Anna C

Definitely. Stretching progress is like a new language, or taking up running for fitness - you have to use it or you lose it! If the exercises are showing an improvement, great. If they are not, despite regular application, I would suggest an assessment by a specialist dance physio. They will be able to tell you exactly which areas need work, and give your dd appropriate exercises. But that's not the cheapest of options so talk it over with your DD's teacher first. I would add that tired or not, exercises should be done every day (sorry!).

Yes, I agree Moneypenny. Some students positively relish the sense of achievement which comes from taking an exam; my dd finds it marks her progress for her. I do think if you have a very syllabus based school it is important to find a balance by doing performance based activities like EYB, and if possible, a good non-syllabus associate class. Thanks Janice and Ellen, I had forgotten that info about Central! It's the Junior School who are moving to non-syllabus work, as the Pre-Seniors are already non-syllabus, aren't they. In that case, I wonder whether Central's RAD Majors Classes will continue? Hope so!

Hello tomuchtalent and welcome to the forum! I agree, stretching once properly warmed up is a vital part of a good dance class. I do think each child should be assessed on an individual basis because in the case of a hypermobile child, it may be better for them to do strengthening exercises while the rest of the class are doing their splits. The key is in doing exercises specific to your own body. :-)

Oh, what rotten timing Kiwimum. :-((. I would agree with all the advice given, most particularly with contacting ENBS, and getting your DD to a specialist dance physio if she has not already seen one. Out of interest, does your DD overpronate her ankles in street shoes?

Hi Balletmum1972, I do think that sometimes Tring send out a pro forma letter about not getting into CBA, as my DD had the very same letter a few years ago and she's actually very hypermobile! So my advice would be to ask your daughter's teacher to assess her flexibility and give you some stretching exercises for your daughter to do. If things don't improve, it could be worth your while to have your dd assessed by a specialist dance physio. My DD's Associate Classes in London did test flexibility but there are some girls in my dd's class who are less flexible than she is. Obviously flexibility is very important in classical ballet, but it does have to be combined with strength. Different schools look for different things though, so whilst your DD may not be right for Tring at the moment, it doesn't mean she's not suitable for other Associate Classes. So do ask for an assessment of her flexibility from teacher or a dance physio. That will give your DD personalised exercises to work on and it is possible to see an improvement quite quickly, if the exercises are done properly and regularly. Good luck!

Well, if it's ok to mention names, I've used Porselli - great prices, good range of stock, mostly ballet. Only had two problems - one was when the wrong colour bag was delivered and they couldn't get hold of the correct colour so I had to get it elsewhere ( they refunded my postage to send the wrong one back), and the other was when a certain colour leotard was out of stock but they didn't tell me until I phoned wondering where it was! The pros outweigh the cons though; I've used them loads of times without a problem. Planet Dance - a good range, but I've found that you do have to phone as their live stock system is rubbish. If they do have it in stock and you need something urgently they are good at express delivery. Only used Move Dancewear once as they have a smaller range, but they were fine and exchanged a leotard for a smaller size really quickly. Dance Direct - used once, good prices, speedy delivery. Everything else I get from the RAD shop online, or after Associate classes in London! :-) Like Anjuli, I never buy DD's shoes online. Leotards I do, but usually only if I know her size in a certain make or style as they vary so much.

Sorry to go OT with the foot post folks, just something I feel very strongly about! Antoinette Sibley also had nice strong straight feet! :-))

Slightly off topic but that requirement for "very high arches" does really grate on me. Feet like that are not always strong and can be more prone to injury than straighter "workhorse" feet.

Interesting question! On the one hand I would say no, but on the other hand, many Easter/Summer Schools ask for a certain RAD standard (or eqiuvalent, sometimes) and I'm pretty sure Elmhurst and Tring both study and take RAD Voc. exams as well as their own syllabus. Not sure about Hammond and RBS, but there must be a reason why vocational schools take RAD, even if it's to allow the students to enter RAD competitions? Edited for typo

It clashes with the first day of dd's Easter School, what a shame. :-(

Yes, the CAT we went to a taster day for has an osteopath and the children are screened by the osteopath - if I remember rightly, they are screened either before or on an offer of a place, then at least once a year thereafter.

Very good question Angela. :-)

Good luck tomorrow Belljul! Xx

Who was on the panel C4D, do you know?

Interesting topic, Nana Lily! At my DD's Associate classes they study "Creative" dance in the first year - which I am told is a looser type of Cunningham-based choreo. This year they are studying non-syllabus Contemporary. I don't know of any Contemporary syllabi as such, but wouldn't it be a case of taking classes in the different types of Contemporary? Graham, Cunningham, etc?

Thank you so much Klaris. :-)). She attended a taster day at CAT recently and loved it, but said that because ballet is her real love at the moment, she wants to stay at her Associate Classes but would definitely think about auditioning for a CAT in a couple of years' time. So it's on the back burner for now! I must say I was extremely impressed with the CAT.

Thank you glowlight, that is exactly it. She's juggling everything amazingly well at the moment and her plan - and her dream - is to get 12 or so A* GCSEs (!), keep working hard at Associate Classes, do as much local training as she possibly can, do holiday courses or EYB, and then apply for a 16+ place. She's happy with that plan and although she would grab a funded place at Elmhurst with both hands if one came up in the meantime, I think they're as rare as hens' teeth after yr 7, so I think we'll leave her alone for now! :-))

Maybe you're right Primrose...it's a tricky decision. She's so happy and settled at her academic school and is an academic high flyer. She has lovely friends and is juggling homework, local training and Associate classes. Although I know she would benefit immeasurably from vocational training, there is no way on earth we could afford the fees without a full scholarship, and I wonder how she'd feel if offered a place - even with a bursary - that she couldn't accept? Obviously I'm not assuming that she would be offered a place, but I wonder if it would be cruel to send her for an audition knowing that we couldn't afford the fees? She had to turn down a place before when she was younger and I know it was very upsetting for her.

Ah, thanks Pas de Quatre. My DD is too old...was wondering if they had the equivalent of MAs.

Balletmadmom, do you know nything about the YDA Associates? I couldn't find any info at all on their website. Really wondering when the classes are and what age the Associates are. Thank you. :-)

Oh I know Rowan, believe me, I would let DD audition if we could afford it; it does sound like a lovely school. I appreciate that and the fact that it's good value in that it's a lot cheaper than other Vocational Schools. But staggered payments or not, it's still WAY out of reach for many of us. It's a bit like saying that Louis Vuitton luggage is good value when compared to other more expensive makes - still doesn't make it remotely affordable for those of us who have to scrimp and save to afford Samsonite. :-)

Oops, just redid my sums - total comes to about a sixth of YDA's termly fees, not a tenth! Still couldn't find the rest plus travel though so it's no better. :-)

To be fair, the fact that YDA's fees are "only" £3,500 a term compared to Tring's £6,100 a term doesn't make it any more affordable to many of us! I struggle to pay my DD's fees for her local training, Associate Classes, singing lessons, EYB, Easter Schools etc. and even added together that comes to about a tenth of YDA's termly fees. Reasonably priced to many people but to my husband and I it might as well be £3 million a term. It's nice to hear about scholarships but as far I know, there is no info on the website about it...is that true?

Good luck from me too! Have a lovely day everyone. :-))

Stop it, you're all making me feel really poor and inadequate! ;-)