ballettaxi

Just wanted to share some lovely news re my non-dancing son. Over the years my son has driven me crazy at times by constantly trying out different activities, excelling at them and then deciding to drop them for no apparent reason. He’s almost 11 but over the year he has tried so many different past-times, with only his football and basketball surviving. During November his school had a visiting coach from a nearby tennis club in school running a few taster sessions with the children. He came home from school with a flyer for the club – which outlined when the classes were, it did draw everyone’s attention to the fact that currently some age groups were full. However my son stressed to me that the coach had told him that if he was interested in going along that I was to call him. After a day or two of nagging me, I called the coach and my son went along to that week’s class. Well he’s been there for over 3 months now and after last week’s lesson, the coach asked to speak to me. As of this week my son is moving up to the next age group as he, apparently, has an amazing aptitude for tennis and has shown skills far beyond his years. He is able to ‘read and anticipate’ where the ball will bounce, the speed of it and his shot placement is amazing. Now we’ve been here before, in respect of the praise and feedback from coaches etc, with many of his other adventures. However I can honestly say that his excitement on the days when he has his tennis class is something new. Even though his class isn’t until 7pm, he is up first, ready for school with his tennis gear all packed up ready to go into the car. And when I pick him up from basketball, I get a very quick account of that class before he’s off telling me what he’s going to be doing at tennis. It’s so lovely to see him like this. Watch out Andy Murray – well, maybe not for a few years yet!! J

DD and I saw this on the opening night in Glasgow first time round - absolutely amazing. Just bought tickets to catch it again in Edinburgh in a couple of weeks time. Really looking forward to it. If you get a chance to see it, I can't recommend it enough - amazing!

Quite possibly, although there was an Advanced 1 course scheduled for the afternoon of the same day - I wonder if anyone know's if that's also been cancelled. It's really disappointing as the last course DD attended was also at risk of being cancelled until they received a few last minute entries. I know these courses are a bit pricey, but they are so few and far between (esp. near us) and they are great value for money. I'm worried that if they continually don't get a good response they will stop even trying to do these day's here. That would be a real letdown.

Just heard from RAD that the Advanced Foundation Course planned for 22nd February in Stirling has been cancelled due to insufficient numbers. I know these courses have to be financially viable - but hugely disappointed for DD who was so looking forward to this. There are so few of these near us that's it's a big let down when they are cancelled. It would be interesting to know if they were just short one or two attendees as I'd happily pay a bit more for DD's place to cover the shortfall to let her attend. Ah well back to trawling the RAD website for something else for her. Unfortunately she can't go to any Easter Courses this year as her Exams start at the end of April so she'll be studying at that time.

Laughing with you on that one Alison. I'm currently reading 'How to Pass National 5 - Biology' along with my DD who is in the midst of her Nat 5 Prelims. We've just gone through English , Maths & French and then we'll start on Modern Studies , History & Drama. All of this to help her prepare her Study Plan for the big exams which start at the end of April - ah, the things we do for our children!! (Yes the emoticons are to indicate my levels of comfort with each of these subjects - think there's definitely a trend showing my strengths & weaknesses!) I am looking forward to getting back to 'real' books post the end of the exams in May!!

Not had any problems with returns sleep123, but just their complete lack of being able to fulfil an order. Totally agree that the shop are super helpful, but mail order are a complete nightmare. DD's teacher had placed an order for 2 lovely leotards that DD had picked as birthday (in Nov) & Christmas presents in August along with her normal order for uniform items etc. Despite placing orders every other week and being promised that these items would be in 'the next order delivery'. We eventually cancelled these and I went to the shop when I was in London for work the week before December. Not sure if it was because it wasn't something that her Teacher normally ordered - but surely fulfilling an order for 2 leotards at almost £30 each is extra business that they would want? Needless to say though it actually cost me a lot more than the original cost of the leotards as I then visited Freed, Capezio and Dancia while I was there! I actually had to check-in my overnight bag when I returned to the Airport as I had so much hand luggage that I would have needed an entire overhead locker to myself. Oops, that's the problem with not having any of these shops near us at home.

Thanks Meadowblythe - I've saved those links to my tablet and will enjoy those next week when I have the delights of 3 days of business travel. Looking forward to my journey now! BT

I go through phases of managing to see lots of movies within a short space of time and then months go by without me getting the chance to see any. Imitation Game - absolutely loved it, I have to admit I'd been aware of Turing and the team's achievements but not to the detail of the film (accepting that there was cinematic licence taken with the story), I've now tasked my hubby with finding me a book on Amazon with the 'actual' story. Birdman - not decided yet if I liked it or not. I agree meadowblythe that it's definitely 'weird', I did burst out laughing a few of the scenes, but I think it'll be a few days/weeks before I decide if I liked it or not. One film that will be unlikely to appeal to many on the forum is American Sniper, which I saw at the weekend. Not my normal type of filem, but went along with my hubby who really wanted to see this. I have to say it is amazing, such a great film. Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle is outstanding and you can see as the film progresses the impact of what he see's/does while in Iraq on his personality and, as a result, his family. As I wasn't keen to see the film, I didn't realise before going to the cinema that it was a true story - the footage at the end of the film just made me sit and think about everything I'd just watched. Clint Eastwood directed and I do have to say I also loved Gran Torino that he directed and starred in from a while back. I would definitely say to those who normally avoid this 'genre' to please give it a go - I was so moved by the portrayal I would thoroughly recommend.

There is an Advanced 1 course in Stirling on 22nd February - that's the only one I've seen. DD is attending the morning Advanced Foundation class - but as she's only just started the course this is as a treat (she'll have just finished prelims at school) and we'll be looking for another once she's learnt the full syllabus.

DD did the Intermediate syllabus and variations coaching day approx 4 weeks before her exam. She loved the day and felt that it was just exactly what she needed to boost her confidence ahead of the exam. There were approx 20 students taking part all of varying abilities and readiness for the exam - which she enjoyed as they were working through every aspect of the syllabus and she was able to really 'baseline' everything she knew back to the instruction being given. During the variations coaching session they covered both variations. Those who weren't about to sit the exam were able to follow those who were exam ready. DD always loves the variations and the amazing feedback she was given really helped her to enjoy this element of the exam (she scored a 9 in the exam!!). All the girls who were about to take the exam were asked which variation they were plannng to do and they were given loads of encouragement and little pointers to help them get the best from it. When DD is ready for her Advanced Foundation exam I will definitely get her to another one of these days - regardless of the distance as it was exactly what she needed.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to 'All BalletCo' addicts (or is that just me!! ) Melody - I can now say that I know someone who has more trees than me - I have 4 indoors and 1 outside each year. Thank You! Harwel - DD just received her RAD Intermediate result last week so we are certainly celebrating (rather than waiting anxiously!). Hope everyone else received a lovely RAD Christmas Present too.

Pupsmum, I can relate so much to your comments. 4 years ago when DD went to high school her first few PE classes weren't going so well - she's not into team sports at all and cross country (which was the module they were doing at that time) was a complete non starter as she wouldn't risk her knees or ankles by running so she walked the course. So needless to say I had to have a 'conversation' with the Head of PE at parents night. Thankfully he understood the amount of work she put into her ballet and arranged the next few classes around core work. Now DD's school is a Sports Comprehensive and specialises in Rugby so to say there are a lot of boys there who 'work out' is an understatement. Imagine their surprise when DD was able to out perform them not just in sit-up's but any of the exercises which they did which involved engaging her core stomach muscles AND her leg muscles. And when it came to stamina DD had to be told to stop running (on the track) when everyone else had collapsed around her - she was quite literally the last one standing. (She may not have speed but resembles Forrest Gump in that she can just keep going and never gets out of breath.) What was great was that the head of PE used DD's skills to really emphasise that traditional male activities really didn't mean that you were the fittest, toughest or strongest around. Something perceived as 'soft and fluffy', when done with dedication and determination can achieve higher results. And actually arranged for a ballet teacher to come in for a couple of classes to work with some of the boys. DD was really surprised when a number of the boys starting asking her which exercises she used for stretching certain muscles etc. And even now, 4 years later, many of those boys still ask her questions about her ballet and are genuinely interested in how her training is going. Now maybe they haven't taken up ballet but at least those half a dozen boys have a real appreciation of the work that it entails. Possibly if we had more PE teachers who understood dance then we could gradually see a change in attitudes. I hope so.

Tesco do a twin pack of nude pants in the ladies section which DD likes as they have no seams - I think they're 2 pairs for £5 or similar. DD is a very small 14 yo (fits age 9-10 clothes apart from the length) but can get away with the size 6-8 of these - she just doesn't use any of the 'stretchiness' of the material. She say's they're comfortable even when she pulls the legs up higher to ensure nothing is showing beneath her leotards. They wash really well and I also chuck them in the tumble dryer - especially during show weeks.

This made me laugh Janet. I could actually just visualise my son's face on that little boy. What is it about boys that they don't see things as they really are - a post box is for posting your mail into / a chair is to sit down on - and instead view everything in the world as something that has to be climbed, crawled under/over/around OR somersaulted onto from a great distance OR hang upside down from? Don't get me wrong my son is an absolute darling 90% of the time and does behave and mind his manners - however every now and then he seems to need to let his internal crazy boy loose to get it out of his system. He would be lying on top of this postbox and then as soon as I looked at him with the 'Really? what do you think you're doing up there?' look he would smile and jump down and come back over and hold my hand (which I still love even thought he's now 10). Also, he would never do this if anyone else were around as he wouldn't want to be seen as 'one of those boys!' - but when it's just his family, the sky is the limit to the craziness! Maybe I was just lulled into a false sense of security that DD never felt the urge to climb everything. Definitely justifies the whole Venus & Mars categorisation for me - at least in regards my children.

As far as I can remember (and school closed for summer so can't check at the moment) DD's school use BATD for the very young children, then they move over to RAD from Pre-Primary - I think it's to do with, as in an earlier post, that there is a wider content for the younger ones maybe(?). All the children then work through the RAD grades, however every 2-3 years they sit a BATD 'medal'. Then once they've completed RAD Grade 7 they take another BATD exam (I think it's Associates) - as this gives them a qualifications in both syllabus if they want to go into Dance Teaching. This is done as an extra whilst they work through the Grade 8 content. Possibly they get around having to complete all the BATD grades by doing it this way - or the head of the school has come to some agreement with BATD. Sorry but I don't know any more detail about BATD. Not sure if this will help anyone or not, but this is my experience/knowledge of BATD.

DD refers to her leo's in terms of coverage i.e. the higher the number the more coverage, referred to as a 'boobage' rating. So her RAD Grades leo (thicker straps, extra lining at the chest) has a boobage rating of 9/10, whilst her RAD vocational leo (spaghetti straps and shaped at the front only has a boobage rating of 4/10. Modern and tap are both 10/10 as she has full sleeved leo for tap and modern she can wear a cropped vest style top over her leo so sports bra's can be worn. She will also use this reference whilst out shopping for normal clothes, cue funny looks in changing rooms as she calls out that she's not coming out from behind the curtain to show me something as it 'only has a boobage of 2'!

Aileen, it's just like an extension to the part of the bra that fastens at the back. I've pasted the link to the M&S website below, hopefully this helps. There's only one review on there which doesn't rate them very high, but we've never had a problem with these. http://www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/bra-accessories#./bra-accessories?&_suid=140008105390809687094298223704

We buy the attachment things from M&S, they're about £7.50 for two different widths. Best discovery ever for our house! Edited to say that we buy them in flesh coloured but I think you can also get black and white.

DD (28DD) wears her normal bra under her leo but with the special extending thingy which allows it be lower at the back (can't remember the name of the attachment but it clips onto either end, crosses over lower on her back and then fastens at the front at her waist). She just couldn't bear to not wear a bra and hates to see the back strap. She doesn't find this irritating and it doesn't 'travel'. She wears an RAD size 3 leo - to give her enough coverage up top - which has then been taken in from the ribs down - I've become a dab hand at adapting leo's and costumes. To echo the above sentiments I really wish someone would come up with something which didn't make her feel 'freakish' (her word, not mine!!!) about her shape. Everything else about her build is pretty much perfect for ballet apart from her chest. What do you say to a 14 year old who asks what age she has to be before she can have a breast reduction because no ballet company would ever want her????

Not sure what area you're looking for Dancermum but I received an e-mail from RAD 2 weeks ago announcing some courses in the Central Scotland area for the 12th (Sunday) & 13th (Monday) October. These are for Inter F & Inter level (I've pasted below the extracts from the website). Sunday is Comprehensive Syllabus Class Intermediate Foundation: 10.15am – 12.45pm (£30) Intermediate: 2 – 4.30pm (£30) Teacher observation 10am – 5pm (£28.50) Monday is Variations Coaching Intermediate Foundation: 10.15am - 12.45pm (£23.00) Intermediate: 2.00pm - 4.30pm (£23.00) DD is signed up and raring to go. If you check on the RAD website http://www.rad.org.uk/achieve/events?month:int=10&year:int=2014&orig_query= this should take you to the October page and you can check for other locations. Good luck finding something.

Ditto Happymum's comments above - we're actually starting to think about August/September 2016 entry. Yes I know it's a long way off, but trying to navigate this world is just terrifying - classical v contemporary is just the tip of the iceberg. So I read all of these posts with interest and try to build up my understanding and knoweldge of what is 'out there'. So huge thank you to Picturesinthefirelight from me for starting this thread - feel free to keep educating the rest of us (or at least just me!).

That's a good point 2dancersmum - DD is a small 14 yo and wears the smallest adult Capezio's.

DD also loves Capezio - purchased from Just Ballet obviously! They're nice and thick and even once they've been used for a while if they get a 'catch' they don't seem as prone to ladder - at least in our experience.

Just spotted this post and have to say I fully agree with you. This is such a lovely film, DD and 9 y/o non dancing son and I saw this the Friday before Christmas and all had a lovely time. Even my son thought it was great - told his dad that it was great but that it 'wasn't the type of film that he'd enjoy, you know, happy and cheerful people'! DD cried but then she's a teenager and hormonal about everything :-) Thoroughly recommend. Five stars!

This is a topic which I find myself discussing with people and I agree with so many posts here. My DD, like so many others on this forum, has dreamt of being a ballet dancer her entire life. However she absolutely understands that this is the 'dream' and the likelihood of her succeeding in becoming one is extremely slim. So earlier this year, while preparing to pick her subjects at school - and bearing in mind that the careers database of advice for schools set up by our local council lists careers as bingo callers(!) and gravediggers but absolutely zero careers in the arts/dance !!!!!!! - she spent hours on-line and speaking with her dance teacher to pull together role requirements for a number of careers that she was interested in prior to our meeting with her Pupil Support Teacher (PST). Her target careers are (in order of preference) - ballet dancer, choreographer, choreologist, ballet teacher or human rights lawyer(!). While her PST was very supportive that she was clear on what she had to achieve to have any chance of progressing down any of these routes we were invited to a follow up meeting with the (new) Head Teacher the following week to discuss her career choices. Apparently she was concerned that her father and I were 'pandering' to my DD and weren't taking these important decisions seriously enough. I won't go into the full details our meeting, however suffice to say that DD's HT is now fully aware of how seriously we take our daughters education. But also, and I think just as (if not) more important, the degree of focus we have placed on her being able to take every/any opportunity available to her to allow her to follow her dream - AND BEING HAPPY!!!! At this meeting we also pointed out that DD has already achieved UCAS points and would continue to undertaking exams to increase these - something that the HT was completely unaware was achievable in Dance, and did conceed that there was no-one else in DD's year who had attained any of these yet in any subjects. As a family we made a decision when she was moving to High School that she wouldn't audition for vocational school as her academic 'back-up' had to be as strong as possible (and when we compared academic performance of the nearest vocational dance school to current school there wasn't really any competition) - DD absolutely understood this. So we pay for 15+ hours of ballet tuition each week to allow her continue doing what she dreams of. So, long post to say that I absolutely agree with the many others who have posted here to say that I believe the key thing is, as far as possible do something that makes you happy - but make sure you have a backup plan just in case......