BalletBloch

What if your DD naturally has a low arch? my DD's metatarsals are very strong and her toes are very bendy (at the metatarsal toe joint) but the link from ankle to foot doesn't seem to want to bend..

Has anybody tried these from Dance Direct and what are their views?

If she's only 11, the best thing to think is... there will be many other opportunities! Also, if she hadn't of got in this time round, it may have shattered her confidence and she may have not wanted to try again at 16/17/18 when she may have improved a lot more by then and may have got a place!!

That is the style I've been looking for!!! Thank-you all so much.

Does anyone know of a good high-cut leotard, in order to make the legs appear longer? I really like the style of Central School of Ballet's leotard and was wondering if anybody new of the make/brand?

definitely think this is ideal if someone had an injury / time out / just needs that extra bit of training!!! I love to see more courses that offer a high level of of extra training without having to start at the beginning of a three year course...

Have a look at The Legat School of Dance at St Bede's Senior School... Vocational Training AND An Independent School I wish you the best xx

Has anyone had any experience of the teaching at the Northern Ballet Academy ? I was interested in the International Easter Course and wanted to know more information if anybody had any Thanks so much..

So Danca Anne ("Pre-arched shoe for the Square foot with wide platform and medium crown. This shoe features lower cut sides and narrower Box and heel.") Size 4 1/2 , 3/4 Shank and width C. £30 + £p&p with suede shoe ends included. They also have a little squidgy bit inside them at the toe.

I've heard that the contemporary there is very strong, and possibly even stronger than their ballet. The new director Sara Matthews is more contemporary based and I hear they are becoming more and more like Rambert.

Superdrug hair pins and bun nets have been my DD's favourite for years!!!

I do apologise.. I was rushing! Independent****

Hello Everyone! Does anyone know of any companies/charities/organisations/societies that may be able to offer support with funding my DD to go to ballet school? Even if it was a small donation. Thanks for your help if you can xx

for that level, I recommend Ian Knowles' Elementary ballet class on Mon,Wed & Fri at Pineapple. They are so fun and enjoyable and have a large age range. He often corrects the class as a whole and sometimes points people out.. it depends on the business but if she wants to keep up her dancing and enjoy it too, this class is great!

My DD is very interested but I wonder when information will be given out? Is it usually quite last minute? Will have to keep our eyes open! We left it too late to apply for summer school this year so this course sounds perfect!

Does anybody have more information regarding their summer school? and is anyone's DD doing it? I went to look online and it says More details to be released soon... Thanks! :)

Thank-you for all your help!!!!!!

Her toes are very very very straight! As she points them, they don't 'curl' or 'crunch' and are always stretched out. Hi Anjuili_Bai! Thanks for the comments.This is very true, she does have a low arch. You described it perfectly. We don't quite understand the 'test' comment.. could you explain this further? We are 100 % aware that it is not the shoes, we know that it is the construction of her low arch. Thank-you for the comments and advice about tendu's, she will continue to work on these and think about stretching her ankle a lot more. Her teachers advised to stretch out the ankle, thinking rather about pointing from the ankle and the shin rather than her foot. Another suggestion is just a stronger shoes that will support her metatarsals.

Hi taxi4ballet, She's almost 18 and has been on pointe of many, many years.. since she was 12! Her feet get stronger every single day especially in the metatarsal area. This sounds very similar to her. The backs seem to break on her pointe shoes very quickly which again, leads to her 'clawing' She has has tried Suffolks, Blochs, Grishko's.... but still can't seem to find a shoe that supports her bendy metatarsals. Which shoes do you wear ballerinaX ??

I highly recommend London Junior Ballet / London Senior Ballet currently held in Kings Cross at London Studio Centre, which I believe is moving near to the Acton area. The teaching is a very, very high standard and I know of a girl who chose London Senior Ballet over SA's as she enjoys it so much more!!

My DD has very, very bendy metatarsals. Her toes look as thought they are at 90 degrees to her feet when she points her feet (obviously they aren't, as that isn't possible but thats what it looks like!) yet her ankles aren't very bendy the bump on top of her foot (the arch/instep maybe?!) is quite low down. This causes her to 'sink' into her pointe shoes and almost create a 'claw-like' shape with her foot. Has anyone else had experience of this? and is there anything she can do to improve it?

A friend of mines DD currently goes to London Senior Ballet on a Saturday which is held in their premises and is also starting the college in September. London Senior Ballet have told her the premises will be in North Acton as they are moving to the same premises, however, London Studio Centre still haven't and won't confirm this just yet.. makes it very hard to look for accommodation!!

Legat School of Dance offers vocational training in all dance styles. It is part of St.Bede's Senior School which is a co-educational boarding school, where the students can study for their A-Levels. Its patron is Dame Beryl Grey and I believe that the standard is becoming increasingly higher each year. They have just been appointed (last year) a new Director of Dance, Miss Elaine Holland, who used to be artistic director of The Dance School of Scotland. I do believe that in 2011, the graduates went to further their training at Elmhurst School for Dance, (where one student has already left and joined a company in Romania), Laine Theatre Arts on a DaDa, Central School of Ballet and Millennium Dance. In 2012, the graduates have gained places at Central School of Ballet, Ballet West, and 2 at London Studio Centre - one on the Classical Course and the other on the Contemporary. They have a new programme starting in 2012 where their vocational training will also count as a qualification. " Commencing in September 2012 we will be introducing two new BTEC qualifications in Performing Arts (dance). These qualifications will provide academic recognition for the vocational dance training that the students are receiving without diminishing the expectations and demands of what is necessary to pursue a career in the professional dance world. BTEC Level 2 will be a two year course for Lower Fifth and Upper Fifth and will give the students a three GCSE equivalency and 21 hours of dance per week. These students will also have the opportunity to take up to seven more academic GCSE subjects and gain UCAS points from the external RAD and ISTD exams. BTEC Level 3, Extended Diploma, will be a two year course for Sixth Formers which will give the students a three A Level equivalency and 26.5 hours of dance weekly. There will be further opportunity to take up to another two academic A Level subjects and gain UCAS points from the external RAD and ISTD exams. " So sixth form students will finish with the equivalent of 5 A-levels (3 from Btec, 2 proper A-levels) Dadas and MDA's cannot be obtained, but they have a scholarship process, where students have to return for another audition. You could also apply for a scholarship through St Bede's which can be different based on another talent. I know of a young girl who recently auditioned and gained a place with Legat but also gained an Academic Scholarship through St Bede's !

in 2011, I know of an 18 year old that joined Year 12/L6th/6.1 at Elmhurst, two 18 year olds that started Central First Year and a 17 year old that joined Central First Year. This year, I know of another 18 year old starting Central First Year.. I also heard that last year, a 21 year old boy joined Central First Year I don't think age is becoming too much of an issue anymore, as they will take into consideration their previous training and injuries etc etc. Ballet West take a mixture of ages, again, I've heard of one 17 year old starting in September and another 18 year old. London Studio Centre prefers 18 year olds, and asks for 3 A-levels to be obtained before starting their course, one of which can be a specialised Classical Ballet Course. Northern Ballet School says 16+ but again, I don't think age is too much of an issue as I know of two 18 year olds that gained places this year. I also know of a 20 year old that gained a place!!

Legat School of Dance offers vocational training in all dance styles. It is part of St.Bede's Senior School which is a co-educational boarding school, where the students can study for there A-Levels. Its patron is Dame Beryl Grey and I believe that the standard is becoming increasingly higher each year. They have just been appointed (last year) a new Director of Dance, Miss Elaine Holland, who used to be artistic director of The Dance School of Scotland. I do believe that in 2011, the graduates went to further their training at Elmhurst School for Dance, (where one student has already left and joined a company in Romania), Laine Theatre Arts on a DaDa, Central School of Ballet and Millennium Dance. In 2012, the graduates have gained places at Central School of Ballet, Ballet West, and 2 at London Studio Centre - one on the Classical Course and the other on the Contemporary. They have a new programme starting in 2012 where their vocational training will also count as a qualification. " Commencing in September 2012 we will be introducing two new BTEC qualifications in Performing Arts (dance). These qualifications will provide academic recognition for the vocational dance training that the students are receiving without diminishing the expectations and demands of what is necessary to pursue a career in the professional dance world. BTEC Level 2 will be a two year course for Lower Fifth and Upper Fifth and will give the students a three GCSE equivalency and 21 hours of dance per week. These students will also have the opportunity to take up to seven more academic GCSE subjects and gain UCAS points from the external RAD and ISTD exams. BTEC Level 3, Extended Diploma, will be a two year course for Sixth Formers which will give the students a three A Level equivalency and 26.5 hours of dance weekly. There will be further opportunity to take up to another two academic A Level subjects and gain UCAS points from the external RAD and ISTD exams. " So sixth form students will finish with the equivalent of 5 A-levels (3 from Btec, 2 proper A-levels) Hope this helps!! http://www.stbedesschool.org/Legat-School