Spacy

What and amazing daughter you have Kat09 ! I know this anyway. She is so very brave and kind to share her blog with us. I Have also had some very negative experiences of the ballet world! As parents we just want to allow our most precious children to follow their dreams but this can come at a price. Your beautiful daughter has so much talent and she should have had more help and support along the way. Unfortunately this one dimensional world does not always look beyond the dancer and take time to nurture and support. Your daughter has displayed such courage and generosity in sharing her experiences and I am so proud of her and you ! I just wish the journey that had so many highs had caused you both so much pain Your very special daughter will always be an extraordinary beautiful amazing dancer. X

My daughter started at KSdance this September, she joined the second year as she was unhappy at her previous school. all I can say is that she is very happy at KS dance. She has grown in confidence and feels that her dancing has improved loads.she has had a lot of individual attention. my daughter is in the classical stream, but as it is a small school they attend many of the same classes. They also have jazz, commercial, flamenco and tap although my daughter chose not to do the tap. My impression is that the teaching is excellent and the school although strict is very nurturing. They seem to really care about their students personal development. Miss Simmons and Miss Hirst are according to my daughter excellent teachers. My daughter is doing the Trinity Diploma and her teaching qualifications so the work load is full on. It seems to me that many children of dance teachers send their children to KS dance and some are from Italy and Malta. I think this is the Checchetti connection. Since my daughter has been there they have had master classes, and competitions. I get the impression that as they have been around for many years they have very good contacts and connections in the industry. The building is not very pretty at all and the location is quite of putting but inside there is a warm, supportive atmosphere where ex students are always visiting. The students live in houses and flats although I understand some are with host families. They are living independently and have to cook and clean for themselves . I had lots of reservations about this especially as my daughter did not enjoy her first year but she is very happy when she is. They are very organised and quick to get back to me if I have any questions. Bursaries are available.hope that helps.

Thank you Annaleisey for your advice, I will definitely not let it go. I will also keep making requests for the return of our accommodation deposit as well Cornishprincess. I guess now it has gone quiet re request to pay back thousands of pounds scholarship money I can start my next battle !

I find this very interesting regarding exam fees. My daughters vocational school collected money for Advanced 1 Rad classes extra to curriculum, we also had to pay the £130 exam entry payment. We paid this in the November 2015 and were told that the exam was to be in the spring of 2016, date to be confirmed. The school then decided that they had not finished the course in the spring and every one on the course would now have take their exams in the Autumn term. My daughter has left the school now, but they are refusing to give the exam entry payment back. I wonder if that money has been kept separately....in a secure account.

We are using Open Study College AQA. I don't really have anything to compare it with. The college doesn't really give you contact time, according to my DD it is definitely self study. My DD says she wishes she had used the same exam board as some of her friends who are at her original school as she could have access to some extra notes/ shared with them when she comes home in the holidays. Hope that helps.

My daughter started at vocational school BTUK is September and is doing A level biology on line. She says she is enjoying it and managing to keep up with the course. I don't think there is much interaction with her tutor. My daughter enjoys studying and is self motivated. She went to a very academic state school and although she is loving full time dancing she says she enjoys using her brain in a different way. I think another of the girls is doing her maths A level on line. School say it is fine to do but is completely independent. Also my daughter did not have wifi for the first 3 months which was very difficult. She made use of the local library. I think A levels are approx 3 hours a week study which she finds easy to find at weekends. It gives her some structure. She also catches up in the holidays. So far so good! You have to book a centre in well in advance to take the exam and if I think that costs about as much as the on line course.

we're rooting for her as well Kat09 !!X

Thank you for your replies, Yes I noticed A level biology is changing as of 2016 I believe. I think there are quite a few centres you can take the exams at. I think I need to do a little more research. Am I right in thinking that at CBS the A levels offered are on line? My DD is going to BTUK and they are supportive of self study but up to us to arrange. My DD very keen to try anyway!

Just wondered if any of you have experience of on line A levels. My DD is starting at vocational school in September. She would like to try and continue with A levels on line possibly only one as we are aware of how demanding she will find full time dance school. Have any of your DC had success with this. If so any recommendations of providers etc. and is the support offered good enough? i would be interested in your experiences. DD is interested in taking biology which at least relates to what she will be studying at vocational school.

This opportunity has been offered to all the current SA's who are tear 11 and they do not have to audition for their places. My daughter is going to vocational school and will not be taking her place. I can think of a few girls who will most likely continue with the scheme though.

My DD has accepted her offer of a place at BTUK-so happy for her! I am relieved that the audition process is over. I have been reading these dance threads throughout although reluctant to post the highs and lows it has been a great support. I was not prepared for how exhausting and expensive the whole process would be. All our DC are amazing to go through this process with its highs and lows and give it their very best whatever the outcome is,they are amazing. My DD doesn't like me to post but I am so proud of how she has coped with all this and kept so positive. Good luck to all our DC they have all done so well. Next GCSES

My daughter has also been offered both of these schools and like you suggest tutu girl there are pros he cons to both. My D D likes them both. Would you include me in your comments private messages please. I would be very grateful. Spacy

You are right lynMM the trains do seem to be particularly bad this year. Yesterday however the delay was due to a fatality on the line which does kind of put a different perspective on things! Despite this there is so little information about what was happening. My Dd and her dad where permitted to get an earlier train home after much negotiating. No refund Janet, if delay is caused by a fatality on the line. A far worse day than DD and hubby had for a family somewhere!

My DD got the offer of a last minute place as well. DD went up today with her Dad as I had to work today. They are on their way home now. Train arrived 1and a 1/2 hours late in to Waterloo. DD decided she could not arrive 45 minutes late. they will have spent half a day on the train and no ballet. I wish I hadn't checked my emails this morning now! Oh well fish and chip supper when they eventually arrive home. Lets hope the trains behave better for auditions in the new Year!

Hello the way forward, we have also sent the form off with the application fee, I spoke to someone from the RC admissions for dance and I was told there will be an audition in London on The 31st January. They took our details but did not yet know where the audition would be held. There is also a couple of dates for auditions at the RC in Glasgow, I think one date was the 17th January. We have not yet submitted the photos, my DD did the application, I think that is done separately on line. This is the same for references. All on line by email but I guess that can be done at a later date as we have not submitted the references yet. We wanted to go the Glasgow but don't think we can fit it in so hoping to do the preliminary audition in London. Hope this helps.

Hello stitch, thank you for your reply. I think you are right that DDs huge growth spurt may have been part of the problem. We have been seeing a dance physio who recommends that we wait for a while before surgery. She has given DD some specific strengthening exercises and DD feels that her calf muscles are feeling much stronger. DD is back dancing pointe and jumping, and is very happy! Ankle feels better-DD says it is just like a dull ache now. I guess not using it fully for 6 months would result in it becoming very week so difficult to make a good assessment of injury. we have another appointment with Dr Wolman in December although he did say to let him know decision before then. DD wants to continue with exercises and to audition next year so fingers crossed. Even if DD has to have surgery eventually it seems to me better to wait until she gives her body time to adjust to her growth spurt. I have to say I really thought this wouldn't get better by itself but I hope I am wrong! I have learned it is important not to do things too quickly and I would always see a specialist dance physio even if we have to travel a long way.

Thanks you for your response Hairbelles. It sounds like your DD has been very unlucky and had such a difficult time, I feel for you both I wish your daughter a speedy and full recovery and hope she is able to continue with her training in the near future I am sure we will look back on this all one day and it will just be a blip in the rich tapestry of life. When going through it with your child it is difficult to keep it all in perspective.

Dr Dance, I did feel that Dr Wolman was probably one of the most experienced people we could see. I think my DD is hoping a steroid injection will get her through auditions and yes maybe surgery at Easter. I agree it all sounds very difficult . She has been told she can do as much as the discomfort allows and will not do any further damage. I just wish someone could say this is what you MUST do ( as long as that was the correct advice of course)

Although it is an injury/inflammation to the bone posterior talus process to be exact I think the bone is sharp (not the extra bone os trigonum) but the shape of the structure is causing it. My understanding is that even if this was to heal it would probably happen again. DD also had a huge growth spurt in the past year and is 5 foot 9 now.

Thanks for your replies. I was led to believe that with this type of injury they like to do a steroid injection before surgery as it confirms the diagnosis if it gives relief. also that in some situations the injury can improve without the need for an operation. I refused for my daughter to have this done a local surgeon. we have just seem Dr Wolman who I understand specialises in dance injuries. I don't think they will do an operation without the injection first.

My DD has been injured since April. She has been diagnosed with inflammation of the ankle bone (posterior talar process) following an MRI scan. She is wanting to audition this year for vocational school but has been unable to do pointe work or jumping and has had other limitations for nearly six months now and the injury has not been improving despite the restrictions. Following an appointment with a dance specialist doctor my daughter has been advised that she will need surgery if she wants to pursue a career in ballet. They advice her to have a steroid injection first and then surgery at a later date. DD has seen London dance physio whose initial reaction was she doesn't like steroid injections although she did say that DD would probably need an operation eventually. DD associate teacher also expressed alarm at injection and surgery. If DD has injection she may be able to do auditions next year although obviously she is not going to be at her best, she has been advised that she will not do any further damage but it will probably still hurt, with the injection masking the pain! Is she was fortunate enough to gain a vocational place she would probably need surgery in the summer which takes 4-6 months to recover from! It is so difficult to know what she should do, although she wants to audition and says if she doesn't go at 16 it will be too late. What with 11 GCSE s and mocks early next year I do worry about the stress of all this. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Not trying to alarm anyone but my DD has been injured since April. She saw a local physiotherapist who thought it was tendonitis-it may have been to start with. she was advised to rest elevate and ice and do the exercises you have described. I am not convinced she rested for as long as she should and possibly went on to sustain another injury. We continued to see local physiotherapists who then suggested we saw a physiotherapist who has dance injury experience. Following an MRI scan( we paid for locally) it seems she has an inflamed bone. The local surgeon wanted to start steroid injections which I had some reservations about. We are now waiting for an NHS appointment for a dance injury specialist. My daughter has been unable to dance properly since April, she has attended two SS's but has been unable to fully participate. She is hoping to audition for full time vocational school for September 2015 and we are very concerned she will need some sort of surgery. I think what I am trying to say is I really wish we had been to see a physiotherapist who had more experience of this type of injury far earlier as my daughter may be in a better position than she is now. I have to say my DD is coping really well with things but I think she will be devastated is she can't audition. it really is so hard for her and I can't really do much to help the situation.

My 15 year old y DD text last night to say 'sorry too busy to chat tonight but having a great time'. she is really enjoying the SS. sadly she has an on going injury and is not able to join in with all the work. It is funny to think our children are dancing together. Afab the penny may have dropped DD said she shared a room last year with a lovely girl from France-was that your daughter? Hopefully I will meet some of you on Saturday although not sure my DD will be able to join in with the presentation due to injury- a very difficult time for her with auditions coming up so soon-trying not to worry for her but so difficult. Not sure which group my daughter is in although I know she is in a different group to her friends. She is really hoping she will still be able to do PDD with injury-the highlight of last year!

My daughter started as a JA in Eastleigh, she then moved to Bristol for MA's and now attends London as an SA. All our experiences have been very positive. I understand that the same teacher is taking the JA classes at Eastleigh which were excellent . Now my daughter is older she copes with the train journey to London every Saturday, not sure she would have from the age of 8 ! Good luck if you audition!

My daughter is doing the 3 day course at ENBS in February, she has done ENBS summer school before but not the spring course. She is also doing the day Wells Masterclass (silver group) which she has not done before. It will be nice to see some of you there and put names to faces.