balletla

Sorry, but uniform, travel and shoes are also paid for the very poor, either as part of the funding or funded separately by the school. Certainly at RBS and Elmhurst anyway.

I have just been looking at MDS means tested contributions and wondering why people seem to struggle so much and some people still decide that they can't afford training even with MDS funding. I then looked at some facts and figures: From 2000 - 2010: inflation generally rose by 29.5% house prices rose generally by 60% Therefore, whilst the MDS has award and contribution has risen by the cost of inflation each year, other living costs (predominantly mortgages) have risen disproportionately by over twice as much. The funding is done on gross income (which is assumed to rise in line with inflation) and doesn't take account of the rising cost of living and just hasn't kept pace with real life!

I didn't say that if you are very poor you are lucky, just that you get all your vocational ballet school fees paid for. This at least makes it an option if you have a talented child. Yes there are many other issues associated with being poor, but here we are just talking about access to vocational ballet school training.

Without getting into politics, sadly, I don't think it is just this government. It seems that if you are really poor, you get everything paid for and if you are really rich, you probably don't need it, but the people in the middle get squeezed to within an inch of their life, trying to make things happen for their children. If you believe that culture is the sign of a civilised and progressive society then these places should be fully funded on merit, regardless of income.

It used to be that you paid a fixed fee contribution to the fees of £1,275 a year, regardless of income and then the maintenance grant was means-tested up to a maximum salary of £35,000. However, all of that is changing for Sep 2013 and both elements will be means tested which will undoubtedly result in a much higher contribution for most people, with the suggested cut off for any help at all with fees or maintenance combined being £50k.

OK, I have just called the 'Learner Support' helpline number given on the DfE website (see link above) and the very nice helpline lady said that the schools themselves would know more about the changes to funding than she does and that schools should be contacted directly. I explained that there were a lot of concerned parents out here who were letting their children audition for schools without understanding what the funding arrangements are and that the schools don't seem to know either. She said that the exact funding levels haven't been set yet by the 'Education Funding Agency' (EFA) and that this would be likely to be confirmed "sometime after Christmas". I then asked if she had a contact for anyone I could speak to at the EFA and she gave me their helpline number. I rang that number and got another very nice helpline lady who then referred me back to the first lady at 'Learner Support'. You couldn't make it up, could you?

Thanks for re-posting that 2Dancersmum. So it looks like we will have to wait till mid-December just for confirmation of which schools will be 'approved' for DaDas. I have checked the DfE website and although it says the page was updated on 30 November, it gives even less information than you have posted: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/studentsupport/a00203099/dada-scheme

Have just re-read Spooky's post and realised that she did say £50k cut off for both fees and maintenance combined. If this is the case then I agree with Nana that this is will force children into degree-based courses where they can get student loans, or force their parents to take out costly loans to cover the fees elsewhere. Like people say, Elmhurst is about £25k and RBS is about £31k for both fees and living costs combined. ENBS fees are £17k with an assumed additional £10k in London living costs. None of those figures are affordable for someone on £50k with a mortgage/family to support and I assume the sliding scale below that will be similarly proportionate. Well if there is a collapse in the numbers able to attend, then the schools themselves should be concerned about their ability to be financially sustainable. Only the very rich ( and that's my definition of 'very rich', not the government's) will really be able to let their children attend these schools.

Maybe they mean that the cut off for fees will be £50k and the cut of for maintenance will be around the same. If it's £50k for everything then no-one will be able to afford it, and it would be more like 3/4 of your take-home salary after tax. However, governments do seem to class anyone earning over £50k as 'rich', even though on £50k, you still wouldn't be able to afford to buy an UK average house priced home (£162,000) Most people find the current MDS contributions very challenging - remember that tax comes off the gross salary figure and contributions must be paid from net take home pay: Current contribution levels can be seen on Elmhurst's website here: http://www.elmhurstd...wer-school.html Also edited to say that I can't believe that this isn't sorted out in time for people auditioning for next year which has started already. People are having to let their children audition without knowing whether they will be able to afford it or not!

As with all government systems, the current MDS scheme is very unfair. Income is assessed on the income of the 'home' where the pupil resides, so for divorced parents, you could have a very high earning father but if the child lives with a low-earning mother, the father doesn't have to contribute and the MDS is assessed purely on the mother's income. Equally, if the mother has re-married or even lives with a new 'partner', it is their combined income which is assessed, so a person who is a step parent or cohabiting with the mother, becomes eligible to pay contributions for a child that isn't theirs. Same with child benefit now - it is the income of the person who gets paid it or the person they live with whose earnings count towards a reduction if over £50 - nothing to do with whether the child is actually yours or not! I assume DaDas will be assessed like the current MDS, but who knows!

Anyone heard of anyone getting a 6th form finals place for Elmhurst (or anywhere else) yet?

I think things may have changed size-wise. On the US Degas website (link above) there is a size guide and I recommend speaking to Just Ballet about sizing before ordering. My DD hasn't tried hers on yet but I ordered true to her size according to the chart and it looks like it will be OK. I guess as more people get them, we can get a better picture of sizing. Edited to say: Mind you, my DD has got a short body so may be different for others

Just to say that I have just received DD's Degas leotard. It looks absolutely beautiful and I can't wait for her to try it on. Also very impressed with the personal service and help from Just Ballet and would highly recommend!

Fiz, it is probably the same for any profession which involves physical excellence e.g. athletics, cycling, ice-skating etc...

Yes sorry, she was in the corp in the film and is now a soloist so she did make it out of the corp.

I'm not sure about that. I think she went to Suzanne Ware's dance school.

I think she is one of those rare creatures that come along every decade or so that is so super talented that a lot of it comes naturally. However, I do wonder how much is a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby if you are identified at an early age and given a lot of attention, help and support and get given all the lead roles in the dance school, doesn't that mean you are likely to become more accomplished than your peers by virtue of the fact that you have more opportunities to develop your skills? I also agree with CeliB that the film is a bit sad. Poor Iohna Loots is still a soloist I think and never did get promoted. But better a soloist with RB than a principal somewhere else maybe? Who knows! Not everyone can make it to principal, just like not everyone can be managing director of a business.

Ha Ha! I didn't want to point that out!

Where is Frangapani? Haven't seen her post for ages. Hope all is well with her and DD.

There is a button on the left which says "download the application form".

As always! It's so frustrating that there are all these amazing summer schools out there, but always before our children have broken up. Lets start a campaign to have our summer holidays moved in line with the rest of world to start at the beginning of June so that we can fit all the American summer schools in as well!

I think Paris Opera Ballet School are doing their first ever summer school from 8-18 July; see link below: http://www.operadeparis.fr/en/L_Opera/L_Ecole_de_Danse/Stage_ete_EcoleDanse/

Thanks FC, that sounds great and glad your DD is happy with her training. Just a further question....are all the girls expecting to follow a career in classical ballet or does the school try to play to different strengths in the way that it seems that Central does? e.g. do some focus more on contemporary or jazz for example?

A bit about Horizons Dance Theatre: Horizons Dance Theatre is a Youth Contemporary Ballet company consisting of dancers sixteen years and under. This small company of 12 experienced young dancers are an entirely independent company, choreographing their pieces and designing costumes for their performing away from their training and schools as well as teaching courses and workshops in each place we perform in, expanding the awareness of contemporary ballet in areas where it is not that common. All of the dancers aged 16 have gained places at vocational schools such as Elmhurst School of Dance, Tring Park School for Performing Arts, Central School of Ballet and Rambert School of Contemporary Ballet for next year. Many of the dancers have trained previously with The Pre-Senior Programme at Central School of Ballet or the Royal Ballet School Associate Programme and Tring Park School for Performing Arts. We are determined to bring new and innovative works to our audiences, using the strength of a classical ballet training with the beauty and freedom of Contemporary Dance.

I would think that any country's 'national ballet' company is going to be the best in that country and of a very high standard comparable to the best in this country.