balletla

Poor Margot - she was looking for positive feedback and unfortunately quite a few negatives have come out again. I recognise that only a very small percentage of parents comment on this forum, but it does seem telling that there are no avid defenders. It would be helpful if anyone could name any classical ballet dancers that have been successful in major companies from Tring. Whenever I have asked, I've always been quoted Tyrone Singleton and Carrie Johnson who both went from Tring to BRB but that was in 2003, nearly 10 years ago!

i have noticed that there seems to be an awful lot of ballet companies in Germany and that this might be a source of employment for DD in the future. Can anyone give an overview of the companies, how prominent they are and what sort of dance style they are known for e.g. classical ballet along the lines of RB or BRB or perhaps a more contemporary style? Has anyone got any experience of auditioning for or dancing in any German companies?

The ballet dancers can't be that young Julie. There was a recent scandal whereby several dance schools around Northampton were conned by an ex-ENB dancer into putting forward children into rehearsals for the Olympic closing ceremony. Apparently it was uncovered when somebody rang the Olympic organisers and were told that none of the performers are under 18. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2139891/London-2012-Olympics-Stephen-Moonesamy-quizzed-police.html

I would be very sad to see you go Glowlight as you have been an invaluable contributor to the board with a wealth of information. It would be great if you could pop back from time to time.

I was under the impression that if children at vocational schools have specific issues then that is what the school is there to sort out and they arrange specific coaching for that child within the school. I find it incredible that having spent £30k on a school place, that there are needs not being met by the school. Otherwise, what is the point of vocational school?

It is a great opportunity but it clashes with all the summer schools so my DD has been unable to enter

I came across this article and it shows that even students that attend RBS can struggle to get work. The aims of NEBT look admirable but I would be more inclined to be supportive if it were showcasing British students, or even just students that have attended British schools, but it appears to be taking on foreign students who have trained outside the UK. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2161039/Future-stars-given-step-revolutionary-new-ballet-company.html

My DD was at CBA (and has been an associate at all the other schools) and I have watched internal full time classes at all the schools. I also have 2 close friends whose daughters were very recently at Tring (both in the "elite" A group for classical training). My experience is that I don't think the teachers are as precise or demanding in their classical training as I have experienced in the other schools and the students' technique does not appear as well trained. The ones that are successful at 16 seem to have had supplementary training outside the school which is concerning given the amount that a school place costs, or have such a raw talent that other schools are willing to take a chance on them. Equally, I am told that the musical theatre training is outstanding, but that is hearsay. I don't want to put anyone off anywhere but there is so little information about these schools anywhere it is impossible to distinguish between them and I think if people were honest, funding aside, they tend to go on initial meet and greet and the look/feel of the buildings - much like buying a house. I also think that it is so easy as a parent of a 10yr old budding ballerina to get swept along by the experience and 'prestige' of being accepted at a school, that it is important to understand what you are getting yourself into and to be prepared. At the end of the day, it affects your child's whole life.

From personal experience I would agree that Tring is last for classical ballet training.

i looked on the website but couldn't see the tour dates/locations for Christmas Carol.

Fiz - are you an insomniac? Posting at 03.53?

Sometimes those that show the most potential at 8 or 9 and are taken as JAs reach the limit of that potential at 12 or 13 and don't go any further. Have seen many a young JA develop the wrong body shape or simply reach the limit of their capability. Equally some that are not the right body shape at a young age, grow into it at puberty and continue to develop their capability. One thing I have definitely learned over the years is that potential and ability is a moving feast and two auditions a year apart can produce startlingly different results - both ways!

Not just the feet that they have to worry about though. With the athleticism required in ballet today, it's the whole skeleton. I doubt any ballet dancer starting out now will still be dancing fully at 40, let alone 60, unfortunately.

I don't think you can say a single age when it's acceptable to go on pointe. It is down to the individual child's readiness. My DD and a couple of her friends who were serious about ballet and did 4 lessons a week + associates went on pointe at age 10. However they did specific metatarsal exercises to ensure they had the strength in their feet and only started with 10 minutes a week. Some of the other girls who weren't so into ballet and did only one lesson a week, didn't go on pointe until they were strong enough at 13 or 14. It is very common to put girls on pointe at around 5 or 6 in Japan/China etc.Some of them cope very well and have long successful careers and can be found in top ballet companies around the world including UK. Certainly they stand out when they join schools like RBS/Elmhurst against the UK students and this is often seen as 'unfair', but I wonder what the reaction would be if the UK started putting 5 year olds on pointe? suspect we don't hear about all the ones who don't cope very well. I think there should be an age limit for performing on pointe in competitions and am disappointed that such a prestigious international competition as YAGP would allow a nine year old to go on pointe - sends completely the wrong message.

Sometimes what we want and what we can afford are two different things and we end up not having the choice we would like. My point was that if she is struggling to secure funds (and I know I would never be able to afford £15,000 a year either), she may have to settle for a school where there is funding on offer even if not her first choice. The other point was that finding funding for 4 years is harder than for the usual 3 it would be here.

Very sad when funding is preventing someone from top level training. Just wondering why it is a 4 year course and not 3 like in the UK? Also, if she has been offered a place at the Bolshoi academy, would she not also have received offers from top schools in the UK which usually come with funding?

Well done to you and your DD primrose!

My DD is concerned that her quad muscles are getting too big and well developed. I understand that it might be because she is using those muscles instead of others. Is there anything she can do to slim them down e.g. yoga or something?

Julie, I didn't know that Birkenstocks were bad for plantar fascitis. I thought they were generally very supportive. I suffer from that quite badly and swear by Skechers Shape-ups. They are marketed as a toning shoe, similar to fit-flops but they have a material in them that is a bit like a tempur mattress and provides such a comfortable surface to walk on. Also because the heel is slightly lower than the front of the shoe, it helps with alignment of the foot.

When you realise you've had no social life for the last 3 years because every evening and week-end is spent taxi-ing to and from ballet!

Just to say that I went to see the Royal Ballet perform last week and there were definitely some larger busts in the corp. They were made all the more obvious by the extremely flimsy leotards that they seemed to be wearing for the Balanchine piece.

Just to say that I went to see the Royal Ballet perform last week and not an oversplit or trick in sight! A beautiful performance and no need for anything else.

We get lots of disapproval from family and friends about 'pushing' our DD. We don't push her at all - quite the opposite - it all comes from her. I think the main problem is that people don't understand that ballet training is like any other sport training. Most people I know seem to think you just put on a pair of pointe shoes and off you go 'twinkle toes'.......sigh!

Yes what about the relationship between the arms and the legs? I thought they were supposed to balance each other out to make beautiful lines?

Balletmad, if you are right, why aren't these attention-grabbing tricks happening in other dance forms? It is very sad if there is a view that audiences' attention can only be kept by more extremes of flexibility - where will it end? I think audiences' are enthralled by beauty of movement myself as not everyone can do this at audition either, but accept I may be in a minority