Huddsballetmum

Not sure of your age, but have you thought about evening weekend jobs like waitressing or kitchen hand. I know a few of my daughter's friends do this so that they can attend weekend dance classes and still work.

I have a work colleague who's fridge orders milk if he's run out and Amazon deliver it within the hour. Madness if you ask me!!

I don't think they allow scissors, but you can buy them in boots once you are in the airport terminal - you can also buy sewing kits so I don't really see why a couple of sewing needles and a small pair of scissors is a big deal. Bit like the bottle of water that I had forgotten in my hand luggage which brought down the full force of airport security and was confiscated (with lecture ) only to go though security and purchase the same bottle of water 5 minutes later. Bit of a farce really.

I have done Manchester to Glasgow and also Manchester to Exeter regularly on my driving licence photo ID.

The matrix as quite a lot of music which would work well with a space theme.

Me too!! The amount of people who say and how's "Darcy" doing? (Not my daughters name by the way). Drives me crackers as she doesn't even want to be a ballerina, but a contemporary choreographer long term.

You could also look at your local FE college if you want your child to take GCSE's in Maths, English & Science. I would in the FE sector and we have a large proportion of students from 14 to 16 for whom the school environment is not appropriate and they do a range of courses. Some just come to do English & Maths, some come and do a vocational qualification as well. It;s worth checking as it might assist with the teaching element but free up time as even a full time programme is usually only 2 to 3 days a week, and a GCSE is 3 hours per week on average. It might not be for you, or accessible but it's worth a look.

Just to add into the mix, have you thought about the fact that your daughter is starting to enter puberty. I know that my dd struggled with energy levels for a few months before she started her periods and also caught a number of minor bugs. Once her periods had started then she was absolutely fine. I would still advise taking her to your GP to get her checked out though. Just to be sure.

Cara NZ you have described a situation that many dancing children find themselves in. The "Rollercoaster" of the love affair with dance. My dd is now 16, nearly 17, and in her first year of academic A levels. We have gone down the route of auditioning for vocational schools with success but no funding which ruled them out, and she is now on the CAT programme at NSCD, however from the age of 12 we have had the dance career/academic career roller coaster ride and this is still ongoing. The discussion is now whether to apply for dance degree or law degree and the answer changes on a regular basis. Her love of dance has not diminished, however the reality of a dance career post graduation is starting to kick in and the fact that, although a beautiful dancer, she may not get a contract is starting to colour her judgement. I think the rollercoaster will continue for many of us for some years to come.

They do fitting but don't keep a lot of choice. It's far better to travel the extra 5 miles to Planet Dance in Batley and get a pointe shoe fitting from their expert teams. I would book an appointment if you are travelling a long distance. I usually just drop in with my daughter when she needs shoes, but then its a relatively short drive for us. My dd has very narrow feet and she always has Freed as she finds they fit best of all the shoes. Planet Dance has an excellent selection of most shoes. In fact my cousin took her daughter over the Christmas holidays and she lives in Johannesburg ( home in Bolton for Xmas though!)

Happy 5th Birthday and thank you to all the moderators for doing such a fantastic job.

Done for you on behalf of my dancing daughter!

I have a couple of friends who suffer with terrible migraines casuing visual and speech disturbance, severe headache etc. One of them has had the daith pierced in her ear and has reported that since the piercing she has had fewer episodes and those that she has had have been much less intense. There is quite a lot of information on daith piercing and it's effect on migraines on the internet. I believe it has a similar effect to acupuncture.

Congratulations to your daughter Ballettaxi. Fantastic news ( apart from the cost!)

My dd used to do drama competitions and had a lot of success with a piece from The Borrowers. It was Arriety's speech to her parents about her desire to leave home and move into the big wide world. Very suitable for a 10 year old and not too hard to learn. I'm sure you could get it from the internet or any drama bookstore.

So sorry to hear about your Grandma Blossom. I'm sure that just spending time with you will be wonderful for her, but if she cannot get out and about much have you thought about bedazzling an old pair of your pointe shoes with crystals. You can buy them cheap on amazon & ebay. I did this for my DD as a surprise for Christmas one year and she now has them hung in her bedroom. It's something that you could do together, and that you could keep as a wonderful reminder of your time together once she is gone. Other than that I don't have any new suggestions other than the one's already mentioned.

Northern Contemporary do a fabulous summer school, though no accommodation, but they will put you in touch with local places to stay and Leeds is very accessible. My dd is on the CAT programme there and the studio's and tuition are fabulous. I can really recommend the summer school and students go to 18/19 I think. My dd goes and she will be 17 by then.

Happy Birthday Lisa. Looking forward to your report on the Chocolate Orange!!

Very true 2dancersmum, but as Happymoocow said in her original post that she was centrally based and also happy to travel, there are a number of large theatres around Birmingham, Leicester etc which probably have a work experience scheme. I know that in Yorkshire hat the Grand Theatre Leeds, Alhambra in Bradford and the theatre in Wakefield all have work experience schemes along with Phoenix Dance company. The part time job might be more of a challenge.

Good Luck to your DD tropicmama and I hope she has a fantastic day and gets the result she wants. If however that is not the case, please let her know that there are lots of dancers who got a no first time but were successful on further attempts. Many of us have been in your shoes and got either a no or a yes but no funding, yet now have children on vocational programmes. "No" on many occasions just means "just not yet".

Local theatres are often good places to ask for work experience and it would give the full range of the theatre from performance, stage management, front and back of house etc. All of which are necessary to understand as a performer even if you never undertake that role.

I've been asked this on a number of application form before, and also about my educational level ? (though that was for CAT programme) Think as others have suggested it is to determine socio-economic background as they can sometimes apply for educational grants but have to show that the offer is open to all backgrounds etc.

I think I may be responsible for the Northern Hemisphere's hair pin shortage( fair only) as I opened a little used drawer yesterday and found 12 bun nets and 5 boxes of 100 hair pins. Didn't even know they were there and have been buying more as they are hoovered up on a daily basis! Sorry guys !!

Got to agree with Bluebird22 that Barry M from Superdrug is the best glittery makeup at the most reasonable price. I would suggest eye primer with it though as it goes everywhere!!

You can always tell the experienced ballet mums Taxi. They know that alcohol will get them through