Harwel

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.

MDS are rarely offered to new pupils going into upper school at Tring, but does happen. Existing MDS students are often able to carry it into upper school, based on successful assessments.

Thoroughly recommend tutugirls summer school. Lovely atmosphere, friendly and good teaching. DS has been 3 times and it is always his favourite SS - he’s very sad not to be attending this year due to rehab from an operation.

Fantastic post! Thank you for your very well reasoned reply from the teacher’s perspective.

I have never had a problem with either child being taken out of primary or secondary school for drama, music or dance exams/festivals. I never ask, just say ds won’t be in school because..... and when child will return. Patents have a right to ‘educate’ their children in the way they see fit. I would take huge exception to being told what I can and can’t do with my own child. If attendance is good and child is working hard, a few hours in the year doing something individual is neither here nor there. Kids are removed from lessons for all sorts of random things from the teaching staff, I never get asked if it’s ok for ds to miss maths because ds is needed for the swimming gala or there is a house captains meeting etc. Whole thing is ridiculous.

Fascinating the different experiences from one school - interesting the difference is very much lower school experience versus upper school experience - the shine wears off over time and the reality of the situation comes out. The upper school experience is the sharp end, the reason for the lower school - getting a job after training. If these students feel unsupported and left to their own devises everything becomes tainted. I agree with a post above when I would assume (rightly or wrongly) the AD forging links abroad is about attracting foreign students to the school, preferably full paying ones! I don’t wish to be rude but not to see that is a little naive. AD has to answer to a board, has to balance the books and keep attracting students. At my DS school, head of dance knows every child has regular meetings with them especially upper school. 6th form students are employed (if they want) at weekend courses, holiday courses and special dance days at a very good rate which gives them a part time job within the school and fabulous experience of admin, organising, assistant teaching. My ds has been give permission to have a few days out of school to train as a Pilates teacher so he can earn money in between dance jobs. It is a fully rounded training for life.

I know of a British girl recently who was at one of our vocational schools, had tried another school unsusessfully on a number of occasions. Decided to enter Paris YAGP (own expense, obtained private coaching from one of our top recently retired RB ballerinas - nothing to do with the school she attended). Won a prize at the competition and then miraculously was immediately offered a place at the school she previously wasn’t able to get into (the school in question only seeing her a few months before hand!). Was she any different, greatly improved, changed physique? No of course not, just more attractive because she’d won a high profile competition! In my experience and hearing from past entrants of various high profile competitions these competitors can be working on their solos for about 2 years in intensive, pre selected programmes for the sole purpose of entering those competitions. No British school would devote that time and effort into it and I don’t think they should - I would prefer a well rounded dancer/human being. We are in the business of developing children into happy, successful adults not creating automated, brow beaten clones who can perform a perfect 3 minute solo for a market of under paid, under appreciated artists. I for one do not want to see our ballet training turn into a competition fest. However I strongly object to the ADs going and selecting these said students but don’t value their own, home grown talent and give them the chance to develop a bit later. The system is rotten at the core. It leads to lazy teaching, reliant on the fact the teachers were professional dancers but are in fact not great teachers. They swam about as if they are untouchable and berate concerned parents who don’t know any better yet are not good enough at their job.

We are still in the system and I can not comment in detail. Though I believe pastoral care at my ds school has been first class (certainly in our experience). Although, in his first year there, it later transpired that he had been bullied by the head of house (luckily this person left after 2 terms I believe - I hope as other pastoral staff saw his true nature). Ds still rehabing after surgery and is understandably struggling mentally with getting back into dance, worries that he is really fixed and terrified he will damage himself again. It appears he is having no outside pressure to push himself - thank goodness- and is allowed to pretty much pick and choose what he knows he can do. Going to Pilates, Physio, gym and his own ballet barre. Tricky time and only time will tell if the support at school is enough. As I said he is struggling and I worry about him but he will not let me approach school as fearful it will somehow impact him negatively. I will know more once I have had him home for Easter so he has time to truly open up. As I have said in this forum before, I have a complete love hate relationship with ballet and there is a great deal wrong with a lot of the teaching in this country, and I don’t just mean vocational training either. We have also experienced some truly awful teachers, damaging young people’s mental health way before they hit vocational age.

What a great interview - well said Mr Hampson.

Oh Taxi, I am sure this is a very bitter sweet journey for you too. I wish your DD all the best for her future and good luck to you all. She will have gained a wealth of knowledge and imessurable skills with her dance journey and I hope she finds real happiness in her new path.

You’ve only got to look at the posts re ‘grand audition’. 200 approx dancers chosen to audition (pre selected from video) from all over the world auditioning for 10 companies and only 10% of them were offered contracts - which is actually pretty good odds. You have to be looking at what’s at the end of the training.

Precicely, I really don’t see that a personal relationship is anyone else’s business. But there are some serious allegations amongst the smoke screen, anyone choosing to not see it, or take it seriously is being rather blasé IMO. The signs are there, have been there for a while and need addressing without a doubt.

I see the audition is complete. Can anyone tell me how many dancers received contracts this year? Many thanks.

Lets hope he stays!

Oh blimey, clever boys!!

Oh no! Hope you mend soon and has not put too much stress on ds audition timetable. Agreed, Shale Wagman was a standout winner.

And the latter does not depend on the former. Many roads to Rome, the RBS is but one school and the RB is one company. Of course they are world class and have very specific requirements. Absolutely no point in my ds auditioning for RBS as does not have flat turnout, regardless of other attributes he has, doesn’t mean he can’t have a successful dance career, just not one at RB!

I completely agree with you Viv, I did read the whole blog and pretty much came to the same conclusions as you. I wasn’t able to express it as coherently as you though!

There is clearly something very wrong going on at ENB. I have heard rumours for a while and those in the know clearly can’t say publicly as it would be career suicide. What a thoroughly depressing situation for such a fantastic company of dancers, always been my favourite company ever since Festival Ballet days. I have read this thread from the start and some of the views Put forward about the dancers being childish or vindictive I find utterly shocking. Dancers are clearly in a subordinate position and have always been made to feel they have no voice - goes with the training. Things are changing for the better - slowly - but the attitude of ‘put up and shut up’ from some of the so called ballet lovers on this site is totally abhorrent to me. It also shows a complete lack of understanding about the true nature of the training dancers receive (or a burying of the head in the sand). How can you profess to love ballet, know the history of the classics and make critical judgements on dancers when you have no concept of the reality of the training both physically and psychologically? I truly hope this does not die down and get blown over but it appears that an improved repertoire, a higher profile and presumably higher profits means that the actual dancers are just a problem to be silenced.

MDS go to any year group auditioning in lower school (could be given to 6th form but not often - although junior school pupils on MDS can carry it on into 6th form). Doesn’t seem to be any specific number for any one year - they give them to the students they want most.

The dance course is 3 years long and gives you the level 6 diploma. If a student decides not to peruse dance as a career they may decide to go to university after A levels as any other 6th former does. This would obviously mean they don’t get a level 6 diploma, they may have passed enough points to get a level 5 though. Some dance students may also decide to do a graduate -3rd year at another dance school, or even do a full 3 year dance degree course elsewhere at 18. Many options, many paths and many questions regarding funding if can’t self fund.

Man bun and short back and sides is very in vogue and lots of boys are choosing this style. The problem at vocational school is the transition from short to long as gets very messy.

Too true!

Thank you, and of course you are right. It’s also his life to do with as he wishes. I am trying to be a bit more zen about the whole thing!

Yes, success comes in many forms and ultimately, to me, comes down to earning a living in an enjoyable way that gives you joy. I’ve been many things in my life - dancer, accountant, reflexologist but I am happiest right now teaching Pilates. My clients are shocked when they realise I have a law degree and am a chartered tax accountant - I think some people are happy putting others in a box that they understand.