Anna C

Hence Monique's dvd is so good IF your teenager has Pilates experience so knows the basic principles - because it's aimed at teenage ballet students and she was a ballet dancer! She clearly spotted a gap in the market.... :-)

13th for us too - that's tomorrow, isn't it?!

Would she need a CRB check to do that, I wonder?

I echo everyone's advice. We should all be reasonably mindful of what we post anyway because this is a public forum and we literally never know who is reading! But there may still be questions you need to ask and answers you can help with from your experience as a ballet parent. You'd be missed if you went. :-)

Oooh, that is early! Thanks for letting me know; dd had a sleepover with her ballet buddy last night so we weren't at registration today.

Mr Spanner - I think! I should be there on Wednesday, either using one crutch or two! :-)

Yes, they do Lil. My dd does her physio prescribed exercises twice a day, every day. Luckily, in between the RAD's activities at Birmingham in the first week of the holidays and now EYB rehearsals, she's been able to keep up her ballet really well. Mind you, on her "rest days" she can get a bit tetchy because she's not dancing, so I need to keep her occupied! :-)

Yes, I watched that too. Absolutely amazing what they can do in rhythmic gymnastics! I haven't seen it in several years and was astonished at the complexity of the routines. I suppose everything evolves; gymnastics, diving, and ballet.... Yes, I hope the nation as a whole doesn't go into a post-Olympic decline - and that the Paralympics isn't consigned purely to a bit of coverage on the "red button".

It's funny that so many of our dcs are at Aylesbury but we don't know each other! I've only met one regular poster so far, plus one self-confessed lurker! :-)

Yeah MO FARAH!!! And a great Bronze for Tom Daley too, bless him. We were shouting Mo home in our living room! :-)

Oooh, brave! Hope her journey goes well! x

Would it be worth contacting Harlequin or someone like that to ask if they ever sell offcuts or remnants?

Going on past experience, I think the run-through for parents will be next Sunday 19th. Glad your dds are having a good time! Mine is LOVING it, despite sore toes each evening from all the pointework! :-)

Thanks for explaining that, Paul. I suppose it's the inconsistency that annoys me - I get the feeling the cycling rules were changed to try to prevent the UK winning too many medals in the cycling, yet in other sports you can still end up with multiple entrants from the same country in the final. Never mind - I've loved watching. I'm a little worried about withdrawal symptoms on Monday!

She's one of the "Guests" en pointe - bit like the Corps de Ballet I think, as Dominic said they are like the Swans in Swan Lake and the Willis in Giselle. I think it's a useful role for EYB for the younger teens who are en pointe but not old/advanced enough for pointe solos like Lady Energy etc. She's really happy though as it's a lot of pointework, she's with her best ballet friend, and she gets to wear pretty dresses! She's having an absolute whale of a time. :-) Your dd should have a good time in Monster rehearsals as she'll be dancing with the fabulous Steven! :-)

Hi, lifeafterballet. When I first joined the "old" balletco, some 6 years ago, I had no idea of what I was getting into! My dd was 7 and had just moved ballet schools, got a Distinction at RAD Grade 1, and I knew next to nothing. My first bit of advice is to ASK. Even if you think it's a daft question, ask anyway. Use the search function to see if anyone else has asked the question, because chances are they will have done. The folks on here have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are happy to share it. Many of us have (or have had) dancing children, some have grown-up children who have graduated and are embarking on professional contracts. We have teachers, pupils, ballet fans, you name it, they are here! :-) If your dd is serious about wanting to train as a dancer, I would do the following: Speak to her teacher (s) about their thoughts on your dd's physique, technique, musicality, work ethic, focus, and likelihood of progressing further. Look at the number of hours and quality of training she does each week. Is she an Associate anywhere, e.g. at a CAT or at Royal Ballet School Associates etc. Does she do holiday courses? If her school is not a "festival" or competition school, does she get the opportunity to perform? There are probably things I've missed out but hopefully that will give you a starting point. :-)

Mine too, taxi! :-)

Glad I wasn't the only confused person! :-)

I'm genuinely confused as to how the Women's beach volleyball final ended up being USA vs USA. How did that work?

Aw, that's a shame. I must admit it's been a struggle for us this year but as EYB is in the summer holidays, dd is doing it instead of Summer School. It's so worth doing if, like ours, your ballet school only really does syllabus work and no festivals. Thank goodness EYB let you pay in instalments! :-)

That's a good idea, and makes perfect sense when you think that the morning classes are split into 3: Juniors, middles and seniors.

I sometimes think they're getting so popular that they need to have 2 audition dates! :-)

Wonderful news for your lovely dd! Very well done to her. :-))

From what I remember about dd's Senior Audition, it was busy with over 100 dancers on stage, but it was fair because even if you started at the back, everyone had the chance to be at the front because they rotated the front line to the back after each exercise. Plus the sequences were done in small groups. Certainly I felt that everyone got looked at. Was it done differently at Wolverhampton? Rehearsals started for Sleeping Beauty today; 107 dancers so quite busy but dd had a lovely day. :-)

From my dd: they will go over the steps many times so she'll be able to catch up. Also if she asks one of the other girls in her dances to go over some steps in the lunchbreak then that should help. :-)