Jaylou62

My dd did a Summer School with Bristol Russian Ballet School last summer. They did a week for 8-12 year olds and 2 Adv ballet weeks for age 13 upwards but I think there was some flexibility with age depending on ability. I know dancers came from all over the world besides Swindon, Bath, Bristol, etc. I know Ballet Cymru hold a Summer School but am not sure on ages. Some local ballet schools also do summer schools but these vary and often cover other forms of dance besides ballet. The two I suggested are predominantly ballet and I think application is by photographs.

Happy Christmas to you all. Good luck to everyone auditioning in the New Year (gulp....dd2 has 3 in 2 weeks and dd1 has 2 in 2 weeks and I'm sorting out the logistics of 2 auditions on the same day (dd1 and dd2) and dd2 auditioning in London on one Sat followed by dd1 auditioning in Liverpool the day after!).

It was a 'no' - onwards and upwards. Dd said she'll have to work even harder on the next ones.

Dd thought it went ok. She loved the school and said how friendly everyone was and that she'd love to go there. Just have to wait and see now

Good luck to everyone Safe journey too.

Thanks - think we'll go for the Travel Lodge

Hi, Does anyone know anything about this award...such as where it is held, when it is, how to apply etc. Dd's ballet teacher mentioned it in passing and I'm sure I've seen links on Fb and possibly in Dancing Times? Thanks in advance

Hi, Dd just got her date for Rambert audition - February 2014. It's for 8.45am so will need to stay close by overnight and are travelling by train. Can anyone recommend accommodation close by to both the school and train station? Thank you

Letter arrived today. Dd's audition starts at 1.45pm on Saturday 14th December. Hope to see some of you there

Not heard anything yet for Central

Just received dd's audition time....11.00am on 16th Jan (Group 2) - registration at 10.30am. Hope to see some of you there

Dear All, I received this petition from Richard Wilson: The expressive arts, including drama, music, fine art, dance and photography are the lifeblood of our nation and our identity. From Shakespeare to Danny Boyle, via every other author, artist, actor, comedian, playwright, sculptor, architect, rock band, director, dancer, composer, journalist, choreographer… the expressive arts contribute to how the world sees us. The creative industries are vital to our economy. According to UNESCO the UK is the world’s largest exporter of cultural goods. This is achieved with a tax payer investment which is 0.1 percent of the recent HBOS bailout. Not only that, with this tax payer investment we generate more economic activity than tourism, and we do this without a bonus culture, and without a ‘talent drain’. 6.2% of the UK’s local income (GVA) comes from the creative industries, the arts provide over 2m jobs and are mentioned by 8 out of 10 tourists as a reason for their visit. However, Michael Gove and the coalition government have set in place policies which marginalise the arts, restrict access to arts courses by children and which will, over time, threaten the future of our artistic success story. They include: • The EBacc, a measure that excludes all arts subjects, as well as technical subjects, compelling all schools to restrict access to arts courses or risk failing on a league table. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20356662. Here is a more recent article in which, amongst other things, Mike Nicholson, the admissions tutor for Oxford University, states clearly that they look for a broad range of subjects at GCSE level and do not consider the EBacc at all: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24533511 • Dance and drama being classed as one subject on school league tables, meaning that students will be dissuaded from taking both subjects as it makes the school look bad, this is despite the proven fact that performing arts colleges in the FE and HE sector are often looking for the triple threat of a student with dance, drama and music experience. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24130657 • The removal of standards for speaking and listening from the national curriculum, at all key stages, meaning that schools are no longer compelled to teach or assess a student’s ability to do either of those things. • The dominance of negative rhetoric about arts subjects as not “rigorous” when students up and down the country know how hard so many of their courses are. An A* student of Drama & Theatre Studies has to be both highly academic and creative and talented. How many students can lay claim to that? Here's the final insult. Now it transpires that Ofqual are consulting about banning up to 20, so called, "soft" subjects from the GCSE standard, subjects including PE and Media as well, so that all students are left to choose from as GCSEs are traditional subjects and the rest as devalued and less academic alternative qualifications. http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/new ... 2013_10_26 We want an end to this short sighted, Orwellian drive to force the arts from our children’s schools before we drive creativity, passion and enjoyment from our primary and secondary schools. We demand the abolition of the EBacc measure or the inclusion of the arts within it. We demand that all arts subjects be given equal billing with other, non-core subjects in terms of how they contribute to school league tables for GCSE results. We want all our children to have continued access to a wide and exciting curriculum, without restrictions being placed on subjects which are just ideologically out of favour with the current ruling elite of public school educated professional politicians. We want the national curriculum for Key Stages 1-4 to reinstate explicit descriptors for speaking and listening. We want Gove, the DfE and the government to acknowledge the importance of the cultural industry to our national identity and to our economy and to talk up the importance of the arts in our schools and our country. In solidarity with our colleagues in PE departments, teachers of Media Studies and teachers of the miriad other, so-called, soft subjects, we also demand that this regressive and ridiculous narrowing of school curiculi, by mesuring schools' success only by the core and facilitating subjects, ends immediately. Join in on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-the ... 3149402485 Read the blog: http://savetheartsinschools.wordpress.com/page/3/ I just signed the petition "Michael Gove: Stop the marginalisation of the Expressive Arts in education policy" on Change.org. It's important. Will you sign it too? Here's the link: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/m ... e_petition Thanks! Please sign and share before Michael Gove does more damage!

Bristol Russian Ballet School ran a two week Summer School this year for Advanced students and 1 week for younger students - can really recommend it. It was my dd's first Summer School with them (Advanced) and she learned so much from the fantastic teachers plus the International and Vocational students who attended. Entry by photos.

If it's more of a hobby, then 344 in Fishponds would be good. The classes are pay as you go and there are different levels. My elder dd goes to the adult classes in ballet and tap. My younger dd goes to Bristol Russian Ballet School so pm me if you'd like more information about these schools or with any questions

My dd also has Jan 14th audition.

Bristol Russian Ballet School has a Youth Ballet Company - details are on their website.

Ooops - the link for John Cranko doesn't work - try this http://en.john-cranko-schule.de/schooling/

As well as auditioning for schools in the UK dd is sending DVD auditions to 4 schools in Germany. German ballet school's tuition is free for EU students. The schools use Vaganova style training. She is applying for John Cranko; Hamburg; Munich and Mannheim. The websites are: http://www.hamburgballett.de/e/schulgeld.htm http://www.en.john-cranko-schule.de/admission/ http://www.heinz-bosl-foundation.com/ http://www.muho-mannheim.de/frame.php?path=/wirueberuns/Ballett

Is anyone else's dc having a bit of a confidence crisis? Dd is getting worried that she isn't good enough to get into any upper school, plus coping with the pressure of GCSEs, homework and fitting in her ballet classes and has had a few emotional outbursts already. Does anyone have any tips on helping her deal with all the pressure - goodness knows how she'll be once auditions start Sorry if it's posted in the wrong place.

Our local dance schools vary and while one school breaks up at the beginning of December, another 2 that dd goes to breaks up when the schools do (just before Christmas). One school also offers classes in between Christmas and New Year - don't think finances will stretch to private lessons with auditions in January onwards for 2 children .

Hi, My dd is 15 and in RAD Adv 1. Her teacher has invited dd and some other girls to attend RAD Adv 2 classes as well as doing Adv 1 from September because of the change in syllabus. Dd is applying for ballet schools for 2014 entry. Dd will now do 2 Adv 1 classes, 1 Adv 2 class, 1 Advanced pointe class and Intermediate tap per week with this school and she also does 2 Advanced Russian ballet and pointe classes per week and associate class fortnightly. I think we're fortunate in that all the teachers understand dd's wishes to apply for training and are incredibly supportive of her attending other schools (dd also goes to a third dance school for singing lessons). Dd did Intermediate and Adv 1 classes at the same time before taking her Intermediate exam so dd has been taking Adv 1 classes for 18 months. Is this option of learning Adv 2 at the same time as Adv 1 available to your dd?

Thanks for all the replies - great help Looks like the show will be possible. Jazzpaws, we might meet at auditions. I'm not looking forward to it as we have 2 dds auditioning for the same year, with 1 for ballet and 1 for musical theatre (very expensive me thinks, not to mention the stress of it all). Thank goodness for this forum!

Does anyone know what day of the week auditions are held at the following schools - ENBS, Central, Rambert, Elmhurst, Scotland Conservatoire? Dd has a ballet show in May with rehearsals taking place from February, so am hoping that the days won't clash

Bristol Russian Ballet School has an Associate scheme called Bristol Russian Youth Ballet Company. Their website states: The aim of the Company is to offer talented dancers between the ages of 14-19 the unique opportunity to work with professional world class dancers and Artistic Directors. Subjects taught will be classical ballet, pointe work, repertoire, pas de deux and character dance. Entry into the Company is by invitation or audition by photograph and CV. We absolutely recommend that Company members continue their usual classes with their particular ballet school if applicable. For further information please contact Chika and Yury at info@bristolrussianballetschool.com

I've just had a reply back from my MP to say that she will contact the Work and Pensions Dept on my behalf about the above issue and will let me know when she has a reply I will let you know that response when I receive it in due course!