abitwornout

2 hours ago, Allwrong said:

I have a lot of thoughts on this! 

I entirely agree with abitwornout that waiting till 16 gives your child a better chance to make a genuine choice with a more solid idea of what they are committing to. However, even after-school dancing can draw a child into an unexamined commitment too early, particularly with lots of hours and various associate schemes, and can take a real toll on family life. I have always been sad to see little brothers languishing outside the dance studio, playing on phones.

My personal experience and inclination would tend to say that waiting is better. But it's a very complex choice. 

 

My feeling is that unless you are looking at top international companies, even staying at home till 18 is becoming an option. Is anyone else, I wonder, beginning to see dancers from your local schools getting places at Central and RCS post-A Level?  Age is getting to be a lot less crucial, as increasingly dancers seem to spend one or even two years in 'holding pen' type post-graduate (post Upper School) courses which probably keeps them dancing whilst on the audition circuit rather then necessarily accelerating progress (correct me on that if that impression is wrong).

 

My DD (a post 18-er, UK), is very clear that if she had gone away at 11, which we never considered at the time, she would be contract-ready and much more likely to succeed by now, and doubtless in the long run. However, she has also said that she doesn't regret it one bit because a normal childhood and not boarding has given her a much richer life. That said, she is unusual in that things academic are a real passion, and also she only did in general one evening and one associates class a week, so family life was relatively available to her, and other interests too. Also her home teacher is an amazing woman who has supported her unequivocally and pointed her towards all sorts of opportunities, despite our much lesser presence at the dance school. The upshot is that now she is vocational she is catching up on the missed years of dancing with surprising speed, and her vocational school is confident that she is as likely to succeed as their more standard students (most are from full-time vocational backgrounds from various countries).

 

So the choice isn't straightforward, nor the same for every child or every family by any means. Lots of out-of-school hours with 'normal' schooling can have just the same over-commitment, distress and burn-out potential as vocational boarding, with family life for the rest of the family more heavily impacted. But boarding is really not something to be undertaken lightly. Early vocational training certainly programmes the body very effectively, and really does give the child an advantage. Intensive training later can allow surprisingly quick catch-up, but it is tough as the hard-wiring isn't there and the moves aren't so indelibly written into the body. Those tricky moves need more intense concentration and are more likely to go wrong. And it is pretty much impossible to get into the big national companies by that route, although very worthwhile and fulfilling contracts are certainly within your grasp.

 

I'd also like to add that unhappiness in vocational dance school is clearly too prevalent. But 'normal' academic schools are no picnic either. DD had a grim time at her supposedly (though not very) academically selective (state) school, constantly undermined in sneaky ways by contemporaries, staff disengaged and uninterested in an academic child, and smugly convinced it was a lovely place. 

 

So basically, as a parent you can't win

 

 

Totally agree, I always wondered how much my non dancing child was affected as we had to fully commit to dance training for dd in the 2 years prior to upper school auditions. You could also be unhappy at a “normal “ school but I guess you do go home to family in the evening. I like the idea of full time vocational training starting at 18 .  

I personally think that leaving it till they are 16 is a better option. Children change a lot from age 11-16 . Being at a “normal” school will give them a chance to evaluate their options . I think then if they still want to dance by the age of 14/15 then you can take extra classes to help get them there. It isn’t an easy route ( this is the one we took) As parents we spent many hours driving to dance classes and my dd had long days at school ( plus GCSEs) then straight to dance classes . ( dinner was mostly eaten in the car en route) It was hard but we got through it. It showed us that she was 100% committed on getting there and still had the talent at 16 to do so .

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for children to go through puberty surrounded by a wall of mirrors day after day . 

Can highly recommend Dance Essentials at Centre Pointe,  Denton,  Manchester .  

Unite student accommodation, Clarence Dock Village . This is also the recommended accommodation for students doing the graduate program at Northern. 

3 hours ago, LinMM said:

I’ve just looked at the last job advertisements for Northern Ballet and was shocked to see the height restriction is 5ft 4ins!! 
But it also implied that this was with ladies in pointe shoes !! That would make them 5ft or less so can’t be correct. 
If it’s true they don’t want dancers to be taller than 5ft 4ins that’s totally absurd to me. 

Obviously it’s the males who are the problem lol!! Not enough taller ones being trained by the schools!!  
Even the Royal has taller dancers than that now though. 
Years ago the RBS didn’t like accepting dancers to train who they predicted would grow to be taller than 5ft 6ins ( they predicted my height exactly!) but thought that had all stopped now. 
 

I don’t think Northern’s latest audition notice had height restrictions . They did specify in 2020 but no mention of heights in this years notice . 

My daughter auditioned for upper schools in her blue Gaynor Minden cap sleeved leotard . It was the leotard she was most comfortable in and it has a lovely classical look . You would be ok in any simple leotard ( I don’t think they usually like criss cross straps etc ) it’s important to feel comfortable in your leotard. 

13 minutes ago, cotes du rhone ! said:

Am I right in thinking that RBS publish how many of their JAs or year 7 WL pupils make it to grad year ? 
Do Elmhurst do this ?

Is it a requirement to make public this information ? 
 

All I’ve seen from RBS is their annual report which just gives student numbers . Nothing specific about their journey to grad year. 

In case anyone has missed Elmhurst’s 2021 graduate destinations. A huge Well done to them all xxx

https://elmhurstballetschool.org/en/graduate-destinations/

My dd and friends are attending the Senior summer intensive at Northern Ballet in Leeds . Has anyone any recommendations for accommodation. Do Northern Ballet recommend anywhere near to their studios? 

Very much enjoyed watching this , (although I wish there had been some applause ) Especially pleased to see two Elmhurst 2020 grads dancing. How I miss live theatre . 

2 hours ago, mart said:

In a 2012 Dance tabs interview Desmond Kelly who had been the artistic director made it clear that there had been a conflict between Jessica Ward ( elmhurst principal) and himself saying that there was too much emphasis on academics as it was primarily a dance school . Seeing the performance of Elmhurst “Ballet Company “ at the Wells last year was disappointing in general pretty low standard.

it will be up to Carlos Acosta to decide what he wants to do 

I think we should remember that these children and their parents are on balletcoforum. As if 2020 hasn’t been bad enough for them without comments such as yours . 

On 20/11/2020 at 07:30, Pointytoes said:

I think the high level campaigns are required as the school is struggling to attract Upper school students especially.  
The turnover of students appears to be quite high also yet they peddle a happy holistic environment. IIt would be interesting to hear why this is exactly. They seem to be unable to retain many of their year 11 students for upper school even if they are offered a place. Interesting........

As a parent of a child at upper school I strongly disagree with your comment. They are in no way struggling to attract students to their school . I can assure you that the process is just as competitive as ever. If not more so as students look to have a back up of Alevels as well.All vocational schools are upping their game with marketing themselves, it’s called moving with the times.  The standard of the students in the current upper school is exceptional. Students have left because their dance needs are better met at other schools ie a more contemporary focus and sometimes after 5 years at one school you are ready for a change . This happens across all schools . For new parents looking at upper schools for their children I can honestly 100% recommend Elmhurst . I can only speak from my dd experience and she feels that there is a very “positive vibe” in the school . Being a healthy dancer/athlete is very much at the forefront and the school . This includes looking after children’s mental health as well as physical. We must remember as parents we have to work in partnership with any school to get the best for our children . No school is ever going to be perfect and sometimes schools are not the best fit for your child. I am very sorry for any students who have been unhappy there for whatever reason. Perhaps living away from parents doesn’t actually suit a lot of children. 
As I say this is my point of view from my current experience of the school . 

Our kitchen is now a ballet studio, I wonder how many times dd’s teachers have seen me crawling along the floor trying to avoid the camera just so I can get a cup of tea 😂. Our dog had featured on zoom as he particularly likes to join in with the stretch classes 😬

Is anyone else not getting any response from Dance Forward. I have emailed and I have not had any reply !!! 

I haven’t contacted him with a reply yet. However I do think he is being very shortsighted if his stance is to not offer refunds. The ballet world is very small  , his attitude to this would easily ruin any future for his business as no one would want to risk paying for one of his courses again. Not very forward thinking! 

Oh no , my daughter was meant to be on the same course . I was expecting the gentleman to email giving the option of a refund Rather than just saying it would be rescheduled ! I haven’t emailed him back yet but I will . 

Elmhurst Ballet School had one candidate at the Prix De Lausanne, Nicola Marchionni number 408 . He didn't make the final but I thought he did Elmhurst Ballet School proud .

i sat down this afternoon just to watch a few ........3 hours later i was still watching . Lovely afternoon of dance

12 hours ago, richieN said:

Centre Pointe Dance studio in Denton. They have 3 excellent classical teachers.

• Caroline Wright (Principle)
• Sophie Robinson (Vice Principle)
• Simon Grey (Ballet Master)

I believe they do private tuition.

I also highly recommend Centre Pointe in Denton .  

12 hours ago, SugarPlum2000 said:

I’ve just looked at the dates out of curiosity but I’ve noticed that for the final upper school auditions, they have a semi final on the Saturday and then a final on the Sunday - has this always been the case? Why would they have 3 stages of auditions for upper but not lower school?

Yes , I think it’s been like this for a few years. Last year they handed you an envelope after the Saturday audition to say whether you were called back on the Sunday. Also last year ENBS finals were on the same day so we had to race from Royal over to ENBS . My dd didn’t open the envelope till after the ENBS final . 

1 hour ago, Stellar said:

The results from the scholarship auditions should be out before the closing date for applications which is 1st March, so yes if you have been awarded a scholarship you then need to fill out an application form stating which week you are attending. If the results are late coming, you still need to ensure you have filled out an application form by the 1st March, you can state in there that you can only attend if you receive a scholarship- good luck!!

Thank you 

Hi, just a quick question. If you are applying to do the scholarship audition for YBSS but can only attend the summer school if you are lucky to get a scholarship do you have to fill out the summer school application as well? 

They have an assessment  . 

My daughter uses a nail brush to tame the flyaways down ( along with wetting her hair and hairspray ) she says she finds the nail brush works better .