Klaris

Like Lil, I noticed that the DanceEast CAT academy also has a few spaces left - this is also a contemporary CAT scheme, and my dd was a student there for 5 years until graduating this summer to move onto full time training at Rambert. Can definitely recommend it! http://www.danceeast.co.uk/September%202013%20entry.aspx I'm not sure the above link works, so if not go to the DanceEast Academy page on FaceBook, or the DanceEast website.

In current production at Canterbury, my dd is doing same as Lildancer's and she's 16. However, one of the other princesses/tsars sister is 13 - so age is only a rough guide to the kind of parts that might be offered. For older girls there's also big swans and big Marinsky dancers.

The banks don't seem to be set up for 16 year olds who have student loan funding to be paid in - dd is with Lloyds, like others have said, with a debit card; she has set up internet banking to make things easier. No overdraft facility, which I think is a good thing. They have suggested her student loan be paid into an ISA account and she feeds money from this into the current account as and when needed. She can only have a student account at 18.

You cannot miss an opportunity to go to Betty's!!!

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland audition for this year was on a Friday in Feb for my dd, and final audition was on a Thursday in March - but they have several sessions and you could probably re arrange if not convenient. Rambert auditions started at end of Feb, everything on one day, and my dd was given a Monday - again, sure they could offer one of their alternative audition dates if not convenient.

Thanks for this Spanner - we were wondering what to do about the ribbon, but don't think my dd will worry about wearing one now. Hope your lovely girl enjoyed the day x

We went to see it as well last night - I really don't have words to describe how amazing it was. We have seen Hofesh before in Uprising at Snape Maltings (Suffolk) which was awesome - but last night was truly something else. This performance will stay with me for a very long time.

Hope the day is just beautiful for you all x

The only one I'm aware of is Rambert - who sift at the application stage. But I'm sure that candidates aren't rejected on photos, and that the experience, training and personal statement will give them enough idea as to who is most suitable to audition for their style of training.

The NYDC piece is a powerful and very moving piece of dance theatre. What Jasmin Vardimon has done with the young dancers is quite a feat - she only had a total time of 3 weeks to not only make the piece but also form them into a cohesive company. I thought they really stood their own on a varied and interesting mixed bill of dance...

Again, thanks for posting this - it is a truly fantastic experience for the young dancers and I'd encourage everyone (regardless of dance background/training) to go along to one of the workshops. My dd has had an amazing time working with Jasmin Vardimon, and all the NYDC members - and it's wonderful they will get to work with Akram Khan next time. Wow!

Wow Kitschqueen - that would be quite something! Aileen, she is 16.

Mum in a spin - she is currently 4 ft 11, but still growing so should hopefully have another inch or two to go!

As far as finding somewhere to sit the exams is concerned, we had no problems finding a local school to take dd on - we just phoned around locally and asked a few. Some schools will not do it but I know there are plenty throughout the country who do. It does cost, but admin fees vary quite a bit (we paid £75 per exam 'season' - and could take as many exams as wanted in that period.) Our exam officer was absolutely brilliant and saw us through the whole process. I also joined an online Home Ed forum, which gave a lot of good information - most people on there did not enrol with distance learning colleges and preferred to buy the books and do it themselves at home, including for A levels. However, I personally think this would be quite a hard option. It would be a bit easier with a home tutor though. I also think it will be quite hard to do A levels while they are at 6th form doing the dance degree - my dd's starting at Rambert in September and they don't recommend taking on extra study as the students will be so busy and tired (I know Central like them to, though.)

I know it's not the same as A levels, but my dd studied iGCSE's online with a very good distance learning company - I know they also do some A levels. She studied with Oxford Open Learning and her online tutors were (in the main) really good. She did it all herself with very little input from me and the results (so far at least) have been excellent. One thing I would say though, you have to be very focussed to study independently - but for most dance students this wouldn't be a problem

Height is an issue that has always concerned me and my dd, as she has always been very tiny indeed. However, whatever end of the height spectrum you are there is the advantage of always being noticed and standing out from the crowd. Although my dd knew early on she did not have the physical attributes to be a classical ballet dancer in the traditional sense, being so small has not stopped her getting onto both ballet and contemporary associate programmes and being picked for solo roles etc. in national youth companies. However, I think that if you are not of an average height then you do have to work harder and have an extra something else about you. As far as vocational schools go, my dd applied to 4 for 6th form: she made the finals at all of them, and got offered places at Ballet West and Rambert. I do have a hunch that height may well have been a contributing factor at the other 2 schools but I'm sure they would have been looking at everything else too. We asked about height at Ballet West and the director said it was not a problem at all in her opinion and that there would be plenty of roles available as long as you were good enough for solo work. Rambert were very keen on dancers being as individual as possible, and they seem to take a real variety of height and body shape - their students train in ballet and contemporary equally. Obviously we don't know about the job market yet but getting yourself known, having a reputation for reliability, hard work and adaptability, must all play a part.

A really great DVD, and what lovely dancing from your daughter, Pastel

Congratulations Interested Parent, really fantastic! "I now know of 3 forum members whose DDs currently have or have had full EYB scholarships - so impressive." Make that 4 - full Senior for Canterbury in August!

The London Senior Ballet lowback style from Dansez comes up extremely high on my dd's legs - she wears X petite for adults as is just under 5 ft. She has just got a couple of high legged ones from the Sansha website, these are plenty high enough but not as high as the London Senior Ballet Grads one above: the Sansha styles are Alicante and Amely (which is a long sleeved leo) and they are really nice. Again, both come in X petite. They would suit anyone with a shorter torso.

My friend was telling me yesterday that her dd's dance school doesn't let them keep their costumes afterwards - but she still has to pay what seems like an exorbitant amount for each one. For the latest one she's had to pay £70!!

I've just had a look, and pleased to see it is aimed at both men and women :-)

Yes, good luck with it all - it's great you are giving this opportunity to women. Fingers crossed for the ACE grant :-)

Even so, if it's encouraging recent conservatoire graduates to apply it's got to be of interest - there are so few opportunities for female choreographers, as the Luke Jennings recent piece so eloquently discussed.

Hi Janice, I can well understand that you must both be feeling rather low right now - but hopefully in a few weeks time things will be starting to look very different. I think that your dd's CAT scheme is going to be a big part of this. They will be able to help with future planning, sorting out the best way forward for your dd via her Individual Training Plan. This summer is the first time a large cohort of CAT students leave my dd's CAT - I think I'm right in saying that only 2 are 16, the rest are 18 year olds buzzing because they have got into LCDS/Northern/Laban etc. These students are success stories, and are really looking forward to moving forward into an exciting time of training and a potential dance career. They are also able to access degree funding. Some of them may have auditioned at 16, but most didn't even think about it. I know your dd is keen on ballet, but she can still keep that up with her local teacher as well as the CAT scheme. B-tech is a good scheme and there are some here on the forum whose dcs have done this, so they might be able to advise you further on whether it is worthwhile or not. Also, London Senior Ballet takes students up to the age of 18; it is a fantastic associates scheme and the ballet is second to none, but they also do classes in contemporary and pilates too. I know it's another expense - but maybe it is something to think about. My dd did it this year and really benefitted, especially in terms of strength. I think the auditions may be in June and September? It is so hard when the auditions don't work out - but this is not the end of the line by any means. She can try again at 17, and then at 18 she will have the contemporary schools to throw in the mix too. Adjusting to the next plan will take a bit of time - but I think in the end it can work out very positively. And don't forget about her auditioning for National Youth Dance Company - they have bursaries that are similar to the CAT scheme. Please tell your dd to pm my dd, or facebook her, if she wants to. xxx

Such great news to hear, thank you for sharing it with us xxx