amum/Cathy

Thank you very much for that Katharina. I've found a cheap second hand edition of the Wullschlager one on Amazon so I'll start with that one. It sounds fascinating.

Thank you Katharina. I was thinking of hunting down a biography but didn't know where to start, there are so many. Do these two both address his relationship with the ballet world?

They can be browsed here http://museum.odense.dk/en/collections/hans-christian-andersen-collections

Thanks alison. I'm just doing a futurelearn course about Hans Christian Andersen and am fascinated by his obsession with ballet. He has created the most beautiful series of papercuts featuring ballet dancers and I have unearthed this old guardian article about his own failed ballet ambitions http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/nov/01/dance

Well I can see it as a Matthew Bourne production. Very much a dark fairy story in the orginal HCA version. I look forward to learning more. The extent of ballet content will be very interesting to see.

I wondered Janet but is Red Shoes "about a ballet company" or about a ballet dancer?

Just read on BBC website that he's going to adapt a classic British film about a ballet company:- 'He also revealed he is currently adapting a classic film for the stage - but would not reveal which one. "I've got a world premiere next year for my company," he said. "It's based on a famous British film about dance, about a ballet company. People can guess." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-34556441 I'm stuck - anyone??

My dd loves it.I can't stand the wooden acting Good Luck. Would be great to see a balletcoer on it

Thanks Katymac. It seems to be back again without wanting a new password. I did have a system but I think I've needed 5 new mumsnet passwords in 5 months and the system can't cope!

There are only so many new passwords that I can come up with that I'm likely to remember And I'm getting serious withdrawal symptoms. Wish we could donate to a mumsnet fund like we have Balletco. Worth it if it could protect them from rogue attacks. I just hope no one takes a dislike to us on here and tries something similar. The speculation on mumsnet was that it was an abusive ex partner whose wife/partner had left him after encouragement from mumsnetters.

So frustrating. I feel for poor Justine and her team. There was a a good commentary piece on it in Saturday's Guardian by Deborah Orr.

We know a boy who ds did JAs with who went through White Lodge up to year 11 then went to Arts Ed for sixth form. He will have had to find somewhere to board. I know fundraising was going to be an issue as obviously no MDS anymore for him. Don't know if they do DADAs there?

What about Arts Ed? Pretty sure they do A levels.....

So sorry to hear this. My sympathies to his family and colleagues/friends. I was lucky enough to see him play the Swan last year and he owned the role and the whole ballet. Just mindblowing. What a loss.

http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/9887-ucas-pointsnqf-level/?hl=%2Bucas+%2Bpoints

Adv foundation attracts ucas points but not Adv 1 as it is too advanced! It counts as a first year higher education qualification - someone kindly posted about it for me on here. I will try to find link. Ds is in process of completing his UCAS form and can only put it in his personal statement there isn't anywhere else he can enter it.

If the stock you order is Wear Moi then I think it's usually made to order? That's been our experience for boys' stuff. It's very annoying as you can't send it back then. Once they had changed the fabric and the sizing of a favourite top and we were stuck with this expensive top which ds won't wear. Edited for a typo

Yes our school had an appeal situation with the RAD last summer, for exactly that reason and we waited from June to September. But then RAD always take ages anyway.

I have had that problem with Planet Dance in the past and so ring to check stock. The only issue I have with them is that I have to sign for their parcels. They are very good for boys' kit so I couldn't do without them.

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jul/12/contemporary-dance-debate-shechter-khan-newson-laban-students-training Hope that works!

Luke Jennings has written more about this in today's Observer. Essentially he regrets the loss (or reduction) of rigorous older methods, including ballet,in the current training at the main Contemporary schools. Really interesting (to me anyway). I'm having trouble pasting the link though so will have to find it again, sorry!

On the plus side my ds is really pleased about the potential increased amount he could borrow towards lining costs as he was going to have to scrimp and save to pay for the lowest band accomodation at uni. Assuming the right to borrow a higher maintance amount isn't just for the lowest income students then he could now consider the middle priced halls etc and not worry about holding down a termtime job at the same time. The old maximum figure (which was means tested) you could borrow was £4500- £5000ish (outside London) I think. And that definitely wouldn't stretch to the true costs so either parents or students had to find the extra. He wouldn't have qualified for the old grant, and we definitely couldn't afford to hand over £3000+ extra a year to him - so we were in a difficult squeezed middle situation. If he can now borrow the extra £3000 then I am happy. It's still not clear though whether the new higher loan is available to all. Jane I thought the same - an excuse for the providers to up the rents!

Ditto to what Kate said. Thank you!

Oh, goodness. Decisions. I wonder if Preston dates suggest that rehearsals are over Feb half term.

AmieDancer my ds is going through the same issues. He is going to open days at (mostly Russell Group) universities that offer Liberal Arts degrees where he can major/minor in History/drama (or the other way round.) Some of the universities would let you do English/Dance within this degree. The dance is not ballet though! The grades asked vary from AAB to A*AA. Some of these places are cities where you can find high standard adult ballet classes mentioned in another thread in this forum. My son doesn't feel strongly enough about ballet to have your dilemma, but musical theatre is another matter - he is looking into one or two well regarded musical theatre degrees as well. Please don't try and please everyone. And do enjoy researching all the exciting possibilities there are out there for you! Cathy edited to correct some typos