wildflowers

If Joseph the youngest one, then I believe he is joining Whitelodge for yr 10?? I could have misunderstood DD and it's another boy in his year. We watched this first time round just before DD started in yr 7, look forward to watching it again to see how it seems now we know a tiny bit more!!

Wow! Well done thequays - shall look forward to that

Fantastic news LB, thank you for letting us know and do keep posting as you are a true inspiration to DD's everywhere.

Every year Angela. Make sure you spend it all thou as you can't carry it over - I didn't fully appreciate that when DD was in yr 7 and had about £100 left, which we 'lost'. This time round if she hasn't spent it all we'll be getting some things for next academic yr. Like KathyG, we have bought things from other places and posted the receipts.

Congratulations - good things come to those who wait!!

I believe this is an 'extra' open day to mark the Jubilee. I believe the traditional Open Day with 'dancing on the lawn' is on Saturday 16th June, as my friend's DD is a yr 5 JA and is performing that day. I could be wrong of course!

Don't know where Jennifer Ellison trained but I do recall from the 'old' ballet co forum, a discussion about some RAD DVD's, where the conclusion was that a very young Jennifer Ellison and Rupert Pennefather demonstrated the course together.....so at some point she must have been 'in the mix', surely it must be more than a bust that stopped a promising career??

All my DD's teachers - local, associate and vocational - have stressed the importance of NOT stretching before being warmed up. At the workshop RBS ran for yr 6 JA's to prepare them for auditions, they were specifically told not to do those types of stretches before the audition class - they acknowledged some candidates would do.....but they would be cross if they saw any of the associates trying it!

Would you say that applies to those auditioning at age 11? According to Deborah Bull and 'The Everyday Dancer', to make it, got to be in full time training by 11, 12 at latest I prefer your thoughts as have DD wanting to try again next year after making 3 finals for yr 7 but no funded offer.....we will support her but are very realistic as to her chances but as she's not giving up, who are we to give up on her. Let's hope she proves Deborah Bull wrong!

Do you mind my asking what time the audition is - we had same email as Maria saying 20 May is full and can we do Jun 10 - obviously I said yes but that is also the day I have to take elder DD back to school so hoping auditions are in the morning?

I'm confused, are they ballet dancers or gymnasts?

I once dreamt I'd joined DD at her vocational school as a mature student....was more of a nightmare to be honest!! Wonder what all the dream analysts would make of that one! Lol! Good luck Fiz, I'd love to do it but no adult classes near us.

Oh I do hope so - even if it just gives you some breathing space to let some of your other fundraising ideas come to fruition..good luck xx

My DD got her first pair of pointe shoes yesterday but luckily has her older DD on hand, she has lovingly sewed the ribbons on for her and now is about to darn them! I wouldn't know where to start....I have a fear of pointe shoes, they are a great unknown to me, as for 'breaking them in' - surely a pointe shoe must be the only item you ever buy from new and then immediately break?? On the last forum, someone did post a link to an article all about pointe shoes, wish I'd printed it off now!

call me naive but surely this would be bit of a risk by the school - if everyone accepted a place, would they have enough beds? I know chances of 'everyone' accepting may be slight but given the numbers of children who apply each year, I can't imagine hundreds of unfunded offers go out??

Totally agree Glowlight, but unfortunately the teacher hasn't been part of the discussion, plus manager himself agreed it would be ideal for DD but CRB constraints wouldn't allow - apparently every instructor would need crb just incase they came into contact with my dd was the issue - the fact that this centre runs baby yoga classes and and pre and post natal classes therefore majority of staff are crb checked didn't come into it! not to worry, thanks to Spanner have another avenue to explore

This is what I hoped to do but unfortunately could not get past the manager/owner on the front desk! Going to pop in again when his wife is there, she might be more understanding. Lol!

Thank you Spannerandpony, will have a google!! The class DD and I hoped to join is run by a ballet teacher so obviously a connection between ballet and pilates, such a shame we can't but at least with DVD you can fit it into already busy schedules.

Can't believe this post - only this afternoon i called into a local 'holistic' centre which offers pilates, looking for a class for myself and my dd to be told, despite us attending class together, due to CRB constraints she was too young! Mmmm, i thought, perhaps a DVD, look at this forum and what do I see??? A post about pilates!! Spanner, where can you buy dvd? Thank you

Well done LB, you are an inspiration to all aspiring DD's

Huge congratulations LB , your positive attitude and modesty despite your obvious talent has shone through to give you the result you deserve, well done...don't think that will be the last bit of good news we get from you!! Good luck to all those still waiting xx

Totally agree Ribbons and dragonfly. My DD has had options of finals and if we'd got the choice we wanted, we'd never have gone to another final for a place we knew we'd never take. In fairness i need to remember that this is our 2nd time around and we were told with our elder DD it's not just about the right child for the school but the right school for the child, so perhaps they just had to see for themselves, that said, i don't know many people who would turn WL down. The overseas thing is what gets me most - my DH is fizzing... our balance of ballet trade is totally negative - we seem to import foreign funded students and export homegrown British tax paying talent... something is wrong with our balance of ballet trade 'aka the economy'!! I mean no offense to anyone, it's sunday evening blues after a very tough weekend which has us challenging everything xx Edited to add dragonfly

Don't know of any waiting list offers - maybe that' s the spaces they are keeping for the Japanese!! Well that's 3 little girls whose chances may have been different if those who already had WL offers (which they knew they would take) hadn't turned up for Elm finals. Sorry if i'm offending anyone on this forum but if you'd had the weekend i'd had you would feel the same. You did well to get finals doesn't cut it when a British school is offering places to DD's who don't want them then goes to Tokyo to try and fill beds that could easily be filled with our own home grown talent. If it's down to money then what is the future for British Ballet. For anyone who knows me i'm not normally so cross and cynical but my DD been devastated this wk end and I'm trying so hard to find an answer which will make feel her better. I genuinely have best wishes for those with a yes, it is an amazing achievement, please please believe me. I'm just hurting so much and trying to fix a broken child xx

Belljul, a hug right back. It's a double whammy of a No - the rejection from the school is bad enough but when your sibling is there, it's a daily reminder of what could have been. As you say, time will help but think we'll have a few hurdles on the way. DD has picked herself up today, whereas my lovely dancing DD is struggling, she suffers from homesickness and she so wanted her little sis with her. Got it at both ends! Sorry folks, I'm not offering any words of comfort or reassurance, this is the harsh reality and it's tough

Was a no for us too - has anyone had a Yes or are they keeping all their options open for Japanese auditions next wk?? Sorry to sound so cynical but my DD has not bounced back, her big sister is already at Elmhurst and she has been waiting 2 years for her chance to join her and now it's over. She's devastated. I am so proud of her as she could not have done more, if it wasn't enough well wasn't to be. Congratulations to all those with a Yes, your daughters must be pretty amazing! I have an amazing girl too and her chance will come to shine. xx ps good luck to all those with auditions next wk xx