Tulip

I know Tala has given up her DA DA at Tring, so another young person will benifit from that.

Good luck to Tala, and it is not IF she has a place at the Bolshoi, she HAS got a place. Also it is neigh on imposible to secure a 6th form place at the Royal so that could be a reason why Tala is wanting to go to Russia. I know of another child who has an offer of one of our top ballet schools but she is also going to choose the Bolshoi. Why are the choosing to go abroad, I guess that is a very personal decision for them to make, but all the best of luck to them.

A huge congratulations to Heather, she has proven a particular person wrong and good on her for having the strength and determination to follow her dream. So nice to hear students who work so hard getting acknowledged and succeeding.

Well I hope my daughter doesn't take after me as my legs look like lollipops with knobbly knees. I will get my daughter to read both these responses as she will understand what you are both saying, I haven't got a clue but thankyou both for the advice.

This is what my daughter was saying about her own muscles, so it would be interesting to know what exercises are available. Having said that she is not engaging her inner thigh muscles enough and she has acknowledged this, but still finds it difficult.

When interviewing for staff, you keep slipping up and saying so could you come for audition at 9.30 etc instead of interview ha ha.

A huge congratulations from us too, such a relief for you all. Time to get sewing labels and things.

Even though my daughter is at vocational school I do not believe that she had a better chance of getting into a 6th form more than non vocational children who had recieved equally good training from their local dance school. Look at all the audition successes on the forums and you will see that some non vocational children have done exceptionaly well. One of the main aspects of vocational training is that the day is balanced out. Half day good quality accademics at Tring, the other half of the day dancing. Our children start school at 8.30 am and finish at 8.30 pm (senior children). All home work and course work is done within this time.

Just slight sway backs Anjuli.

They drive you crackers don't they Spanner, I just don't want mine thinking she has to lose any weight as she too is only slight.

Actually Spanner, I will ask her to go and see her physio at school (if she will go that is), as we are paying for that service. She just drives me crackers when she is going on and on about her thighs, I feel like telling her that she should be glad that she has got a pair of legs, but somehow I don't think that would go down well ha ha. I have replied to your p.m Spooky thanks. Do other ballet mums daughters go through this stage. I think my daughter is wanting some one professional to say to her yes your thighs are too muscley so do this. But the fact is ballet dancers have got muscles and she needs to have them to do what she does.

You could be right dancemad, a good break would do her the world of good. She is still insisting that her thighs are the reason why she is struggling to close in fifth, without wriggling. She is lifting her body and all the things that you are meant to do, but she thinks that no one is understanding what she means. Her muscles are long and defined, but because of all the hard work that she puts in her thigh muscles have developed. Roll on the summer holidays, where I will make sure that she does rest, whether she will like it or not.

My daughter believes in her words that her thighs are too muscley, and that they are preventing her from closing into her fifth position without bending one of her knees, you ballet experts will know what she is on about. Her teacher has told her that there is nothing wrong with her thighs, but my daughter is insisting that her thighs are too muscley and she hates them with a vegence. She already knows about stretches and does them all the time at school, she says that she would like to lose some of the muscle, but I don't believe that is possible, any advice would be gratefully recieved.

At auditions, my daughter has her own routine of gentle warm ups stretches etc. I am not sure what she does and if anyone is looking and comparing then perhaps they would be best to either concentrate on their own warm ups and move away from any negativity. Like I say my daughter seems to have a gentle routine and she tries to find somewhere away from everyone else, she doesn't seem to notice others stretching and wouldn't bother with anyone who may be showing off as she knows how dangerous it would be to injure oneself just before an audition. At vocational school everyone gets to a class a few minutes early to warm up so that they are ready for class, the kids all have little chats whilst they are stretching and warming up, it seems normal to them. So to see somone doing something extroadinarly stupid during a warm up would not be seen as showing off, more like that person being silly and inexperienced. As for pushy mothers at auditions the best thing for you to do is KEEP AWAY from them, have a lovely coffee and go for a walk, enjoy the day.

Ni Fiz Kate Simmons is in Warrington M\erseyside.

My daughter will be there too, she is really looking forward to it.

Is there a 6th form at this school? I have tried looking but with no joy.

I hope not, it is getting beyond rediculous and clearly an area I was totaly ignorant off.

Jennifer was a beautiful dancer, she trained at the Elizabeth Hill school of dance in St Helens Merseyside. This school is amazing and it is where Kristen forget her other name principle of Royal ballet trained. I do not know why everyone thinks that Jennifer went to White Lodge, amazing where stories come from. She was in Brookside a soap drama set in Liverpool, does anyone remember it.

Jennifer Ellison never went to White Lodge, she went to my daughters old dance school. She was on the associate programmes but she did not go to White Lodge.

My friends daughter is in the upper 6th at the Royal, she has quite biggish boobs. She is very thin though (naturaly thin).

I have just proven the point to myself. I have just been dying for a choccy something, all gone (blooming teenagers grrr) so I have just had a tangerine as there was nothing else. If I need that chocolate bar I will have to go to the shops and I can't be bothered.

Some one asked earlier on in the thread, so how can we go forward? I believe that it is entirely up to the parent to provied tuck for their children, younger ones should not have open access to theirs (perhaps an agrement between house parent, parent's and the child). Going back to my earlier comments regarding early years, it is the responsibility for the schools to promote healthy eating. I have already said that the school my daughter goes to provides a good healthy balcnced diet. The problems there is that at lunch a healthy choice then a lovely pudding, afternoon tea cakes and biscuits, evening meal, good choice with a lovely pudding, common room fruit and lots of biscuits. The problem my daughter is having at the moment due to stress and exams is she can't leave the cakes and biscuits alone. This is beginning to upset her as she feels she is having too many but can't help herself. I have explained to her that this is normal and a lot of teenager find this area difficult. I believe that the schools should only provide lots and lots of fruit. Parents should provide the treats that is their choice. As professionals this is an area that can be controlled. These children are in the mirror every day in a leaotard, they look at themselves constantly, they may even look at each other. That is the world they live in, and that is why ED for SOME not all can easily be developed.

Yes my friends daughter is on the waiting list, she got a letter asking for them to come and be viewed again. Costly but also a good idea. Nice for them all to get a good chance of being seen again, especially if they were at the bottom of the list.

Sorry I mean available everyday in my own home (then teenagers cost me a fortune he he).