Harwel

While I think this is lovely for the children concerned as it is very affirming and positive for them, I also think it must be an incredibly hard decision for the parents. The children have clearly excelled with the training they have been given and let's face it, not everyone excels at RBS. However, the reputation of RBS is a very big draw as everyone sees the success stories, but very few see the fallout from those rejected halfway through their training - the only way that these children have gained a place is because some other lovely dancer has been deemed unsuitable at a very vulnerable stage of their personal development. I believe the very best students will gain employment, but they have to have training that nurtures them and that can be from any of the top vocational schools. I think upper school placing is far more important than lower school and as I understand it a large percentage often don't go from WL to US - something that is very different year on year.

Hi TJ. It was northern ballet associates. It did not put him off dancing and he was lucky enough to have been chosen to dance in northern ballets production of Nutcracker. He is now 14 and starting at Tring Park school in September on their dancers course.

Hi TJ. I took my ds to Leeds associate classes on a Friday night after school with the express purpose of him dancing with male dance teachers and having other boys in class. Unfortunately, he was the only boy there too and the teacher is female until they get a lot higher up. While the teaching is excellent my ds decided after a year that it wasn't for him as he got frustrated with the 'back to basics' approach. In my opinion, I would carry on with the free work class, add in a syllabus class and get used to the JA's, I think that's enough for an eight year old. Good luck though, it's a very exciting journey you are embarking on.

We auditioned this year for year 10 entry - Tring only - and we had a prelim audition in January. Things to consider are; possible weather conditions if you are travelling far, lack of classes over Christmas, present dance school commitments up to Christmas (we had anual dance show), not so long to be waiting if you go a bit later - it really feels like it's never going to end, yet it was only 2 months from first audition to results of funding audition.

At Tring, no decision was given out about places on funding audition until all the other prelim auditions were finished. However, I understand that those who auditioned pre Christmas were offered places on funding audition before. I also think the process is different if you do not require funding ie no waiting, you are either straight in, on reserve or not in. Those on the last prelim only had to wait a couple of weeks at most. There must be a limit to how many spaces they have on the funding audition, but they seemed to be going on all day, so get the feeling any child they are interested in will not miss out by being in a later audition.

I don't think at this age it makes a big difference when you audition, even at 13/14 they are looking for someone they can train, not perfection, a couple of weeks off over Christmas isn't going to alter a child's potential. You must just do what's right for you, and your DC, for us it had to be a time where stress was at its lowest (after the show and after a nice relaxed holiday). Good luck with the process!!

There are no easy answers to these questions and it is the same the world over and in many professions. There are as many talented dancers out there trying to find work, as there are in jobs, and one is not necessarily better than the other. There are a hundred different permutations of how one got their first break; right height, fit a particular costume, can cartwheel to the left, right height for a favoured dancer in company who needs a partner, the list goes on. It is hard not to get frustrated or bitter, we all know of a dancer who is fantastic, works hard and really wants it, but just can't get a job. I can only rationalise it one way - it is either your destiny or it isn't. You can keep on, working hard, putting yourself out there and you may get the break you crave - you may not. I know a dancer who tried for 20 years, still turning up to auditions and only getting the odd bit part, but it was enough for her. Others decide there must be something else better suited to them.

Susan Robinson school has a very good reputation in RAD circles. I don't have any personal experience of her, or her students.

I am really excited that this sort of info is out there and I will be the proud owner of the DVD today (delivery at post office for me to collect). My DS has always struggled with flexibility, yet I could never understand it, he was always a flexible small child. No amount of stretching helped him, just made him sore and cross. He was a competition swimmer at a young age, and I was always amazed at how 'tight' the other swimmers were in their hamstrings, and always wondered if this was somehow responsible. A few weeks ago, when I was watching him stretch and I was asking him to explain what he felt and where, it struck me that it sounded as if it was a facia issue (I know a little about it, but not much). And had begin to consider taking him to a therapist - tricky thing is finding what I needed in deepest, darkest Lincolnshire! I am fascinated to see how this works - nothing else has - I have done stretching courses as part of my work, bought some highly recommended stretching books, and remained utterly flummoxed. We start it as a project today and I will take photographic evidence. I will keep you posted of any improvements.

What a fascinating thread. It's a tough choice our DC have made. There is a whole world of difference between training professionally and actually making it to a professional. As an ex professionally trained dancer myself I know this only too well. I never wanted my son to dance for all these reasons and more, but it kind of happened and I can't deny him the chance (and it is a small chance). Looking back there has been real heartbreak on my part, which took me years to come to terms with, but I can honestly say that i would do it all again in a heartbeat. I wish all of your aspiring dancers all the very best of luck in their lives, they have gained immeasurable gifts along the way. Some will reach their longed for goals and others will have to reassess but they will all be richer for trying.

My son started ballet at 5. He has been the only boy in dance school since he was 7 and has never had a moment of doubt being with a group of girls - in fact he loves it! At 12 I realised he wasn't getting enough allegro and turns, more to do with the teacher, as the girls weren't getting enough either! At 14 he is now off to Tring Park school and still loves all the extra fuss he gets as a boy dancing. Most important is the quality of teaching, the advice in an earlier post about finding a teacher who is excited to have a boy in class is crucial.

What a fantastic company. Loved their performance on Friday night. Wished they had been here longer.

That is fantastic dtadmin. Full steam ahead for September!

Dtadmin - that is so exciting, I bet your DD can't wait till Friday. Hope she has a fantastic day.

That's so funny Amandalou! We don't have the uniform yet but we do have everything else that is on the list, all packed and ready in the biggest bag possible! Congratulations to your DD too! DS is counting down the days left at school ))

Thank you for your welcome! Yes it is incredibly exciting and a little bit scary. The best ride ever though. Xx

Morning everyone! I have just found this great forum and have been reading around it for a few days. I have been starting to feel a bit anxious for our next stage - just normal mum stuff I'm sure - my DS is starting Tring in September into year 10 on the dancers course. It was never planned that he would go away until 16 but he fell in love with Tring at summer school last year. After his first morning classes he texted me to ask if he could audition, to which I said a resigned yes (as I knew we couldn't afford the fees) but persuaded myself it would be good experience for auditions at 16. Well to my complete shock and delight he was offered an MDS! He loves his present school and is academically very good but he has had to wear 2 hats most of his life to be comfortable in all the facets of his life - only in year 9 did his school friends find out he does ballet. Not because he's ashamed of it, but because he gets so frustrated no one seems to get how tough being a dancer is.

I read with interest a previous comment about some dance teachers not recognising the achievements of children gaining such amazing opportunities and only recognising one school. My DS previous dance school was like that (hence the reason it's a previous school!) personally, I think that it shows some very deep seated resentment, the truth of which you will never get to the bottom of. In this day and age even classical dancers have to be incredibly versatile and I think Tring offers first rate classical training, with a variety of other styles coupled with a great education. What's not to like? And most of all, the moment we walked in we felt it to be an amazingly warm, friendly, happy place.

So, no real question, but I felt I wanted to make contact with the site and this seemed the most appropriate place to do it! Good luck everyone in your dancing journey, be it as a parent or student. Dancing is my passion (I come from a dancing family) and I understand fully, anyone wanting to pursue this incredible art form - it grabs you to the centre of your being. Let your children pursue their dreams, we all worry about our children but a life half lived is not lived at all. In my experience, life has a way of working out just fine if you follow what you love.