose! Thanks for sharing the video, so lovely. NL

Ooh Janet I would love to see this programme, sounds fabulous just not able to fit it in NL

2dancersmum, congratulations on to your DD and best wishes for September. I just posted about the new Elmhurst website and was surprised to see all audition dates have a closing date for applications. Other posters previously mentioned the increase in applications for Elmhurst last year, so it looks as though they are managing that increase with the "closing date" system used by other schools. NL

Elmhurst have a new website. There is more information than on the old site and includes biographies of the staff, which makes good reading on where they trained, performed and taught previously. A nice section on links with BRB sharing which students have performed with the Company over the last two years. News on graduate placements too. Did notice on the audition page there are closing dates for applications for 2013 entry for EACH prelim audition date, can't remember if this was the case in previous years, but for those wanting to audition from September make sure you don't miss those deadlines. Good sections on boarding (Live) and academics (Learn). Here is the link: http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/homepage.html NL

After re reading over breakfast this morning, I can now see the history of the Royal Ballet, BRB and the RBS is complex. On a positive note its fabulous the schools have a whole page of the website explaining the affiliation, something which hasn't always been so transparent. The statement at the beginning, "Birmingham Royal Ballet draws most of its dancers from two leading British vocational ballet schools: the Royal Ballet School in London, and Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham" is a strong statement and support for two of our top British schools. So well done to BRB for including this section. Is there is anyway to smooth over the complexity of the history though to make for easier reading? NL

Along with the new website of Birmingham Royal Ballet came this extra section which attempts to explain the affiliation of RBS and Elmhurst. The explanations are lengthy and detailed and loose impact early on. Even though I am eager to understand the affiliation I lost interest in the first couple of paragraphs, meaning that I couldn't be bothered to read the full explanation of the Elmhurst link as too detailed and appears to be clumsily put together and somewhat schizophrenic explanation of the two affiliated schools. Thats my opinion, maybe I am just being skeptical, and would welcome other views. Open to persuasion Here is the link to the BRB website: http://www.brb.org.uk/Vocational-ballet-schools.html

Anjuli, thank you for sharing your experience of the film with our ballet.co community. Lots to think about, NL

When my DD's were JA's in Manchester they also did National. Remember my girls being delighted as they recognised the music of the Mazurka when we watched Coppelia; Miss Agar had taught them a Mazurka during their JA class. When we had the opportunity to watch class, they generally finished with a national dance, a chance to enjoy dancing and perform to their parents. The JA classes are quite long and hard, especially for the y4/5's, the national gives a different dimension and is an important part of their learning of dance styles in some of the major Ballets, and its fun!

Sue S. Agree completely, Really enjoyed watching them on Wednesday, but Friday night was very special, there was a definite magical quality about their performance. PS. apologies to Oliver Till, and the typo I made of his name. NL

Thanks Shelia, will be looking into it. NL

Hi Ladies, believe me you will receive mountains of paper work and policies which are drip fed to you throughout the summer term, I remember feeling the same, why haven't I more information! With hindsight they do take the right approach so don't panic, and enjoy the induction day its a lovely experience culminating with watching the school summer show. NL

Hi Angela, this is a not to uncommon problem and one which one of my DD's has. School are great, take it seriously and will refer her to the GP, so she can have prescriptions for the Anhydrol forte. Drill it into her that as soon as she finished dance to change into her white cotton socks, sometimes at the beginning of y7 they are unsure of what to do. Also get her to alternate her canvas ballet shoes so they dry out properly, so when she does evening dance, don't use the same pair of ballet shoes. I order canvas shoes from the bloch shop which have an antibacterial lining, don't know if it helps, but they don't appear to smell! For her trainers, the open mesh type are much cooler for their feet, whilst still giving good support for them during the day. Hope this helps! Just ballet, I am interested in the plates, would you mind sharing the info? NL Many thanks NL

Marg S, agree with you completely, having watched the performance last night. Both myself and my husband loved Lyric Pieces, this was our first viewing as we hadn't been at the IDF in Birmingham. How clever was the use of the pieces of movable scenery, allowing a change of mood in line with the theme of the music and dancing as the dancers changed the scenes effortlessly using concertina/fan like props to create back drops, water, bridges, huge fans and countless other images, but without detracting from the dancing, only enhancing the mood. I will mention my favourite moments and dancers, they are only my views as a member of the audience, as Marg says, no expertise here either! In Lyric Pieces I really enjoyed James Barton in Elves' Dance, what a lively,cheeky and commanding Elf he was, I would love to see him as Puck in The Dream. I also enjoyed the Brook, (the ladies dance) and March of the Trolls, in particular Maureya Lebowitz with her lively charm and enjoyment of dance communicating with the audience so effortlessly. I have to mention Phantom with the sublime Jenna Roberts, so fragile, lyrical and long limbed contrasting to the powerful Iain Mackay, their performance was both sensitive and passionate. I haven't had the opportunity to see Hobson's Choice so it was a treat for me to see the Clog Dance and Lily of Laguna pas de deux. Oliver Twill was fabulous, characterful, charming and left me wanting to watch more, so its a ballet I will definitely go out of my way to see. I do like Elite Syncopations and as the piano starts to play at the beginning of Bethena Concert Waltz, I feel reminiscent and a little melancholy, only to be cheered up and my mood switched by the dancing. Delia Mathews and Benjamin Soerel didn't disappoint and how fabulous to see a piece of Kenneth MacMillan choreography. PIneapple Poll is splendid entertainment and the audience around me thoroughly enjoyed it. My overarching impression of the evening is what an incredibly versatile company BRB are, the breadth of rep, from Cranko, MacMillan, to David Bintley and Jessica Lang, oh and with a bit of Petipa included too! It was also lovely to see younger company members given the opportunity to shine, with some newer ladies taking parts at Sweethearts and Wives in Pineapple Poll with very theatrical and enjoyable performances, not to mention the young William Bracewell partnering the highly experienced and long tenured Nao Sukama in the Don Quixote pas de deux. Have to mention the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, as well as the pianist Mathew Drury, who were ever splendid and what a treat for the Buxton audience to have a live orchestra these days.....exactly what the Buxton Opera House was built for!

Well Hairbelles, Tuc and the quality, taste and choice of food at vocational schools is a whole topic in its self, let's face it the food is not the same as home cooked food and I believe that's an issue which then feeds the tuck habit. Albeit it is difficult for the schools to cater to such a variety of tastes when childrens' experience of food in their own homes will vary enormously from the totally traditional cooked from scratch to the homes where only convenience junk food is served, to some where in the middle where most busy families find themselves. Giving guidance and sound advice and educating your children at home can help prepare them to make wise choices, but with the race of the human being there is something called "free will" and thats what the kids will exercise when not under the watchful eye of their parents when making choices in the refectory or dining room! All that said, The quality of the food in 4 of the 4 establishments where my girls have done courses and now board needs to be improved. I will say though they both agree the best food was during White Lodge summer courses, though other children may disagree! Interestingly no tuck was aloud at all when my girls attended in 2010 and 2011.

What a lovely post Julie, you must be very proud, looking forward to watching them in the summer show! NL

Thanks for the clarification PdQ. On the stats for those starting and finishing, would you share where this info is captured. Many thanks NL

"wasn't aware of the number of international students at a London based school with only 10 out of the 32 students from the UK. Given this school is a conservatoire offering a BA in Dance and Performance (students are funded via the usual university funding route) I found the ratio quite surprising. Are they limited on the number of BA places they can offer? How are international students funded?" Anyone have any comments on this part of my post? NL

Nothing on the website or FB page for anything outside the US other than Canada! Hopefully there will be a DVD?

Ballet.coers we need to see this film in the UK!!!! They have a facebook page, is there anyway we can coordinate a "bring it to the UK campaign"? on their FB page, I'm not too good with FB, any ideas? http://www.balletdocumentary.com/ "Follow in the inspirational footsteps of six talented ballet dancers (ages nine to nineteen) as they struggle to maintain form in the face of injury and personal sacrifice on their way to one of the most prestigious youth ballet competitions in the world. First Position is a feature length documentary about a love of dance and a drive to succeed that trumps money, politics and even war. With unprecedented (and exclusive) access to the Youth America Grand Prix, the largest competition that awards full scholarships to top ballet schools, First Position takes audiences on a yearlong journey around the world. At a time when art, music and dance for children are severely under-funded, the film reveals the struggles and success, the pain and extraordinary beauty of an art form so many children across the globe are determined to dedicate their lives to…despite the odds."

Clearly better publicised in your area! Enjoy! NL

Interesting topic jellybeans, though important to remember that unfunded pupils aren't necessarily less gifted. In many cases they don't qualify for funding as the family income is too high. NL