primrose

This is her book she has written. https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://ie-today.co.uk/Article/book-launch-for-britains-first-black-ballerina&ved=0ahUKEwiJobfgsOnOAhWLCsAKHRmECmwQFggbMAA&usg=AFQjCNFFLsmwfD5kZliteXZX8hyLt1Gasw

I can give you the teachers name in Birmingham. It's Julie Felix. She is an amazing teacher who was also ballet mistress to Birmingham Royal Ballet Company. She also does some lessons at Dance exchange in Birmingham.

I think I used to pay around £25 per hour. Ex professional dancers who danced with Vagonova, Bolshoi and NCB as principle dancers.

Another thumbs up for anna du boussin also Natalia Kremin ex principle dancer with ENB trained with the Bolshoi teaches the Vagonava method.

Gosh I am totally shocked at hearing these behaviours of parents and teachers at festivals. When my daughter did them the children built really good friendships with each other regardless of which school they came from. These children seemed to be at the same festivals every year and competed against each other without any problems. We live in the south of England and I never once saw fake tans or bleached teeth. We didn't see provocative costumes either. I am aware that these types of displays may exist with disco dancing or ballroom.

When my daughter attended her non vocational school in Swindon (Judith Hockaday), if the dancer did modern classes then the tap classes were free of charge. I am also aware that for talented dancers she would provide private coaching free of charge if families genuinely couldn't afford it. She certainly knew talent when she saw it. Later on it is true about luck and also net working. As the saying goes it's not what you know but who you know. My daughter was offered a place at one of the world's top ballet ss without having to send any photographs purely based on where she was training. My advise is to do your research and to only pay for what your child really needs to enhance their training. Get wise not all that glitters is gold.

Summer schools are fun but they are not the be all and end all. Far more can be gained from using that money on one to one tuition. It's the same with expensive ballet exams, they won't get you into a vocational school or a dance company. My daughter did all exams up to advanced 2 in ballet tap and modern. Now many years on they are hidden away in a file. I shudder to think how much was spent on dance exams. If I knew what I know now she would definitely not have done them. Small class sizes with an excellent teacher is the best thing for the young dancer. My daughter attended RBS associates and went to vocational schools, summer schools etc. But she learned far more from the tiny Russian ballet school in Bristol.

My daughter trained with the Bolshoi in Moscow. The turn out is very much taught from the hips and most certainly not the knees. In the two years she was there she had no injuries. The stretching gymnastics they are taught seems to build remarkable strength and flexibility. My daughter was very lucky to have the desired flat turn out, banana feet with sway back legs so found the desired turnout natural for her. Don't forget these students are selected to train at these schools. It's a shame that you felt your dds turnout was being forced from the knees as that is a big no, no at the Vagonava and Bolshoi.

It would also allow Elmhurst a chance to really get to know your daughter should she want to audition later for the vocational school. I have to say your regular teachers comments leave a bitter taste in my mouth and makes me wonder does she want what is best for your daughter or maybe it's what is best for her school.

This school seems to be going from strength to strength. Students are gaining places at The Royal Ballet School.

My advice would be to make sure the classes are fun and that your daughter continues to enjoy her lessons. As time goes by don't get caught up in the dramas that take place amongst the pushy mum's. Exams will not get your child into a vocational school or a ballet company, the more important exams start from intermediate, they are very expensive and your child doesn't really need to do them unless you both want to do them. She can move up the grades without doing the exams. Again as time moves on if the teacher or school is not right then move on. Your loyalties are with your child and not the school. Most of all enjoy the journey.

I would advise you to look at where graduating students have gained employment in both schools. All of the vocational schools offer excellent academic studies.

The children at vocational schools from aged 11 are hopefully getting first class training six days a week. This can also be achieved without going to voc school. It's all about finding good quality teaching. I also think that the big ballet competitions (not festivals) can offer a young person a great platform to showcase their abilities to a wider audience.

My daughter gave up a full DaDa at Laines during August as we had to secure paper work for her place at the Bolshoi ballet school. She gave up her other funded offers as better offers from other schools came in. So yes even very late offers do become available.

Vocational schools look for several things, ability and potential skipping,jumping, turning , physique, musicality, turn out, flexibility and that little something that makes the panel want to watch the dancer.

It is very good that the schools recognise there can be eating problems and put these posters in visual places. It tells me that they take eating disorders seriously.

Karen Paisley ex Royal Ballet and RBS teacher, teaches somewhere in Bath. She has a fantastic reputation of getting talented children into the Royal Ballet School.

Harwel I am really sad to hear that the academics are not what they used to be as just a few years ago they were excellent. Prior to Tring my daughter did attend one of the leading prep schools and I have to say Tring within the top sets offered a comparable but slightly limited education. The head of academics would not allow dance to invade education and I always felt that the dance and education was very well balanced. I do know that many students who chose an academic route come away with excellent grades and are currently attending our top universities my daughter included.

Tala has done so well. It is such an honour to train at the Bolshoi.

The academics at Tring are excellent. When my daughter was there they were in ability sets. My daughter after leaving Tring with an excellent bunch of GCSEs went off to a classical upper school. Two years in she started five A levels at a local college. She is now at a Russel group university reading Russian and Czech languages. I must say I am surprised that the academics at your dds school are not great as the four well known voc schools do very well with their exam results. The only down side might be that less subjects are on offer but in reality you dont need more than five good GCSE results to study for A levels. I am wondering if you felt that if the academics were up to scratch you could continue to afford the fees as you must have known how much you would be paying before she started at the school. If your dd is happy and settled where she is, then your decision to pull her out will be devastating for her. I would speak to the school to try to sort things out.

The type of gymnastics children are taught abroad are based on strenghtening and stretching. It is done very safely and gently. Doing classes like this would be an advantage to the dancer and three days per week is certainly not too much at all. I would also say quality of teaching will always overide quantity. However as the dancer gets older say from age 11 years then they do need to be doing ballet classes several times a week to keep up with vocational students. These children are receiving ballet classes six days per week and are taught by some of the best teachers.

When my daughter attended the Hammond a few years ago, we chose the bursary over the MDS as financially it worked out better for us. It was not means tested at that time but maybe things have changed in recent years.

If you want good classical training then I would look at YDA and Elmhurst. YDA being my first choice.

My daughter trained at the Bolshoi in Moscow aged 16 years. They do have a lot of foreign younger international students. Personally I would not send my child abroad without me any younger than this but of course every child and family is different.

Mine would be to make sure she had the best training possible from a younger age. To not listen to negativity from other dance mothers.