Dormouse

Yes, I am a Chartered Engineer, and I pay an annual subcsription, and I have to prove I have done sufficient hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to keep this qualification. It's similar to my Chartered Mathematician status.

Some years ago my husband (a better engineer than I am) who was an AMIEE (Associate Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers) suddenly became a MIEE ( Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers), now a (Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology = MIET) when the grades were changed. He would need to jump through more hoops to become a Chartered  Engineer, and cannot be bothered. As a female engineer, I was bothered, so I did it - now no one can tell if I'm male or female. Signed (just to set the record straight): Eur Ing D Pechey BSc MIEEE CMath MIMA CEng MIET

They give one reason as people not understanding the type of membership, I quote:

"As we approach the RAD’s centenary in 2020, we have been looking at
how we might improve membership for you. The 2019 membership
satisfaction survey was a good basis for this as 1,754 members shared
their thoughts with us. Our research showed that members didn’t really
understand the meaning of ‘Affiliate’ or ‘Full’ membership, and that
these words didn’t accurately represent what it means to be a member
of the RAD.

"We want to ensure that membership is easy to understand for everyone
worldwide. After sharing and testing ideas with member representatives
– as well as current and prospective members – we have made some
changes to the RAD's global membership scheme to make the scheme more
attractive and sustainable."

I was telephoned to discuss this, and sworn to secrecy. I said that they should just change the words, and that they obviously didn't value the work of those who took the higher grades, and that if it went through I would probably leave. Obviously they think they will get more money, but if I were a "friend", I would resent being told that I had to pay an extra tenner to stay any sort of member - even if I did get the title "member". I was really chuffed three years ago when I passed my Grade 6, and became an Affiliate!

Surely the word "friend" could stay the same. "Affiliate Member" become "Member" and "Full member" become "Member Plus", without messing around with the requirements for each category. Or even have the new "Member" category for Grade 6 and above, plus Intermediate Foundation, and Intermediate, and "Member Plus" for the Advanced vocational grades - or something like that.

AHA!!! I've checked the membership rates. The old Friend was 42.00, and the Affiliate was 52.00. Those who are mere members now pay 52.00. So Friends pay an extra tenner.

The Member Plus is 87.00, for any vocational award. Definitely up (at the lower end) from either 42.00 or 52.00.

I have just received this from the RAD. So my Grade 6 is now not valued by the RAD, my husband could be in the same membership category as I am.

From 1 September 2019 the following changes will come into effect:

1. Affiliate Member
This category will be renamed RAD Member and will be opened up to anyone with an interest in and passion for dance or the RAD.

2. Full Member
This category will be renamed RAD Member Plus. The minimum eligibility for this category will now be RAD Intermediate Foundation (Pre-Elementary). This makes it a more suitable category for those members taking vocational examinations and thinking about progressing their career in dance.

Thank you everyone for your good wishes.

I see I haven't been on since last May. Well, my knee mended nicely, and I was allowed to put weight on it a month before Nutcracker. So I stayed in the wheelchair for the first part of the first act, and then got out and performed the Grandmother's Dance. I also got my (1 minute) solo back in the second act! I've been attending Grade 7, Inter Foundation, and Intermediate since then.

So eleven days ago I danced (can't really say "sat" for a ballet exam!) my IDTA Gold Medal. I've just got my results, and I did achieve Honours (that's 85% to 100%), so I'm feeling rather chuffed. In the meanwhile I've joined a different gym, and I'm off to find out what exercises are recommended for my still-slightly-weak left leg. It only shows up when I'm on pointe (still only on the barre) but I need to fix it.

Thanks for reading.

7 hours ago, youngatheart said:

I hope your surgeon is able to help - BTW what is a "stellate fracture"? It sounds pretty scary!

Thank you for your good wishes. A stellate fracture is like a windscreen crack, radiating out like a star (stella is Latin for star). My surgeon is one of the best in Europe. He knows about knees; he used to play rugby for the Wasps! When I realised there was something seriously wrong with my knee we telephoned his secretary. No messing about! He put my new knee in just under four years ago, I was concerned that something may have happened to it, but he said (via his secretary) that it was unlikely to have damaged his joint, and - rest, ice and an X-ray was what was needed. So we did that as soon as we got back to England.

12 hours ago, sophie_rebecca said:

Forgive me but is that you Doreen? I was incredibly moved by your story if that is you, I keep citing you as an example of exactly why no one has any excuse not to do ballet, that it really is for everyone & great fun / exercise.

Nothing to forgive. Yes, it is I. I was feeling a bit shy when I joined this forum, and Dormouse is the name our Beaver Scouts call me. I get really chuffed when people say that they like my story. By the way ... it was in People's Friend and My Weekly early this year. The amusing thing about the My Weekly article, was that it took three or four celebrities and three ordinary people, who were doing things not associated with being over something-like-50-or-so. Well, on the previous page was Helen Mirren. As we were in the same class at the convent, my friends thought that was really neat.

I don't really do ballet for the exercise, it's because I love moving to music - but it has to be the right sort of music. I was practising a port de bras some years ago, and it was a bit wooden. Monica changed the music, and suddenly I burst into life.

That's enough of me - as you may notice, I'm a bit fed up, sitting with my leg horizontal - but I so want to be in Nutcracker in July, that I'm being a very good girl, and doing what my consultant tells me! ... Makes a change!

On 24/04/2017 at 17:08, sophie_rebecca said:

Grade 6 and IF at the same time! how do you manage the difference in flow between the two? I used to struggle to pick up the choreography but I'm much better now, the problem I have now is that I was happy with a Merit but I know in Grade 7 I'll want a gold not silver medal and boy is that going to be a lot of work! just short of impossible but not quite so still worth reaching for.  

That's what I was studying, then I passed my Grade 6 (I'm the oldest old fogie in the country to pass that exam), so I'm (normally) studying IF and Grade 7. I'm still at the barre for pointe work - except when my ballet teacher takes me "walkies" - I hang onto her hands as we totter across her studio,

Congratulations sophie_rebecca, on your IF, I know how hard it is.

I say "normally studying" because I've got a stellate fracture of my patella, and it's the same knee I had replaced just under four years ago. So I've gone back to my knee surgeon, and I'm non weight bearing on that leg until I see him again on 5th June :-(. My surgeon thinks this means I won't be dancing in Nutcracker in July - but he doesn't know my ballet teacher Monica! As I'm the grandmother, I can perform in my wheelchair if necessary!

Errr ... Just to keep my mind focused ... I'm taking IDTA Silver in November  I took the Bronze in 2010, and I was going to do Silver the following year, but the date changed, and I was in Canada. Then I had knee operations, and this is the first year I can concentrate on it.

I passed, with honours. I've been told I got 95% but I haven't seen the report yet. All five who took a ballet exam got honours, and so did those who did tap.

I saw Nutcracker at The Coliseum last night (Yes, I know it opens today, I got two 20.00 tickets to the rehearsal because I'm a friend of the ENB) and we were treated to TWO different couples dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy bit. My ballet school will be performing Nutcracker at The Hexagon in Reading in July, so I was instructed to watch carefully. I don't know what parts I've got yet.

Well, I've done it. I've contacted my dds ballet school and enrolled in adult ballet classes. I've never had a ballet lesson in my life! Now to pluck up the courage to actually walk into the class. Watch this space!!

Good Luck. I remember plucking up courage to go to my first class in England.

I came across this rather nice article this morning while preparing today's links.  It features dancer Jane Magan preparing for retirement and talking about the health benefits of dance.  Our very own Dormouse gets an honourable mention!

 

http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/mental-health/grow-older-with-grace-ballet-dancer-jane-magain-prepares-to-hang-up-her-pumps-35002640.html

WOW! Thanks for posting that. I am getting around ... I have been on Canadian television: http://tinyurl.com/hfprf9v

THINKS: I MUST tidy this house!!!

Replying to Dance*is*life I don't know if my reply is automatically linked to you.

Thank you for your congratulations. Yes, I am already studying Grade 7. I started after I did my Grade 6 presentation class in December 2014 - everyone thought I would drop Grade 6 and concentrate on Grade 7. I wanted to get Grade 6 and my RAD Affiliate membership!!! I'm also studying Intermediate Foundation. I also adore the higher grades - especially as my class teacher was a professional dancer in Germany before coming to the UK. It was really great when he said my Polonaise step was correct, but should be bigger - his arm went round my waist, and his other hand held mine, and we were off round the studio. Dancing with a partner who really knows his stuff is so inspiring.

Errr ... Just to keep my mind focused ... I'm taking IDTA Silver in November  I took the Bronze in 2010, and I was going to do Silver the following year, but the date changed, and I was in Canada. Then I had knee operations, and this is the first year I can concentrate on it.

Congratulations Dormouse!!

Belated wishes from me, apologies, but I have been following your achievements on social media, The Times and you also had a mention on Classic FM this week!

I think I'm correct in saying you've visited us in our Southend store - a couple of the staff recognised you in the press coverage! I think you're now a famous ballerina!

Sx

Thank you for that. Yes, I visit your store nearly every time I visit Southend. As you may know, I grew up there, and lived there until a mere 34 years ago. I still have friends there, and a cousin who teaches ballet - so, when I visit, I try to be there on Thursday evening to attend her adult class.

Well I don't want to put a downer on this as I think it is a really amazing achievement and have said so earlier.

 

But the article is a little misleading as Dormouse is not the oldest lady dancing to a good standard.

Her achievement is in passing the exam ....no mean feat to,be sure.

However on a recent summer school I was attending in London there was a lady there of 84 who was dancing really competently in an elementary/intermediate level class!! Also amazing.

Hope both ladies have many years of dancing ahead!!

I know the feeling. It's NOT what I said, or wrote. I have only ever said I was the oldest in the UK to pass the exam. Also, I don't know where they got the idea I had my new knee two years ago. It was THREE. Some papers just twist things. I don't think there's much I can do about that :-(

Just lovely! So inspiring - congratulations Dormouse & thank you Janet for posting link to TV news item.

Am creeping up towards 50 & secretly want to take an exam but never had confidence to ask teacher to actually talk the logistics through.....did you do regular class with teens etc or private lessons? I love my adult ballet class where we range in age from 18 - 80+!!

I started with the adult class, but (dare I say this?) they were "once a weekers, when they could get there" so I wanted something more challenging, and Monica gave me permission to join a syllabus class, which is generally for 13- to 18-year olds. I also have some private lessons with Monica; you've seen her studio on television.

I thought it was today Thursday at 6.30 just waiting to see it!

Don't tell me I've missed it!

No, it's on Friday now. The A34 crash took precedence.

And the RAD has put you on Twitter:

 

https://twitter.com/radheadquarters/status/764020684527771653

 

Some have celebrity thrust upon them!

OH WOW! The telephone hasn't stopped! I'm overwhelmed. Thanks for telling me about that. I've never looked at Twitter before - too busy dancing!

Sorry I haven't been around recently, I've been interviewed and video-ed, and there's more this afternoon and on Monday ...

Have any of you looked at the RAD Facebook page??? Over 1/4 million views. Is that considered a lot?

Well, today I spent an hour with my ballet teacher, and then two
hours with the journalist from the local television station, who did a
what-do-you-call-it on me, and it will be broadcast at 6.30 pm on Thursday on

BBC South, and the programme is "South Today" after the national news.

I have found out that since 2003, when the Royal Academy of
Dance started computer records, I am the oldest person to pass that
exam!!! I am now an affiliate.not just a friend of the RAD !!! YEH! It
cost me an extra 10 quid a year. Hey !!! I'm just a teenager !!!

Thank you for all your good wishes. I'm still over the moon about it. I'm upgrading my membership of the RAD from "friend" to "affiliate"! The new photograph was taken four years ago when I was the burgomaster in Coppelia.

Huge congratulations Dormouse!

 

I've moved your thread to the more relevant "Doing Dance" Forum.

Thank you.

That is brilliant - well done!

I'm interested in your comment about knee replacement as I have been told that is my next step, but they won't do it yet as I'm "too young" (and at 50 it's about the only occasion I am likely to be described as "too young" these days!). Just wondering how much it has affected you - are you able to do what you would have been able to do before having knee problems, would you say? I'm trying to hold off as long as possible, but if I have it done I would like to be able to continue doing Taekwondo, and I don't know if that's possible, or encouraged.

I know nothing about Taekwondo, only ballet and Pilates. I had the operation on 25th June 2013, and I walked out of the hospital with no walking aids the following morning. I was back in class before the end of term, and having private ballet lessons within four weeks. At that time I wasn't allowed to do grand plies. I started back at ballet classes (Inter. Found.) in the September, and started Grade 6 after half term (my other class, Intermediate, had folded). I couldn't touch my bum with my left heel for about a year, my right heel just whizzes straight in easily. Initially I was scared of damaging myself when I knelt and twisted at the end of a free-movement exercise, but I can do that again now. The only thing that is still uncomfortable is kneeling right back so that my bum touches both heels. I was fit when I went in for the op. so that helped my recovery. It is said that one regrets having the op. for about six weeks, and then one regrets not having it done sooner. My personal opinion is that those who say that new knees only last 15 to 20 years, are talking about operations that happened well over 15 years ago. Techniques have improved since then. Good Luck whatever you decide.

I've just bought the Kindle edition of 'Step by step ballet class'. Now to find time to read it!

Thanks a lot everyone.