Jaylou62

PrettyPointes, there's also Bristol Russian Ballet Summer School. They do Repertoire and Pas de Deux and had students from vocational schools attend for the last two years. Elena Glurdjidze from ENB was a guest teacher last year. The entry is by photo and application forms are on their website. There's also short videos from the last two Summer Schools on the website too (and on You Tube).

@Dr Dance - the college timetable is subject to change and classes also depend on the individual dancer's current level. Dd probably won't do RAD and ISTD ballet (she currently does RAD). She will do Intermediate Tap and Modern and will take both exams before Christmas. She will do DDI/DDE teacher training but probably won't have to do evening classes - previous college students have if they were at a lower level when they started (expected level of at least Intermediate standard in one or more dance genres). There's also part-time students who fit college classes around A levels. Bit confusing - guess we won't really know until September when dd starts.

I agree with Meadowblythe - my older dd is in her last year of a levels and has found it very hard to keep up a good standard of dance, working, and attending her part time theatre school, plus keep on top of homework (she wants to do Musical Theatre). Younger dd successfully auditioned for a local private dance college. The fees include all dance classes but exams and private Singing and Drama classes, trips are extra Her provisional timetable for September is: Mondays: 9.00-9.30am - tutor group 9.30-10.45am - Hip Hop 11.00-12.15pm - Jazz 12.15-1.15pm - Alternative Dance (Wk 1) - Lunch (Wk 2) - Body Conditioning (Wk 3) 1.15-2.15pm - Open Ballet (Wk 2) - Lunch (Wk 1 and 3) 2.15-3.30pm - Beginners Advanced 1 Modern 3.30-4.45pm - Contemporary From 3.30pm private Singing and Drama lessons (dd is working towards Grade 7 Singing and Grade 6 LAMDA exams) Tuedays: 9.00-10.15am - Adv 2 RAD Ballet 10.30-11.45am - Adv 1 RAD Ballet 12.00-1.15pm - DDI Modern 1.15-2.00pm - Lunch 2.30-3.30pm - Intermediate Modern 3.30-4.30pm - Commercial Jazz 4.45-5.30pm - Pilates 5.30-7.00pm - Adv 1 ISTD Ballet Wednesdays: 9.00-10.15pm - Open Ballet 10.30-11.45pm - Contemporary 11.45-12.45pm - Pointe Work (Wk 1) - Body Conditioning (Wk 2) 12.30-1.00pm - Lunch 1.15-2.00pm - Intermediate Tap 1.45-3.00pm - Jazz 3.15-4.00pm - Health and Safety/Teaching Theory 5.15-6.00pm - Adv 1 Tap 6.00-6.45pm - Intermediate Tap 6.45-7.30pm - Stretch and Limber 7.30-8.30pm - Intermediate Modern 8.30-10.00pm - DDI and DDE Modern Thursdays: 9.00-10.15am - DDI Tap 10.30-11.30am - American Tap 11.30-1.00pm - Workshop -1.30pm - DDI and DDE Ballet Class 1.30-2.15pm - Lunch 2.15-4.00pm - Adv 1 ISTD Ballet and Pointe 4.00-4.45pm - Health and Safety/Teaching Theory 8.45-10.15pm - DDI and DDE Tap Fridays: 9.00-10.00am - Drama 10.15-12.00pm - Musical Theatre 11.45-12.45pm - DDE Tap 12.00-2.00 - Private lessons in Singing and Drama 12.00-1.00pm - Lunch 1.00-3.00pm - Jazz 3.15-4.30pm - Workshop Alternate Sundays 4 hours Ballet (dd's associate Russian Ballet classes)

My dd is dancing with Elena in 'Cinderella' next month (Elena is playing Cinderella). Elena is the patron of the Associate scheme my dd attends and has also been teaching at the Easter School. If I'm honest, I could walk past Elena on the street without knowing who she is but when she dances - wow! She has such stage presence, and characterisation and is so lovely to the young dancers. I know all the young dancers feel so inspired to have the huge opportunity to dance with her. It is incredibly nice of her to give up her time for these young dancers and is a huge inspiration to them. Sorry - I know this has nothing to do with the casting but just wanted to make people aware that sometimes dancers are doing other things too

Local dance full time college fees - £2,500 pa. Private singing/acting lessons, exams, trips are extra. Dance clothes, shoes etc can be bought from the attached dance shop with a discount to full time students. Local Theatre School full time 2 year course - £1,900 per term (3 terms). Exams are extra.

Depends on the Plan B Flutterby Both my dds got 'no's - Dd1's plan B is to go to her local part-time theatre school which starts a brand new full time Musical Theatre course in September (which she successfully auditioned for). The course includes private one to one singing lessons, ballet, tap, jazz, body conditioning, contemporary, acting, assistance with monologues and audition technique plus workshops from touring companies, actors etc. The teaching faculty is made up of teachers from GSA, Mountview, etc and Dd1 can work towards Trinity Level 4 Diploma in Musical Theatre and HNC/HND and later top up to a BA (Hons) Degree. Dd2 successfully auditioned for our local dance college. She will have dance classes from 9.00am-10.oopm some days and some days till 5.00pm. She will do RAD Adv 1 and 2 Ballet, pointework, repertoire, Contemporary, Jazz, American Tap, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Commercial Jazz, Body Conditioning and Pilates and private singing and acting classes (these are extra costs, plus exams and trips). She will also work towards her DDI/E teacher training. Dd1 finishes A levels this summer and Dd2 GCSEs. Dd2 feels A levels are not for her. She has processing difficulties and gets extra time in exams. Dd2 also took nearly a year out from ballet last year after developing Osgood Schlatters Disease. Going to the college will strengthen her core, plus she'll get an all round dance training. She would like to try again for ballet but she also loves Musical Theatre so this way she gets to keep all her options open. Both Plan B's are good options I think and mean both dds get to do what they love

Bristol Russian Youth Ballet Company is alternate Sundays - entry by audition or invitation. See their website for more information (Bristol Russian Ballet School). There's also Ballet Cyrmu Associates and both do Summer Schools too.

Mum in a spin, my dd also got 'no's this year (just turned 16). She took nearly a year out last year from ballet after developing Osgood Schlatters Disease from a growth spurt (she is now 5ft 8.5ins). She only began ballet again fully in September and was still experiencing pain during her auditions (I discovered afterwards!). My dd has a place at a local dance college starting in September. She has never wanted to do A levels and this year has been particularly difficult with GCSEs, auditions and rehearsals for a full length ballet dancing with principal dancers from ENB which has been such a great opportunity. I think, at least for dd, she isn't as strong as she should be. Going to the dance college means dancing every day from 9.00am-5.00pm every day (they do have classes until 10pm at night if dd wants to). She can continue with her RAD Adv 1 and 2 Grades, plus tap, contemporary, hip hop, modern, american tap, private singing and acting classes (dd takes her Grade 6 this summer in Singing MT and her teacher wants her to take Grade 8 next summer), MT and body conditioning/pilates plus work shops and DDE/DDI teacher training. It might be her back up option but I think it's a good one. Although she still wants to try for ballet, she also enjoys MT and who knows, she might change her mind when trying different dance styles

My ds was the same - he did ballet from 4 plus gymnastics but later switched to tap (he liked the classes but not shows). He gave up a few years ago and now does drumming, competing all over the UK in a Marching Band. He has a concert in a few weeks with the Schools' Philharmonia Orchestra and also plays in a Wind Band on percussion. Ds has dyspraxia or Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and Aspergers which we didn't know about when he did ballet and gymnastics (except he took longer to pick up the steps due to severe processing difficulties and found skipping really hard). The tap helped to develop rhythm which has helped with his drumming which he now wants to do professionally. I suppose what I'm trying to say (in a roundabout way!) is that your dd will find her own way whether ballet stays a hobby or not

My dd2 goes to 3 dance schools - in 1 school she does 2 Adv 1 and 1 Adv 2 and 1 pointe class per week; in another she attends 2 Russian Adv classes and pointe plus an Associate class on alternate Sundays (4 hours); in the 3rd she has private singing lessons and is soon to take Grade 6. The Russian ballet school dd attends expect dd to take classes at other schools and her RAD ballet school say that the Russian style has complemented her ballet. All 3 schools know about each other and support dd, and 1 school also has a dance college and dd's ballet teachers teach at the college too. It is expected in dd's schools that in the higher grades especially there is a need to go to other schools for more classes especially if pupils are serious about wanting a dance career. We have never had a clash in shows - the Russian school performs 1 full length ballet a year and in the Spring (last year was 'Swan Lake' and this year 'Cinderella') and the RAD school does a show every two years in November. I think dd is extremely fortunate in having great teaching and supportive teachers I am also a parent, not a teacher.

Hi Odette, My dd1's ballet teacher started ballet late too and did a course at a local dance college which is I think similar to the one in Preston. She is my dd1's favourite teacher - she teaches the adults (she also teaches the younger pupils but my children are all older), and has so much enthusiasm and smiles so much when dancing which is so infectious to her students

Definitely a rollercoaster....Dd2 still has to go into school over half term (GCSE interventions). She was very happy today to find out she got an A in her Drama Mock GCSE and 1 mark away from an A* . Still, as you all say all I can do is be there for both Dds and support them (but why oh why do they always want to talk to me at 11-12 at night when I have to start work at 7.30am the next morning?!). Ah, well a week off dance - oh. no wait....Dd2 has a performance of Cinderella on Sunday and private lessons over the next week to put together a dance solo for her next audition and Dd1 has a National Youth Theatre audition and audition for the Pre-Professional Course in MT....and so it goes on...... But good to know we're all in the same boat and so grateful for this forum and all you lovely people Xx

Thank you....and good luck to your dd

Thanks HumflyDumfly but we're flying to Glasgow and going home by Megabus (no flights home) so no car

I am....Dd1 is auditioning for MT....18 places so not good odds. Ah, well, what's worth seeing in Glasgow?? Might see you there Lifeafterballet

So sorry....Dd1 got 'no's for Blackpool and LIPA.....however, she's now decided on an acting route so will audition next year for acting....although still has Scotland Conservatoire and GSA auditions plus NYT and The Big Act pre-professional courses to go

Ha - it's a nightmare! Just cancelled 3 shifts at work so I can take Dd1 to Scotland and Guildford (both dds don't want their dad to take them as he makes them more stressed!). At least after tomorrow dd2 only has Rambert to go - dd1 still has 3! Thank goodness for this forum

Good luck to your dd dramascientist. Dd2 enjoyed her Northern Ballet audition and Dd1 her Blackpool audition on Wednesday. Just have to wait now. Off to London tomorrow for ENBS audition with Dd2 (good luck to everyone auditioning tomorrow) and then meeting Dd1 in London and travelling to Liverpool for Dd1 as she has LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) on Sunday! Dd2 catching train home alone. I'll be glad when this week is over....on the plus side the girls seem happier and less stressed

Fortunately dd's school is only an 8 min walk each way....school starts at 8.40am and finishes at 3.20pm. However, as she's year 11, she is expected to stay after school for Interventions until 4pm; she is also a prefect so extra responsibilities; by the time she comes home, has tea, out for dance classes she's not home until after 9pm most nights (probably like everyone else not at vocational school). Older dd is at college so travels an hour or more each way (2 buses). She also has A levels and dance classes in the evenings plus work (she helps teach the debut classes at her part-time theatre school), plus lifeguard training sessions (she's a qualified lifeguard) plus singing lessons and part-time theatre school (they have 2 big performances this year including performing alongside Andy Ford). Yep, the pressure is immense at the moment - both dd's have 2 auditions this week and then a breather until February

Aw, thank you 2dancersmum - very reassuring. Dd bites everyone's head off at the moment so difficult to say anything to her and I realise she's under a lot of pressure. I know her dance teachers are expecting her to get a place somewhere so obviously don't doubt her. I think I want to emigrate for a few months

Great news Katymac.....well done to your dd! My dd is having a crisis of confidence.....she's having trouble sleeping; she's expected to get 'A's in her GCSEs by her school and she got a 'no' from Central and had hip pain during her Elmhurst audition so didn't do as well as she hoped so is expecting a 'no'. She is performing in 'Cinderella' next month so has rehearsals every weekend now leading up to the first performance in February and still has 3 auditions and 1 back up to go. She says her technique is not as good (she's working towards Adv 1 RAD and also studies Adv 2 and takes ballet 6 days a week (over 19 hours a week at the moment - she's not at vocational school). Does everyone go through this and for those who have been through this audition process and come out the other side have any advice?

Hi Kate, not sure where you're based but Bristol Russian Ballet School have adult classes and 344 Dance Station do too. My older dd goes to the adult classes at 344 so if you want to know more pm me.

Dd says frogs led on backs; right, left and box splits; sat on floor touching toes from what dd can remember Hope that helps! Will let you know re: Elmhurst after Thursday!

I think younger dd is more capable than older dd....younger dd is doing GCSE Food Tech and can cook really well (roast dinners, amazing yorkies, pasta dishes, cakes etc) but being tidy is NOT her forte! Older dd's friends refuse to let her cook as she's more likely to get stuck in a book and forget that she's cooking (has burnt several pizzas!) - she refuses to clean ('the vacuum cleaner doesn't like me') so it will be really interesting if she gets a place! Both have their own bank accounts and are really good at sorting out their savings accounts and current accounts (older dd is very savvy with her money and rarely buys anything!).

Hi, My eldest dd attends adult classes in the UK (beginner ballet - around grade 1 to Intermediate) and has since she was 15. The class she attends has 2 ballet classes so she does both and it has a mixed range of ability, shapes and ages. Dd is the youngest but she gets a lot of support from everyone in the class. They all work hard and there is little giggling or talking which dd prefers. They all perform in the annual dance show which also feature the college students (there is a separate full time college attached to the school) and all love putting on costumes etc and the performing aspect. Dd has just gone en pointe and has been dancing from the age of 4-6 (ballet); 6-11 (tap and modern); 15 to now (ballet, tap, modern and contemporary). Enjoy your classes