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suzysue

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Posts posted by suzysue

  1. On 14/04/2019 at 11:30, Dance mom said:

    Hi i’m new to this forum but following this thread with interest. Could do with some advice on btec versus a levels. My daughter has been offered a place at BOA on the musical theatre pathway. However she wants to do French a level and they don’t offer it. She is very bright and the alternative is to stay at her current school and do English lit, French and drama a level. At BOA she could do English a level alongside her btec and I have looked into her doing French a level independently with a French tutor but i’m worried this would be too much (equvilent to 5 a levels and have been advised that doing French a level on her own is a big ask). 

    Her ultimate aim is to get on a musical theatre degree course at Urdang, trinity Laban etc. Question is, if she stayed at school to do a levels would she then be disadvantaged when it came to audition for these places compared to if she had 2 years at BOA? She currently does ballet, modern, contemporary and commercial outside of school at a good dance school, and does PQA on Saturdays for drama. We’re thinking of getting her private singing lessons as that’s her weaker area if she doesn’t accept her place at BOA. Not sure if this is enough/as good though. Would she be mad to turn down a place at BOA?? I have no idea how sought after places are there! Any advice much appreciated!

     

    We’re in a similar situation, my dd has a place on the dance pathway at BOA but wants to do A level biology and Maths. Her other option is to stay at the excellent 6th form at her school to do these plus another A level or BTEC sport. As you say, seems wrong to turn down BOA but frustrating that they don’t offer A levels that seem to compliment the performing arts studies which both biology and French do.

  2.  Dd has got new pointe shoes, the ribbons they have come with only just go around her ankles if she puts them under her heels to sew. This is the only way we have ever sewn ribbons, do they have to go under her foot or can she cut them into two halves and have a bit of extra ribbon length? 

  3. I’ve never had a problem with dd getting time off school for dance exams. I just write in her planner she will be out for an exam between whatever hours and that they can class it as educated offsite. It’s more of an issue for me to get time off work to taxi her around.  I’v never considered it being absent but getting a qualification that they don’t offer at school and don’t see how they can refuse, especially as her attendance is otherwise good.

    • Like 8
  4. 1 hour ago, Mnemo said:

     

    I have always used a candle in a candle stick. That gives you both hands free to carefully wave the ribbon just above the edge of the flame. Candlelight also sets the mood nicely if you want to finish with wine, as Peanut68 suggested :D

    Just don’t sew them to your pyjamas like I did when sewing with wine. She does do her own now though. 

    • Like 3
  5. Keep it hung upside down including in the steamy bathroom and give it a blast with a hairdryer to give it a bit more oomph (nice costume, I googled it as you gave the name, I don’t think it wants spray starch but you could use some when you hairdry it). 

    • Like 1
  6. We're just looking at a new Greek costume so I know that IDS and Images have some, couldn't see anything suitable on Revolution dancewear. It's worth checking on Facebook dance costume selling groups. Dd's previous costume was a real lucky find - a white Grecian style dress for £7 from Amazon over an existing white leotard to protect her dignity, bargain!

  7. It's curiosity really but wondered if anyone had any thoughts on how on earth my daughters pointe shoes have lasted so long? She started on pointe at age 12 in February 2014. 2 1/2 years later and she is still in the same pair of pointe shoes! The ribbons haven't even needed resewing. She usually only does 1/2hr pointe class a week although recently there's been extra exam prep and rehearsals for shows and festivals on top, they must have been danced on for 50-60-70+ hours. How can this be? She's been told she has strong feet (and her shoes are Bloch serenade strong), is it that her feet are strong so she is not needing support from the shoes or did she not need the stronger shoe? I am grateful for the expense I have been saved, as we approach their 3rd birthday I am also mystified by their long life!

    • Like 1
  8. I definitely feel that lack of finances prevents many talented dancers from having the opportunity to find out what might be. It's not just the fees and leotards, costumes, ballet shoes etc but travelling, car parking (wear and tear on the old banger!), eating on the go and coffees whilst waiting, overnight stays, tickets to watch.... And then there's time off work, possibly allowing siblings to do the occasional non dance related activity or hobby. The odds are definitely stacked against anyone who is not comfortably off.

    • Like 1
  9. Dd regularly does 4 festivals a year, the entrance fees vary, her total bill is around £60-80 (for 7 solos plus several duets, trios and groups). You can pay a small fortune on costumes but they can also be managed far more cheaply with eBay, a bit of imagination and pretty poor sewing skills!

    It's the additional costs that add up, admission for parents (maybe £5 a day), travel, car parking, eating out / buying coffees and snacks. And pacifying little brother with extra data for his tablet, equivalent to his own body weight in sweets and yet more football stickers!

    • Like 2
  10. Just with the thought of girls being smaller and lighter, my Dd is not small at all, 5ft 9 and 9st with size 7.5 feet. She's also still on her first pair of pointe shoes after over 2 years (only 1 pointe class a week)! Not sure how she's managed it but my bank account is glad ☺

  11. My Dd is definitely leggy and even my maths could figure that her leg to whole height ratio is 50%. I think her legs look even longer because she's got a high waist or a long bum or something (11 inches difference between waist to floor and inside leg) and a small upper body (shoulder to waist is 12inches). She must also have a long head...

    • Like 1
  12.  

    I can't imagine a grandad being an over the top dance bragger?

     

    Hmm, well I think we've been lucky enough to avoid *these dance mums* despite years of festivals. Generally they are friendly and children and parents are supportive (not so much at All England regional finals). However I own up to my dad being a *dance grandad*! Tutting about whether the adjudicator was actually watching / was wearing their glasses/knows anything about dance at all, worse is the song and dance section...

    • Like 1
  13. As I said I am not planning to put either of us in a class! Just think a beginner tag would attract those with no experience rather than several years at a lower level. My point being, it's easy to get confused...

  14. Not that I am planning for either of us to attend a class, but I would presume that a beginner class was more suitable for me (last ballet lesson was at least 30 years ago and grade 1) than my 13 year old dd who has cost me £1000's in lessons over the last 11 years!

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