Huddsballetmum

York Scholars are on a Saturday either morning or afternoon dependent on the age and ability of the child. Afternoon classess are 12.45 to 3.30pm. Not sure what the morning ones are but they seem to come out about 12.30 so I assume that they start at 10am.

Wish her good look afab. Hope all goes well.

My dd was advised to skip for at least 10-15 mins per day to increase performance stamina by her dance teachers and I have got to say it works really well. One bonus is that you can do it indoors so weather doesn't affect you. I hope your dd's ankles are soon better

Hi Shimmer Having spent years sourcing costumes for my dd's dancing school annual show at a very low cost, I know exactly how you are feeling!. Try dance direct for the long black skirts, but give them a call rather than ordering on line as they can give discounts for dance schools. Their website is www.dancedirect.com. Althother good company is Images - again, ring rather than order online. www.imagescostumes.com Images will made to order for you. If you want to try and make the skirts yourself, which is quite easy for long circular skirts, both images and also dance gear direct sell fabric by the roll or by the metre. Hope you find what your looking for. By the way our dance school usually asks for parents to pay for the cost of the costume, and we get to keep them afterwards. We do try to keep the cost to £15.00 per costume or less though.

My daughter did her dance schools annual show in a bright pink plaster cast with no ill effect. The arm healed beautifully and her port de bras is lovely so no long term harm done. Hope your daughter recovers quickly.

I am so sorry to hear that your dd is going through so much. I think for a dance teacher to call a student fat is totally unacceptable, though I know it goes on in the UK as well as a girl I know who attended Northern Ballet Associates programme had been told that she needed to lose weight, and she had a lovely figure. Have you looked at private sponsorship to enable her to take up her place at Tring. I know that there is not a lot about, but Sky Arts council are advertising that they may fund individuals for arts related training and there are a few other arts projects that sometimes fund. I know arts funding has been cut to the bone, but it might be worth a try. With regard to withdrawing, I know my dd, who used to tell me everything, is spending more and more time in her bedroom, but have discovered that taking her a hot chocolate up to her room at night time, when she is getting ready for sleep opens the door and allows her to open up without feeling her space is invaded. The letter idea is also a brilliant one as I think sometimes they don't realise that they are worrying you with their actions. Whatever you decided to do I wish both you and daughter all the best and hope she soon gets her mojo back! Edited for spelling mistakes

Hi dancetaximumx2 Not sure how old your daughters are but I am sure that they would not be out of their depth. The York ss is for pupils who enjoy dancing and wish to improve. My dd had no intention of vocational school until this last year, but has really enjoyed the summer school. Everyone is very friendly, they are extremely well looked after, the food is fab (and my dd is picky) and they make new friends. If you would like your daughters to chat to mine before they decide pm me and I will exchange numbers.

My dd will do the Yorkshire Scholars summer school again this year. It's non audition and great for ballet, contemporary and modern jazz. It's resedential and my dd has been attending since the age of 11 and loves it. So much to do and they are very well looked after. Got to say we did look at Hammond but it clashed with my holidays from work.

Lilac - I have the same problem in that my daughter is in an associate programme and also does a good number of festivals. We are fortunate that some of the festivals are in the holidays, but made the decision that we would enter the festival and if we missed a section or two due to the associate programme then it was just hard luck. After talking to my dd dance teacher she just asked that we made it for troupes as it let the other children down. So far the impact has not been too bad and we have only missed one associate class to do troupe. We haven't missed out on many festival sections either. I would have a discussion with your teacher.

This is carsh crash tv. You don't want to watch but you just can't help it. I think the moms are appalling and so unsupportive of each other, but Abbey Lee is worse! I wouldn't care how good a results she got, I wouldn't let her train my daughter! Got to say though it is a wonderful wind down after a busy day on a Tuesday evening.

Clara. My daughter is 12 and only on grade 4 ballet, but she also does tap, musical theatre, modern and contemporary, and is at a imilar level in all. Although ballet is her first love she is happy with all types of dancing and I wouldn't change that. She also is on grade 5 singing and grade 4 drama. You can't compare children in anything as they all have different levels and interests. Just be happy that your child is happy and doing what she wants to do.

Good luck with your new shop JB. It was lovely to meet you at Move It, so nice to be able to put a face to the posts. My daughter is so impressed with the leotard we bought. She also loved the tutu's you had on display so no doubt we will be coming to you for one in the near future.

I am taking my DD for the weekend. Can't manage the Friday off work unfortunately or we would be going for all three days. My DD's teacher takes a small number of students each year and they always come back with new skills and great ideas for improving. My DD is taking 7 classes throughout the weekend, ranging from classical ballet to lyrical hip hop. It's always worth broadening your horizons, and quite cheap for the classes and the experience. Just ballet - I will definitely be stopping by your stall to say hi and pick up some lovely goodies for my little ballerina!!

Are you aware that the Yorkshire Ballet Scholarship Centre hold a weekly session on a Saturday in York. It's fairly easy to get to from most areas of Yorkshire, and right next to the train station if driving is an issue. Auditions are held in June and details are available on their website now. I can highly recommend it as my DD loves it.

My DD has used So Danca slit sole ballet shoes for the last 2-3 years. She absolutely loves then and hates to wear anything else. I have to say she has incredibly strong and naturally bendy feet which does help. The canvas ones do wash beautifully if you hand wash them or machine wash on a very low setting. Ideal for me as my DD seems to get her ballet shoes filthy!

If you want any under 18's at any time please let me know. DD has been dancing for 10 years.

If you are struggling to find somewhere local that will do a Level 3 in Performing Arts I have attached the link to the awarding body website. http://www.edexcel.com/quals/nat/pa-music/performing/Pages/default.aspx They should be able to tell you all the colleges in the area that deliver the course. Other than that Good luck with whatever you and your dd choose to do.

My dd has extremely sensitive skin and as tried the Ted baker range with no ill effects whatsoever. We have the same problem in that most products with any perfume in cause extreme sore and bleeding patches.

I am so excited as I have been trying to find a UK supplier of Degas leotards for a while. My daughter loves these and they are extremely expensive to ship from the US as an individual. I will definitely be ordering her one for Christmas! Are you planning on getting further styles in stock?

Happy mum I have the same problem with my DD. Family meals are painful as we can have finished eating, had pudding and washed up before my DD is half way through her meal. At school she seems to be slightly better but I think that is because the food is not as hot in the first instance. I have just given up trying to rush her and we now leave her sat at the table by herself, understanding that she will get upset if we force her to hurry up. I

JulieW - Iagree with your sentiment entirely. I too have a DD who destests pink and I really stuggle to find nice ballet gifts in other colours.

My dd has always done ballet, tap and modern jazz. She is a ballet girl first and foremost and is a York Scholar, but really enjoys her modern as well and also the tap. She does extremely well in competition and is becoming an alround performer. Ballet is the foundation on all types of dance, though her beautiful ballet feet do not help in tap! If your daughter is interested then I would encourage her to try other forms of dance. It promotes understanding and variety, and gives other options. It's also a lot of fun.

Lilac - the new ballet school sounds much more proactive in assiting with their students careers. My local dancing school actively encourages associate programmes even to the point of rearanging all my dd's lessons to accommodate her place at York. A good teacher will understand how to get the best out of the individual student (they are all very different) and much like a parent know which buttons to press to get a student to work hard and challenge themselves. Good luck with your dd - I hope she enjoys the new school, and you enjoy the cost benefit!!

I polish too. Taught by my grandad to shine so you can see your face in them. I do hate to see scuffed uncared for footwear!

Done. Thanks for such a great site. It's a mine of information.