SMabbutt

My daughter is in year 7 on the program and attends Saturday 12.45 - 2.45 for a combined baller and exercise class. All extended students are at the same time. This year there are 2 level 1 classes and she says there are about 20 in a class when everyone is there.

The information is on the website http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/Elmhurst-Young-Dancers.html They have renamed the extended programme as young dancers and the auditions are May 13th for years 7 & 8 and 20th for year 9 up.

Birmingham is 12.45 - 2.45 on Saturday for year 7 up.

I've found an old information letter from when my daughter attended and they had warm up and 11/2hr ballet, then a break followed by what was classed as repertoire for 11/2 hrs until lunch. 11/4 hours repertoire after lunch, break and then 11/4 hr contemporary class. There were also evening activities including a pas-de deux workshop, bbq and barn dance last year. My daughter has been the last 2 years and had a great time, although she hasn't boarded as we live locally.

Just looking at getting a roller for my DD for Christmas, but not sure which is best. I've seen ones with and without bumps and 2-in1 rollers. Does it matter which type? She's 11 if that makes any difference.

Definitely had a great day and my dd has already been anticipating the next workshop.

I found this charity in Africa http://gambia-ballet-school.com/blog/donated-leotards-turn-kenyan-orphans-into-ballerinas/ They seem to have people in the UK involved so they may be able to advise you.

The Elmhurst website now has details of the extended peogramme on the website http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/Apply-associates.html The audition date is 25th June.

I'm not sure what the process is this year for people who aren't already associates, but last year it was open to external students. I believe my daughter's home teacher contacted Elmhurst direct, and a couple of students were accepted.

Happy to be contacted. We've found it to be a very positive experience and having different guest teacherscab be really inspiring.

Thank you to everyone for all your input. Just to update, she is finally better after a severe infection and at one point suspected pneumonia. After talking to her, taking Spooky's advice about the way to approach it, she has responded far better than I thought. We did go through all the points in the report and she says she wants to prove to the teacher that she can do it, so we will be carrying on. Her local teacher is 100% behind her. Whatever the future holds we hope that by looking on this as a challenge, learning to self-motivate and not rely so much on other people to encourage her efforts she will gain skills she can take into the future, not just dance. A long term aspiration, because she's only just turned 10 but she will have lots of support. We also appreciate all the support from everyone who replied as we are very out of our depth in the dance world, and we were initially very upset and worried.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I think it is hard to adjust to how tough you need to be, particularly if you have no prior experience of the ballet world and just saw it as a nice gentle hobby when you started out. Spooky, I think you are right about needing to try and help her to view the teacher's approach differently if she wants to carry on. I don't know how many corrections she gets directly, as we don't see the classes generally, but I don't believe the teacher is picking on her. It's just that the approach has had a negative effect on her because she's not used to it and is rather sensitive and lacking in self-confidence. We will certainly support her whatever she decides, and your advice on how to handle the report is really helpful. Mnemo, local classes don't start back till next week, and I don't like to intrude on her teacher's summer break but we will chat with her when we restart.

Thanks for all the suggestions. London is a bit too far for an associate scheme unless it is late morning. Having thought a bit more, the way she is at the moment I'm not sure she would be accepted onto a new scheme, as her technique is now apparently not good according to her report. It's hard to understand how things can have become so bad when she has always had good distinctions in her exams, moving up a grade each year, and her previous report was fine. She's not well at the moment, so we are waiting for her to get better and then we will try to give a softened version of her report and have a chat with her about what she wants to do. Most of the others in her class seem to have coped much better, despite agreeing they get little or no positive feedback. I guess it's a hard world, and she may just need to toughen up if she wants to carry on with ballet at this level. I just wish I'd known what I was getting in to when we agreed to audition.

Yes it will be the same teacher for 1 of the lessons. The term starts in September at her current scheme - rather not say which one - so it wouldn't be leaving mid term. I didn't realise some schemes had auditions in November. I'll have a look into that. Thanks.

My DD has been attending an associate scheme for 2 years. The 1st year was fine, she liked the teachers and when we got to view a lesson she always looked happy and was keen to answer teachers questions and carry out the instructions with enthusiasm. This year she had a different teacher. She has seemed to lose all her enthusiasm & confidence, and says she either feels invisible or useless, that the teacher never smiles or gives any encouragement. I thought she was just going through a rough patch, and tried to encourage her. I also initually thought she was probably being over-sensitive or exagerating. However, after listening to the other students they all seem to agree that her approach is to give corrections, but no real encouragement apart from an occasional that's better. When we watched the class there seemed to be very little encouragement either. Unfortunately my DD hasn't seemed to cope well with this approach, and has not progressed as well as she could have. Admittedly she could have pushed herself more, but she seemed to close down in class when we watched, where before she has always been very motivated. She also had an injury that didn't help. We have now had her report, and there is no way I can let her read it, as it is entirely negative. She has only just turned 10, is not super-confident, and this would completely destroy her. I know it's a tough world, and realistically her chances of a ballet career are pretty non-existent, though she would like to try. If she goes back for year 6 she will have the same teacher. She initially said she didn't want to do year 6, then changed her mind because it would only be 1 more year and she wants to try for Mid Associates so she doesn't want to fall behind. This was before we got the report though. It's too late to try for any other scheme. I really don't know what to do for the best, and how on earth do I pass on the improvements needed set out in the report without making it sound as if her teacher thinks she's useless?

I don't follow cricket much directly, but I try and show an interest in the test match because I have a husband and son who enjoy it. For the last few years they have gone with my father-in-law to watch at Trent Bridge - very convenient as we live in Nottingham. Like you I hope the weather is good, or they will be very disappointed. We were saying today that it's a good job they're booked for Saturday, or on current form they might not have seen much play on a later day. It's a good day out for the 3 generations to bond, and thankfully they've had good experiences in previous years. They used to go to the snooker, but after a couple of very disappointing sessions at the crucible, particularly one in 2006 when Ronnie O'Sullivan fell apart and walked out in the 6th frame. With 4 boys, now grown up, I've had to learn to look enthusiastic about football, cricket, rugby, formula 1 and golf. It's quite a nice change to have daughter who is very girly and loves her dance, though her hobby is turning out to be far more expensive than the lads' football & swimming sessions.

Where are you coming from and what time does she need to be there? I'm there tomorrow for my year 5 daughter's JA lessons coming from Nottingham. Is there any way I can help?

Just received an email from Elmhurst where my daughter is a JA staing they have implemented an associate programme for year 7 up. The message was as below "For your information from this academic year we have also implemented an Extended Associate programme which comprises of Royal Academy of Dance Intermediate & Intermediate Foundation Level classes along with an optional body conditioning class for students Year 7 age and upwards. Your Son/Daughter will be eligible for these classes on completing the Associate programme but please feel free to spread the word about this new programme which is also open to external students." I don't have any other information, but I guess it would be on the school website. I thought it might be of interest to some of you.

When my 5 year old asked for ballet lessons I did what I imagine most parents do. I looke for lessons that were a reasonable distance, at a time that suited us and at a price we could afford. We chose the closest teacher who did ballet lessons without requiring her to do tap or modern, as she wasn't interested in anything but ballet. I imagined a little girl twirling about in a leotard or tutu for a few years at most before getting bored and wouldn't have had a clue how to check if the teacher was any good. We were, however, fortunate to stumble on a ballet school where the teacher with vast experience of JAs and vocational training, with students who have gone on to White Lodge and Elmhurst, who spotted potential in my DD within the 1st half term. Now aged nearly 9 she is a JA at Elhurst. Not something I would have imagined when we started. If you know nothing about ballet I don't see how you can know if the teacher is any good. When you start out with your child so young all you are looking for is somewhere they can enjoy the experience, and as long as they seem happy I don't suppose most people would question if the technique was good. How would the average parent really know? I'm glad we struck lucky, although I still feel out of my depth, and guilty that she doesn't have the opportunity to benefit from summer schools - they aren't financially viable for us with the cost of JAs. I wish I was able to help her, but I think that's best left to the professionals although I hope am learning more from these forums.

Hi, I'm new to the forum. We just got a no from Birmingham too. I'm leaving it till tomorrow to let my daughter know. Hoping we don't get the tears we got last year when she tried for year 4. At least she still has her Elmhurst JA class.