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.

Hi Wish22,

 

For what age/ability are you looking? Are you looking for a term/year at a time, or drop in classes?

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?

I contacted this school a couple of weeks ago whilst doing some early research for my DD who wants to audition for Upper Schools for entry in 2015.  The very helpful administrator told me that they are in the process of making inquiries for their course to be eligible for funding via Student Finance England (i.e. the same funding as you get for degree courses). It would be great if this is in place for 2015 

Hi All,

Please help!

When a school asks for photographs what size should they be 6x4 or 7x5?

Also when they say attach passport photo here - do they mean a passport size headshot or an actual straight on, no smiling official passport photo?

I didn't phrase my second point fully.  I meant to also pose the question of why do vocational schools say they are happy to take students at age 17 or 18 if they have little chance of being a professional dancer as most opinions on here suggest you need to be in at 16.  Or is it only exceptional 17 and 18 year olds (rather than being at a comparable level to a 16 year old).  I hope you understand what I'm getting at?

PS. 'balk' was probably an extreme word to use, however someone did say the 17 and 18 year olds are few and far between.

I am not doubting the replies given by people who know a lot about the ballet world but I am slightly baffled.

Is there such a physical difference between a 19 year old and a 21 year old (i.e. the age one would be after a 3 year course entered either at 16 or 18)?  You would have had the same training - why does it matter to a ballet company if a new dancer is two years older?
 

Even stranger that a vocational school may balk at the idea of taking a 17 year old as the it's the UK school academic calendar that determines when you can apply anyway.  Someone applying as a 17 year old may only be a 1 month older (born in the August) than others applying as a 16 year old (born in September) due to the 1st September cut off. 

Hi Everyone,

This is my first postexciting

I am an Irish ballerina currently studying intermadiate foundation rad and grade 5 modern istd. I am also a member of the Irish national youth ballet. I am looking for a residential course in Britain which is good for my age and level. I am far behind because I only started ballet 2 years ago:(Any suggestions?

You could check out the RAD's Performance Course which is for Intermediate Foundation and above.

 http://www.rad.org.uk/learn-to-dance/find-an-activity/performance-course

Hi Rizzo

No, not this September. She will be making the applications this autumn for a 2015 entry.  She'll be 17 then but we felt that she needed that extra year to perfect her ballet before auditions and also gain some experience of some contemporary and jazz at a Summer School this year. 

Does anyone know anyone who has been successful in gaining an Upper School place (anywhere) having only achieved Intermediate level (excluding those already in a Lower School as exams not a priority there).  By the end of the summer my daughter will hopefully have passed Intermediate but is that a high enough level to make an application?  (not withstanding all the other criteria such as body shape,  'facility' etc which of course be taken into account). 

I think Elmhurst confirmed places at the end of March last year. 

Hmmm...  It's a tricky one then as The Dance Summer School in Scotland advises that they are usually full by the end of March. Dilemma!

Hi

Does anyone know how long Elmhurst take to select for the Summer School?  My DD wants to try for it and it would be her preference but she also likes the look of The Dance Summer School in Scotland, Yorkshire Assembly and OPES as she realises her chances are slim in being selected for Elmhurst. All the latter three require you to send a deposit with the application.  We can't afford to lose money but also don't want to be too late for the others if Elmhurst reject her application.

Take a look at www.thedancesummerschool.com

My dd has loved it...great teachers and full on activities all night too. My dd will be helping out this year as a chaperone too! Pm me with any questions x

Thank you Guesty - this looks excellent!!!  Also the details say there is the possibility of auditioning for Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for 2015 entry which would avoid another trip North later in the year.  I will be in touch if I can think of any more questions you may be able to answer.