Kate_N

Really good points @DVDfan I think the only way that change will happen is through education of parents and guardians about what is appropriate dance training and methods of training. And then how to effect change in a productive and appropriate way. How could parents change the discourse from complaining anonymously on a message board to actually dealing effectively with bullying? That would be an amazing conversation to have here on BalletCo. (And I write as someone bullied throughout my academic schooling at a time when you just had to put up with it). I'm sure posters could share resources, contacts, ideas for letters and effective challenges to mistreatment. 

I'd hope we could we do this without the personalised comments (and some comments veering towards xenophobia) of the past? If we want this message board to remain as a source of good information, debate, and knowledge, we need to be mindful of the Moderators' workload and the legal position of this board. Message board Moderators (I am one on another MB) have to balance all points of view, and the health of a message board overall. 

I really appreciate how the Mods here have kept the MB open to people's concerns, and safeguarded the conversations away from personalised comments, which only serve to undermine the reputation of BalletCo as a place of informed and genuine information, civilised discussion, which is always going to include differences in points of view, experiences, and opinions - heck, yes, even disagreements!

12 hours ago, Ballet2101 said:

ABT/JKO has the exact same reputation as a very slow boil training approach that is very safe and nurturing, but doesn't always create the dancers that make it into the Professional Training Divisions.  I think this is more common than you may think with the larger schools

This chimes with US dancer friends’ experiences with SAB, where they “assess out” annually. I have one acquaintance who is a beautiful dancer (and now talented teacher) but was assessed out from SAB because he was deemed too short for a male dancer. And I know that the Australian Ballet School can be ruthless about assessing out, or requiring a repeated year, and the “pipeline” to the AB is not a given.

And you only have to browse our US parallel site to see that parents of dancers in the US are just as concerned about these issues, and also go to some lengths to calculate how many “American-trained” dancers (whatever that means) end up in the leading US flagship companies.  
 

Most of these schools, and the ballet companies are non-profits (a bit like UK charity status).

What @Dance*is*lifesays is true: it’s a tough art, and unforgiving, like any pursuit that requires a very rare combination of genetics, facility, and desire for the work.

Wonderful news, Viv. Congratulations!

18 hours ago, Angela Essex said:

🤣 yes it’s gone up from £1 to £1.50 so a 50% increase - well above inflation 🤣🤣🤣

Ha ha ha! Love this - I haven't managed to get to Hannah's classes for far too long! (work, blah blah blah). I'll try to join you all via online soon!

Also, pre-Covid, Hannah's Beginner's class at Danceworks always started with a really good focused check in, including finding your arms in first position "As if you're holding a beach ball, not a beer" 

@Peanut68 you’re right that for most pointe beginners, hands on and live is essential.  There are some horror stories of classes and demonstrations on YouTube! You wouldn’t want any child or adult beginner in pointe work to study only online. 
 

But I think @MissEmilyis quite an experienced dancer? And the teachers I mentioned are highly experienced and ethical.  And there is always the possibility of attending their classes in person as well.

I think Christina Mittelmaier does a live/online class on Tuesdays? Also Isabella Mayes/Ballet with Isabella? Or Franziska Rosenweg? (I see them all advertising via Instagram).

Nina Thilas-Mohs has pretty much taken over Renato’s classes, and she teaches at Pineapple and Central. I love her classes, but they’re probably not the best for getting back into shape.  You could try David Kierce,  but his classes are so crowded, I find it hard to really go for it in the centre.   Hannah Frost is great for getting back to clean technique with no injuries. 

I had PF in both feet, but not at the same time, thank goodness! Both ties it was during exercise - the first was as I landed a really nice double pirouette. My doctor recommended firm supportive shoes with a bit of a heel - not trainers, but something like brogues, rather than a high heel.  I also used a 250ml bottle filled with water & frozen, as a foot roller. 10-15 minutes of rolling over the frozen bottle hurt like anything, but relieved the acute pain for a bit. 

Exercises such as doming help. I also try to walk around the house barefoot (or in socks) as much as possible,  although a lot of people with chronic PF are aghast at going barefoot.

Once you're over the acute phase, you need to stretch, stretch, stretch. The tiny intrinsic muscles of the feet, but also the calves - really long runner's stretch, with foot turned out, straight, and turned in. The stretching really helps, I find!

Caveat: I'm not a medical doctor. This is just what's worked for me.

Coming in late (it's been hectic travelling in my world) a really sincere & heartfelt thank you for all you do as Moderators and generally all-round fab human beings! I have reason to know directly of your kindness & efficiency in running this space for us.

Music to my ears @JohnS I was thinking this cold crisp weather would make even Ullscarf bearable. I had a lovely day up on Ullscarf from Greenup Edge down to Watendlath in a hot dry summer a few years ago - but still occasionally went almost over my ankles in the black mud up there!

16 minutes ago, JohnS said:

two complete rounds of all 214 Wainwright Lake District fells (January to May and May to November)

Oh, that is what I want to hear about! I'm a Lancastrian transplanted to the deep West Country, and I'm afraid Dartmoor just does not do it for me in the way that roaming Borrowdale or back of Skiddaw does ...

Woweeeeeeee, Viv! That is wonderful.  Many congratulations!

On 11/12/2022 at 15:53, EverHopeful said:

Personally though I also wouldn’t push to take her out of “lower grades” as I think it will be helpful consolidation for her.

I totally concur with this. She should get very established in the foundations of dance. Grades/level exam results shouldn't be an end in themselves - they're merely an indicator of achievement at that specific hour. And any syllabus is simply an organised recognised way of learning first the fundamentals, then the repertoire of steps, in a progressive logical way. 

If your daughter may want to teach, then learning the basics and really having the fundamentals in her body, will be the most important learning she can do. Slow and steady is important, particularly at the age of 12, which is when serious study really starts - don't get swayed by speed of travelling up the levels - your DD needs a solid foundation. It sounds as though she's very talented, so she's got time and potential! 

Wow, Viv, congratulations!!

I've found their mail order service to be brilliant. Be reassured!

I've never done Ms Du Boisson's class, but I think some other Forum members do do her class regularly. But I have done 'General' level classes at Pineapple and elsewhere with a range of abilities from ex-professional or pre-pro training, to just-above-Beginners. I think the main things are to know your limits, so you can dance safely, and know when to get out of way if a combination in the centre is beyond you (that's me in every petit allegro that gets more complicated than a few glissades & assemblès)! 

The thing that really irritates me in open ballet classes in which there are pretty basic beginners is when they take up space in ways that are generally out of order in any ballet class, & don't get out of the way when they can't do an exercise. I've been crashed into by beginners being where they shouldn't be (why is it so often men with this lack of spatial awareness?) Dancers just stopping the middle of the studio or doing something so different from anything set by the teacher <sigh> I wish teachers of adult beginners would explain class etiquette - the dancer moving across the floor ALWAYS has priority.

Anyway, (rant over) if you've done some ballet before & are just getting back into it, I'm sure you'll be fine. Ms Du Boisson is spoken of very highly as a teacher in here & elsewhere.

Wow, what a story, Bruce!

I don't drive either, @Mary so am totally reliant on trains & buses. 

If I ruled the world (cue: Harry Secombe), I would make it part of the contract for every manager of public transport services that neither they, nor any member of their immediate family, could use a car for any purpose for at least two weeks each month. Then they would learn, first-hand, what it's like to be totally dependent on trains and buses to go about one's daily life.

We might see some changes then!

Re-nationalise the railways! To be honest, I never found British Rail to be as bad as it was painted. I've also lived in other countries with far less rail infrastructure, and I know how much better the UK rail infrastructure is. We have the potential for an excellent system here in the UK. What's stopping us?

7 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

You should try living here and trying to cope with their abysmal service.

I did & have. I remember once leaving Euston at 7pm to get home to the Lancashire county town. Should have been home & in bed by 11pm. Instead, I was walking home from the station at 5am the next morning. I got half my ticket price refunded. This was in the grand old days of Virgin!

I feel your pain, Sim. The West Coast line is probably one of the worst in the country. And yet it serves so many major cities, and there are few alternatives. Still, who cares about Northerners? <sarcasm font off>

But what's a "reasonable price" ??

You're paying for expertise, talent, ability - these things don't come cheaply. Teachers I rate do online or in-person privates for between £50-£60 per hour.

We need to pay highly experienced artists, teachers & coaches what their life time of experience is worth.

8 hours ago, jmhopton said:

Bring back Virgin!

And that's SAYING something - Virgin were pretty terrible in the first place. It once took me from 7pm to 5am to get home Euston-Lancaster. And another time it was 8 hours from Birmingham to Lancaster.

I think you were also asking about north-ish London - so a couple of suggestions: one at SHepherd's Bush, the other Highgate village, both reasonably accessible by Tube or bus. 

A school that's been well-spoken of on this forum is the West London School of Dance, run by Anna Du Boisson, who is a highly regarded teacher of children & adults of all levels. 

The Highgate Ballet School is also well thought of and offers a good programme. The Principal, Julie Cronshaw, is highly knowledgeable, particularly about the work & teaching of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti. I think there have been some good reports of this school on this forum.

Both schools offer multiple classes per week at the more vocational or advanced levels.

Danceworks used to run a very comprehensive children's programme in the Before Times ... I don't know if they still do?