balletqs

You could try MAC RB use theirs.

I think with all due respect that it is not the done thing to advertise for students on here but to use the proper resources. You do not affect me as I am not local to you but I would be upset if you did. I'm sure you offer some fantastic opportunities. But don't we all. I am disturbed that you are managing to get students from the forum.

Absolutely lildancer96 and congrats all round to them very deserving. I just wonder why some years they can have someone outstanding who doesn't meet that gold criteria really. But superb show from the UK girls well done them!

*their

And the boys that year... well stunning! I don't understand there criteria for the competition from year to year, ie how on a really strong year done don't even make the finals yet on another yr they might have got a medal!

Well the last yr they did they didn't award the gold Francesca Hayward got silver- about to debut as Manon with RB, Tierney Heap got a bronze - RB co. Karla Doorbar, Anna Rose o Sullivan, Laura Day plus others who were all outstanding didn't get a thing... I sat there in shock the standard was incredible and yet they didn't reflect it in the awards IMO so TBH I'm not surprised they've stopped entering them. Let's see what they do next year ... It's in London.

Have you looked at Ballet Zaida on Instagram they do a similar thing in America.

'Retweet' of Genee Finalists 2 boys, 10 girls. Unanimous decision. 2 ENBS girls, 1 Elmhurst girl and 1 Central boy I believe: @RADheadquarters: #Genee2014 Finalists: 4 of 12 Jessica Allison - Walker, Australia; Jessica Brown, Australia, Rachel Hickey, British; Uyu Hiromoto; Japanese @RADheadquarters: cont'd #Genee2014 8 of 12 Honoka Ishihara, Japanese; Mikaela Johnson, Australian; Vida Polakov, US/New Zealand; Lucinda Strachan, British @RADheadquarters: Cont'd #Genee2014 Isabella Swietlicki, British; Midori Yokomori, Japanese; James Parratt, British; Weslley Vitalino Carvalho Da Silva Brazil

Yes Anjuli abs agree. I should have phrased better. The pelvic lift will help when finishing to open positions did not mean finish sharply to those.

Your pelvis is key for your turn. The placement of it is the same throughout preparation, turn and finish. Pull your pelvis up as you lower land to 4th or indeed in any position. Think of the finishing position as an 'up' position rather than coming down keeping your pelvis stable. And finish sharply to 4th don't drift to 4th. All the same applies to 5th. This will help you when finishing in open positions too.

Hmm so much I could say but in a rush at the mo. Will rewrite later if I get a chance though I'm sure there will be some excellent advice on here too, but for now just to say don't worry about yr associate class and maybe ask the teacher for advice. Say u have been finding them challenging and ask for some help. Also go back to basics, find the enjoyment of turning, find your rhythm, find your coordination getting into position quickly by the first quarter arms, hips, shoulders around together. I always advise a strong quick rise myself but it's different for everyone. We are not all the same type of cake, we all need different ingredients. You do need to analyse, but sometimes in turning, over analysing can back Fire as it takes away your freedom in the turn.another thing I try is concentrating on the finish. The turn is just the means to get there. It stops panic about the turn. If your prep position is good the turn position should be good so just think up round (round,round) finish ☺️ Lots more but that's a start ????

Yes taxi4ballet that is right. My underneath foot is very high from the floor but the top was low. I really worked on it though and it developed through training. However I did a lot of metatarsal pull exercises, resistance exs with a Thera band, individual toe resistance exs with a wide elastic band, hundreds of tendus! Tendus over a wide jam jar to length then the top of the foot. I did used to sit with my feet under a low cabinet to stretch the top however I would not advise a foot stretcher due to impingement on the Achilles. Lots of Demi pointe work in soft blocks helped my feet too. If your teacher has suggested pointe work she should have given dd a few exs to help her strengthen her feet already.

I agree with Anjuli 100% But for reassurance I pushed my feet really hard. My arches were high but my instep low do I did tons of metatarsal and foot strengthening exs daily plus instep stretching and lots and lots of pointe work from age 12 until I stopped dancing incl 3 yrs at RBS Upper school and some pro work and my feet are pretty unscathed. In fact when I have a rare pedicure I'm always complimented. Keep her feet clean, soak in a salt bath after every pointe session. Let shoes dry out between wears not stuffed in a bag or plastic bag. Dry and talc feet after pointe to keep skin soft. Keep feet well moisturised to prevent dry callouses developing. Vick is great on the feet too! Tape feet before pointe with fabric dressing strip to avoid friction blisters.

Yes think it is. I don't think they made it clear they would be responsible for funding their return. Such a shame. So glad yr dd is recovering well great news

Hope your dd is on the mend Kat09. Generally the challenge was enjoyed by all I think. Darcey was late apparently. The standard wasn't massively high this time although I believe level 4 was a pretty even playing field. Now unfortunately the 3 winners from the UK levels 1-3 cannot afford to go back to perform at the Genee finals next week as the RAD are not paying for them to go. Really cross! Any short notice sponsorship ideas??

It is so simple and the use of gesture is divine. So much emotion and not a pirouette or exaggerated extension in sight. I just love it. I used to watch a video of Viviana Durante dancing it when she was a student endlessly.

It works well in flat shoes too.

Is it just that she has to perform any solo or must it be repertoire? The Pie Jesu solo from Requiem is a good one to do. This is Leanne Benjamin. http://youtu.be/m4JXnA_R69s

And def agree with everything you say dancer sugar plum

I don't entirely agree with quote wording but was interrupted with two emergency incidents before I had chance to add anything. I agree I wasn't given a perfect perfect body and only walked on in roles not under contract. I always feel that the things I found toughest I teach the best. But miss Adams and Madam and Pamela May and Maria Fay amongst others, demonstrated in heels in their eighties plus and conveyed the most exquisite meaning behind their movements so demonstration can be done in varying degrees. I'm afraid after two children and a horrendous back injury my demonstration is not as it was but I do what I can to get my meaning across and the eyes are key to everything. Watching Anita Young flashing her eyes in class is incredibly inspirational. She is no spring chicken but can show dynamics, musicality co ordination artistry the list goes on

"The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires!" William Arthur Ward

abs agree taxi4ballet. Hopefully a good teacher will keep providing inspiration and challenges. "Your body is yr instrument" quote 'Madam'

Dance is Life I agree it is such a shame that some students are held back by finances. Sorry to hear that. We too do free work classes alongside the syllabus although these are by invitation. But a lot gets done in syllabus classes too. The children don't get confused in our experience. It is good 'prep for rep'. And the music really helps them especially with the new syllabus. We def don't push students to do exams if they don't want to but most do. One of the biggest reasons for taking a little more time on the grades is that they get a longer period of time to do the character work. Essential for style! And also so that they can still attend a grade in their A level years if they wish. We did try a 'teen class' but it wasn't popular and they wanted to be in their peers classes. It is all so dependent on the schools aims/size/other classes as far as I can see c.

Yes taxi that sounds a prime example of a school where peer group exams does not work :/ irritating to see... Don't get me started!!

I echo hfbrews comments as I feel the same. I certainly would not encourage pushing through the old syllabus when they have so much to gain from the new and all students were thrilled to be able to start the new work. How lovely for them to have the grounding and strength from the old syllabus to go on to the new syllabus with. It certainly shows in their results. We are a huge school that does everything!! So we are doing what works for us as a school to nurture and boost the confidence of all students. All students take the exams if they wish even the ones who struggle we get them through with a merit. In twenty years I've had one hands worth of a Pass mark and they were students with learning difficulties or lack or attendance. Also, sometimes these are the students whose joy of dance shines through in an exam no matter what shape or size they are, or how limited their technical ability. You can still help them become a confident 'dancer' with musicality, artistry and feeling often missing from students whom just 'learn' a grade. The talented ones are not held back at all as they have their vocational work to concentrate on. And all our graduating students if they want a dance career gain DADAs and scholarships to the top ballet schools and MT colleges. So for us this way works. I respect everyone has a different way of working there is no correct way, but I think it is great if students are getting a whole training from each grade, not just scratching the surface. Anyway back to the original topic. I would just repeat that people should not be hung up on grades. If the student is bored they should indeed ask if they can join a higher class as well as their own or a vocational class for strength or perhaps try another dance genre class as well as ballet.