IBD23

Harris Bell

Joe Sissens

Thanks RuthE!

Yes my DS (now 19) got so used to no’s that the yes’s were even sweeter (3 times No from the JA’s). Royal completely not interested, but DS had a different, amazing training at Tring, and unexpectedly got into RBS Upper School at 16. He now has a full time professional contract with Polish National Ballet in Warsaw, which he is absolutely loving, and already met International choreographers he never thought he would when this whole journey started. I’m always in awe of how dancers are so resilient and have life-skills beyond their years (thanks to years of ballet training?) I would say, whether aiming at a dance career or not, definitely have a go at everything, so long as you’re all as a family enjoying the ride. One of the best things, apart from watching DS on stage, has been the amazing friends he and I have made along the way, sharing the highs and lows. DD by the way, entirely gave up dance and is now very happily a writer! 😂

Thanks RuthE. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures seems to have taken several British graduates into the company, or apprentices, which is heartening

Is it too early to enquire if anyone has any graduate destination news from anywhere? I saw Rebecca Blenkinsop from RBS on instagram saying she will be joining ENB.

That's interesting. Not aware of Hot House dance or Two Thirds Sky but will be looking them up.

Thanks so much all. London Studio Centre is best located for us and looks a very good timetable. Come to think of it dd will be 18 by then. Hopefully not too old.

Has anyone experience of their dc doing summer school focussing mainly on contemporary dance (not street or hiphop or the like!)? I know Rambert do one but dd is 17 and maybe would be older than most? She's mostly classical ballet but wants to improve her contemporary next year.

I know of a dd yes ...

That's what I think happened to me. I was not expecting to be flattened and it took me by surprise and scared me a bit if I'm honest. It was worth it most definitely though as DD at dance school where wants to be with good GCSEs behind her too as plan B. Just took a massive effort from her and me to get there! Watching her on stage one day will be doubly sweet knowing I helped get her there lol

Thanks sarahw. I feel a lot better today I must say. There are international students at DD school who don't seem to have the academic qualifications we tend to expect of our young people. They've done a *lot* of hours per day of dance however, almost fulltime it seems to me. Not so much juggling one against the other.

Yesterday for the first time ever I had a massive 'panic attack' type episode, followed by a day in bed with a migraine, which I have only ever had once before. It was SO unpleasant. DH and I were trying to work out why this had come now, and the best explanation I can come up with is the last two years of DD doing GCSEs and auditioning for post 16 ballet training has been more of a strain on us all as a family than we had thought at the time. Never mind the stress for DD actually taking the exams and auditioning! The early mornings, late nights, homework and fitting in ballet training, vocational exams, weekend ballet commitments was a real juggling act mostly for myself, trying to keep DD calm and getting her from A to B at the right time, hopefully with more or less the right kit or books (she is actually quite good at organising herself). She got good exam results and a place at the school she wanted, so it has all worked out, but maybe now a couple of months down the line my body is trying to tell me something?! I enjoy good health usually, which I am very grateful for, but I send sympathetic vibes to parents doing through Yr10/11 with DD/DS's.

Mine had sore arm but no other side effects

The doctor we saw at travel clinic knew DD was not travelling but said she must have the injection if she was going into a dormitory setting. So I just went ahead. Not cheap but what price health in this instance?

Very useful thread thanks all. I took dd to a travel clinic today who said she should have ACWY even though had Men C jab last year. Did it on the spot for £60 (ouch!)

Apologies for a very basic question I am a ballet watching newcomer. Does the Royal Ballet perform Nutcracker every Christmas as ENB do? Or is it every other year, with a different production inbetween? 2015 is Nutcracker I think? Thanks for anyone who can help

My 16 year old DC has started collecting ballet autographs from times past and present. Cheeky request: if any of you lovely ballet.co-ers have duplicate autographs they are willing to pass on that would be so fabulous as we can't often get to ROH etc. We met an old lady the other day who gave us Adeline Genee's autograph (pencil, written for this old lady I think when said lady must have been tiny). But I don't think there are any more where this came from!

Thanks so much youngatheart. I will pass that on.

Has anyone any info on when the new syllabus is coming in? And when the old syllabus is valid until? Friend asked me to ask on the forum as her son's teacher is away and friend can't get through to the right person at RAD

Thanks 2dancersmum and Kat09 that's reassuring. Fingers crossed for a week on Saturday!

My DD has got through to ENB School finals . She is so pleased but so worried that there is "an interview" as she is quite quiet and can feel stuck for words when put on the spot. Do any of you kind people out there have any experience of an interview at audition time, particularly ENBS? It is such a shame she is fretting about this, as she has enough on her plate at the moment.

Thanks all for your kind replies. Will let you know how quickly it heals up.

My dd has suddenly developed a huge blister on the ball of her foot. Her shoes are well fitting splitsole canvas. She has been dancing more than usual so that may be the cause. I am wondering how to treat it? She put a compeed blister plaster on last night and danced on it today. This evening the blister plaster came off taking the blister with it, but there was no liquid (sorry if you are squeamish!) leaving a large circle of red skin, which luckily does not hurt. She has bathed it and put some sudocreme on it and says she is dancing again tomorrow. Can anyone help with any more I can do, or advise on a blister product I don't know about? She MAY take my advice

Is anybody else going to RBS Upper School audition on 8 Feb?