Nana Lily

The application form for Central this year doesn't have any questions on family income.

Mrs G, well done to your DS, how wonderful that he has done so well and has choices. x

Good luck to DD's auditioning for 6th form for 2015. I could go on about funding for 6th form places, but it will fall on deaf ears. In other European countries 6th form training for ballet is free. We could have a debate about % of GDP spent on health and the arts, but in all cases the UK would come at the low end of the leader board in Europe for both in most instances so I wont bother. Only a vey small % of students benefit from the current fuding system without massive financial family sacrifices irrespective of family income and therefore nor all children can take up their places. On MDS or those still eligeable for DADA it leaves you skint. If you have more than one gifted child it leaves you.....well lets not go into that, all I can say is I have a friend who has four gifted dancers in her family......Then there is the new DADA system.. well... Only when vocational training is free will places go to the most gifted children irrespective of financial background....only then will the UK nurture its true potentail dance talent. Only then will we truly compete with European schools. The statements put on some schools websites are misleading about "No potential student should be deterred from applying to due to lack of financial means"...they can apply, but they may not be able to accept their place whether they are from a low, middle or upper level family income

Student finance fundng is a loan for the first HE qualification. On theoneysaviing expert TV program recently they highlighted s new scheme to be put in place for additional student finance of up to £10,000 for post graduate courses, so this may help, though with fees currently at £9000 this will only give one extra year, but helpful for MA or MSC. Edited as on phone

Here is the quote from the gov website "However, you may still get limited funding if, for example: you change course you leave your course but decide to start again you’re ‘topping up’ a higher education qualification, eg you’ve finished an HNC, HND or Foundation Degree and now want to do an honours degre" This is important for dancers if they get an injury and aren't able to continue to dance professionally or are unable to secure a professional contract and need to improve their ability to seek employment elsewhere, or for when they hang up their ballet shoes.

You are correct Cornishprincess. Student loans are for the first higher education qualification, so that's a BA, HND or level 6 diploma (as Elmhust, ENBS, Tring, Hammond etc). Here is the link; https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies You will see the link says 'even if the first qualification was self funded' Edited to add last sentence

Good to hear there will be other balletcoers there. Yes Angel they are in gold group. X

Anyone doing the Wells Masterclass this Christmas? My DD's havent done it before so looking forward to dancing at ROH studios.

One consideration is how many students are in the class? Is she is the only one taking the exam are there others on the class? As it's the last opportunity to take the old Adv 1 presumably she will have had plenty of attention? Also how long has she been studying the syllabus. Sometimes one class of quality time is much better than 3 classes per week in a large group with little attention. My youngest DD is at vocational school where they do one RAD class only, other classes are free work. Sure some extra tuition will be beneficial if you can access. Good wishes to your DD, sure her teacher wouldn't be entering her if she wasn't absolutejy ready. Let us know how she gets on.

Lovely video with insights into BTUK version of Swan Lake. What talented young people. So lovely to actually see Hfbrew's son dancing and giving an interview after we have watched his journey over the years on the forum.

Centre Pointe in Manchester have announced on their FB page they have one current student in the contemporary final of 20, and one graduate now at Elmhurst in the final 20 for classical. I tried to paste a link, but can't for doe reason. Well done to both girls.

Something you may want to consider is the costuming of the swans. At RBS the swans are dressed in long romantic tutus, at ENB they are in 'short' tutus.....from a younger girls perspective this may be important to her. As my friend know I do love a tutu and somehow the longer romantic tutu fior me just doesn't fit with my own childhood image of the swans in Swan Lake!

Tring is also DADA funding.

Or has been mentioned above, where the dancer is lucky enough to be offered a place at 6th form vocational school and additionally as is mentioned on another thread where the family can afford the funding depending on the scholarship system the schools are using.

If you are looking for classical then why not consider ENBS and Elmhurst? Most children don't have the fortunate position of chiding? It depends on where you are offered.

It was indeed a lovely day. Vocational children made up around half of the 40 taking part (42 numbers, 2 didn't dance on the day). Elmhurst, Tring, ENBS and Moorlands were there. If you add in those mentioned above from Centrsl and BTUK that comes to around 20/21 dancers, so there was a large contingent from non vocational schools. Well done to all, the class was fast paced and challenging and I enjoyed watching the wide variety of solos.

What fabulous news!!! Enjoy every moment of her journey and send her best wishes from all on the forum. x

Finalists announced, fabulous to see there are 4 British students in the final, 3 ladies. 1 man. It's posted on the Genee FB page. Here is a link, hope it works. Good luck to all! https://m.facebook.com/GeneeInternationalBalletCompetition

Taxi4ballet, our DD's are in the same academic year and I remember our DD' going through year 7 auditions at the same time. You are a well balanced and sensible Mum. It's. Challenging year for dancers. I agree with other posters, ditch EYB, as wonderful as it is your DD won't need this as a priority for year 11 if auditions so think about removing that pressure. Depending on where your DD gets offers for 6th form if it's degree such as Central or Rambert she will need her GCSE's to get on the course let alone considerations for the future so think about a 'balance' which I am sure you will. Most DC's at vocational school will only do 8 GCSE's ... Food for thought... Best wishes you will work it out and good luck for GCSE'sand auditions, we will seed you on the circuit! X

Not sure how new this news is but picked it up on the Rambert School website. A new chapter for the school maybe? http://www.rambertschool.org.uk/2014/07/announcement-by-richard-cooper-chairman-of-the-board-of-trustees-2/

Four weeks ago Hairbelles and I met at the ROH and had tea and lemon drizzle cake for around £10. We sat outside on the terrace and had a lovely time.

Thank you Kat09. Hope your DD had. Great experience

Hope you all enjoyed the demo today. Any info on photos? Nothing on the website. Thanks

Well the weather couldn't have been any different yesterday! Lovely to watch such inspirational teaching and students responding well. The end of week demo was sublime. It started around 3.00pm. Lovely to watch so many familiar faces and see how these children have progressed over the years, and to see 10/11 year olds right up to 18/19 and aspirational for the children too.

Good that all arrived there safely and families are back home. We heard about the M62 closure and slotted round Bradford/Leeds then picked up the A64 to York, slow but moved along. Rain was torrential when we arrived so my 3 (2 DD's and a friend) got soaked getting luggage from the car to accommodation. Everyone was in great spirits though. The new venue is lovely and the accommodation fanulous. Everyone has a single ensuite. Lovely for my DD's to meet up with ballet friends from around the country and am sure new friendships will be made too. Hope all of our DC's have a great experience and let's hope for better weather for the pick up!