primrose

For me I didnt think this was really dance. Dance to me is a flow of movements where one step flows into another seamlessley. These children seemed to be more gymnastics but a little manic for my likeing. Maybe I am being ignorant to what freestyle dancing is but to me it aint dancing.

I have to agree also with all that Celeb B has said. I have just come across this post on a young girls formspring account, She attended this school for many years. how come you changed schoooooooool? So here is the story. I was going to LRBS and I was happy. Then I started to become less happy as I was feeling restricted by them not only in what I was doing in the lessons but also how they were controlling my life outside ballet. for example they stopped letting me go visit my nan etc. Then I decided that I wanted to audition for ballet sixth forms but they didn't want me to. Decided not to go back... Got sent an awful email from the head of the school telling me how untrustworthy I was and how bad my behavior was and how I should be ashamed of myself because I had left. Decided REALLY never to go back... Of course I was upset at first but now I believe it was one of the best things that happened to me and my brother (who got chucked out as a consequence) xx

Hi Jete, yes she is training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. The only thing I would say about the school in Clapham is that they do not like you to audition elsewhere, however it is your right to do what you feel is best for your child, a very valuable lesson I learnt in the last couple of years of my childs training whilst she was at vocational school.

My daughter attended this school about 3 years ago for about a year. She could only attend one day a week in the adult open class, she also attended their summer school. The training is excellent. Very hands on, which i believe a child needs in order to develop the correct muscles. This school gave my dd her first taste of true Russian training and as most will know inspired her to go on and finish her training in Russia. In the last year before she went out to Moscow she was very fortunate to find a Russian ballet school in Bristol which is where we are currently living (military family). Again she loved it and it was this school that allowed her to audition for the Bolshoi Ballet school. I would say give it a go, its not suited to everybody, but you will never know until you try.

Laines and I am certain the other Musical Theatre schools have a very strong ballet course, infact part of the audition at Laines is a full ballet class. I know that there are a few girls from Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst who have chosen to go on and train at Laines, so that gives you an idea of the ballet standards there.

Wow the ballet co forum kids are doing very well with their auditions. Well done to all of you.

Heard of another yes for a girl this morning. Good luck to all who are still waiting for their letters.

I have to say that this is how the Bolshoi Academy works also, assesment in front of the whole panel and then the student will be told if they are to stay or be assessed out. They are given marks by the teachers but it all comes down to the panel. Must admit I am feeling rather anxious as these assessments dont happen until May, by which time all the auditions in England will be finished.

Elmhurst are incredibly good with the students on the summer course, they are also very good at providing for dietry needs, my dd could not tolerate wheat and Elmhurst were fantastic at meeting her needs.

I still always think it is worth a making a phone call, things change and I think that with a teachers recomendation the school may have a look at your student. Sarah Durrant head of dance says she will never turn talent away. My dd did their summer school when she was 11, she hadnt auditioned for the associate course but was given a place with a full scolarship to attend.

I just wanted to say what a supportive teacher you are to your young pupil. Where was your pupils parents prepared to travel if she had been awarded a RBS associate place. Central School of Ballet do an excellent associate programme. Get her to look at the CATS programmes that are available.

Gosh I think I made myself sound a bit selfish in my post. Of course if my child was being physically harmed then the abuser and the authorities would know about it. However my dd has been emotionally abused on quite a number of occassions by one horrible person who chooses to call herself a teacher. Lots of parents have complained about this peson but nothing ever changes. For me the best thing to do was to prove her wrong, and rub her face in it at the same time. My dd was accepted into several schools all on dada. To get a place in the Bolshoi just rubbed her horrible nose in further. This person could not even have the decency to say well done to her. Karma will get her in the end.

Hmmmm not sure I would agree that all teachers want what is best for the child. I have experienced good and bad teachers and I have to say that there are some nasty ones out there. For me, the best thing to do if things are not working out with a school is to move on quietly. The dancing world is very small, yes I know some tyrants get away with their behaviour, but until ALL parents stand up to them, then the behaviour will continue anyway. I know its the cowardly option but my childs welfare will always come first.

Fantastic news, fingers crossed all will go well with the contract. Its lovely to hear that all his hard work has paid off.

Just wondering Julie how your son is doing with his auditions. Hope he has had some good news or is about to have some.

My dd was a RBS associate in London, I have to say thay they were not all alike in their physiques. Most were tall, all were slim but certainly not underweight. Yes they did all have long legs. No they didnt all have perfect arched feet. They all had musicality and seemed to enjoy ballet. Nobody can say exactly what RBS look for. My dds first teacher didnt think she had the RBS look but could have a try anyway. Just aswell really as she was offered a place with them. I firmly believe that you dont know until you have a try. I do not believe that the RBS associates are looking for a perfect physique,(obviously, they wouldnt I assume take a child who does not have a classical shape) childrens bodies change all the time as they grow, and I think that RBS take that into consideration. I believe that are looking for much more than that.

I take it that this school will be non residential so will only be able to attract boys from within London.

Actually that is a brilliant idea. Is Arts Ed in London a free school as in you dont have to pay to attend.

I think this would be a fantastic opportunity for boys. It would encourage more boys to persue their ballet without prejudice from their peer groups. Ballet schools so far have always been female dominated, which may have put some boys off wanting to attend classes, I know some schools have male only classes, but not all schools can cater for this. There is always prejudice wherever you go, but sometimes there is a need for something and it cant always be labelled as prejudice just because it caters for one part of society.

I understand exactly what you are saying about nearly all schools in Britain being syllabus based, that is just the way things are here. All I am saying is that when it comes to auditions the schools are not really interested in what grade the child has achieved. They do want good technique and all the other attributes, but I would also say that they would want thinking dancers. One of the reasons vocational schools do the RAD syllabus is so that students can enter certain competitions, however a very small portion of time is given to the syllabus.

You have misunderstood me, when I said a freestyle class, they are still taught technique to a very hight standard. They still have to do all the barre work and centre excercises. They are just not the same every single time. Another point also is that none of the vocational schools teach to a syllabus, they may do a RAD class on a Saturday. This is my personal opinion after twelve years experience of my dd doing syllabus work. She learned far more from a class that didnt teach a syllabus. I just worry that parents feel that their children should be doing these exams and that they will help them to become professional dancers. Well they wont. Sometimes outreach courses may ask what grade or grade a child is working to, but this is only to advise them to what level the child is at.

I would just like to say that vocational schools are not interested in vocational exams, It makes no difference what grade or exam they have done. The schools are looking for students who can dance, move to music and how to move instinctivley. Vocational exams are useful if students want to be entered for certain dance competitions. If my dd was young again I would not want to go down the exam route, I would want classes that are more classicaly freestyle. My dd did reach Advance 1 gaining a distinction and was about to do Advanced 2 , it was at that point that I realised an exam wasnt going to get her into the school she wanted, so I pulled her out of the classes (a month before the exam) and got her some excellent private lessons away from the school. I feel I made the right decision and she gained a place at a very good school.

I would let my daughter do what ever dance she was strongest at, eg ballet, jazz, contemp. I would also make sure she chose something that she is comfortable with and would make sure that the dance and music were age appropriate. I assume that this is for the Hammond auditon. I can tell you that the dance faculty there will be looking for a student who loves dance, has good musicality and then of course potential. Good luck.