Anna C

Yes, my DD has always used the Bloch Elastorib as she used to get periodic achilles tendonitis. I must say it's improved greatly since she was diagnosed as overpronating and fitted with orthotics. The orthotics, Elastorib, stretches and strengthening exercises have sorted the problem now. We also stitch through the drawstring of her pointe and ballet shoes at the back of her shoes either side of the back seam, so that when the drawstring is tightened, it doesn't tighten across the achilles. That was on the advice of a dance physio.

Ugh, couldn't agree more re. tiny children en pointe, and if you dare to question the safety aspects of it, e.g. Bone strength in the foot, they jump down your throat. What channel is Dance Moms on?

Yes, I agree with Pas de Quatre. I can vouch for Central, who study Ballet and Creative, then swap Creative for Contemporary in the 2nd year. However we also attended a CAT taster day at The Place recently and that looked like outstanding training, particularly if Contemporary training is a long term plan. Central don't have taster days but they do have an Easter Course which would give you an idea of what the school is like. Likewise I know people who are very happy with LJB/LSB. So do go along to taster days if they are available, research on the web, and go to as many auditions as you can. Also, it might be worth asking your local teacher if there are any schemes she thinks would be best suited to your DD.

I'm so glad it wasn't just me! I didn't see this particular programme but there was another programme about freestyle disco (I think it may have been an episode of Pushy and Proud) and in that one the children just whizzed around the floor, the faster the better, and did lots of leaping with no much style, and kicking, and acrobatic/contortionist tricks. It really did seem to be "faster is better". I love many types of dance but this just didn't float my boat (or my DD's). No offence to anyone who may do it!

Ohhh, I've seen a programme about this before - some of the Mums were terrifying! My quiet, ballet-loving daughter sat there with her jaw on the floor. :-)

How fab, wish he'd come and do a stint down South! :-)

I agree glowlight, my DD has a certain "something" when she does Modern and contemporary, particularly the more lyrical dances - I think it's the balletic side of her.

Why Fiz? Do you mean she wasn't allowed? Or physically couldn't do it?

Sounds like a lovely one and DH and I could stay up there and treat that as our holiday. ;-)

Interesting point! I can see that as an adult, having done nothing but ballet for many years, someone like Darcey B having to work against the ballet in order to master tap and ballroom. I do think as youngsters though it is important to keep up the ballet for help with modern, jazz, broadway and especially contemporary. Obviously if one wanted to become a hip hop or tap dancer it's less important. We were at the CAT Taster Day at The Place recently and they really emphasised the need for regular ballet classes, but then many of the CAT students go on to Central, LCDS, Rambert etc. If you look at Theatre Arts/Musical Theatre courses, is ballet on all the syllabi?

Thanks Gingerbread, their site doesn't work on ipad. May look at it for next summer. :-)

Don't blame you Balletmum; we too are treating EYB as this year's summer school. DD is doing Central Easter course again this year so between that and EYB, that's plenty! :-)

Well done both! Great news! :-))

Thank you Julie :-) Oddly enough I was reading about Melissa Hamilton yesterday who was told by one teacher that she had no future in classical ballet...

But it shouldn't only be "how you do on the day"; imagine if you were coming down with something? Surely they take into account more than just one day?

Why does it come out of the blue like that Julie? I'm at a loss to see why the schools don't mention areas of concern beforehand so that families are at least forewarned if possible. I know people go into things with their eyes open, but if you get excluded from an academic school - or sacked from a job - you at least get warning first (hopefully!). I don't understand why they can't either give a reason in the results letter or have correspondence or meetings with parents first?

Oh, I like Mary S so much. My DD has done several summer schools with her and she's super. :-)

I have everything crossed for your lovely DD Kiwimum x

Very well said Julie. Very best of luck from me too. :-)

EYB do have a class each day before rehearsals start, part warmup, part technique. :-)

In Dancing Times I have seen a couple of adverts for European company auditions which have a minimum height but I only remember one of them which was 5'4 or 5'5. That definitely seems to be the exception though because I remember thinking how unusual it was.

Out of interest, what about Yorkshire Ballet in terms of age or exam requirements? If not, then I would be inclined to do LCB again if your DD enjoyed it. Once they are older then I think it's more important to "do the rounds" of serious summer schools, but when DD was 10 we tended to repeat the ones she enjoyed.

No, I don't believe all Summer Schools are first come first served. DD was offered a place on ENBSs Summer School last year and we had to send several photos, a copy of the last exam report (if I remember rightly), and once the closing date had passed, they seemed to do a fairly extensive paper sift. Am I right in thinking that there are other schools/summer schools that do this?

Oh that sounds good afab, that is a new thing since my DD last did a Tring class or holiday course. :-)

Perfect sense Julie, I'm often of the same mind myself re. giving non-vocational students opportunities to do summer schools - but then I am slightly biased! ;-). (runs away)