Huddsballetmum

I remember my dd informing me at 7.00am one morning that it was world book day and she needed to go in costume and wanted to be Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ. We had to leave the house for the childminders at 7.45am. Luckily I'm a dance mum and within minutes had found a petticoat and basket from a costume, blue & white gingham school dress, some red ballet shoes and a toy dog. I was so impressed with myself

I do appreciate exactly what you are going through. It's awful to hear that your daughter is unlikely to fulfil their burning ambition/dreams. At 12 its devastating, but they do get over it and move on. She might not see it now, but something much more positive might come out of it in the end.

DD's been on associate programmes with no formal feedback and then on her CAT programme with 2 1:1 tutorials per year and 2 written reports which have the agreed areas to work on and a full appraisal of both good and not so good areas. Think it's the luck of the draw really. I have never been asked about growth spurts though and have never advised any associate programme of such. DD will tell me when she's growing as her balance goes a little, however I don't think her training has ever been altered to accommodate this.

My dd is 16 and does about 16 hours a week. She has done up to 20 when she was doing drama and singing, but it was too much so we dropped the drama and singing lessons. I think 20 hours at 12 is very heavy and children need to be children at some point in the week. When would she fit in homework, friends and relaxing?

My DD was determined that she wanted to be a ballet dancer at 12. Classical ballet was her first love. However as she grew it became obvious that she didn't have the body shape for classical ballet (short legs & long body) however she still wanted to dance. She is now 16 and is on the CAT programme at Northern School of Contemporary Dance going into her third year. She love's the style - more freedom - and the ability to choreograph etc. She still does 2 ballet classes a week, 1 with NSCD (1.5 hours) and one with her local dance school (1.5 hours) and also a tap class and modern jazz class as well as the CAT programme. I have never seen her so happy with her dancing and she is looking forward to auditioning for contemporary schools at 18. Sometimes when a door closes a window opens up very, very wide. I appreciate that it might not be exactly what she wants now, but then not every little girl who dreams of being a ballerina is going to end up a ballerina. Sometimes a healthy shot of realism helps them decide what they really want.

90% too

My daughter has very long thick hair and a bun is a nightmare. We have however discovered the perfect bun solution and if you get it tight enough then you don't even need grips. See link - they come in different colours by the way, my daughter has a blonde one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/322153377390?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=1007027&poi=&campaignid=620794543&device=c&adgroupid=27377119746&rlsatarget=pla-181479799506&adtype=pla&crdt=0

Centrepoint has an excellent reputation for both ballet and contemporary dance. Teaching staff are top class too. I'm sure your daughter will love it.

At 4 ballet is all about having fun and making new friends and that is exactly how it should be. My daughter started at 2 after begging me to "go dancing"! She is now 16 and dances 5 days a week. However she also did swimming, brownies, guides when little as I wanted her to have options. Dancing won! On the positive, it is a healthy activity which encourages, discipline, confidence, hard work and elegance. Plus both my daughter and I have made friends for life. The negative is it can become costly, time consuming and there are some really awful dance mums.(just avoid at all costs) Enjoy!!

After reading this post from the beginning it seems that the slugs and snails are a little like the Olympics and follow a 4 year cycle. My garden has been innundated with slugs and snails this year. It's only a little garden but I think I have gained the snails and slugs for a stately home size. Am trying the beer treatment tonight!!

Not had dealings with Laines Musical Theatre Squad but I know several girls who have graduated from Laine's and my DD has done their MT Summer School. The standard is really high and the tuition is brilliant. Can recommend Laine for MT definitely.

Wish my DD's tights lasted long enough to go grey. We seem to have lots of pink pairs - all with big ladders or holes in

Have got to say my DD is very much the same. Highly critical of her own dancing but very supportive of everyone else and never measures herself against other dancers. In fact she is very often proud of the achievements of others. She definitely doesn't match any of the Type A characteristics.

I always thought that it referred to Dancing , Son, Daughter or Husband. That's maybe just because I've been a DM (Dance mum) for the last 14 years!!

I've paid £20.00 for a standard letter which identified that my DD was fit for training, and £75 for a full medical certificate. Think that it probably varies between surgeries.

What an insightful and well written post by your DD Annaliesey. You must be so proud of your DD and her positive attitude. It was extremely useful to be invited to an insight of the difficulties a young person with tinnitus has to overcome, not only for dancers but for other young people with the same condition. Thank you for sharing.

Please don't remove Not Dance. I love a forum where you can chat about dance and also other topics. If it goes to a vote I vote to keep it!

The cinema in Penistone (near Barnsley) still have an interval and you can purchase alcohol at the bar. or an ice cream from the usher, or both!. I love old fashioned cinema's.

Fingers crossed that it is nothing to worry about Lisa.

I've had a lovely weekend watching my dd perform Saturday night was the year end performance at NSCD and then Sunday evening was spent watching her dance in a new troupe at festival. Both performances were brilliant and the troupe took first place so a good weekend. Also managed to fit in the washing, the ironing, the weekly food shop, and the gardening. Back to work for a rest!!

The MDS bands haven't been released yet. I usually get pre notification working in education and I haven't had anything for 2016-17. I'm waiting too!

Not to rub it in or anything but my weekend starts tonight!! Birthday celebrations for my DD tomorrow and Prom on Friday - mum's taxi service is alive and well!!

I watched the EU referendum debate on the BBC last night with the initial expectation that each side would present their case with factual arguments, honesty and integrity in order to give the British public the ability to form a rational and informed argument. How stupid was I!!!! Just more of the same scaremongery and generalisations from both sides. God help those people who were unsure and looking for guidance. They must be even more confused. Roll on Friday!!

Relaxing weekend for me ( well after I've done the cleaning, washing, ironing and shopping) as it's not my turn for the dance run. Yippee!!

Ted Baker do a lovely set of body wash and lotions which come in a ballerina gift pouch/makeup bag. They are really nice and ideal for travelling to auditions/performances etc. I got some in House of Frazer. They smell gorgeous