Anna C

I have to agree that six seems exceptionally young to be starting private/one-to-one lessons, particularly if they are instead of group classes, as opposed to as well as. There is indoubtedly a place for one to one teaching; my dd finds her private lessons invaluable, and she and the teacher work on whatever needs focus at the time, covering a mixture of freework and syllabus - BUT she is 13 and the private lessons are in addition to six group classes during the rest of the week. At 6 my dd was doing ballet and tap, starting to learn piano, taking swimming lessons, in short, giving everything a try and seeing what she liked. Dance classes at six are as much about socialising and learning to move and dance with other children as they are about technique. If he will be doing ISTD at one school and you want him to continue there, I would stick with ISTD at both schools. Learning both RAD and ISTD ballet would be very confusing at six. May I ask why you have decided to take him out of the group class?

I don't know if it's camera work because there are several more photos on google of her in similar poses, looking like a professional - and incredibly toned - bodybuilder. Each to their own, eh? :-)

Very interesting, because if you google "Misty Copeland Legs" (not a phrase I have ever thought about googling!) there are many images of Ms Copeland's legs, the vast majority of which show extremely muscular calves and quads which look more like a professional athlete than a dancer. In fact if you cover the pointe shoes, her legs look as if they belong to a weightlifter. I don't mean any insult by that; those muscles are hard earned, but they are not legs that I have ever seen on a ballerina.

They may be able to call themselves charities, but to do so I think they have to be able to show some benefit to the wider public, and not just to their pupils....hence outreach activities? And as a charity they can have a reserve "pot", I suppose?

I think tights do conceal a certain amount of muscle tone, but they wouldn't be able to conceal the size of the muscles. I'm a ballet novice, but from what the dance physio has been telling dd, I didn't think that the quads were supposed to be that developed in ballerinas? Isn't it more about long, lean muscles and using the inner thighs for resistance?

Surely private/independent schools are businesses? As Julie says, they have to make money in order to invest money into the school. Think about all the building work at Tring with the beautiful new studios etc. - the students benefit from the wonderful facilities but the money has to come from somewhere.

The photo has certainly raised some discussion and differing opinions! :-)

I wish we were nearer MIDAS; it does sound very good.

Ha! I saw that! I don't think it helps that the leotard is so extremely high cut, but are the Quads supposed to be that developed in ballet?

Yes, sorry, I also meant to add my congratulations to your ds on his contract, dancersdad. :-)

Sorry, catching up - belated but sincere congrats LB, have a wonderful time and keep us posted! :-)

I'd hope the schools are making some sort of profit, for their own sake! Be a bit of a thankless task if they were running at a loss.

Dancing going fine thanks Stardancer - she's highly stressed by end of year academic exams though... :-(

Excellent news! So pleased you got things sorted out. :-)

Dancersdad, was your DS part of the 3rd year "Dancers' Company" at Tring?

When my dd auditioned for Elmhurst 3 or so years ago, the Principal at the time stated that within 2 years they hoped to have almost all MDS places at Elmhurst. I can't remember the exact figures but she certainly said they had more than 8 per year. I'm sure she said that they hoped to have about 90% MDS places within 2 years.

I must say dd is loving the new Intermediate Syllabus. Longer exercises involving several different steps - she says it feels more like "real dancing". :-)

Some of dd's tights don't have a cotton gusset though; whereas undies do. I think that's what puts dd off!

Both have their merits! My dd moved from ISTD to RAD at 7 partly because she wanted to learn Character dance, which the ISTD teacher didn't teach. Are both syllabi taught at one school, or do you have the option of two schools/teachers?

Hi Shirley315, Just wanted to say welcome to the forum. :-)

That's a good idea. :-). DD has a printed chiffon skirt which is XS; long enough to cover things but short enough to see the legs. It would only be at Associates that she couldn't wear it, but if she moves up next year, the leo's are considerably darker. :-)

I can't see anything constructive or motivating in telling an 8, 9 or 10 year old child that they may not be good enough. An audition result is one person or one panel's opinion based on one audition. That child may dance completely differently a day, week or year later; likewise their physique may change hugely. This is precisely why it's worth trying again and why RBS letters sometimes say "We'd like to see you again next year". Ok, if by 18 your child has never got finals or a place at a ballet school, then it would be time to steer them down a different path - but I suspect they would have reached that conclusion themselves. But at 8, 9 or 10, far kinder and more motivational to say (as Mr Kelly used to say at auditions) "You all did well, but they only have 12 places, so can't take everyone they want - so keep going, and you can try again next year". My dd is a late developer and at 13 is only now coming into her own as a dancer. She knows she wasn't ready at 10 but is determined to try for a post 16 place. She works her socks off and has real drive. Would she have had that drive and perseverance if I had told her at 10 "Sorry, you weren't good enough", rather than "It's not a never darling, it's just a not yet".

Oh bless her. Sending calming wishes from here! :-) xx

Gosh! They get marks for grooming at dd's Associate classes, but luckily for her there are no rules about knickers. :-D

I must admit that now when I have to ask for time off for exams, I copy the accreditation info from the RAD website into the letter. For Inter Foundation (and I assume for dd's upcoming G6) the school put the absence as "educational activity" or something like that.