Living the Dream

I still have uniform available if anyone is interested. One tracksuit set has now gone. LTD

Tulip your description, sound much better than mine regarding the Diploma's. Level 5 = Foundation Degree and Level 6 = Full BA honours degree. This is the same at all vocational schools who study the Diploma.

Hi sugarplumsmum. No problem at all, I will PM you the details too. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum, who will help you with information regarding sixth forms. Here is what I can remember from the schools we auditioned for. I'm sure others will correct me if the information is incorrect: ENBS - no A levels, but you can home study. They study for the Trinity Diploma in Professional Dance. After 2 years they achieve Level 5, after 3 years they achieve Level 6. RBS - 1 A level, no Diploma Elmhurst - Diploma and 2 (I think) A levels Central - Diploma plus A levels studies during the evening LTD

Hi Jazzpaws, I will send you a PM with the details.

Discouraged have you checked that any email from Central hasn't gone into your spam folder. Fingers crossed for you LTD.

WL have had their Central final audition results yesterday, so I would imagine that the wait won't be long. Good luck to everyone's DC's awaiting results. LTD

Hi Balletjack I've sent you a pm. LTD

Miss Lewis must have had a change of opinion because 7 years ago my DD then age 9, was asked to dance Lady Songbird and White Cat on pointe even though she had only been en pointe for a few months. I add that her dance teacher was very strict about what age children went on pointe but my DD has exceptionally strong feet etc and still does. No ill effects to report but maybe she's just lucky. LTD

You are informed by email first, then a copy of the offer is posted to you.

Plus prior to the final auditions, I believe that they have done private auditions for some international students.

I would suggest sending photographs that represent exactly what they have asked for, so I would re-do that particular photo. Sorry.

My daughter's male friend was offered a place at POB at the age of 15/16 and is from Hong Kong, so I believe that like British schools, if they think the student has the talent, then they will take them no matter what nationality they are.

I orginally posted these items last year, but too late for the new students as it was mid August, so I still have the following items for sale, all in excellent condition. If you are interested please send me a pm, as any funds raised will go towards my DDs living expenses at her Upper School. 2 x New style Tracksuit Tops Chest size 32" 2 x New style Tracksuit Bottoms Waist size 26" 3 x WL school skirt Waist 24" (adjustable) Length 20" 2 x WL Navy Cardigan 32" chest 1 x WL Navy Caridgan 34" chest 1 x Navy blazer (minus the school badge) Chest 27" (worn very little during year 7 & 8) 6 x Trutex White open neck long sleeved shirt (as new) 2 x White open neck short sleeved shirts age 10 7 x White open neck short sleeved shirts age 11 to 12 (worn in Year 10 & 11) Many thanks LTD

You are welcome swanprincess

Hello swanprincess, unfortunately if a child's parents are divorced and are living with a new partner, you have to include yours, your partner and any court ordered maintenance for your child from your ex husband/wife. This is of course assuming that they live with you more than your ex husband/wife. If it is equal time between the parents, then you would need to decide which parents' name you are applying in otherwise, they may take into account both sets of divorced parents income plus their partners. Sorry if this sounds horrid, but I was in this situation last year and called them to clarify. LTD

At RBS they used to be told if they had got into Upper School before the final auditions had taken place, however the Year 11's all now have to audition at the finals with everyone else.

Hello swanprincess Apologies if your question has been answered already, but just to advise you that your stepdad's income would be taken into consideration, even if he does not contribute to your fees.

As the parent of a DD currently on the existing DADA system, we are over the threshold for any help with living expenses (£33,000 per annum) and this is due to the fact that I have to include my partners earnings, even though he is not my DD's biological father and legally does not have to contribute to her training. The financial responsibility for parents of DC's wanting to attend Upper Schools under the current system is hard enough. Unless you are lucky enough to live close to the school where they attend, then I would say that with the parental contribution to the DADA (currently £1,275 per annum), you need to have a minimum of £11,000 net income per year to pay for your training and accomodation, plus private medical, uniform, tutu's for DDs, shoes, travel and their incidental spending money on top of this. It is so hard to get places at these schools, but make sure that you are realistic about how much it is going to cost before applying. I would imagine that the new system certainly won't make the money side any less than we pay now. Sorry for sounding morbid about the finance side of training, but just wanted to give you an insight from the parent of a current Upper School student on a DADA. Good luck everyone LTD

Hi Dancer's Driver, if you call the school they will send you through a list of their recommended hostels etc, with quotes from students as to what they think about each one on offer. I did this last year before applying, so that I could do some research. They are very helpful. Hope this helps.

Currently at ENBS first year there are 6 British girls and 6 International girls. Currently at RBS first year Upper School there are 5 British girls and 10 International girls. The way I look at it is in 3 years time so many students around the World will be trying to get contracts, so you might as well see what your competition is before you get to that stage and it just goes to show how fantastic the training is here in the UK for the International students to want to come. Obviously this is purely my opinion. LTD

I hope this works ok !!!!!! ENBS - Graduate Contracts 2012 Tess Buck - Estonian National Ballet Jessica Cohen - Northern Ballet Mami Fujii - Opera National de Bordeaux Serena Green - National Theatre Ballet Brno Alana Griffith - Nevada Ballet Theatre Min Yi Kwok - Singapore Ballet Theatre Miki Mizutani - Birmingham Royal Ballet Maria Munoz Sabater - Semperoper Ballett, Dresden Beatrice Parma - Turkish State Opera and Ballet Claire Souet - National Theatre Ballet Brno Eneko Amoros Zaragoza - Estonian National Ballet Matteo Di Loreto - Estonian National Ballet Daniel Martinez - New York Dance Theatre Rimbaud Patron - Scottish Ballet Kevin Poeung - Northern Ballet Vincent Tapia - National Theatre Ballet Brno

Once they have had their first fitting in Year 7, usually within the first month, then they must wear Freed. They have to get permission in Year 9, if they want to wear Bloch. They are not allowed to use anything other than animal wool and from Year 9, they all tend to use heel elastic as they do so much pointed work.

All White Lodge students are fitted by Freed, however I use the word 'fitted' loosely as my DD said that basically they just quickly looked at the shoe on your foot and said that looks ok and she never had a proper fitting in 5 years at the school. From Year 9 onwards she got fitted locally (usually taking an hour per fitting) and wore Bloch as they suited her feet better and lasted longer than Freed Pointe shoes. Anything other than Freed or Bloch pointe shoes were not allowed at WL. Hope this helps. LTD

I know of one definite and possibly one other ENBS girls who have been selected, British trained, but international students.

Hi Pointytoes22. My DD loves living in the all girls hostel and all but 2 of the girls in her year are staying there, as after I had reserved her a place, they seemed to co-ordinate this over Facebook, where they all got to know each other before starting in September. It's a really old building, but very clean and well equiped and in a fantastic location and has 24 hours security. Just last night, they were watching the 007 Bond Premiere Red Carpet event from outside their front door and then their bedroom windows as they are next door to The Royal Albert Hall. My DD fortunately knew girls already at ENBS moving into their 3rd year and asked where they lived and for advice and the majority of them are staying at this hostel too, so we knew before she went there that it must be ok if girls aged 18/19, still wanted to live there. It's seems like a boarding school atmosphere, as the hostel puts all the ENBS girls on the same floor. They all travel to school together, even the older girls and all look after each other. My DD was nervous about having to do her own washing, but they all club together and help each other out. It seems like one big family, which for me as a parent is very reassuring. I am not sure if your parents are aware that there are not many sixth forms that have boarding facilities, only RBS (where the 1st year house is not in a very nice location and a long and cramped tube journey into Covent Garden, however the 2nd and 3rd year lodgings are in Covent Garden) and Elmhurst only board you for the first year, then you have to find your own flat. I suggest to really do your research with your parents and seek advice from as many people as you can, especially on here and also call the schools. They are all very helpful. I hope this helps you and good luck. LTD