Harwel

As Sarah says, first year upper school at Tring don’t have to live in. Some find a private landlady and the accommodation would then be about £6k.

Perhaps you should start talking to the ballet girls. They are just girls like you, with the same worries, fears and stresses of growing up. The clothing is just a type of uniform, like any other walk of life. The tutu is not worn often and the ballet girls are very tough to put up with the work required and the sneers of others. Understanding and tolerance, perhaps your dance school teachers should try to get you all together and try to understand each others perspectives a little.

Well - love, love, love the episcopalian priest! What a performance and I’m sure a welcome relief to the normal stuffy service. The young royals seemed to love it and see the humour in it. Fantastic! Rock on Megan, keep your individuality.

Agree with Taxi on this. Technique is a big thing with shin splints and going from part time to full time training is a big jump and any imbalances in your technique are going to show up now. Jumping on concrete may very well have set it off and dancing on solid floors is also a massive problem - vitally important your technique is spot on. Seem to remember it has a lot to do with getting your heels down on landing.

Oh what a dreadful thing to have happened. I hope they get replaced.

Also look at Royal Conservatoir of Scotland’s modern ballet degree course.

I am appalled by this! I would not entertain that dance school for one more second. That is a very bad message that your daughter is receiving. Shame on such dance teachers!

Lovely news @anaballerina. I remember you going and your toe/foot problems (just before you started or very soon after you started). So pleased you e had such a positive and successful training.

That makes sense, if it’s not a ‘ballet’ school she’s going to attend. It’s not going to be 20 hours of dancing at school, then more dancing.

I don’t Even know why you would consider doing external classes apart from a summer school or 2.

Well that is beyond ridiculous! My ds at full time vocational school and is shattered at holiday time the most we have ever set in summer schools was 3 weeks after a couple of weeks rest and nothing in half terms or Christmas. If a child can’t make it on full time vocational hours or equivalent then it’s not the career for them.

Not heard anything like this. Is this UK?

Do they assess out? I’ve always loved Anna DB - would always go to her classes at danceworks 30 years ago! Lovely teacher.

can’t she practice to do it herself? Doesn’t have to be a bun, could be plaits then pin to head.

AXA has been brilliant for us. It’s through a school policy but I’m sure you could get an individual one which gives the necessary coverage - it would more than likely be a higher premium than standard cover.

I would ring them. Personally I think it is incredibly poor that they are sending out the wrong information to students. I would bring them to task over it. It’s clearly not an isolated incident.

Oh this rings so true to me. I am definitely my ds sounding board and sometimes I find it incredibly stressful as I think the worst but the next couple days all is fine. But I have to be alert to the fact that there may be a serious issue. The best thing is that at least they are talking to us! The boarding situation can be very difficult as there really is no escape - ds always desperate to get home but equally happy to go back at the end of a holiday.

Every school has dc that are both happy to be there and others that wished they had chosen otherwise. True of every school and university the country over. You have to try and work out the best fit for your own child, and cut out all the chatter from others that goes around about which is the best school for x or y. EVERY vocational school will have successful students getting jobs at the end of their training, others changing direction for varied reasons and others leaving half way through to go to a different school. They can all train a talented child but that child will not succeed if they are in the wrong environment for them. 3 years is a long time in a teenagers life if they are unhappy. The stress of full time training is very real, at a time when other kids are going off to university for another 3 years to find themselves and grow up. DC have to grow up fast and have a very mature head on their shoulders to cope with the demands placed upon them. Choose the school that feels right and be prepared to change if that changes.

So sorry your family is going through this tough time. I was where your dd was 30 years ago and all I can say is, it gets better. As soon as she finds something else that ignites her interest she will put her considerable talents and energies into that and will, I am sure, be successful and happy. It will take many many years to move away from dance and be happy about it but in the long run I’m sure she will be much happier. Its tough for the parents but I’m sure you are giving her all the support and love she needs. But also remember, YOU in all of this. Take care of yourself and don’t for a second blame yourself or anyone else. It’s just part of life’s rich tapestry. Nobody did anything wrong, everything happens as it’s meant to and life carries on. Doesn’t mean it’s easy but it helps to get through the tough times.

Not just any old Russian company either - if memory serves!

So, so sorry to read this!

Oh I know that feeling!!!

Completely agree with @Nana Lily. These 2 schools are so different that I don’t think you can directly compare. Both are brilliant in their own right but offer completely different things. Good luck in your decision - your dd has done very well to get offers from both and is obviously a very versatile dancer.

So sorry to hear that your lovely ds has had trouble at school. Very happy he is off to vocational school, I am sure he will thrive.

It’s a government funded scholarship - Music and Dance Scheme - for 4 vocational dance schools (RBS, Tring, Hammond and Elmhurst) also about 6 music schools I believe. It is funding from year 7 (11 to 12 years) up to 19. All RBS funding (lower and upper school) is MDS. I believe Hammond and Elmhurst only use MDS for lower school then upper school is DaDa. Tring will do a mixture as a best fit for child and school. MDS is usually more financially advantageous compared to DaDa as it includes accommodation with vocational fees.