amos73

Dd is in Y7 full time training at YDA (and loving it) but is auditioning for MAs. At YDA they are happy for them to do this. So just the one audition for her this year, which as far as I am concerned is more than enough, couldn't bear the idea of going through last year again. She only ever got SWL for JAs so think highly unlikely anything will come of this, but will be good to keep her hand in audition-wise.

Ha, been thinking the same thing, DRSC!

I don't know the answer to this but think it is a great question! Isn't it so hard to know what is best to do with the long Christmas break and the audition season straight after? Will be interested to hear what those who have experience have to say.

I think Sarahw is right. They only had 6 mds places last year and these were spread out over all years and girls and boys. I think only one y 7 girl got mds, the others went to students entering older years and boys. If you absolutely wanted to ensure a place you would have to accept the paying place after first auditions and pay the deposit which is non refundable. The funding auditions take place a while after all the prelims when paying places will have been offered and taken up.

My dd is a student at young dancers academy and there is a production few of around £90 for all rehearsals costumes etc for the nutcracker performance. It is the same for all no matter which part cast in.

Also worth knowing that YDA in London do have some scholarship funding tho not government MDS and have boarding facilities during the week.

Hi sparkle Occasionally someone not a Ja gets place in year 7 but last few years apart from overseas students all ye 7 places have gone to JAs. Some people who haven't been JAs do get places in ye 8:9/10 but remember the chances of a place in these years are so slim as maybe only 1 place available (sometimes none.) However the other vocational schools are worth applying for and will give excellent training, and upper school places are another kettle of fish altogether. Good luck

Good points, Primrose!

I've not seen her dance but still found it a bit rude the way they were talking about her!

I've seen the Bolshoi height weight charts before so not surprised by that, but did find the open slagging off of Misty Copeland a bit surprising!

Hi Mrs Sri - I am quite surprised that head of dance at tring said that as I thought last year when we went to the open day there was more of a range of shapes and sizes than say at WL. However, tring give very very few funded places (I think last year in the end only one funded place went to a year 7 girl) and perhaps the majority of children there are not on government mds awards. No doubt they are looking for very specific physical requirements, it does seem to me that all the ballet schools are, and talented children who don't fit their requirements may find it difficult to get a place. There have been various threads On the forum about physical requirements etc might be worth looking for them to hear other people's thoughts on this. I do think at age 11 entry physique is very very high on list for audition boards, when they are looking more for those things and then will see if they can train them, perhaps less so at 16 as they are looking for accomplished dancers with strong technique not potential. Also remember physiques change during puberty and some children will develop in a way that means they no longer have the desired physique or shape. Apparently even torso to leg ratio can change during puberty! All of which is to say that yes it is what Schools are looking for at 11, but puberty changes body shapes, and at 16 they are looking for other things as well as body shape. Beyond that it is really up to you if you want to continue with your dd down a path that won't be easy or straightforward but also is not in any sense predictable at this age. Even a child with perfect physique at 11 might grown and develop, might get injured, might decide at 15 they want to be a doctor! Nothing is certain. Good luck with it all!

Peanut and hairBelles hope this year is the year for your dds- my dd applied last year for first time and was wait list as well.

Wow that is amazing pointeyourtoes. I don't think I've heard of this before? Maybe a new thing? Was this person on the summer school last year hence the pre selection?

And there are more places this year!

Yes, I believe it does. There is now a 14/15 year old summer school programme at WL that is two weeks long (no option to do one week so is expensive) and has two possible start dates, the 10th July and the 24th July.

For the upper school yes, but not for the lower school summer school, they just have two separate 2 week blocks for the 14/15 year olds at WL, but it is the same programme just with different dates.

The WL 14/15 year old age group have two dates - 10 july for 2 weeks and 24th July for 2 weeks which I would expect would be after all schools have finished for the summer holidays.

Interesting to see they have extended the programme this year to four weeks in order to open up more spaces for applicants. Wl summer school now running for all of July pretty much which also gives much more choice for those children who are at state school and tied to those term dates. Definitely worth a punt with double the amount of spaces I reckon. Also, hasn't there been a much higher level of international students taking places in recent years? Perhaps this is an attempt by the new(ish) director to open more spaces up to UK students??

This video is very helpful to show how it should look - does she have any exercises etc that can be done to help the dc achieve this?

Which two places were offering him free auditions? I've not heard of that before? Best of luck with it all.

Yes, same for us, eldest non DD suffered from about aged 6/7 with nose bleeds. Profuse and sudden, worse during summer months for sure. Dr said allergies could exacerbate (she gets hay fever), cauterisation mid summer helped (did this a few years in row), plus Dr recommended to drink ice cold water immediately after and splash freezing water on her face as it helps to contract the dilated capillaries which had burst. She is now 14 and suffers far less with them, this summer a handful of times rather than sometimes 2/3 times a day when she was younger! Seems to be something she is just growing out of.

Tring do, but Royal and Elmhurst don't. You get a tour when you go to the Elmhurst prelim audition though.

Anna du boisson runs full time vocational school from 11-16 called young dancer's academy, and after school non vocational classes at west London school of dance. Non syllabus classes but not just performance, high standard of technique is taught. Pm me if you have any questions as my dd did wlsd classes last year and is starting at vocational school in a few weeks.

I agree pictures- and the whole social media thing exacerbates it. Kids look at photos of other kids doing this sort of training and want to do it.

Yes, yes, yes! That is the safe and truly effective way to stretch. Forcing and pain are not safe.