Sadie123

Absolutly loved the show it was spectacular and DS thoroughly enjoyed performing in it. What a first year it's been! We have gone from tears about leaving home to having tears about leaving his new found school family for the summer. The Hammond staff have been so amazing and supportive this year, we couldn't be happier ? 

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful.

I am thinking maybe the extra group drama rather than 1:1

It's all becoming very real now ????????

Advice please

I am just thinking about the extra lessons that are available in drama and singing. Thinking we are going to go for extra drama but unsure whether to go for singing too. I understand that my DS will get some singing lessons as part of MDS, does anyone know how many lessons and whether he will need extra on top of that?

Hope that makes sense

I heard back about MDS last week, I am F so I think your right it could be alphabetical. I can't quite believe it's only just over a month until DS will be off!

Brilliant news, my DS will look forward to meeting her in September, he is going into Year 7 too x

I could do with this too ????

My DS absolutely loved it. He was buzzing all the way home and I felt much more at ease. Such an exciting time for them all.

Hi everyone, I am just about to put an order in for my DS academic and dance uniform.

Can anyone give me an idea on quantities we will need, just wondering how many ballet uniforms he will need etc as not sure how often washing is done!

TIA

Does anyone happen to have the Year 7 boys uniform list, I can find it anywhere!!

My DS dance school introduced an Acro class last year. Having observed the class and his homework exercises the exercises and stretches that they do are identical to those that he has been doing in the 45 exercise class that he takes prior to his ballet class at the associate scheme that he has been at for 3 years.

This class was introduced purely for strength and conditioning purposes and not to learn tricks for performance purposes so I don't know whether that makes a difference! They use mats and the movements are not as high impact as the tumbling in gymnastics (I did Acro gymnastics for many years)

Thank you, that is reassuring to hear. I am gettin increasingly anxious about September. I need to pull myself together!

Does anyone have any experience of the learning support offer at The Hammond? My DS is starting in September but he does struggle academically.

Thank you all for this its very helpful. My DS is starting in September and I am also having lost of questions from him. At the moment he struggles to find the wash bin let alone seperate his colours and turn jeans inside out! I can imagine the Yr 7 dorm being chaos those first few weeks ????.

I agree with what a lot of people have said about your DD enjoying dancing being the most important thing at 8 years old. I would also say it's very important to have a good ballet teacher.

My DS has natural musicality and his brain is like a sponge. unfortunately his early ballet teacher wasn't great and he had absorbed the bad habits and teaching! He is still young (11) and his new ballet teacher tells me she wishes she had got her hands on him 4 years ago when he started ballet. He has had to work extra hard at correcting those early mistakes but it is possible! He is starting vocational school in September.

Oh gosh my DS is typically forgetful and loses everything!! He will have a harsh reality in September when he becomes responsible for his own belongings ????

Thank you we just feel so grateful, we honestly thought it was the end of the road, so to receive a call at the eleventh hour is just surreal!! All of the children have done remarkably well in such a tough industry!

I have just found this thread, I have been living in a bubble of auditions for the past few months! My DS auditioned for The Hammond for Yr 7 and we too were placed on the reserve list. We had a call on Wednesday to say he ha been offered an MDS place. We are over the moon after what has been an emotional roller coaster.

What a lovely article. Is too have a dancing Son. He started just over a year ago aged 7 and has well and truly been bitten by the ballet bug. He has won a place on the Elmhurst Junior Associate scheme and it will be his first class in Saturday. I am hoping his passion and strength of character keeps him dancing.

Thank you guys.

Aly well done to your daughter. DS was so happy..he hasn't stopped smiling

Wow...forget the above post I have just had an email and DS has been awarded a place. So pleased he was devastated far receiving a no for RBS Associates. I am off to collect him from school and give the good news.

Has anybody heard about the Elmhurst auditions that were in Birmingham on the 22nd June yet? Only we were told we would be notified within a week and still we haven't heard anything. From experience can anyone tell me whether the notification is generally in letter form or via email. I feel like I am going crazy waiting for the post man and the first words my DS utters when he comes out of school is "any news from Elmhurst yet"?

I am a newbie and absolutely love ready everyone's posts. My DS auditioned for Elmhurst Associates last Saturday. He also auditioned for RBS associates and received a no, to which he was bitterly disappointed. It's even more difficult that they were not given any feed back. Really hoping for some good news this week. Good luck to everyone else who is waiting to hear