Klaris

We are in a similar situation, regarding plan 'B' for sixth form. My dd is a CAT student and asked this specific question a couple of days ago to one of her CAT tutors, who also teaches on the Level 3, 2 year diploma managed by DanceEast in association with a local school. The tutor's take on it was - consider carefully where you do the 2 year course (our one closer to home would be too low a standard in terms of dance provision and working level of other students, and she would therefore find this too frustrating) but the DanceEast one would be better. It still wouldn't be at the level of ballet and contemporary dd is currently doing, but the tutor said that there would be enough opportunities for dd to make things more challenging for herself - especially in terms of things like choreography etc. A good relationship with the tutors would be important so that they can adapt things where possible, as would a very clear idea of what schools you'd wish to audition for at 18 so that focus can be directed towards this. I would also guess that continuing to find any outside opportunity to train, especially in ballet - eg. associates that take up to 18, NYB, EYB etc, continuing exam pathway, continuing gaining performance experience would be important. As far as my dd is concerned, the opportunity to dance and learn more about dancing far outweighs the appeal of normal sixth form! I know that for lots of our DCs going away at 16, if they haven't been at vocational school before, is the pinnacle - but in all honesty there are so many fantastic schools from 18 onwards that it shouldn't be seen as second best, unless classical ballet is the sole ambition (and let's face it - that will unfortunately only be a reality for a very few of them!)

I do understand what you mean, Robin64, but take heart - there are an increasing number of taller dancers out there now. And as far as contemporary goes, we have seen a lot of that over recent years and have noticed a number of really tall girls dancing so beautifully. It is definitely true that whatever end of the scale a dancer is, if they are not average height then they will absolutely have to be excellent.

My dd is 15, and not yet 5ft - if she reaches that dizzy height she will be ecstatic! However, like your dd Ecarte, she knows there is nothing she can do about her height and focuses instead on improving technique and performance skills. Height will definitely come into play at 16 for vocational sixth forms but there is always the more contemporary route at 18 - fortunately my dd loves both. And sometimes, being small is an advantage: they will always be noticed in a line up, and often get to be at the front! And there are parts and solos that suit smaller ones - my dd has already been lucky enough to benefit from this and that has really helped her confidence. As far as any lifting goes, they all fight over her as it's just so much easier - and that includes the girls (in contemporary, I mean!) I don't think height (whether small or tall) should stop anyone from pursuing their dancing dream.

Sorry to hear about your dd's problems Grumpybearzuk My dd is another one with asthma and at times it has been quite bad - though it is well controlled with her various inhalers now. She has LOTS of allergies too, some of which trigger her asthma, the worst being cats - her very first ballet teacher was a lovely lady and very inspiring, but it really didn't help that she had her two cats roaming around the dance studio whenever they felt like it! My dd always carries a reliever inhaler in her dance bag and just quietly goes off and takes it when necessary - these things are often seasonal, and my dd is definitely worse at the moment with the high pollen count.

Hooray for tiny dancers - they seem to be few and far between (and many girls think they're tiny at 5 ft 3 or 4!)

My dd also had a lovely time at the casting and was really pleased with her part (though won't be told the exact role until rehearsals start - not sure why.) The staff make things so nice for them all. We live well outside of the area so she was pleased that she already knew a couple of very nice girls from a previous production.

Don't get me started about that particular train line!

The CAT students had a great afternoon with LC3 - they thought the workshop was fantastic and it introduced them to techniques they hadn't done before. They all really enjoyed the performances afterwards and it has really inspired them, enabling them to see what it is they are working towards

That's great, thanks for posting these details. We just heard yesterday that LC3 are doing a workshop with the older students at CAT East at the DanceHouse. After that, they will be performing for the students. My dd will look out for Nicci! Btw, a number of DanceEast CAT students have just got back from an intensive course at the ROH for a project called HotHouse. It is a collaboration of opera, music and dance and will be performed on the main stage in July. Two other CATs are involved (Lowry and the Place) plus lots of young musicians and singers. They had a fantastic time, and are working with some of the RB dancers - as well as Gareth Malone!

That is such lovely news Little Ballerina - good luck, and hope everything goes really well for you in the Autumn. Enjoy a wonderful summer!

I have heard this mentioned about other schools, but my dd's ballet teacher insists on them doing Advanced Foundatio first. I can see the sense in this as there is such a big leap between Intermediate and Advanced 1 that it must be very daunting to go straight onto that. At dd's school they also take Advanced 1 at the same time as Adv F. so they are getting used to working at a more difficult level too, even if it takes some time for them to feel at ease with the higher syllabus. However, by the time they take their Adv F they feel it is well within their grasp because they've become used to the Adv 1.

W445403 - your poor son! Have sent you a PM x

Does anyone know whether those students who are accepted onto the Central Associate Scheme have to reaudition each year to keep their place or do they just move up in September automatically?

Hi Sheilabee, Re grown up leotards for petite teenage dancers: the sort of thing my dd likes is black, high cut legs, non-shiny material, pretty straps, perhaps cut-out in back, perhaps some detailing (though nothing too fancy) - and enough chest support so she feels contained. We managed to find a lovely Bloch one recently (from Porselli shop) black, with silver and diamante trim and back cut-out with strap across - the size just says 12, so assume this is age as it fits perfectly in the body. Hope this helps with ideas!

Hi Sheilabee, good luck with your fantastic new venture It would be great if you could stock 'grown-up' leotards for the petite teenage dancer - my dd is 15 and very small indeed (still fits aged 10-12), she gets so fed up of everything being far too big in the adult section and too childish a cut, material and style in the children's section.

That's fantastic news for your DS - how exciting!

Hope you can soon sort things out for your dd, Swe. Fingers crossed it is something simple... Proper nutrition for young dancers is absolutely vital -they are exercising an awful lot and their bodies and brains are trying to grow and develop at the same time. I think that most keen dance students, even if not at vocational schools, are taking a lot of classes each week plus sports at school etc. We've had to learn about this subject as my dd has a lot of food allergies, which caused a number of problems until they were diagnosed and her diet permanently changed. She now has so much more energy and even after strenuous days is so much less tired than she used to be. Correct nutrition, and adequate amounts of it, also helps to prevent illness and injury. They are really hot on this at the CAT schemes, and have regular health and nutrition sessions: on Sunday they had a nutritionist from Laban come to talk to them and dd said it was really helpful. Eating enough of the right foods is key - especially before class, but it's also essential to replace calories lost afterwards so the body can recover its glycogen levels for the next day. Drinking enough is also really important! It's a good idea to keep a ready supply of quality snacks in the car (fresh and dried fruit, nuts, rice cakes, decent cereal bars, fruit smoothies etc) so that they can be grabbed on route to and from class.

Despite it being an incredible display, I found it a bit scary - so military and soul-less. Very glad we don't live in China!

Fantastic news for you Little Ballerina, so pleased. What a lovely position for you to be in - even if it is hard to know what to do!

Thank you Pas de Quatre, for that information about split soles; I have felt confused about what, if any, advantages they have over full sole flats. My dd's CAT scheme asks students to wear split soles for their ballet classes - which I have never come across with any of her other ballet teachers. In fact, her RAD ballet teacher does not allow pupils to wear split soles under any circumstances.

Will send you a private message.

Just a message for Fran, and for others not successful: my dds friend was in JAs and MAs but was assessed out for SAs; she is an absolutely beautiful dancer, very technical and very expressive. We simply couldn't understand it, but she herself put it down to body type (legs not long enough, though that would be a matter of opinion.) Anyway, she auditioned for Laines last Autumn, got accepted with full funding straight away. So keep on going, keep your faith and there will be other opportunities - and they may just be better ones, even if it doesn't seem like that now

Absolutely! We had a long drive to get there and some of the roads were really slippy on the way home - mind you, that's nothing to the last audition at Bromley where we had to brave a snowstorm along the M11 coming home! We so wish my dd could do her local one (Norwich) - where they are auditioning today! But unfortunately not to be as it clashes with CAT scheme commitments. Good luck to anyone with dd or ds auditioning today! x

The last EYB audition my dd did was Aylesbury for this summer. She found it probably the hardest of all three she has done, not because of the steps - though as you say some clearly found it difficult - but because there was such a huge number auditioning on stage. It was very crowded! Also, she found the stage floor really slippy and did slip doing one of the combinations. Fortunately this was not when she was in the front row. She was lucky enough to again be selected for the Scholarship group so obviously it either didn't matter or wasn't noticed!

I can honestly say that for my dd the key step to winning the full junior scholarship was not her pirouettes! In fact, at that time she wasn't very 'technical' at all. The second time she auditioned was for the seniors, she got into the scholarship group and then went onto be cast as Clara in the Nutcracker. Nearly two years on her pirouettes still cause her problems! I think they like them to show style and character, use epaulement, to smile and really enjoy their dancing. Yes, they have to be technically sound enough but I think being able to listen, take corrections and really have a go at steps they may not have done before without getting unnerved is just as important.