Wish22

Yes she is 16 and will be 17 in January. She also just agreed to be her Ballet Teacher's assistant on a Saturday for the younger classes (a paid job) which is the day I imagine most CAT schemes will operate but I will check for any Sunday ones. Sounds like may be too late though.

She has only done Contemporary workshops - no regular classes. I'm a single parent and the 5 hours of ballet she currently does is already financially stretching me. Wish I could give her so much more...

These comments are so useful - thank you. She did do the ENBS Spring Course and at could see then that she knew less technically than some of the girls but also that she had much more flexibility and a good body shape compared to some, She will apply for o the Audition Course too to prepare. She knows that ENBS is out of her reach and probably Elmhurst too (of course RBS no way) The vocational schools she is considering are Tring, NBS, Central and maybe Ballet West and BTUK. She does have a back up plan in that she will be doing her AS levels this year and so if unsuccessful for this next years auditions she would continue to A level and then is she still is determined reapply for dance schools but also Uni too. At 18 there is LSC and Rambert but not entirely sure if the others would take an 18 year old.

Thanks for all of your advice. From September she will be doing a Grade 6 group class and 4 hours at Intermediate (including a pointe) with only two pupils in the class . Her teacher knows she has ambition to go to a vocational college but does does tell us that she will be at a disadvantage at audition having started so late. She is already 16 so would be a 17 year old at entry if she did try this year.

Thanks 'balletqs'. That is good to know. She will doing her Intermediate exam in March so she will only be at that standard. I wonder if they take the little amount of experience into account and look for potential as she would have another few months experience before the following September. I suppose the best thing is just to give it a shot.

My daughter was a late starter to ballet (at age 14) but has made significant progress in the two years and wants to apply for vocational schools. However she has had very little pointe experience and although she will be doing a weekly pointe lesson from September wondering if only a year on pointe would be sufficient experience. Can those of you who have DDs at senior vocational schools tell me if pointe is tested at audition and whether or not one years training would be suffcient experience.

Does anyone who recently applied for a DADA have a definition for 'household income'? In the case of a child living with a single parent does it include 'maintenance payments' from the other parent or only the income of the parent the child lives with? Another question is why do some school applications ask for the parents occupations? Are they judging our children's ability to perform or the 'professional status' of the parents?

Thanks for all of the advice. We'll persevere to re-shape them!

I've emailed you. Thanks for your help.

DrDance - Thanks for offering to look at a photo but I cant work out how to upload one!

Hi, I meant selection for a 16+ vocational ballet school. Her teacher is very 'old school' and an ex Royal Ballet Dancer herself so her standards are very high in terms of both technique and physique. I.e. she would not select my DD based on the appearance her leg regardless of how well she dances. My DD will be auditioning for a 2015 so not much time to correct this 'fault' if indeed there is anything she could do?

My DD's teacher keeps on sighing and saying it's such a shame that DD has a 'bulge' above her knee. She says it's formed due to lack of proper training from a young age. DD now knows the proper technique but unfortunately the bulge remains. Does anyone know if what she is talking about is really is such a big deal in that it could affect her chances of being selected for a Senior School?

PS. Thank's for all of your suggestions so far.

Looking for my 16 year old who hopes to audition for vocational ballet schools over the next two years. I thought it would help her application/auditon to have had some experience.

Hi All, Does anyone know of any dance schools in London or Surrey (other than RAD headquarters) that offer evening/weekend Contemporary Dance Classes?