Balletgirlsplease

I disagree that your teacher shouldn't be helping with flexibility. My daughter does ballet, tap and modern but also does a weekly limbering class and is shown stretches to do to help with flexibility. She has been working hard at her splits and is almost there on one side (having been way off last year). She is 10. Her teacher suggested that yes some kids are born more flexible but as they grow they may have problems. As my daughter is working hard at her flexibility her teacher said that she will be stronger in her core in the long run. She recently got a call back for a CAT audition (we decided that it wasn't for us in the end) but she couldn't do the box splits in her audition so it isn't necessarily a problem if they can see the potential. Maybe you can talk to your teacher about this.

Hi Ballet12 and well done to your dd. Is that for the CAT scheme? When I spoke to Hannah at the ballet school about my dd last monday she suggested that they have another look at them at the second audition and that if they say yes from then the Easter course is to see if the child likes it/ can cope with it. I may be wrong but that is the impression I got.

Ahh thanks guys. I looked at open classes as an option for once a week but at level 2 they wanted twice a week so I had rejected the idea. And we are already trying for RBS associates for both daughters (my youngest is 8) but it is encouraging that they have seen something in her. We have definitely decided against the CAT audition. And my brother got a scholarship to Laines at 16 on his home school once a week ballet lesson do if she wants a career on the stage I know there are other options. She still gets to do her comps and piano lessons and keep up with her school work this way so it is not limiting her. It's been a tough decision though!

We got a phonecall yesterday inviting my daughter back for a Cat audition (we had only applied for the associates). They weren't going to offer her an associate class just the CAT as she showed potential but didn't have the level needed for associates (ironically). We are pleased that they recognised this but we specifically didn't apply for CAT as it is too far away and thus too many hours. Plus we have an other daughter to consider. So she is pleased to have been recognised but disappointed too. We were looking for another class a week, not professional dance training. Very difficult decision!

Ballet0 what museaum is it by the Canal?? We were thinking of going to the Thackray Medical museum as it is my daughter's 10th birthday the day after. And get some food (not pricey!). Any recommendations? We are coming from Sheffield so don't really know Leeds.

Hi Emsloves2dance. We are just after you at 10.15. We are coming from Sheffield though so early start too! Good luck to your daughter!! x

I got a letter and time today for my 9 year old so hopefully you have one too! x

Ah my daughter is 9 (10 in march - 5th March!) too! Well good luck with the audition and entertaining the troupes!!

Oh dear! How old is your daughter? Can you drop her and take the others to a cafe or something? My daughter is 9 (nearly 10) and would want to know I am outside! I am assuming yours is older with it being a different day / time? I only have the 2 daughters but its still a nightmare when these things clash with other things!

Hi We got our daughter's audition time for Northern ballet associates today. Its on Sunday 4th March at 10.15 - 10.45am. Anyone else going? Zoe

Sorry not ISTD, IDTA!!!

Her name was Cara I think! Little, sassy with amazing feet! Very good with the kids! Let me know if it is the same teacher because if she doesn't get in I am thinking of taking her to an open class.

Hi Nimbus We went yesterday too. We went in the morning (was yours the afternoon?). If morning my daughter was the tiny one in the black ballet shorts and burgundy leotard. My daughter is grade 2 ISTD and has never even turned before and was quite out of her depth at times but she absolutely loved the class and the teacher! She had a big beaming smile on throughout even though she couldn't do lots of it! I was really impressed with the teaching. She is still keen to audition and I think if they don't get in it is still a good life learning experience. My daughter is still only 9 and I don't think it would put her off if she didn't get in. She said yesterday she would just try harder next time! They did say they look for potential and not the grade they are on now or what they can do now.

Hi again. I took my DD to the Northern ballet Academy open day today. She did a wonderful class and had a great time. The same teacher does the audition class so she will know the teacher and hopefully this will put her at ease. She had a big smile on throughout and it has been a really positive experience. Get along to one if you can b4 the auditions X

Thanks. My eldest dd struggled a bit with the tendu derrière photo (like arabesque) so was glad the teacher could help. She either had her front foot parallel or back knee facing in but couldn't do both. Had news that we should be getting the pics tonight!!!

Thanks guys. Their teacher spent their private lesson a couple of weeks ago doing some with a photography student taking them but we've had some technical issues with her computer and might not be able to get them off. So I was going to have another go myself. I did ballet myself and the teacher was very good at correcting their postures and positioning. I just wondered if it mattered if the quality wasn't so good if I do them myself. The elmhurst and RBS ones are a while off but the Northern ballet one has to be in mid feb. hopefully we can still get the other ones off yet but I might do some as a back up!!

Any tips for getting the photos for the applications done?

Yes and the amazing friends they make and confidence they build. If they gave up tomorrow they will always have that. It's amazing how they have come on in personality and personal confidence. And our dance school is like a family. I think i'd miss it too!

Hi I think there is only is going for associates from my girls ballet school. I don't think anyone else is mad enough to want to drive to Leeds each week! Lol! The girls are very keen dancers and it was their teacher who recommended we try them. I try not to be pushy as I don't want them to get to the stage where they don't enjoy it anymore, which is what it's all about. Also I know they would have to work very hard if they choose to dance (my brother is on the west end!) and the profession is also very competitive. It's nice to come on here and get some support! X

Hi Grumpybearzuk! We are new too! Auditioning my 2 at Leeds this year. We went to London day with my youngest and she loved it. The class is lovely. You get to watch the class and I took her teacher which was lovely too. And yes I am very nervous for them too and my two take all their comps and exams in their stride!!

Hi We went to the Royal Ballet JA day in London with my 8 year old as we are away in half term so can't get to the Leeds one. My daughter absolutely loved it! (I think she would've packed her bag and gone right then if they had asked her!). It was a lovely class. All the children listened well and she really enjoyed it. We are auditioning both girls for JA in Leeds. Also trying Elmhurst in Manchester as we are in Sheffield. Good luck with it!

Cool. Where in the country do you go? We were going to audition at Leeds for Leeds 1st choice, Manchester 2nd choice as we were advised in London. The class there was lovely, my youngest learnt so much (as did myself and her ballet teacher). I do grade 4 ballet! Lol! And adult tap and streetdance! I have done pointe work when a bit younger!! Lol!

Ooooh sorry A got who you were muddled up!!

Ahhh thankyou! We went to the JA for a day in London in oct and are going to the Northern ballet one with my nearly 10 yr old on 29th jan. just got their audition photos taken. They found one of them quite tricky! How come you are auditioning again? At the Open day in London for Royal ballet they said one they got in for JA they were in until they were too old and auditioned again for MA's. Zoe

My brother is now on the West End (he got a full scholarship at 16 to The Laine's Performing arts) and he did GCSE PE and used his dancing so I know he would have picked GCSE dance if he could've at the time. Whislt not particularly academic this gave him the chance to get a solid GCSE and it obviously didn't do him any harm!! If she wants to do specific A' levels then it might hamper if not what they are looking for but it depends what she wants to do. Obviously my brother wanted a set career but he did some lovely ballet choreography on his GCSE PE. When I say not particularly academic I mean he wasn't not neccesarily the course!