Klaris

Thank you Cara for sharing your news and to everyone else for such thoughtful responses. I will join in at this point too, as my daughter has also made the decision not to pursue dance as a professional career. She went to Rambert at 16 and did 3 years there but was plagued by chronic injury throughout. Although being injured was very difficult for her, she managed to achieve a lot while she was there especially with her choreography. I have to say that the school were brilliant, and gave her so much support. She then transferred to Laban in September, with the hope that not doing professional ballet training would be the answer. She already knew by this point that she would need to be a 'dance artist' rather than a performer. But, again, she was injured very early on in the term - all part of the same bio mechanical issues. After much soul searching, she came to the conclusion that a career in dance just wasn't feasible - and that the cost to her physical and mental health in trying to continue was not a price worth paying. We wanted her to make the decision that was right for her, and it came as a relief because it really has been a struggle of epic proportions for her since she went away at such a young age. She has tried so hard physically, worked like a demon during all the periods of rehab, and somehow found a way to cope with all the feelings of shame, anxiety and 'failure' that go hand in hand with chronic injury. She is so pleased for all her lovely friends that have already graduated and are starting out on exciting new dance adventures. She's got so much to look back on in terms of all her achievements in dance since she was little; it literally was her 'life' and we had a lot of fun (and pride) as a family supporting her and being along for the ride. Dance is a very particular specialism and, whether it 'works out' or not, the skills, life lessons and achievements learnt and earned are ones that will stand our children in great stead whatever they go on to do. There is life after dance! Our daughter now feels incredibly positive about the future and wants to train as a primary school teacher

When my dd first went away at 16 I used to send parcels containing all sorts of little luxuries - exactly the kind of things that's been talked about. I never had to worry about someone being in to receive the parcel as she was living in Homestay accomodation and the postman just left everything with the landlady or in the porch. Now she's at a different school and living in a student house - so with packed timetables no one is ever in when the postman gets there. And being older she's so much fussier about what she likes and uses! So I'm changing tack now - we're going to see her tomorrow and I've decided to be very practical. My (self-delivered) 'parcel' contains: a light proof blind for her bedroom window, a convector heater, some packs of sugar free gum (how much gum can one dancer get through?!) and cash. Oh and a packet of free-from biscuits I found in the cupboard. Hope she's not going to be too disappointed!

Wow! This is a wonderfully honest and moving testimony by your daughter. I can only imagine how proud you are of her She has been able to explain her condition, the effects it has on her physically, mentally and emotionally, in an exceptional way. I'm sure this will also help so many other young people out there who are going through their own personal challenges - whatever they may be and in whatever field. Thank you to your dd for allowing you to share this with us all

Hi Munchkin, it's great that you're doing this blog - really informative and a great read My dd has been both dairy and gluten free for a few years now - it's hard, especially when eating out, but she feels so much better on it and gets very few symptoms now so definitely worth it. It's incredibly expensive though, especially as she's a dance student and on a very tight budget - I know it does cost more for supermarkets to make free from lines but the prices of everyday staple items are shockingly high. It seems as soon as they put a 'free from' tag on food the price soars. Better stop now or I'll start to rant!!

Hi Joemill, hope your son is having a great time so far! As far as the deposit is concerned, I seem to remember that it was paid back fairly quickly by Rambert, and I think it went straight into dd's account! But this was 2 years ago so I may not have remembered correctly. Why don't you give the office a ring and ask them so you know for definite - and if it does go to your son you can get it back before it disappears )

So pleased for your son (and you) after such a long and trying wait. Hope you can get everything sorted without too many problems. Exciting times ahead!!

Hi CeliB Just to say that when I phoned the Meningitis Foundation they told me they had been advised that the ACWY also prevents against Men B - so it might be worth giving their free phone number a ring to get some more clarity on this.

Well done KatyMac for persevering with the GP! Unfortunately dance students who go away at 16 seem to fall between the gaps in this area: last year I had a job trying to get my then 17 year old DD the Men C jab, as she'd been homeschooled in GCSE years and missed out. Our GP refused to do it as she was a temporary resident and the surgery she's registered with when away don't do it as their patients have it through school. In the end I found a private travel clinic who would do it. It was a total hassle - and not to mention that no -one was willing to discuss it with me without dd's consent as she was over 16. When I found out she had to have the ACWY as well this year I thought I'd just go straight to the private travel clinic again - but, like KatyMac found, they started saying it wouldn't be licensed for her as she wasn't a traveller. Every time I phoned up someone said something different, but in the end they've booked her in for later this week (£55) Just hope they give it and don't change their mind when she's there! Btw, I also phoned up Meningitis foundation on Anna's recommendation: they were fantastic. They confirmed its no problem having the Men ACWY even after having the Men C 12 months ago and that they have been informed that the ACWY will also cover against Men B. They also said entitled students SHOULD be able to have it at any surgery even if they're only registered there temporarily, and that any costs incurred can be reclaimed from the usual GP. (My own surgery, however, claim to know nothing about it yet and haven't replied to my emails!) If need to go private, she said there will be plenty of options - Boots, private hospitals like BUPA, travel clinics, private doctors - and that they shouldn't refuse due to not travelling abroad.

Really feel for everyone still waiting on reserve places. It's the final week of term and the grad shows, so a very hectic time at the school right now. My guess is that they'll start sorting final arrangements from next week when all the students have gone. Might be a good time to call them then anyway X

Sending hugs to you and your DD - I know how stressful, upsetting and frustrating this must be for you both xxx

I remember taking my nearly 13 year old daughter to see Swansong performed by Rambert company - it was the Thomasin Gulgec, Alexander Whitley and Eryck Brahmania cast. The power and beauty of the piece - and the quality of those special dancers - remains etched inside me. My daughter was speechless afterwards - she hadn't seen anything like it before and the performance was a real turning point for her, both in terms of her own dance aspirations and her dance education/appreciation. The Triple Bill DVD was immediately added to her birthday list and Rambert became her no 1 school of choice for dance training. She wrote about how profoundly this piece had affected her when she applied for a place there. For anyone interested, Christopher Bruce is working with the 3rd year Rambert students this term to create brand new work for the school - this will be part of their spring performances, which take place on Monday 23rd-Friday 27th March. Anyone wanting tickets or more details can ring or email the school.

Well done to those who made it through to the solo stage, and good luck to everyone still to audition. Even if you don't get a place this time it's always worth auditioning again as Rambert really appreciate students who are determined, and obviously plenty can change from one year to another. From my dd's experience 2 years ago: don't know how many who aren't cut get yes/waiting list/no - dd got yes but would imagine it has got to be a pretty even split between them all. That said, knowing Rambert they will take the ones they like regardless of statistics. And there are plenty of current students who got in from the waiting list. It's definitely a 2 week wait for results, unless it's right at the end of the auditions when they need people to respond ASAP. The standard procedure seems to be an email (to the student if they've given their email address) followed by a confirmation letter. With regard to age, again I think this isn't an issue as they really do take a variety of ages and if they think you suit the training and are for them then they will take you. Some girls, though obviously more boys, begin in their early or even mid 20s. The lowest age for UK students will be 16 when they start, even if just turned that (though it may be different if you come from Scotland?) I do know of a couple of Asian students who started at 15, but that's because the school system has a different cut off point from us in places like Singapore. Hope this helps.

Rambert requires a deposit - I've a feeling it was £200, but that was a couple of years ago so don't know if this is current.

I think you've summed up the situation perfectly 2dancersmum. Being able to take more control over your future could also be another factor in changing direction. By choosing a non-dance path you stand a much better chance of being taken on or employed on your actual merits, hard work and attitude, rather than on the way you look, where you've trained or your connections. Being constantly assessed and scrutinised by others must be exceptionally hard, especially when one individual's judgement is the difference between success and failure. For most there is no safety net after graduation and to put yourself out there over and over again will be a challenge too far for some, no matter how talented and passionate they are. For those that feel like this, the decision to 'give up' may come as a relief and be a very empowering thing to do.

This made me chuckle, as my Mum (who earned her PhD relatively late in life) has stopped using Mrs for everything and now only ever refers to herself as Dr - she uses it at any and every opportunity, which we all find really embarrassing. My son had to have a major operation a couple of years ago and she happened to be visiting when the consultant was doing his rounds - he genuinely thought Grandma was a fellow medic, which brightened her day considerably. Still, we learnt quite a lot more about the technical side of the operation than we might otherwise have done...