Jaylou62

Schools do vary and I know from other parents that teachers have asked them to choose between schools. In our experience, we've been fortunate in attending several dance schools in our city and have always been honest with our teachers and they've been so supportive, encouraging and provided advice over the last few years knowing my dd wants to train in ballet. My dd currently attends 3 schools - 1 school in Russian ballet which is non-syllabus and 1 school where she does RAD ballet, ISTD tap and modern. She then goes to another dance school for singing lessons.

My dd does partner work, repertoire and masterclasses through her associate scheme that she wouldn't have the opportunity to do unless at vocational school (she's 15). However, there are vocational students at her associate class too which helps my dd know what she needs to work on and the standard she needs to be working towards in readiness for auditions.

I recently contacted Ballet West about applications, funding etc (we are also in England) as my dd plans to audition for 2014 entry. I had this reply: Many thanks for your interest in Ballet West! We currently offer a HND in Professional Stage Dance, and we are currently updating our final BA degree year which will be well in place by the time your daughter would complete her HND. Funding is available for this through student finance England/student loans company. I hope this helps to answer the queries

Bristol Russian Ballet School are running a Summer School this year (entry by photo). Application forms can be downloaded from their website www.bristolrussianballetschool.com There is also a short video on their website of last year's Summer School to give you some idea of what is involved. It is non-residential and dates are: Week 1: 29th July - 2nd August (Intermediate to Advanced Ballet Students Age 13-19) Week 2: 5th August - 9th August (Intermediate to Advanced Ballet Students Age 13-19) Week 3: 12th August - 14th August (Intensive Ballet Course for Beginner and Intermediate Ballet Students Age 8-12) For more info see their website. My dd is doing this Summer School for the first time this year

My dd is 15 and does 2 RAD Adv 1 classes and 1 Advanced pointe class in one school per week and 2 Russian Advanced ballet and pointe (Vaganova) per week in another school plus 4 hours of Russian Ballet on alternate Sundays. She loves both but prefers the Russian style. At times she finds it confusing (RAD prefer arms a different way to Russian style for example) but on the whole she has found that the Russian style compliments her ballet. Hth.

Just to update you all....I sent the petition to my local Councillor who has signed it. He has also said that he will talk to David (Laws) when he next visits our county (David Law's constituency is in a neighbouring county) and has also spoken to The Arts Council who are looking into the changes Please keep sharing the petition and signing. I see we have new ballet co-ers who might not have signed yet. The petition can be googled via changes to DaDA funding

Does anyone know anything about this? It looks relatively new (last year) but looks interesting for those who like Russian training/style - it's only a year though.

Not quite true though.....dd's friend is on a low income, but can only afford to audition for one school - there's audition costs, travel, overnight accommodation and if offered a place the maintenance grant only covers a small part leaving those on low incomes still having to find thousands of pounds. The school she's auditioning for is close to relatives so no maintenance needed. We're not on a high income (over £33,000 but under £50,000, but with 2 dd's auditioning for 2014, there's no way we could find £30,000 per year as there's no allowances for more than 1 child

@Pointytoes22, dd's unable to apply for DaDA courses because we wouldn't be able to afford them even with a DaDA so no point auditioning. Dd upset initially till she received an email from her dance teacher and she's now happy to apply overseas

My dd is also in Year 10 (not at vocational school). She plans to audition next year for overseas, Central and Rambert Xx

I received a letter from Rt Hon. David Laws today. He says: 'I was sorry to read that you were disappointed with my previous letter.....in my earlier response, I explained that we are moving towards a fully means-tested scheme to enable us to target funding at those students who need the support the most (see my post above to know that this is not working in practice as those on low incomes cannot fund the cost of auditioning, travel, overnight accommodation, maintenance costs etc). The number of DaDAs available will however remain limited. Unfortunately that does mean that there will be families who will have to make difficult financial decisions as to whether they can support their choice for study at a private institution - and in making that decision, families need to take into account all the associated costs....... We appreciate that families with more than one child face greater costs in educating them and we considered this in looking at how DaDA should operate. However, we have had to consider that other families may also have a range of different financial pressures. Overall, we concluded that it would be prohibitively complicated to take into account families' wider financial circumstances. Given our intention, therefore, to support the same number of DaDA students as we have in the past, the limited DaDA budget available, and the need to be fair to all families, we are not able to provide extra DaDA support for families with more than one son or daughter in education or training - whether that is privately or state-funded. We will, however, continue to monitor how the scheme operates in practice, particularly how the new arrangements are working in 2013/14. As part of this we will monitor the scheme rules and income scales, and whether any adjustments need to be made in subsequent years in relation to families who may have more than one student participating in the DaDA scheme. Although there are no state-maintained dedicated musical theatre or ballet schools, there is a range of state-funded courses available in performing arts, and there are other options that you and your daughters could explore in the state funded sector. You also mentioned the issue of child benefit. I am afraid that there is little I can add to my previous reply regarding HMRC rules and regulations. I do appreciate that the advantages of specialist dance and drama education, and the opportunity to study for high level qualifications at a young age does have a cost for families whatever their household income - but in these difficult economic times, there are significant constraints on the extent to which Government is able to support young people who attend private education providers...... I have noted that you have started an e-petition about your concerns and appreciate that this is not the response you are hoping for. I do, however, hope that your daughters are successful in their studies, whichever direction they take.' Great - we live on a council estate which is in the top 10% of the Government's Multiple Deprivation Index. We're working hard for our children to have a good life and actually leave the estate. We also learnt this week that we have lost our youth provision and are losing our Adventure Playground due to the cuts and then I get this letter. I also had an argument on Twitter with someone who told me they had funded 4 years and it's possible if you 'work hard'. I know that it's virtually impossible to find funding for individuals (I have worked in the Voluntary Sector). When I asked where I could find £30,000 pa he suddenly vanished. Sometimes I could just cry

Don't think it makes a difference what income you are....a friend's dd's family are on benefits and she can't afford to audition anywhere except 1 school as she has family close by so there's no maintenance cost but only if she gets a scholarship. Elmhurst costs are £9,000 pa including tuition and maintenance (depending on your income band!) but don't forget the added extras on top! We certainly can't afford this and don't know who can:(

My dd is looking into doing Bristol Russian Ballet School Summer school this year. They said they're planning on two weeks this year, rather than 1 and the cost is really good - but unfortunately non-residential for those further away. An added bonus is that they can also use the facilities of the health club too with no further cost. Dd is 15 and in Adv 1 RAD and other students are from vocational schools so the standard is high. I don't think the dates are out yet but you could check their website or contact them - they are really approachable and have been so helpful for dd.

We're up to over 400 signatures on the petition but have been blocked from Twitter from sharing the petition so think it's been reported (no idea why it should though as it's only a petition) This means somehow we have to get the word out to as many people as possible but can no longer use this medium.....any ideas?? Am approaching my local press as the first step and perhaps we can all do that to raise the profile.

Thank you - we're up to 394 signatures. Please keep sharing:) Am on Twitter constantly sending tweets (or at least as many as it lets me!).

Hello! I've started the petition "Please reconsider the changes to Dada funding" and need your help to get it off the ground. Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/council-for-dance-education-and-training-reconsider-the-changes-to-dada-funding-and-make-the-sliding-scales-fairer Here's why it's important: There is no state provision for specialist Classical Ballet or Musical Theatre training in the UK. Currently training for Ballet and Performing Arts is only accessible to those on very low incomes or very high incomes making training impossible to most families in the UK as there is no access to student or maintenance loans. You can sign my petition by clicking here. Thanks!

Have taken note of all your comments and ammended the petition accordingly (the petition is addressed to Rt Hon David Laws MP and every time the petition is signed, he gets an email telling him another person has signed and their comments; the petition also asks that the changes to DaDAs should be reconsidered and either the sliding scales be made fairer or the costs be in line with tuition fees/student loans). We are up to 336 signatures; please keep sharing so we can make a difference:)

Well, on the plus side I now have a contact name and address! As I said previously, I contacted my MP who sent me a letter received by me to day which said 'sorry I can be of no further help'. She also attached a letter from Rt Hon David Laws, Minister of State for Schools, Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3BT Tel: 0370 000 2268 email: david.laws.MP@parliament.uk He says in his letter 'From 2013, if a student is offered an award, the level of support for fees and maintenance will be based on their families income. Mrs A is concerned that the changes to DaDA will make dance training something for the rich. This is not the case however, as the introduction of a fully means tested scheme means that students from lower income households will receive more support than they currently do and students from higher income households will have to make greater contributions themselves. The Government recognises that families work hard to support DaDA students. However, the changes to the daDA scheme are being made to ensure the right amount of financial support goes to those talented students who need it most. In relation to child benefit, all daDA students study for Trinity College qualifications which the Department for Work and Pensions classes as advanced (beyond normal further education) qualifications - this means that should Mrs A's daughter be successful in gaining a DaDA support she would not be eligible to continue to receive child benefit. Mrs A may be disappointed about this - but set against the support that DaDAs provide towards fees and maintenance at private, fee paying schools, the loss of child benefit is a relatively low figure. Thank you for writing on this important issue. I hope my letter has been helpful. Yours sincerely, David Laws MP I have used the email address and linked it to the petition. He gets emailed every time someone signs it and knows how many people have already signed:) I will also be emailing him directly!

The petition is already on 'Not a Pushy Mum' due to me having 1 dd wanting to do MT and 1 dd wanting to do ballet and both intending to audition for 2014:( I'm still using Twitter and Fb and the petition has 241 signatures since 11am yesterday. I'll try and get it to anyone else you've all suggested but probably won't be until Saturday as that's my next day off:)

Couldn't find an address or contact basically:( If anyone does know who it should be aimed at I can edit the petition....eventually (technology's not my strongest)!

Wow....already over 100 signatures on the petition and been retweeted by YMT:UK and NYMT. Earl Perkins has signed the petition (Thriller Live; Rent (West End and Broadway); Dancing in the Streets; Hello Dolly; Chicago; Ragtime; Carousel and Show Boat. TV works include Dr Who, Holby City, Children in Need and Chuggington)!! Now looking for media interest!

Petition is circulating on Fb and Twitter (YMT:UK have just retweeted!) so please keep forwarding:D I've also sent it to the PM and press (not that I'm political!)!

Hello! I've started the petition "Council for Dance, Education and Training: Reconsider the changes to Dada funding and make the sliding scales fairer." and need your help to get it off the ground. Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/council-for-dance-education-and-training-reconsider-the-changes-to-dada-funding-and-make-the-sliding-scales-fairer Here's why it's important: There is no state provision for specialist Classical Ballet or Musical Theatre training in the UK. Currently training for Ballet and Performing Arts is only accessible to those on very low incomes or very high incomes making training impossible to most families in the UK. You can sign my petition by clicking here. Thanks!

I'm glad you asked this. Dd has Osgood Schlatters and has had to cut down on her classes. She wants to audition for 2014 entry and her physio says that recovery is slow although she is making good progress. She is already 5ft 7ins, so hoping she won't grow much more!

I've already written to my MP about this and she is taking this forward. Having looked at the figures, our contribution if awarded a Dada would be £2,675. Add to that the cost of auditioning, travel, overnight accommodation, boarding, uniform, clothing etc plus having an older dd planning on auditioning at the same time for musical theatre and a disabled child that we receive no help or support for means there's no point in her even auditioning. Not looking forward to telling dd though:( They'll both audition for degree courses, but if not successful, that's the end of the dream:(