shygirlsmum

My DD has entered before and been the only one from her dance school. I would agree with Miracle, it is well organised and good fun and great to see some other dancers, very inspiring. I wouldn't worry about her marks, if she got the qualifying mark then she has just a good a chance as anyone else, 89 is pretty amazing though so she must be of a very high standard. Good luck.

I'm really not sure about the mark, in all honesty I thought that her modern was much better than her ballet but in that she scored much lower.  I'm not saying that I have clue what I'm looking for but I was surprised by the mark.  Having said all that she has improved substantially in the last year so perhaps it is coming together for her rather than just being a fluke. We have been teasing her that the adjudicator was asleep and that she only won because I do the most amazing buns and that my awesome skill pushed up her score - she's not impressed by my hilarious banter

Hi Shygirlsmum

I think that if your daughter wants to do it then why not, I am sure you will have a great experience. I am like you, I love to watch my DD dance so we get involved with various festivals. We have experience with a dance school of attending All England finals a few times. We enjoyed our time, came away with some medals and made the most of being in London by exploring the city and having a lovely break as well as enjoying the dancing. It can be expensive with accommodation but you can get some great places to stay at a reasonable price if you look around. The standard of dancing is good but like most festivals it varies so don't let your daughter be put off. Why not let her do the regionals, see if she qualifies and then make your decision from there. Where are you doing your regionals? 

We would be doing the North Midlands regional final but after teacher initially saying she is happy for us to do it, I now get the impression that she doesn't want us to go ahead so I think we will give it a miss

DD was never a JA and was lucky enough to be offered a year 8 MIDS place from the SWL. We didn't appreciate until she started how incredibly lucky she has been to be offered the place and it has been a wonderful experience. Good luck to you all x

Well done!!!!

No idea what a flop is but DD has a friend who has been attempting some dancemoms move. Apparently dancing on toes barefoot, it sounds terribly dangerous to me but I'm no expert ????

DD asked for one of these for her birthday for the past 2 years, I have always said no but I was waivering this year. Thanks for posting this has made up my mind, it's still a no.

All England Regionals are run very well. I know people who privately enter every time have done for years so must be a good experience. The staff are always lovely and helpful.National finals are a wonderful experience too.x

This is encouraging, thanks for replying.

I have no experience of All England festivals, but this experience may be along similar lines! Dd won a regional junior modern championship a couple of years ago and duly qualified for the IDTA Champion of Champions event in Blackpool. We were the only ones from our dance school, but decided to go along for the experience. Never again. It seemed like a fabulous day for those from the huge dance schools, who arrived in coaches and wearing t-shirts specially printed to mark the occasion, but we felt very lonely and like we didn’t really fit in. All of the changing rooms had been taken over by the big groups, and dd ended up getting changed in a toilet cubicle. Her £20 Bloch leotard and standard stage make-up also seemed woefully inadequate. It was all very glitzy and we both felt way out of our comfort zone. We’ll be sticking with the local friendlies from now on Having said all that - All England may be very different.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience, great achievement to get so far though. 

Our local festivals are both All England qualifying festivals but our school does not participate in the regional finals even though lots of our dancers qualify.  My DD would love to do more competitions and has qualified with all her solo dances, so I am considering entering her.  I have asked our teacher who has said that they don't enter group dances as the finals are in August and its hard to get everyone together at this time of year also costly to get to London should they ultimately reach the finals but she is happy for soloist to enter (there is also the question of registration fee which I believe is £60).  So, I wondered.......

1. Is it worth the hassle and expense of attending (our regional final is a couple of hours drive away).

2. I appreciate that DD has qualified all her dances but the marks do vary ie: she won her ballet with a mark of 89 but won her modern with a mark of only 86 (I realise that different adjudicators marking will differ) but I'm trying to work out if she will be up to the right standard, I don't want her to feel deflated if she's miles behind all the other competitors. 

I have such mixed feeling about this but I think it would be good idea for her to see other dancers perform outside of our own area, plus, on a selfish note I just love to see her dance so every opportunity is good for me.   I look forward to everyone's opinions.

Oh Piccolo that just the kind of thing I do (I once booked trains the wrong way round booking London to home and home to London, fortunately I spotted my mistake straight away and train company sorted it out without penalty).  I hope its not too costly for you and good luck in first class

*were - can't edit, sorry!!!

DD is mid but I did application online so no advantage, as far as I'm aware no Mids stamped forms where given out.

Waiting list for DD too!!!

The things we do for our DC, I'm lucky oh does the associate dance run but I could be persuaded to do a regular London trip ???? I would be even more skint though!!!

DD has only done one workshop so far and loved it, school have also been great with authorising time off, I assumed that our term dates differ to RBS (we are also northern) but not really sure.

The balletboyz workshop sounds like a great opportunity, I hope your Ds enjoys it x

I'm a little redundant too! DD likes to get herself ready now. You will soon be busy sewing on sequins etc ???? The costumes, hair & makeup are my favourite part. YouTube tutorial are a great inspiration for hairstyles.

I agree with pups_mum. DD does two festivals per year, they are local ones and have always treated as fun and opportunity to perform on a stage. I wouldnt get too hung up on research etc, just enjoy and if you win it's a bonus. Also great lessons on how to win and lose gracefully, I believe these are very important qualities and festivals are a great way to teach this.

Cost me a fortune in new train tickets and additional night at hotel but I now have tickets to see 42nd street so it's all good ????

Hi TBG, its a contemporary workshop for years 8 & 9 x

The Waldorf won't budge so we are forced to endure another night in London ????

If you are using iPhone keep your finger on the button to take a burst of pics then chose from lots of shots. Good luck ????

Thank peanut68 we are very proud she has come a long way in a short time since deciding to move to a more serious dance school, this is her first year of mids she started at year 8 so has had a bit of catching up to do.

It is actually the Waldorf we are staying at booked through hotels.com so hopeful of a good outcome. I've not done anything yet, I will let you know how I get on.

Vonrothbart I hope you enjoyed Paris ????

Worst case scenario is I stay an extra night and of course I will be forced to book a show to keep me entertained ????

I thought I was being super organised, notification of a workshop has been on the board for a while so I booked train & hotel. Just noticed that when workshop invitation arrived the date has changed by a day ???? It's totally unlike me to be so organised and it's backfired big time ???? I'm hoping to grovel with hotel & train companies but Everything i booked was non refundable.

Slightly off topic but festival related. DD won her modern section on Saturday, only to find that the previous winner of the trophy (two years ago) had not returned it. I understand that the previous winner was from out of town and a bit of a dance celeb having appeared on TV and danced at the dance World Champs (or similar can't remember what it was). I'm disgusted that someone would do this, some trophies that DD has won before have been 50+ years old and carry so much history, DD loves checking out the trophy to see who has won previously.

Rant over.... on a happier note at least I save on engraving charges ????

I think I must be totally naive, it actually didn't occur to me that anyone would lie about an offer. If my DD did that I would be genuinely mortified, surely most things would be verifiable eventually or am I again being a bit thick?

Another question, sorry!! But does anyone know what the older years do whilst year 7&8 are doing the NVR test on audition day? As on website it only says the test is for the year 7&8 so that would leave an hour for the year 9&10's with nothing tI do? Thanks

DD got to watch a class.