Nana Lily

Our heart felt best wishes for upper school auditions tomorrow! NL

Dont know where that smiley face came from, I didn't add it in!

Hi Bankruptmum, The good news is that most of the ballet organisations have agreed on standards for the vocational exams, and they are interchangeable. From the RAD website: "4.2.2 Award of some Vocational Graded Examinations is dependent on the previous Examination having been passed, as shown in the table below. Equivalent qualifications in Ballet from the following Awarding Organisations are also accepted: · British Ballet Organisation (BBO) · British Theatre Dance Association (BTDA) · Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) · International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA)" Its does say though that to take the RAD Solo Seal, you need to have disctinction in the RAD Adv 2 "3.3.15 Candidates entered for examination must normally have passed any required prerequisite examination. Where this is not an RAD examination, a copy of the Certificate must be included with the entry form. In certain circumstances it may be possible for candidates to enter for an examination and the required pre-requisite in the same session (see 3.3.20, 4.2 and 6.2.10 below.) This option is not available for entry to the Solo Seal Award, where Advanced 2 with Distinction must have been attained prior to entry in every case." http://www.rad.org.uk/files/ART372_20111216%20EIRR%20v4_EN.pdf ISTD web site: "Prior Learning Intermediate Foundation is an optional examination, otherwise these examinations must be taken in order. Each qualification, other than Intermediate Foundation, must be achieved as an entry requirement to the following examination. It will be deemed that the pre-requisite qualification has been gained if certificated by a) the ISTD Headquarters in London or another awarding body with the same qualifications accredited by the QCA (BBO, RAD and BTDA)" Hope this helps!!! NL

Hi Famcandance, not sure you have seen dancedizzy's post? She shared a link to the Council for Dance Educations website. Its states clearly that MDS at vocational schools is for Ballet (It mentions "BALLET" three times.......) "Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) For students wishing to train in Ballet the Department for Education (DfE) funds the Music and Dance Scheme which provides approximately 2200 children and young people between the ages of 8 (11 for ballet) and 18 to receive an academic education alongside the best specialist dance training available. At present four dance schools offer MDS places to ballet students at 11" It also describes CAT training for "other dance genres" "In addition, the government has announced new national grants for exceptionally talented children allowing them to gain access to specialist dance training in other dance genres in Centres for Advanced Training (CAT)" Here is the link again http://www.cdet.org.uk/professional-training/funding/ Its very clear that MDS awards at the vocational schools are for ballet only. If you want MDS funding for other dance genres, the CAT scheme is the programme to consider. NL

Thanks Kitschqueen, yes I would have thought with the increased exposure contemporary dance has and most of the major classical companies also including contemporary in their rep, one of the UK dance organisations would see this as an opportunity to increase the versatility of their offering. Maybe they are? Would be interesting to hearffrom someone from the RAD/ISTD/IDTA/BBO, or others. NL

Thanks for your reply Spanner! I have no idea, hence the post, trying to establish what is out there, for my own interest. Any one out there know if there is an official "cunningham syllabus" ? Thanks

After having discussions with other dance parents we are pretty sure there is no recognised or approved contemporary dance syllabus in the uk. We could be wrong so please do let us know if there is one. Of course the CAT schemes, Laban, Rambert, NSCD and LSCD and others all have courses for vocational students, but what about non vocational students? In New Zealand they do have a syllabus and a very kind NZ ballet.co mum has provided this link. Comments and inputwelcomed NL (edited for typo's)

Many congratulations to those with places, enjoy every moment, and as SWE says, getting to finals is a great achievement. NL

Best wishes to everyone, safe journeys to Birmingham and enjoy your day!!!! NL

I will share with you our family experience of the last two years with RBS. Both my DD's went to WL finals and both were offered MIds, though they didnt take up their places as they went on to vocational school elsewhere. In both years from their JA class there were girls who went to finals, not offered WL places,were placed on the waiting list for Mids, but didn't get MA places, very few did (one girl in one year and two girls in the other year). In both years there were girls we knew who only ticked the MA box and were offered a Mids place. In both years from their JA class there were gilrs who ticked the MA box only, but were invited to the finals. One them was offered a WL place which she didn't take up but did take up a Mids place, the other wasn't offered anything. Sorry I can't add any information for girls who weren't JA's. I also know of children offered WL places, but not Elmhurst, and others vice versa For MA places I don't think there is any system or any way of working it out, its depends on the number of girls and the number of places and who the RBS want to continue further training (for those who have been JA's) and the number of places available. It is a long wait for those MA letters. Best wishes to those waiting. NL edited for clarity (hopefully!)

Well done everyone and good luck for finals! NL x

Purely by chance I was travelling with a collegue of mine in the US and we somehow got talking about dance (I generally avoid those conversations at work). He has a daughter who attended that studio. Last year he pulled her out, they spent all their time at the studio or travelling to competitions and with the distances involved in the US it was either planes or very long car journeys, it was costing a fortune and he never saw his daughter, and she was so "hot housed" that she stopped enjoying it...shame. NL

Best wishes to those children doing their final audition tomorrow and Saturday. Remember right now you have everything to look forward to and everything in front of you. Enjoy your journey! NL

Hello All!!!! Dont know of how I can help other than subscription, which I would be very happy to do. Ballet.co has been an amazing source of information and inspiration. I have made firm friends and have a fabulous network of support all through Ballet.co and thank the site and Bruce enourmously. Long live Ballet.co NL (Julie)

Many congratulations! Well done both and best wishes for the finals! NL xxx

Hi Peach 3, When we went to WL finals for girls y7 on a Saturday last year you were allowed to stay at the school in the upper dinning room area, however you will need to take your own packed lunch and drinks. Tea/coffee and buscuits are provided on arrival, but its a very long day. Not sure about finals on a Friday when its a regular school day (last year that was for Boys and y 8 and 9 girls, the year before all lower school girls were on the Saturday, it depends on how many they take to finals). Wishing everyone Good Luck for the finals. NL

Best wishes to those waiting for letters from ENBS. I read this discussion with interest, though although my DD's are at vocational school it will be a few years before we will be looking at sixth form places. While we all may like to imagine our children have a choice over which school they go to, the vast majority a). dont get offered any place at all, . a few in the country are offered a place at one school and for a very small minority c) have more than one offer. it is good to discuss the merits of one school over another, but for most it wont make any difference. Ribbons and Glowlight are your dancing children waiting for ENBS letters, or do they currently attend a vocational school at sixth form? NL

Last year there were two groups of 20 or so girls (21/22 in each group). There are 14 girls in year 7, the same in year 8. I dont know how many boys were at the final audition, but there are 6 boys in y7. Thinking of all of you waiting for your letters and fingers crossed Nana Lily xxx (edited for typo's as usual!)

Well done to your DD Tulup and best wishes for the finals! Charlie4 sorry to hear you DD is unwell, go with your feelings on how she is on the day, that's all you can do. best wishes to all! NL

So sorry everyone! For got to add very best wishes to all those who auditioned yesterday and for Tuesday also. Good luck for the letters! NL

At the Elmhurst "Friends Evening" the night before Mr Kelly said 107 students were auditioning on the 13th. NL

Thanks for this info, we too will be arriving just before lunch for the Thurs matinee. Think we will be heading to M&S at Euston on our way to the underground!

So fabulous for the forum to be back...missed it so much! Merry Christmas to Bruce and all ballet.co members! Nana Lily