sleep123

Yes our journey time will be now up to 2 hours one way...so Birmingham would be closer but we do love Karen so wouldn't contemplate a change! I feel sorry for friends that use the train as there are no direct routes to Bath for them and Bus service from the station doesn't look great either. Hey ho the things we have to do!

Just been notified of a change in venue for the Associates classes from January. Just wondered whether this is causing anyone else any problems re. increase journey time/ lack of trains/buses etc.

Not sure that this is the correct place but anyway I would like to wish all the Associates lucky enough to be performing with the Company tomorrow and Friday loads of luck and hope you all have a wonderful experience - can't wait to see you all.

Oh no wish I had seen this before I posted some returns yesterday! I ordered quite a few items last week and they arrived very promptly lets see how long it takes to process my returns...... will keep you posted.

Anyone got an all-in-one they would like to sell? DD is a leggy 11 year old. She would love a pastel pink but I think a darker colour would be more practical!

My little DD has wanted to apply to a vocational school for some time now and now the older she is getting the more vociferous she is becoming about it I was always led to believe that children starting in Year 7 at the top dance schools were relatively safe from being assessed out until the end of year 9 unless something drastic occurs or of course the decide to leave of their own accord! I assume that by going at the end of Year 9 they can apply to do their GCSEs elsewhere without too much interruption to those crucial two years. I have heard rumours that quite large numbers go prior to even reaching that point - someone had said to me that for example in the current Year 10 class at Elmhurst only 50% of them remain from the original Year 7 group. I suppose I am asking in a very roundabout way in peoples experiences of their DC starting a vocational school at Year 7 have they remained along with the majority of their peer group until the end of Year 9? I not sure I could go through such an upheaval just for 3 years! I know there are so many factors which could affect retention rates but I am not sure of the benefits for my DD to go away at Year 7 if there is a very high chance that it would only be for a few years.....may be better to wait until 6th form but then harder to compete with those already there.....so much to think about!

I know that examination results are very dependent on performance on the day etc etc but I was just wondering whether anyone had experienced any how can I put it reverse snobery at exam venues. My DD has taken over the years examinations at her academic school where the dance studio facilities are state of the art and also at various village halls with her local dance school. Whilst my DD's results are pretty consistent (so I don't need to worry on our account!) I do find her school peers do seem to get surprisingly more favourable results at the dance studios than those being examined at our local less plush venue which is rather surprising as they generally are of a much higher standard! Has anyone else experienced anything similar or may be I am just being rather cynical.

My DD is aiming to take her grade 6 in the autumn sitting. She came home from her class and said that her teacher had decided that they would do the Free Movement Dance as their dance choice - I gather they can choose from Classical, Free Movement or Character. My question to you all in the know is: I gather that they still are examined on free movement exercises and character excercises so if, as in all my DDs previous exams, she tends to score higher on the classical areas and has always done the classical dance where again she scores highly should I be asking for her to be allowed to do the Classical dance? Also as it is a solo dance if she thinks the others in the class are better suited to the Free Movement can some in the exam do that dance and others do the Classical Dance or do they all have to do the same? (She has a private lesson with the teacher so could be taught the Classical dance during that time without taking time away from the others in her group lesson.) Or am i worrying too much and should go with the flow....but I always thought you should play on your strenghths. Advice please!!

Sorry for the delayed response! Send me a message to let me know how much/contact details etc

We bought some (but a little while ago) from a shop called La Danse in Worcester 01905 27541.

If anyone has a grade 6 DVD they would like to sell I would be very interested to hear from you.

Would hope so - bit of a cost differential as well as lifestyle choice!

One very happy DD received a YES on Friday for the Bristol Mids. We hadn't applied for White Lodge so were very pleased to have been offered a place to train with the fantastic Ms Paisey.

I also would be really interested to hear from those successful DDs for year 7 what levels they grade wise etc they are, whether they are JAs and how many hours they are dancing per week etc. Once again congratulations to all. xx

Congratulations to those successful so far and commiserations to the no's - just remember when one door closes another one opens....probably not what you want to hear at the moment though. Intrigued to know how places are awarded now if they still have LS auditions on 8th? Also do they wait to hear back from the offers made before allocating MA places... do they tend to have a longer SWL for the MA places offered which are turned down if the DC goes to another vocational school? Just trying to improve on the probabilities of MA places on offer - DD is desperate to be one and the suspense is killing!

Just wondered if anyone had experience of or could recommend a Physio that specialises in Dancers. We are equi-distant between Bristol and Birmingham so could travel to either of those cities relatively easily but happy to explore further afield. Following on from another thread someone suggested that it may be useful getting some advice from a physio to see if my DD can be given more exercises to improve her flat feet. Thanks for any help that can be offered.

So what are the best exercises to do if your DD has completely flat feet and would like to improve her arch - or is this impossible to achieve? It has never really caused any problems when she was younger but she is increasingly finding it much harder to achieve straight legs when on pointe. Doesn't help that her little sister has a good arch and very strong ankles!

And.............? Don't leave us in suspense Angel!

Have (hopefully if it worked!) sent you a message.

We received our Bristol JA invoice on Friday so I am sure yours is on its way. As per a previous response they would never give away a place without checking with you 1st. This is a first time for us as well - what year is your DD going into?

Congratulations to your DD. My daughter did the Mid Associates with them last year and is overjoyed to be doing another year with them. They are a wonderful company and your DD will have a fantastic time with them. Their year end performance was outstanding.

Think the lady running it was involved in the Primo Balletto (?) school which was due to open in Abergavenney. Some friends children did a similar project with her a few years ago when it ran as Monmouthshire Youth Ballet. Gather she was a good teacher - danced with the Scottish Ballet herself. Their only slight critisim was that although it was an audition process pretty much everyone was offered a place. Hope this helps but it is all second hand info. so please don't make any decisions based on this! Edited to mention - they all really enjoyed the experience and it offered quite varied roles.

Just received all the JA bumf through the post and am hyper-ventilating at the prospect of trying to make the skirt (or finding someone happy locally to do so for me!!) I don't suppose anyone has one to sell?

It was a YES for my 9 year old DD for Bristol as well - she is very excited! She got a friendly 'please come back' letter 1st time round, swl 2nd time round and now 3rd time lucky! So don't ever give up. Looking forward to making new friends in September....how long do the sessions usually last?

This was such a wasted opportunity but I am not surprised with the outcome. It had been a very strange setup from the start. If there were truely over 100 dancers due to start full-time in September then I do feel really sorry for them but I would be amazed if there were!