meadowblythe

I think you would be giving your son the best chance of success by ensuring that he can access the support available - this means declaring additional needs.

There are plenty of students receiving all sorts of additional support  at  vocational schools and associate schemes, and it means adjustments can be made to support him, and teachers are aware of potential issues.

Just to confirm BadBallerina's comments - just about  everyone in DS's year went the ballet route - 90%+ into paid roles/apprenticeships.  Year above roughly 80% contemporary 20% ballet.  Last year's graduates I believe predominantly went the ballet route but I only know a couple of individuals from that year.  One of them already being offered choreographing opportunities (paid!) with a pretty prestigious company.  From memory, different contemporary styles are studied in each year of the course. 

If your child is at vocational school, it may be that the insurance they have for ballet covers abroad, so it is just travel insurance needed.  

To be blunt, if you can't cope with "no," then possibly any form of dance (or arts) related career is going to be difficult.    It really does go with the territory.   I also think, personally speaking, it's worse for the parents than the children.  I would do anything to take the hurt and pain away but all I can do is be there to offer hot chocolate and assure them that not getting xxxxx is not the end of the world.  This applies as much to my musician daughter as dancer son.

On 13/02/2018 at 15:22, Ballet12345 said:

Anyone had any results from the Leeds CSB audition? Dd got a ‘No’ and is gutted! Wondering where to go from here. No other auditions planned as funding for auditions/travel and the courses themselves (if she was accepted) is a big issue for us. Not sure that she would get a DADA as they seem to be only for exceptionally talented children. 

How old is your daughter?  If she is 16, and contemporary is your chosen style, she has time on her side.  Have you looked at Chantry's post 16 programme?  

There's a link to the summer schools here

https://www.rcs.ac.uk/lifelong-learning/summer-schools-2018/

the senior ballet says AF or above - a lot of their students also used drop in to take class, and it also used to be lead by their own staff, so a good one to attend to see if RCS is for you.  I'm a little out of date now so not sure if things are the same.   If nothing else, you'll get a feel for the surroundings - worth contacting Liberty Living whilst you are there, they are very friendly and will arrange for you to see the accommodation.

23 hours ago, AuntieNora said:

After a very disappointing No from Elmhurst, my dd from London audition got a yes for year 8 WL Final audition. 

So pleased for your DD, I remember how supportive you were of everyone last year.

Just to clarify, is it the school he is auditioning for that is encouraging him to apply?  If so, you may be able to speak to them about the solo and get guidance from them, and suggestions of who may be able to help - wondering about their own staff/pupils.

10 is pushing it for choreo skills :-) 

Remind us how old your son is?  DS choreographed his own piece for your 10 auditions.  Second suggestion to hire church/village hall for an hour, you will probably find they are very sympathetic and the prices are reasonable.

Oh, to add to the conundrum, whilst having flat turnout, extreme flexiblity is a no-no.  My DS was a JA, does have flat turn-out  but on finals day at WL was escorted off to see a physio before he even started class.  His teacher had sent notes in advance .. not hypermobile but questions about  core strength.

I still feel, for many reasons, that he would have stood a better chance of getting into WL if he hadn't been a JA.  However, it hasn't stopped him having a varied and rewarding time at vocational school, further training and a full time job in ballet (albeit not with the RB!)

If you can put in the commitment, timewise and financially, you have little to loose.  Just treat it as a fun day out.  If you get rejected, at least you are prepared for the following year.    There are plenty of professional dancers who didn't get into JAs first, second or third time.  And plenty of JAs who took their dance no further.  Keep it all in proportion and you can't go wrong.

I would add that if you are a fan of this board - and it was a lifesaver for me with no dance background - there is a tendency to think that "everyone" is doing summer school/intensive/whatever.

Whilst summer school is a great opportunity to try things out, experience new styles etc the majority of students won't do them.  And given how many birthday parties/social events dancers tend to miss out on, it's a great time to rebuild links in the wider world.

Couldn't agree more with Kate_N especially about the long hours and cameraderie.

For what its worth, my DS did an extended Btech Diploma in Theatre Production (and got in 2 full professional runs amongst other experience during the course) and then a degree  in Stage Management at Birmingham School of Acting (now part of the Birmingham Conservatoire).  He chose BSA because he was out and about at theatres across Birmingham from the word go,  and picking up work and contacts from the word go, rather than possibly more "prestigious" institutions he was offered, where the classes were bigger and they weren't allowed out of the building for years.   Stage Management isn't where he's really heading but it was a very general degree and meant he wasn't specialising before he'd even started.  

Like Kate_N's brother, he has a good general arts background (amateur acting, grade 8 in a couple of instruments and a dancing brother).  I suspect it takes a certain type of person who loves get-out as much as get-in (not me!)  but if you like problem solving,  being part of a team, being involved in the theatre and can cope with an ever-changing life there are a lot of wonderful opportunities out there.

How old is your DS at the moment?

Don't you believe it.  Non Dancing Son is making a fortune as a member of technical crew!  Get-ins/Get-outs can pay up to £400 for a night's work, out of London rates.

OK, he won't always be in constant employment but he has worked continuously since the age of 16, both alongside  Extended Btec Studies and during his student years, and hasn't been unemployed for a single day since graduating last summer.  

RSC do good work placements - they advertise on their website.  Although not strictly dance, I think any theatre background would be beneficial.  You could also ask your local theatre about "get in" and "get out" opportunities.

Experience, and contacts,  seems to count  more than anything in any theatrical situation, so well worth volunteering for anything going.  You will also find out what the "behind the scenes" roles are - there are probably loads you haven't even thought about.

1 hour ago, Legseleven said:

It is the ability to understand how to explain the ways that ballet, music, sport, community involvement, youth leadership - whatever the interest/passion/commitment may be - have helped which can be important as far as I can see. Being able to discuss how one has developed tenacity, time-management skills, teamwork, self-discipline etc as a result of extracurricular activities may well make a difference. It  certainly did in the case of one of DD’s dance teacher’s students who applied to read medicine at a prestigious university; the admissions panel stated that her clear explanation of the benefits of studying ballet at RAD Advanced level had propelled her straight to the top of their list of provisional acceptances. Yes, she had excellent academics but it was the discussion about the benefits of continuing with high level ballet with a universally recognised exam board which had made her stand out. 

From experience in a school I think this is spot on.   I remember pointing out to one student that perhaps she should mention that she competed in athletics at national level, the time management and perseverance this had shown, she was so focused on making her experiences directly relevant to the field she was applying to she thought she should omit this.  Students who can support excellent exam results with individuality and evidence of personal skills developed in a wider setting seem to have the best chance of getting the offers they seek, although it will never be an exact science.   Others will comment with more knowledge than me, but there seems to be a trend to making personal statements very formulaic - at another school I know the students have to mention three books they have read.

Of course as a librarian I have just invited Year 12 into the library for a catch up, and to suggest now is an excellent time to start on your wider reading to support your UCAS application!

Ah conservatoire is my specialist subject.  You don't actually need a grade anything to apply to any music conservatoire, including Royal Academy, just be someone they want.  You don't need A level music, although in reality you may  struggle if you didn't have grade 8 theory as an alternative.  Most conservatoires "only" want 2 Es (Welsh asks for 2 Cs).  

Studying classical music seems to have a very similar path to ballet, but with even more practice thrown in.  Pity the poor pianists doing 8 hours per day, plus academics, or string players who have ensembles on top of that and then - oh, wait, I need A levels ..

And while I am completely off topic (sorry), having a daughter playing one of the instruments with the highest applicant to place ratios (3 solid days of auditions for 2 places at one) , I have said I finally understand what it feels like to be the mother of a DD rather than a DS!

I must confess, I would take "or equivalent" to refer to an academic rather than vocational equivalent to A levels - such as an IB (International Baccalaureate), Pre-U  or Extended BTec Diploma type qualification.

Most conservatoires only ask for 2 A levels at Grade E (assuming we are talking post 18 entry) so the points garnered from ballet or music exams aren't really going to help the tariff.  And I have heard of students with only 1 A level admitted to music college.  Obviously it's a different situation for universities, and dance students starting degrees that can be commenced at 16.

 If your ballet qualifications help you over a hurdle, or entitle you to bursary funding absolutely fantastic, go for it,  just advising a little caution on what is meant by equivalent qualifications.

My DS attended both the Easter course and graduated from RCS.  My musical DD looks like following there in September.

If you have any questions feel free to PM.

53 minutes ago, Picturesinthefirelight said:

Funding/costs are exactly the same.  In fact there were far more candidates auditioning for the Dance course than the MT course.  We had the opportunity to be given feedback which we took and they were very open and frank.  Said they could have offered Foundation MT but that would not have been in dd's best interests dance wise.

Wow, sounds like a very positive day!  Good luck to your DD wherever she ends up.

Love these curved balls life throws at us ..  is the funding/costs  the same for MT and Dance ?

You can tell which way my mind works.  Money money money (and no, I'm not proud of it).  Have just sat down with No. 3 child and shown a spreadsheet detailing accommodation costs, living costs, expected student loan, money she can reasonably expect from us, expected travel costs etc.

Oh, and another spreadsheet detailing the annual cost per annum of all halls in her expected city of residence along with distances from main building an other main hall of residence (which is eye wateringly expensive).

Why did it take me until No. 3 to go through this?

I recently was lucky enough to watch two days of rehearsals onstage for my son's company.  Although on both days only one set of principals had been called, both sets were there on both days - marking at the side of the stage, and consulting between themselves and with the director.

I only can comment on my experience with his company, but I would say that the vast majority of injuries are amongst the higher ranked dancers - and this must tell its own tale.  A lot of the time, corps de ballet (and chorus in the opera) are there as much to paint the picture as to dance the steps.  

True, but with all due respect to Lisa, if she is looking at a fairly entry level set of courses, learning the basics and the standard shortcuts will work fairly well on most things.  I'm not sure she's starting with professional accounting packages.

Now, back in the days when none of these newfangled packages existed and we all used direct programming ...

If you have access to the internet, you don't need your own copies - indeed, there are many free alternatives available.  A fair few schools are going over completely to the Google suite of programmes as they don't have to pay licence fees, and they are very easy to use.