wildflowers

You guys put me to shame, don't do parcels nearly as often as I used to...but do find Amazon prime useful for next day free delivery on all sorts of things from shampoo when they have run out.... to urgently needed stationary...to 'lucky' ear rings to wear at appraisals....and all sorts of random stuff in between ???? what I do mostly do now, is email daily, an inspirational quote or funny picture..sometimes just what my dd's need at that exact moment in time, free of charge but often priceless ????

Ask her JA teacher for advice, it was many yrs ago for both my girls but from memory I think Royal told them to wear their JA leotards....both had very different end results so its not down to the leotard! Younger DD is now preparing for US auditions and the quest for a Leo is driving me crazy, I would quite like it if she could just wear her associate one lol! ???? good luck with it all.

I feel inspired to try your methods Katymac! We have lots of grey tights which are perfectly wearable bar the colour. Summer project to add to the list ????

For what its worth Pictures and Harwell, Royal summer school starts this weekend for WL and CG, YBSS starts 16jul (before many state schools have finished) same day as Elmhurst finish for the year and know many of the attendees will be

Sorry CeliB, It is Monday at 3.30pm.

I have sent you a pm tutugirl (I think!)

Stunning, so creative, thank you for sharing!

I wear contact lenses and even with them don't have 20/20 vision so when we watch class, I tend to squint as I concentrate which my DD says looks like a frown... so much so her friends have commented that I look like a scary, unimpressed ballet mum! Most definitely far from it as I am usually in awe of them all .....fast forward half hr and air con dries out my contact lenses causing my eyes to stream so I then look like I am crying all the way through the remainder of the class! (I sometimes hide behind that excuse if I am actually having a little proud mummy moment ????) So my DD hates watching days with her unintentional embarrassing 'ballet mum' ???? Edited for spelling

With WL it is a Yes or a No with a small handful of waiting list places....the year my DD auditioned for a yr8 place, she got waiting list, my dh phoned and she was the only one on it but of course no one turned their places down and despite my DD asking why they couldn't just buy another bed, they hadn't yet gone down the buy a bunk bed route ???? Not to worry, she is quite happy where she is now and its nice to know she was close. That same year, she got a straight No from Elmhurst finals. So you can never second guess what they are looking for, a no at one school doesn't mean a no at the next one...nor does a Yes or a maybe!! So good luck to all your dc at their next auditions, put your disappointment behind you and go in there and shine....we are of the more than one road to Rome camp and always joke that fore mentioned dd is on the scenic route ???? enjoy the journey xx

Good luck to all, beautiful day where I am so hope the sun is shining in Richmond Park for all the waiting mums and dads

Haha, thanks Jane, thought as much but was ever hopeful! Good luck with it all x

Does anyone know if the students (ie parents!) have to pay for the CV photos or are they provided by the school? Not at this stage yet but curious to know what potentially lies ahead....got to make it to the graduate year first! ????

DD has shown me some pictures - all stunning - I have noticed white leotards seem popular and unless it is flesh coloured tights, then bare legs? I guess/hope the schools will offer advise?

good luck everyone and enjoy your coffee....and think today definitely counts as a cake day

Echo LTD and Kat09, minimum 3 pairs a month, sigh ????

I like my quotes and use that one too but I have a favourite for when our DC's wobble over 'how good everyone else appear to be' , you may have come across it before, but just in case.... "compete with others will make you bitter, compete with yourself will make you better" It works for my DDs so maybe throw that into a telephone conversation, or txt when she needs a boost!! Keeping them positive is definitely one of the hardest parts!! Good luck everyone, it is tough being a ballet parent, I know it is easy to say with hindsight but if you are just starting out on the journey, try not to stress too much....if you don't get the result you hope for, this forum is full of many tales of the 'No' being a 'Not yet' and if it does go your way....congratulations....but brace yourselves....appraisals and US auditions can make you wonder why you started the journey in the first place! the best bit of advice came from Hairbelles - stock up the wine fridge!! Joking aside, try and enjoy the experience, you and your DC's will never forget it, no matter the outcome, fingers crossed for lots of good news in the coming weeks x

Last year the regional results for US came out before the London prelim and the London results came out on the Friday following the audition. Results were by email.

Think Tring do A levels and Royal does one A level and Btec, enbs don't do A levels but might do btec type thing? Central, RCS and Rambert are degree courses I believe so no A levels but still an amount of study involved.

Another one...spotted it in Dancing Times https://tulsaballet.org/company/auditions-employment/ Auditioning in London on 28 Feb.

probably not much help if it is a bodice thing, but my dd had a very sticky up practise tutu skirt, she was advised to tack some of the layers together with....dental floss!! Seemed to do the trick! (and thank you petalviolet for making me laugh at the end of a pretty rubbish week )

Had a look at the website, lovely, but can't see how much it costs? Can anyone advise?

huge achievement against all that competition, well done, and if your profile pic is your dd, she is beautiful and looks very happy edited to insert missing word!

Would imagine the accommodation will be the upper school boarding which by summer will be in Pimlico, bus or tube journey away or Jebson House which is a few minutes walk. I don't think either SS is 'easy' to get into, if you are a bit of a gambler and can afford the application fee then worth applying and seeing what happens....as Floral says, they will all travel together so she wouldn't be alone

Yes, we flame the ribbons too, I used to enjoy sewing their shoes but both of my dd's have done their own and sometimes each others, for many years now. They don't bother darning or using a suede patch as they don't last long enough to warrant it sadly! In terms of cost, one dd prefers Bloch, if I buy 2 pairs at a time from dance direct, then it is free p&p, I use Dance Directs own ribbon which is a snip of the price £1 per pair verses £4.50 for Bloch ribbon. Slightly different colour but dd says absolutely fine....so my last purchase was also £70 but for 2 pairs plus ribbon and elastic so was quite pleased with that....won't be so pleased if they don't last a half term!!????

How your dd feels in her leo is much more important than what colour it is. At Dd's auditions there were so many colours that to be honest black stood out! Lol! She wore a different Leo from her photos as she had grown by the time the auditions came round, she chose one that was comfortable and she felt good in and I truly believe that made the difference. Good luck xx