shygirlsmum

That should be Grenat..... 🤣

Granny sold too, sorry 

Black sold x

I have two degas leotards for sale both 9502 size 14A (front lined)

one black and one grenat (lovely deep red)

the black one has been worn only a few times and the red just once, unfortunately my DD just wasn’t comfortable in them 😢

I would like £25 each

We are in the same position, we have 3 kids nominated and none of the parents have tickets 😢

How is she in full soles? I have been told (by RB MA teacher) that they are better for strengthening feet so might be better for your DD.  Split soles for performance but full sole for class might work.

My DD also attended for the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last!

The standard of teaching was exceptional and Homestay worked perfectly.  

The final show was wonderful but the icing on the cake was the friendly atmosphere, from students to faculty everyone was lovely.  I had no worries at all for the whole two weeks as I felt that DD was in such safe hands.

Thank you tutugirl, see you next year 😀

On 16/07/2018 at 01:15, smallbythesea said:

I can recommend The arts garage in Hull.

13 royal associates, students with places at northern ballet associates and Midlands associates. 6 girls going away this time to full time vocational school with dadas or scholarships and 4 last year. Dancing in a range of genres approximately 10-14 hours per week and they do the IDTA syllabus, free work and RAD vocational exams. They have an annual showcase and compete in local festivals. X

Wonderful dance school providing not only ballet to an extremely high standard but many other genres too.  The name of the school is actually LWHS School of Dance and they are based in The Arts Garage.

Thank you

I am currently decorating dd’s bedroom and thought it might be nice to put up a bar but I don’t want to take up the carpet.  I wondered if I could get some sort of removable flooring to put near bar for pointe work.  Has anyone done similar or has suggestions.

TIA

Thanks everyone 👍🏼

I have read lots of posts about buying and selling on of degas leotards and wondered what is it that makes them so special.  DD wears lots of different brands, some nicer/more flattering than others, DD particularly likes high legged designs.  DD starts senior associates in September and kit list just says black leotard (I haven’t actually read properly, just skimmed it so I might have this wrong)  but assuming haven’t misunderstood I was considering trying a degas, so I would be interested to hear thoughts on what sets Degas apart from other brands.

One of the directors has taught at midlands and dd loved the classes.  Unfortunately, I cannot add any more than that.

I emailed, this is the response.

Dd was awarded £30 in sansha vouchers at our local festival and I was planning on buying tights for summer school, I’m guessing I missed the boat 😕

I can’t remember what DD auditioned in but for RB MA’s (never tried JS’s) she was asked to wear full sole with one elastic for class, I don’t know if it was simply teacher preference but cross over elastic was a no no.

6 hours ago, sarahw said:

 

I think it partly depends on the age of the child and the reason for going. In our recent experience my dd has found Ballet West to be challenging and enjoyable and learnt a lot. This isn't suitable until around age 13 I would think. For a wider age group the West Yorkshire SS run by tutugirl was excellent. DD enjoyed junior Elmhurst SS but that was some years ago. 

 

Sometimes as child gets older there may be other reasons to go somewhere such as checking out potential schools for Upper School applications. 

 

I'm sure others can add other experiences.

 

I 

Thanks for the information, I don't know much about Ballet West other than I heard its in an Idyllic but remote location. 

I will take a look at both programs, DD is 14 and has just taken her RAD Intermediate exam so might suit Ballet West.

Many thanks

3 hours ago, sarahw said:

 

TBG as you've not had any feedback I'll tell you what we've been told (DD has never been) by an attendee: girls classes very large. Boys classes great. Their opinion was that if you're a paying girl you may get better value elsewhere...... But it was enjoyable. Sorry if that muddies the waters.....

I agree classes are pretty big but DD has not done other courses so we have nothing to compare with, do you have any recommendations?

20 hours ago, Anna C said:

 

In my experience, it's the fitters that can make or break a customer's good relationship with the shop.  In the 7 years she's been en pointe, my dd has had one bad (sometimes terrible) fitting in Dancia, Capezio, Bloch and even once in Freed.  

Likewise, over the years she's had excellent fittings in Bloch, Freed, and Dancia recently (although now she "fits" her own Gaynors so to be fair, the fitter didn't have to do as much).

 

There are only two London shops she doesn't bother with at all for shoes, and those are Capezio and Sansha.  

Dancia, Bloch and Freed are all worth trying more than once because unlike Capezio and Sansha, the fitting service is usually good or excellent, with the odd bad fitter being the exception rather than the rule. 

 

In Freed, dd still insists on seeing Beth, Sophie or Jade if she needs to change Maker for any reason.   

 

Fittings get so much easier when the student has several years' experience, knows what works for them and what they should or shouldn't be feeling.  With younger students I think mistakes can be made in almost any shop, to be honest.  I wouldn't recommend ruling out a pointe shoe brand or a shop based on one experience alone.   Had we done that, we'd never have returned to Dancia seven years ago, but fitters change and with them, the whole experience. 

 

 

 

 

We have been fitted in freed London 4 times now, twice she has been sold custom shoes, not custom for DD but someone else (both died pretty quickly) twice with Studios professional, she had been fitted the studios pros by a local fitter and London fitter was initially a bit snippy about that shoe for a young dancer before admitting she had nothing more suitable.  Locally she has always had Studios pros but as we often travel to London we thought that best option to buy shoes there.

We once had a fitting in London Bloch but they couldn’t find a good fit so we didn’t buy any, however, teacher has fitted DD with Bloch and both are happy (dd’s feet have grown and gained strength since Bloch London unsuccessful fitting).

I guess we will keep trying 😕

Thanks for responding will try Dancia next time.

DD has always worn freed (i think because MA teacher recommended them) the last pair were fitted in London and DD has just dropped the bombshell that she can’t get up properly on them and they are twisting this is a week before her RAD intermediate exam.  The shoes are in decent condition as DD doesn’t do that much pointe (they are about 5 weeks old) so I’m really disappointed that we were sold the wrong shoes and frustrated that DD didn’t speak up earlier.  

Fortunately dance teacher sourced some Bloch which are apparently much better.  Not ideal to get them dance ready so close to exam but at least she has some shoes.

Has anyone else been disappointed with fitting service at the London stores?

On ‎13‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 19:47, Princessballerina said:

I think the boys Mids are London only.

We have a boy in our MIDS class (not London)

https://ie.loccitane.com/royal-ballet-collections,103,1,74658,1137758.htm

love this brand.  I’m sure the ballet inspired sets will be beautiful, quite pricey though.

DD was put on the short wait list for year 8 (2016 entry) we were contacted by telephone prior to the term starting offering a place, not sure of the date but emails receiving documentation are dated 5th May so place offered  not long after initial short wait list notification.

Our Mids class has spaces, we were due to have a new starter for year 9 but she was offered a full time school so turned it down and the place has not been filled.  What I’m saying is that it is probable that list has closed (I have no idea when the student notified RB that they were not accepting their place but I know that they were offered a full MDS well before the end of the school year). 

I am sorry if this is disappointing news but I know if I were in your position I would rather know than keep hoping.  

3 hours ago, ravasmum said:

You also have to know that you can 'buy' followers. I am not sure how it works but there are ways...

Really, the only social media I have personally is FB, I keep an eye on dd’s Instagram account to check for weirdo’s 🤣 but had no idea people bought followers