Anna C

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.

My dd said that she will wear her black dance shorts over her leo so "you can't see anything". Mind you, nothing would persuade her to go commando in any case! :-)

Gawd, she's already taller than me when she's en pointe!!

I don't think so; my dd has had a massive growth spurt since January, a full year after she started pointe at 12, yet she is now 13 and a half with no sign of starting her periods.

They usually return every other year. Pups_Mum is right, if there is a good reason why you cannot attend the auditions you can submit a video/DVD audition. In a bid to be fair, Miss Lewis views video auditions on the very same day as the audition.