neil

I went to the cinema screening of Manon last night - my local cinema was packed. In contrast to Melody, I thought Cervera was excellent as Lescaut. Nuñez and and Bonelli were great together although I've never seen this ballet before so can't compare their performances with anyone else's. I was not familiar with the music either and thought it was very well suited to the setting and the story. I was surprised that the music in Act 3 seemed quite different from the first two Acts but on reflection the setting was a different continent. With young children in the house it is so much more convenient to get to the cinema vs going to the ROH itself - I am sure I'll go to several more of the screenings this season.

Registration for auditions for 2015 (Snow White) is now open:- http://www.londonchildrensballet.com/current-season/auditions/ My daughter auditioned for Nanny McPhee last autumn - she didn't go forward, but enjoyed the day. I suspect both she and my son (who is now old enough) will want to audition this time around.

I have no idea how often it happens, but a child from my son's ballet school turned down a JA place a couple of years ago. As far as I know the school doesn't publish info about lengths of waiting lists or how often places are offered, so you can only go on anecdotal evidence. (The child I referred to above accepted a JA place for the current year and starts at WL in September)

Second time for us. He was swl last year. Bear in mind that the odds are a lot more favourable for boys...!

I don't know how long the short waiting list is, but I know that places do come up - good luck!

I was starting to wonder whether they had my email address correct, but it's a yes for my son. I know he will be so pleased.

I looked back at my post from last year - looks like we got our letter (London audition) on 15th June. So there's a chance, yes.

Much to the annoyance of my son! He was 3 days too young this year. I asked them whether they could make an exception since he was nine before the first rehearsal but they were very strict with the rule.

I went last Tuesday evening. I've only been to Sadler's Wells once before - several years ago now. On the whole, I enjoyed the show. Negative thoughts:- There were definitely some members of the cast who were "dancers who can sing a bit" which was a shame Seemed to me that there were a few occasions where the cast were standing around on stage waiting for something to happen Orchestral brass was weak - shame the reduced orchestration is being used. Plus points:- I thought the dancing throughout was very good (not that I know what I'm looking at but anyway...) Timing in "Officer Krupke" was superb Overall a very strong ensemble performance. Final note - there were quite a few gasps in the audience at the end of each half (stabbing/gun shot) - I'm amazed that anyone in the audience didn't already know the story!

My son got "short waiting list" for London yesterday. He was quite disappointed, which was interesting as it showed that he actually did want to do it. I notice that the RAD has a couple of "Boys Only" weekends later in the year so we will look into doing those instead. And he's keen to try for JAs again next year. He's only year 3 currently so plenty of time. Neil

I'm a (competent amateur) musician, and had been to a few operas but never ballet. About 12 years ago, the company I was working for was a corporate sponsor of ENB and some tickets were available for Nutcracker - I bought a few tickets and took my wife and parents-in-law. I enjoyed it a lot more than (m)any of the operas I'd seen, largely because the story-telling of the dancers was much better than that of the singers, I thought. Since then my wife and I have had 3 children so opportunities have been limited, but we've been to Sadler's Wells, Covent Garden and Coli a few times - mainly to see classics such as Romeo & Juliet. My wife took our daughter to see Alice during the opening run at the ROH, and the whole family saw Wind in the Willows in the Linbury on 31st December last year. To be honest I'm slightly reticent about going to see more modern ballets since I don't have great insight into the art form. Away from ballet I've seen my fair share of musical theatre. "Guys and Dolls" at the NT sticks in my mind from a long time ago (as does "Mamma Mia", but that's for all the wrong reasons.. ) Neil

Anecdotally, I know a family who's daughter was a JA 2 years ago. She auditioned for MA only, but was offered White Lodge entry for year 7, which she turned down. Fast forward a year, and she auditioned for year 8 entry to WL, which she was offered (and accepted this time.) Meanwhile, her brother auditioned for JA, was offered a place and turned it down. Fast forward another year, and the brother auditioned for JA again... Neil

Yes, this thread is about JAs so I thought that was fair enough. I don't really know how Mids and Seniors works - they don't seem to publish 'intake' figures, which they do for JA, only the number enrolled.

I think the "yes" stats are something like 1 in 10 for girls and 1 in 3 for boys. The breakdown is published in the RBS annual report. Neil

Follow-up in the Daily Telegraph today http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/10111061/If-your-daughter-is-feeling-the-heat-in-ballet-lessons-shes-in-the-wrong-class.html

Hello everyone I couldn't find a place for introductions so hopefully you won't mind if I put it here. I have just booked tickets to see this at the Peacock Theatre on 29th June. I don't dance (apart from after a few drinks at weddings or parties, natch) but I have a 10 year old daughter who does ballet, tap and modern, and an 8 year old son who does the same. Our youngest son is 6 - danced for a year but now does gymnastics instead. My wife danced as a child but stopped when she went to secondary school - I gather this is quite a common time to stop. Hopefully this show will have something for everyone - I showed the video clip to everyone this morning and they were all enthusiastic. Neil