Waitingmum

Just curious - Where did you find out there are 60 this year?

Do you know final numbers for the other main schools ( without taking this off topic)

I did say I think as my DD is at WL and this is the rumour going round there so may not be completely true!!! Don't know about other schools - sorry and good luck to everyone - the audition is a wonderful experience whatever the outcome.

Previously girls auditions have been run over 1 day with 40 candidates. This year is the first that they have run over 2 days but I think because they have taken 60 through to finals so can't fit them all on one day.

The boys is still run over 1 day because as usual there are only around half the number of finalists.

As a Mum of a dd at WL I would say that if they want to go to auditions as an experience then let them as long as they have realistic expectations. You could be the best shape with all the correct attributes and still not be successful. The numbers of children auditioning versus the number of places is so high. I never thought my dd would get in as not completely traditional ballet shape and the longer I carry on in this ballet world the less I would dream of second guessing. All the dds in my dd's year are all very different heights with different physical strengths and weaknesses.

Enjoy each thing/audition for what it is with no expectation and anything else is a bonus ????

WL do flex the number within each year depending on who they see and yes they do still assess out in Year 8 if things are not working out, but very unlikely in year 7. My dd is now in Year 8 and they brought in bunk beds last year to increase the numbers upto 14 for the girls. There are fewer currently in Year 7 so definitely could fit in a couple more girls. Not sure about the boys.

Good luck to all

Yes, you are absolutely right, and it is more than a shame; it is a tragedy for these young people that those responsible for training them are letting them down.

 

The burning question is will British ballet survive without engaging fully with international practice?

 

I think the answer is no, unless schools and companies adopt a more protectionist position and use their students to feed their corps because they feel a commitment to nurturing and employing British dancers.

 

British students are clearly disadvantaged by not being coached for these competitions because when it comes to their Upper School auditions they are replaced by international students from the competition circuit. It suggests that there is a crisis going on in British ballet training because the school is not training the kind of dancers it wants to showcase in the long run and who will make it into the company. My heart bleeds really for the children who enter White Lodge age 11 (and their families) because they don't realise that most of them won't make it all the way through the school, and that the odds of entering the company are so very heavily stacked against them. Only three British female dancers have made it into the company over the past three years. The few who realise this are opting for private coaching and competitions, so the next question is will White Lodge survive if it continues to demonstrate that it isn't producing enough of the students the Upper School wants? Is this public money well spent?

 

Worst of all the Royal doesn't demonstrate that it has any responsibility for this, or for looking after the interests of British students. The fact that the school is funded by British taxpayers who think it is training the next generation of British ballet dancers, doesn't seem to engender any sense of duty towards, or pride in the country's home-grown talent.

British choreography is generated by British choreographers, that is understood and celebrated. But British schools and companies do not demonstrate equivalent commitment to the British dancer. This kind of sentiment will no doubt be criticised by some as being nationalistic, but I return to my original point which is that if the current situation continues the concept of an English or British Company will be dead in a generation, if it isn't already.

 

Poor Ninette de Valois!

I would not feel qualified to comment on most of your thoughts but as a mum of a WLer I would like to reassure you that all the parents and children are extremely aware of the number of children that make it through - we all enter this process with our eyes very wide open as would any responsible parent. I discussed this very issue with my daughter many times before finally giving in and letting her follow her dream. The attitude is one of enjoying all the experiences for as long as they last, these are memories to treasure even if they don't make their ultimate goal. My only concern has been the amount of performing and time out of academics that my dd has had since being there! Not everyone can make it through for many reasons but even if this does not happen, my dd and I will always hold onto the incredible experiences that she has had - taking a bow out front on her own at ROH having danced with Edward Watson in RavenGirl has got to be one to remember. ????

A few weeks ago the Covent Garden box office rang me to ask if I minded changing my seat at the matinee on 29 November as the BBC wanted to film it. I imagine I wasn't the only one.

I agreed but perhaps I should have asked searching questions in order to report back on this topic! I assume it's intended to include footage of the performance in one of the documentaries.

BBC have been filming behind the scenes at White Lodge and Royal Ballet, the rehearsals and preparations that go into producing The Nutcracker aswell as interviewing students/professionals. They are filming the performance on the 29th as part of this programme so some but definitely not all of the show will be in it.

I am very biased as my DD is one of the lucky White Lodgers who will be in it as a party girl this year so I can't wait to see it!! She says it has been fun although they did laugh when they wanted them to be filmed on the coach going up to ROH and looking out the window at the sights of London - they are usually only ever looking at their phones!!!!

Even if not assessed out children leave school anyway. In current year 8: 3 children left during year 7, 2 didn't come back for year 8 after summer. 2 children got in to year 8 last year. So very few places fir year 8 and 9 but it is possible to get in.

Do you know why they all left - seems a high drop out rate?

RBS currently have gymnastics on the curriculum anyway so if successful in his audition he will have a head start!!!

Currently - although a found it easier to buy a multivitamin as my dd would only have the chewable ones!!!

I recently met a lady whose daughter was considering vocational training, and showed her a brief video on the RBS site. Her first comment was about how great it was to see children eating outside...

 

Is Vit D. the only supplement that vocational students are advised to take?

My DD is at RBS lower school and although not actually tested, they are certainly recommended to take a Vit D supplement and to eat outside whenever the weather allows!!

My son never took Advanced 2, he is now a professional ballet dancer (still love writing that!) Most of his year have employment, of those I know of that don't both have advanced 2. Most of the rest who found jobs don't have more than Intermediate.

 

I think it is yet another one of these things that we as parents worry about more than the students. I don't think (and someone will correct me) WL does RAD at all now.

You are correct WL do not do any exams anymore.

Lovely review - we were also at this performance watching our dd in the Krakoviak!!!

Loved the venue????

 

http://ballerinadreamsdancediary.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/royal-ballet-school-performance-opera.html?m=1M

 

Saw the White Lodge performance at Holland Park on July 2nd and finally got round to reviewing it!!

That is sad - I haven't heard of any issues from my DD at her vocational school and they all seem to get on in an incredibly supportive manner considering the pressure they are under.

I hope that the schools addresses these issues rapidly.

30 in Year 1

28 in year 2

26 in year 3

 

Regarding the Royal upper school how many are in 3rd year? I did think they took nearly 40 into 1st year.x

Completely agree Don Q Fan - they really stood out for me too.

It was an amazing showcase of talent all the way from Year 7 upwards - hard to believe the age of these kids and the professional standard they achieve.

Some definite stars in the making!

This year at the summer fair they were running tours aswell - far cheaper at £2 than at the open days!!

At £5 entrance fee to the fair and the possibility of seeing 4-5 hours dancing - a bargain all round!!

Brilliant day - also my first time - definitely go again.

Very rapid watching my dd in Year 7 dances and so fantastic to see the progression through the years

This is info from RBS if it helps.

 

Due to the refurbishment of the Linbury Studio Theatre, this year’s summer performances will take place at Opera Holland Park from 30 June-2 July 2016, with the usual Main Stage matinee performance taking place at the Royal Opera House on Saturday 9 July 2016.

 

The Royal Ballet School has a long history at Opera Holland Park, having performed there in the late sixties and seventies and returning in 1987 to become an annual fixture. In 2001 Royal Ballet School students gave their last performance at Opera Holland Park as the School moved its end-of-year performances to the Royal Opera House. Significant renovations have taken place at Opera Holland Park since the School was last there and we are very excited about returning to this stunning performance space for four performances in June/July 2016.

 

The Opera Holland Park performances feature students from both Upper School and White Lodge in a wide-ranging programme. The Friday evening and Saturday matinee performances are dedicated predominantly to the students at White Lodge including folk, national and character dance as well as classical repertoire. The Thursday and Saturday evening performances will feature predominantly the Upper School students.

 

The Opera Holland Park performance schedule is as follows:-

 

Thursday 30 June

Predominantly Upper School - 7.30pm

Friday 1 July

Predominantly Lower School - 7.30pm

Saturday 2 July

Saturday 2 July

Predominantly Lower School - 2.30pm

Predominantly Upper School - 7.30pm

 

 

Please note that the capacity of Opera Holland Park (1000 seats) is a great deal larger than the Linbury Studio Theatre capacity, hence why there is one less performance than in previous years.

Please also note that the sight lines for Opera Holland Park seats are excellent and all seats offer a clear view of the stage. Prices range from £15 to £35.

A friend of mine's daughter had a yes for year 4 yesterday.

WL year 7s wear socks even in pointe class which they start right from the beginning of Year 7. However next year they are having a change of uniform and Year 7s will probably be in tights all year.

It's the reserve list for my dd too, not surprised but feeling much sadder than I expected to feel. It's taken me by suprise really as like I've said many times we went into this year with the attitude of a funded place in year 8 is going to be almost impossible to gain, and yet I'm feeling really deflated and dreading telling dd, who I know will take the news perfectly well but still knowing this was her last shot for year 8 makes me feel sad to have to tell her that it was as good as another no

 

Don't get me wrong I'm proud that she got reserve and not just an outright no but I can't imagine there being much movement on the reserve list especially with all the other finals having already taken place and offers would have been accepted/declined already.

Best of luck to those still awaiting results ????

Sorry to hear this news - was keeping my fingers crossed for you - this road is so hard for all concerned xx

Interesting, but like a lot of the dance medicine and science research, it will take a while to filter into vocational schools. I think a lot of dance teachers who work outside of vocational schools are already naturally attuned to different development rates and take this into account. It's really only vocational schools and programmes that group dancers by age, and expect them all to make the same amount of progress. Most associate schemes (correct me if I'm wrong here) group dancers slightly more generously so might have a wider age range in a group, which then takes into account the different levels of physical maturity, but I believe it is at vocational schools such as 'the big 4' where children are expected to make progress at the same rate as others in their school year. I wonder if the directors of these schools are aware of this research, and whether they consider it worth changing a system that they are used to, grew up with, trained with and could create headaches with timetabling etc. Personally I think it could work, but only if dance classes for similar year groups were timetabled together, to allow students of 2/3 year groups to be mixed and then split into appropriate classes. That way, academic classes (such as GCSE or A-level work) could still be taught by year group (although again, personally I am a fan of the american school system where pupils progress at their own rate!).

I found the link on the RBS Twitter feed - not that that means Christopher Powney has read it of course!!!

Certainly when I look at my DDs class in year 7 at WL , some of the girls look about 10 and others about 15 in physical maturity - I think it does make a difference.

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/apr/19/bio-banding-could-cut-risk-of-injury-for-ballet-dancers-says-study

http://gu.com/p/4tec7/sbl

Interesting- not sure how this would work in practice?

WL students definitely get nutrition talks and were told today to go and eat outside to get some Vitamin D!!

Most definitely their own hair!!!

Sadly I don't think there is anywhere that each dance can be viewed- as someone lucky enough to watch it all I can say is that it was incredible????