afab

Still the answers start arriving after the date deadline.

Last year, it took about 2 weeks after the deadline.

They could also send only No and Waiting List answers and then offer places if and when they have free places...

Definitely off putting to see the same thing on every thread! It's like you are shouting in our faces and it puts me off even seeing what you have to offer... Very bad move on your part if you hope to get students that way...

My 3 DDs got a place last year. 2 in the senior course and 1 in the junior one. Only one of them is vocational and not purely ballet... It's worth a try...

I asked them last year and they said it was the date for both... I was not sure what they meant... Maybe that after that date, they give places away and the people who send their pictures later on can have a place only if there are people not taking theirs...

Are you coming over then? Any other SS lined up?

I'd be very interested also...

To me, it seems like it is similar in level and work opportunities to Northern Ballet in Manchester, RCS, Ballet West... I'd be happy to be disagreed with though...

I know Ribbons, I never thought you were disagreeing. We all have different experience and valid ones... Z asked and wanted a comparison and you and I gave her our impressions... My annoyed answer was aimed at Vonrothbart who seemed to dismiss an experience that was dissimilar to his without having any point of comparison...

Australians use "yous" to address a group of people as in "do yous want a pizza?"... Not very elegant... (And I don't know how to spell it...)

I respect Ribbons' opinion on the RBS SS because she has a point of comparison which makes it interesting and also answer Zacharovitti's questions, I find yours Vonrothbart far less objective... You say yourself that you have no point of comparison with other SS but you're nevertheless "pretty sure" of the quality of the teaching! Come on, I never said the quality of the teaching was not on a par with either JA or MA... In fact, I'm pretty sure it is but the sheer number of kids per class makes a huge difference and the fact that they come from different countries, have different languages and expectations makes also a huge difference... In a JA or MA class, the teacher and students get to know each other and work towards a certain goal together and this is close to impossible in a class of 30ish 11-12 years old... That's all I was trying to convey. My DD had a lot of fun and loved every minute of it and couldn't wait to do it again. But 2 years, 3 SS and some maturity later, she actually believes she learned more elsewhere... As for the atmosphere of the place, I agree it's great... Hope you don't mind my honesty!

The SS I know in France that is very good is non residential. I really don't know about Rosella Hightower. I hear not very good things i.e. level but nothing I can corroborate so I don't know. Yes it is expensive so is Princess Grace academy but PGA is also very very difficult to get in... As for WL full time training, I don't know at all... It puzzles me that not enough of their students get into their upper school and I still haven't found out why... There are a few residential SS programmes in France, POB does one now but the application process is finished for this year... There is of course the problem of the language as French schools aren't really good at other languages...Having said that, neither are the British ones...

She thought the ones she learned the most at were the Northern Ballet in Leeds and one in France...

I think this comment stems from Anjuli_Bai being upset simply...

Drdance, I think your anger at Anjuli_Bai is very misplaced as she's always trying to help people of this forum understand their dancing in a very respectful manner to their body. I have always had the impression that A_B actually listened to dancers' bodies and worked with them and she still does through words of wisdom. Your tone is also very down putting and I'm not sure that what you meant but it is how it comes across... I hope you don't mind me saying so as you seem to be a very passionate person and sometimes written words take on a whole different level without the body language that ought to go with them...

Hi Zacharovitti, I actually asked DD lately to rank the different SSs she's done over the years in terms of "having learned the most" and RBS SS came last... I don't want to offend anybody... The groups were too big especially at that age and the corrections mainly general... So much that she decided not to apply at all this year! She had fun though! She said she'll try again for Upper School but not WL anymore even though she was successful 3 times (albeit 2 waiting lists). Because DD is not in a vocational school, she needs the holiday schools to progress and not only to have fun... I'm sure there was a thread I participated on about WL SS with lots of other opinions...

Hi, when my DD did it at 12, she was in a group of 12 to 14 years old and they were about 30 in the group. Hope it helps...

Dear Swanprincess, I've just calculated my DD's BMI for you and it's 17.7... She does about 13 hrs of ballet a week and has a sweet tooth... I also want to add that one of my nieces is battling anorexia and it is a very hard battle. I admire you greatly for talking openly about it... As someone else said, you have such a lovely personality and I will add such determination to get there, that I cannot imagine you won't... Your personality and love of dance will always have more value in the eye of the schools as well as your future spectators than the size of your body... xx

They still do...

For me, the main problem I see in the Central finals situation (and again Pastel, we use your name but it's a general discussion) is that Pastel's DD cannot show in person what she is, dance wise and personality wise... It seems a shame that a potential student could have less chances than others because he/she won't be there... Of course, one can suffer from nerves on an audition and not be one's best but one can also thrive on adrenaline and the wish to show what one can do and come across as a lovely dancer in flesh when there is the risk of not showing oneself on a video...

If I may, your DD has already been telling you where she stands as she actively says she doesn't want to be a ballerina... Why not keep it as a leisure activity, albeit a serious one? I hope you don't mind me being blunt but since you were saying you have to sit down and have a serious talk, something in me reacting that the serious talk might already have been done... Good luck with your decision!

Thank you! I know exactly what you mean...

Hi Katymac, what do you mean by "seem a bit down"? Disappointed by the level? By the course?

Fantastic news Pastel! We're all so happy for your DD here!