lillydog

Hello guys, I can't tell you how pleased I am, it feels like I have won the lotto. I had forgotten how beautiful ballet can look. He is also so much happier and has been busy practicing the new steps that he learnt in just one lesson. I know I have made the right choice and it is thanks to the good advice I found here, so everyone pat yourselves on the back. Job well done !! Lillydog xx

hello, quick update as I am sooooo tired and need my bed, but needed to share. Have found new RAD dance teacher. Absolutely lovely and I have a very good feeling about this. Been teaching for many, many years. My DS likes her and has had a class with her and it all looked very beautiful. So after Christmas am taking his ballet training to her. Thank you everyone for all the help and advice. Now off for a good nights sleep. Lillydog xx

Wow, thank you for all the replies guys. I can't tell you how nice this has been as I was just so worried. Alison...thank you for the new title. Aurora....it is possible and I hadn't thought of that. I do now wonder if it has anything to do with next year being show year.....maybe they don't want a boy in that class because they planning something very girly ?? Legseleven...thank you, your post is exactly how I feel. I remember now that there was talk of him joining gr 3 and then skipping the gr 2 exam, but when I told him he asked me to tell them that he really wanted to take the gr 2 exam. I mentioned this in passing to them ( never thinking it would be a problem), then when I asked when he was joining gr 3 some time later the offer had been withdrawn....I wonder if this has anything to do with it? I had actually forgotten that. I'm glad exams aren't a consideration for vocational school, it takes the pressure off. I just didn't want him to be out of his depth at auditions. Spannerandpony....yes I think I have some more questions although I am just wondering about walking instead. Will think and research options ready for new year. Balleteacher......The school is very small and run a lot of classes which cover everything. Triple threat seems to be the 'in' word which is okay, but it is very difficult to get more than one class of anything a week. You have all given me lots to think about and although I am sure I will still worry until it is sorted, I feel better knowing that I am not the only one who finds it all strange. The many different reasons which have been put forward and my ideas of what might be going on have certainly opened my eyes. Thank you seems such a small thing to say but you have all been fantastic. Lillydog xx

Hello any idea about roles for boys in Swan Lake.....we are very excited. Our first time too !!

Hello, thank you for all your lovely replies, a problem shared really does help. Thank you for lovely welcome from spannerandpony. Balleteacher....they said they want to build a really firm foundation to make sure he gets a really high mark in his exam. Taxi4ballet.....they only opened a few years ago, and they also hope to offer full time courses for 16+ in the near future. I think a few students may have gone off to college, but the bulk of their training would have been with someone else. LinMM.....he took gr 1 after a few months with them and got a distinction. He has just taken exams for tap/modern/jazz.....just waiting for results. The classes are very small and they are not planning any exams until late next year. A couple of us Mums think it is too long to be on one grade. We were going to ask about bringing it forward, but after my last conversation I feel like it would be a no. I also have to add that we were invited to join the gr 3 class after summer hols, but they changed their mind once we had been to Summer school. The more keen DS gets the more they slow everything down....it does feel like a conspiracy. Am weighing up my options at the moment as he is feeling a little hurt and also like he isn't good enough. It is like he is being punished for having dreams yet they are making out that they are doing this all for him. Or perhaps I am just getting my knickers in a twist over nothing :-/

Thanks guys for all your advice. Hopefully I will sleep better tonight. lol xx

Thank you balletmum20, that is what I think too. But do I dare move school, that is the question. Have spoken to them at length and just get told same thing, this is the way we do things, but other children are allowed to do the 2 grades together...so it confuses the issue even more. When I queried this I was told that those children have private lessons to help them in class (even though the private lessons haven't been ballet, but they don't know I know that ;-) ). The school was set up to reduce the need for children to have to go away to board at 11 and I really wonder if they are trying to hinder rather than help.

We are living in the sticks so not always practical to get to these places, I will have a look. Thanks for your help mart.

Apparently it is how their teacher does things, my DS like the achievement of passing each exam. If they don't want to push him into gr 3 now (which I am okay about) why would they push him into gr 4 ? And all I am after is another ballet class. It seems silly to ask to return to gr 1. Is gr 3 a huge step up from gr 2 ?

Hi Taxi4ballet, thank you for the reply. He is studying ISTD and really loves it. He has really surprised me at how well he dances and at a recent EYB audition was one of the children picked for scholarship (didn't get one !!). I know that the best way to improve is to do as many classes as you can. I have had a look at gr 3 and can't see where he would struggle. I used to dance and there isn't anything I couldn't help him with. It seems once I mentioned going off to school at 11y, everything slowed down....

My DS has been on gr 2 for over a year and is showing a lot of potential. I asked his school if he could have another ballet class in the week and I suggested gr 3. They said no, that he wouldn't cope, which is fair enough, but then said he will take his gr 2 next xmas then skip gr 3 altogether and move straight onto gr 4. I am finding it difficult to understand the logic in this. He also studies tap, jazz and modern and is already gr3 tap and gr4 modern. He is 10 and would like to audition for vocational school next year (entry y7). My question is, does this sound okay or not. I am very tempted to move schools because I think missing out gr3 is a mistake. I can understand not taking the exam but to miss out the study seems...well, just plain wrong. Am very worried and this is my first post so hello everyone xx