Janice

Hi all has anybody had any experience of this? DD has decided to go to the full time course offered by her CAT scheme in September. Because it is 2 hours travel we have looked into her staying nearby, there is a family that have put up other CAT students. I have been told that she qualifys for the scheme but the snag is that our LA has to confirm that the same course is not available closer. The CAT course is a level 3 BTEC in dance which is offered at colleges closer to us, but the CAT course is only open to those already on the CAT scheme. This to me makes it unique but I will probably have a battle on my hands, so just wondered if anyone can offer advise.

What a great afternoon. Francesca Filpi told DD she had lovely chaines, that made her day.

My DD will be there she is very excited, I am really excited to as she seems she has found her passion for ballet again.

Thanks for all the messages of support it means a lot. Just wish I could make DD see she has potential. Spanner- School 6th has failed ofsted inspection so not an option. We have checked out other colleges for a levels but nothing really grabbed DD. I guess I just got myself in a bit of a state as I can't provide many evening dance classes right now that I need to make a good choice for college courses hope that make sense. 2dancersmum- Bath dance college provides a levels and a level 4 diploma for trinity college so I guess that would count as higher education so no housing benefit and your right she is a younger one definitely not 15 going on 20. There are no dates yet for next years ballet Cymru associates so I don' t know if it will class with the CAT. I had thought about auditioning at 17 but it seems a bit of a waste to abandon a course half way though. Funny though when I said to her about giving up the CAT she was definite that she did not want to, so maybe a little spark there. Klaris-The CATs standard of dance is good but the organisation seems to be not so good as DD started last Sept and still does not have a training plan. I think that there is a bit more to it than just the nos, life seems to be dealing some bad cards and I feel like everything is going wrong at the moment so she probably feels the same. Thanks again EVERYONE for the support, lots of food for thought here, I just need to get DD to believe in herself. Janice

Yes she can continue with her current dance teacher she does two grade classes and two vocational classes totalling about 4 hrs per week, I' m not sure that this is enough. Also money is very tight right now as it is for many,so more evening classes will be a struggle.

My dd is 16 next month she has auditioned for Northern and got a no, Rambert still waiting to hear and Central she got though to the finals but in the end a no. She is now saying she is going to quit dancing because no one wants her, her teacher has told her she would be silly to quit as she has got potential. I don't think dd is giving herself enough credit she was very ill last year and it took six months to get sorted although she did not miss lots of classes she lost lots of weight this must have had an impact on her strength and ability. I can't make her carry on if she does not want to but I think she may regret it and if she got to Central final that must mean they saw some potential? Just needed to get this off my chest to people who understand this whole ballet world. Also I don't know what she should do for the next two years if she does decide to carry on, how do I make sure what she does is enough of a challenge for her? She has places on a Btec dance course at two colleges I don't think that they will do much ballet though, but some friends of hers have places at a new school Bath Dance College which looks good has some teachers with impressive achievements, but there is no transport for her to get there despite being only an hours drive away. The others are planning on getting a flat and living there but there is no help with that so I think the cost my mean it is not possible for us. She has a place on a CAT scheme but she has not had a training plan done yet. Sorry feeling completely overwhelmed by making the right choices.

Hi I wondered If anyone can help to point us in the direction of schools in Italy for an 18 year old? My DD is only 16 now and is waiting for results of some auditions but is wondering if she wants live away from home just yet. If she decides to stay at home she will audition again at 18. It has always been a dream of hers to go to Italy so I thought I would look into schools there. Thanks in advance.

Lilac My dd did this course for three summers in a row a very much enjoyed it, she would go again if she was not too old. The teachers were lovely and she was happy with the standard of dance,she struggled with the tap which she had not done before. That being said some of the full time students from the school were helpers and they went out of their way to help DD with the tap.

Leotard sold

Hi I have for sale two knit jumpers both Harmonie- Denim blue keyhole to front and back and cutout shoulders. Size petite/small. £3 +p&p Dusky pink ribbed knit v neck front and back. Size petite/small. £3. +p&p Brand new with tags Red Grishko leotard with gathered bodice detail DA53M. The label says European size 34 International size S. Put in the model no in to google to see pictures of the leotard. £10 + p&p If interested please message me. Dd having a clear out so more dancing gear to come.

At the open day we were told that they take between 20 -25 girls.

My DD was in the afternoon audition and did do jumping over the rope, she thinks it was to test co-ordination. The ropes were laid on the floor though, I had imagined jumping over a rope playground style.

Does international student house have a cafe is so what is the food like and what are the prices like?

Congratulations to you both a gret acheivement at 16 . My DD auditions on the 15th of April,It is her dream school too. Can I ask how long after the audition did you hear that your DD got a place?

My DD goes to the CAT in Exeter as well as the classes on two Sundays a month the students also have access to a weekly ballet class in Plymouth, unfortunately we are too far away for Dd to get there. They also have intensive during the school holidays. i believe auditions are coming up soon. My dd is very happy on this course. If you would like any more info please message me.

What about the school in totnes I have heard good things about it.

At Hammond on Monday we were told they have a bigger pot of money than before and that they have 26 dada awards.

Must be something about no 1 this year my dd was no1 at Sundays audition and she is through to the final. You could have knocked us down with a feather when we read the email.

I think we might still have the intermediate DVD. I will have a look and get back to you.

Petipacat What are the associate classes that are held at Rambert?

Has anybody done an audition at Rambert yet? any advice gratefully received.

Thank you

Do they take at 16 or 18 , I have had a look at the website but I was unable to find this out. It looks a great course and would be interested for my DD.

Thanks everyone. DD is on a cat scheme and I believe this gives her access to a physio so I have e-mailed them, the next cat session is not for two weeks but hopefully they can sort something out for DD to see a physio. She can walk on it with no pain, it only hurts when doing things like rises , but she will just watch class for now. Our towns minor injury unit is staffed by the doctors from the surgery and they only have x-ray staff in on Mon and Weds , so I will take her to A&E in the next town.

Hi all last Thursday dd came out of class saying she had broken her toe,on closer inspection it was not her toe that was hurting but the side of her foot close to her big toe. She had no dancing over the weekend but after class yesterday she said it still hurt during rises ,I had told her not to do pointe. So this morning I called our doctor with who you have to speak to on the phone before he will give you an appointment. He thinks dd has an immflamed tendon and has said to rest and prescribed anti-imflamatory gel as she can't have tablets as it would play up her crohns. I am concerned because he did not look at her foot just diagnosed over the phone. She will of course rest the foot but has some important performances coming up in a couple of weeks.