Huddsballetmum

Thanks dtadmin. That's really cheering DD up. She is looking forward to Hammond. We loved the open day, the atmosphere was fantastic, and it is her preferred school.

It's a no for us. Never mind, Hammond soon which is a better location for us travelling wise.

Congratulations AmandaLou. So pleased for your dd. good luck for finals

Well done to your dd Edited for silly predicted texting!

We'll our letter from audition has just dropped through the door and I promised my dd that I would wait for her to get home before opening it. She won't be home until 4.30. Today is going to be a long day with fingers crossed!

My dd's dance school only shut from 23rd Dec to 6th Jan so we quite look forward to the break. Good luck with your search though.

If you would like the exercises that cured my dd's rolling, please PM me and I will arrange for my dd to either explain or video them for you. They definitely work.

This definition might be of use contemporary dance tends to utilize both the strong and controlled legwork of ballet and modern dance's stress on the torso, and also employs contact-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristic of modern dance.[2] Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used, as well. It sometimes also incorporates elements of non-western dance cultures such as elements from African dance including bent knees, or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance Butoh.[3][4]

Got to agree it was a great day and the staff allayed so many of my concerns about DD going to boarding school. DD thoroughly enjoyed the audition, what lovely experience. Hope you had a great trip home Amandalou, it was so nice to meet you and your dd. Fingers crossed for your DD and good luck for tomorrow.

looks like great minds thyink alike dtadmin

This was the message on facebook from Dance Direct this morning - hope this information helps those still waiting for refunds "Whether you have just recently purchased from us for the first time or you are a long-standing Dance Direct customer – we want you to know that giving you the best dancewear shopping destination, quality products and customer experience is our top priority. That is why our recent issues with a technology upgrade have been so difficult for us – and even more so for you. We sincerely apologise to you for any experience that has not met your expectations and for the difficulty you have had trying to contact us. In September, we set out to improve our entire internal ordering, transaction, payment and tracking system to prepare for the launch of a new Dance Direct website in 2014. As you may have heard or experienced, we encountered issues during the changeover that caused orders to backup, slow package processing times and delays in refunds. Our operations are now nearly back to normal and we are focused on addressing all customers who had a less than satisfactory experience due to the changeover. If you are one of the customers waiting on resolution, please be assured that we are working around the clock to resolve it."

Amandalou1978 - good luck to you too. Maybe see you there!

Could you create one from a photograph? There used to be a website that allowed you to create your own advent calenders. I've googled it but cant find it. if you're prepared to faff a bit you could create a basic advent calender from photo's onto a piece of card. Chocolate one's might be a problem unless you chop and refine a standard cadburys one.

Oh I too remember this poem from my childhood. It was in a brown annual of childhood verse that I remember being given when I was very young. This poem really touched me as I identified with it so much - not the candle light obviously - I'm not that old!

Well it's our turn to stress and be nervous tomorrow. Bags are packed and we will be heading to Birminham tonight in order to get some sleep and hopefully be fresh for tomorrows audition. We will then be in the unenviable position of stalking the postman. Luckily we have lots going on at home in the next couple of weeks to take our minds off it - Christmas performances, singing exams etc. Here's wishing the best of luck to anyone auditioning tomorrow

My dd had an issue with slight roll in on one foot after an injury and her physio, who is also a dancer, gave her a number of exercises to complete on a wobble board. She did this each day over the summer and it has cured the roll in and her feet are back to their normal beautiful selves. Ir may be worth the investment, you can get them on amazon for about £20.

Congratulations to those who have got a YES and commiserations to those with a NO . I have to say I am a big believer in the fact that things happen for a reason and that there is always another opportunity around the corner.

As a regulary user of dance direct I have had email updates explaining the issues they are having. The installed a new IT system which has gone awry and is causing them major problems. They are trying to do everything they can to rectify the software problems and have advised customers to email them and they will sort through as fast as humanly possible. I think in a couple of months they will have the situation resolved. Got to say I have also regularly used planet dance, whose service and prices are great and just ballet who are also great.

Our dance school has an unwritten policy of 50% of the original cost of costumes and I have never had an issue with this. The only costume we tend to struggle with is ballet tutu's which often cost £100 plus new and you will get between £10 - £30 second hand. I never sell or buy shoes as I prefer not to have second hand shoes and therefore assume others will be the same. Hope that helps.

So pleased for all those who enjoyed their audition today. I will keep my fingers crossed for you all. Roll on 19th where we shall be in a state of panic about leotard, tights, shoes etc.

Have you thought about Lady McBeth, that can be quite dramatic and sad, or go a slightly different route with Beethoven as he went mad, could be tragic and comic at the same time.

We are in the morning so probably won't get to meet Good look with both the audition and beating the rush hour traffic!

The best ballet teacher should be Passionate; energetic; enthusiastic; innovative; nurture dancers no matter what their ability; instill confidence to try, and to fail and then to get back up and try again; should be willing to help students progress beyond their teaching abilities and on to others; should be teacher, mentor and friend. This was my dd's dancing teacher, who very sadly passed away suddenly at the beginning of the month. She will be remembered for ever by the pupils to whom she taught not only dance, but valuable life skills that have made them better individuals.

My dd is allowed to wear a small pair of gold studs only for class, but no jewellery at all for exams or festivals. I do think that jewellry in any type of exercise class is a health & safety hazard, and would always take mine off before undertaking an exercise class, so have instilled the same practice into my dd before dance.

University Conference centre seems okay for reasonable rooms. Maybe see you there Dancing 2003!