Waitingmum

I very rarely post on the forum but occasionally have a little peek to see what is going on.

 

Thank you Primrose for your post....couldn't have said all that better.

 

As a parent of a DD in second year RBS upper school I feel that I just need to clarify that in my daughters year there are many different shapes and sizes.....some are very tall with...yes....long legs and many are much shorter with not so long legs. They all have their special bits that they excell in. Some are brilliant at jumps and turns,some are more suited to slower more lyrical movements. Each has there own charm.....but really all quite unique.

 

The same can be said of the boys as well...different shapes and sizes.

My daughter also auditioned twice for JAs and didn't get offered a place either time. Things change and children progress at different rates. After not being offered a JA place we were delighted when she gained entry into WL. But it has been very tough and gets tougher every year.

Next year she will be in graduate year....and that thought scares the hell out of me. It will be like starting all over again with the audition process only this time for a job.

 

And contrary to what people may think and what the little girl says on the promo video.....the students there do not think they are the best far from it. They are never allowed to have that attitude....they would be brought straight back down to earth believe me.

 

There are ideals for the perfect ballet body but very few students actually have that and if they do...they get snapped up. But believe me RBS is not made up of clones.

I thought RBS picked clones too and never thought my dd would be accepted as has a more muscular shorter legged look than some but in Year 7 at WL there is a huge array of shapes and sizes, so still no clearer as to what they are really looking for!! Kids develop at such different rates and times, certainly at lower age range, I don't think that they do pick particularly on body shape.

Do students get an opportunity to choreograph? If they do, then I assume they may be given some guidance/mentoring as to how their work looks.

Are students taught the history of ballet and productions so that they can learn through that method ideas for structuring their own works.

 

I was under the impression that some students realised they had a talent for / love of choreography rather than dancing themselves while they were still students?

At White Lodge the students study history of art and undertake choreo sessions where they develop their own dances. They then are encouraged but not expected to enter a choreography competition. Once through to the final stages, they are supported by the teachers to ensure that all classmates are in 1 of the dances and that it is polished!

The years 7,8 &9 have the final of this next week being judged by a panel that is supposed to include Lism Scarlett and Kevin OHare.

No I'm not aware of it happening recently. The year 8 candidate had to come a dance in one of the year 7s ballet classes yesterday, don't know why they have started doing this - to make a better comparison I guess!

I thought there were 14 already in year 7 and 8, so are they going to 15 potentially then?

At the audition insight day we went to in October Mr Powney did say they could take up to 15 in a year.

Looks like it - must be buying more bunk beds!!!!

Thanks waiting mum - are they from YDA? Do you know if they offer waiting list places at this point?

I'm not sure where they are from. I guess they will need to make a decision on the whether the prospective candidates are offered a place before they go to the waiting list but only know what my dd is telling me - sorry!

Waiting mum - is this a new thing then? I'd never heard of the place being conditional on doing dance class with current year before?

No I'm not aware of it happening before. The year 8 candidate had to come a dance in one of the year 7s ballet classes yesterday, don't know why they have started doing this - to make a better comparison I guess!

Does anyone know of any Yr 9 places given out from White Lodge for girls? Or even a wait list? DD is Ok and has Summer School to think of now!

I know of 1 girl who has been potentially been offered a Year 9 place, although like the Year 8 offer it seems to be subject to a dance class alongside the current pupils. The year 8 one is happening today so I guess they should know soon.

Waiting, the secondary school my children attend has many fantastic dancers in genres from ballet to street (winners of national competitions etc), has an annual in-school dance competition in which large numbers take part, followed by a show of the best, dance plays a big part in the annual production etc etc.

 

BUT no dance qualifications are offered at GCSE or A-level (it can form a small part of GCSE PE), and none of the PE teachers are dance specialists. The quality dance tuition is ALL at local extracurricular dance schools.

 

So the 'product' and high profile in terms of dance, at that school at least, does not in any way indicate that a dance teacher is employed by the school, nor that dance qualifications are offered.

Didn't realise how lucky my dd is then - her school has 2 full time dedicated qualified dance teachers!

Just got back from a fantastic secondary school dance show with over a 100 dancers showing some amazing talent from year 7 up to A level and yesterday they were competing at a national dance competition!! Some schools still value dance!!

But surely it`s the right of the child and their parents to attend whichever auditions they want,and however many they want? If they are talented enough to be offered numerous places it`s hardly their fault,is it?

I agree and it doesn't affect whether other children get offers. Certainly last year we were in fortunate position of multiple offers including WL and although my dd was pretty certain about going to WL, she hadn't ever really had a good look around Elmhurst so she attended the audition just to make sure that she was making the right decision for her.

A huge well done to the yeses and commiserations and keep going to the no's - don't forget there are many routes to the end destination.

Ooh that's exciting Waitingmum . Are they from your local dance school .?

Huge congratulations anyway . A real achievement at year 8 .

 

Hope your daughter is not too upset pointyourtoes .who knows what is around the corner X

My dd is in year 7! She said that 1 girl has been invited to attend a dance class with them on Thursday so see how she fits in.

Have heard of one girl who has got a place for year 8!

No one else seems to have heard anything yet. Keeping everything crossed for you all x

Do they take 12 girls into year 7 ?

They have always taken 12 girls but last year they took 13 from the auditions and then one from summer school and bought some bunk beds!!

It was a lovely sunny but cold day up there yesterday but unfortunately my DD started to psych herself out from the moment we arrived, even more so when she saw the other DC arrive. She says she messed up a couple of exercises in the class so she spent the rest of the day trying not to cry which meant she didn't really speak to the other girls, even hiding from a couple of her old JA friends who are currently at the school as she felt embarressed. She's also convinced she's not good enough to go to WL and seems to struggle with the idea that to get the invitation means she has really improved and is showing a lot more potential. So not expecting a Yes when we get the results (not sure when that will be either). Trying to build her back up again ready for Elmhurst on the 15th. Must admit that, although WL is a lovely school, I'm not really sure it's the school for my DD and I can't really see there, she says she feels the same way. She absolutely loves Elmhurst so fingers crossed I can change her thinking a little bit and build her confidence up in the next week!

 

Do hope everyone else enjoyed it. It really was lovely to be up there, although it is a long day for all with lots of hanging around.

Just remember they are looking for potential not perfection, they do know that DCs are nervous. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for her - my dd was looking out for her yesterday but said she couldn't see her. Although they did take the year 7s out on a long walk in the park to keep them out of the way!!

At least you won't have long to wait - last year the results were all out by Monday afternoon.

It is a massive achievement to get to finals but that is hard for them to understand that if the result is not what they are dreaming off.

Good luck for Elmhurst x

 

Also meant to say that I was worried about WL last year as Elmhurst seemed much more friendly but couldn't have been more wrong, once you are lucky enough to get in then they change completely!! It was never a contest in my DDs head - WL all the way but know others who felt exactly the same about Elmhurst - different schools suit different people and if she is more keen on Elmhurst I'm sure that will Come across in the audition.

Just wondered if girls at white lodge final tend to wear JA leotard if they are JAs or do they usually wear another plain colored one?

We were advised last year to wear bright leotard - helps to get noticed!! They know whether you are a JA or not. Main thing is just for your DD to be comfortable in whatever she wears - she doesn't want to be thinking about her clothes in the audition. Good luck

Hi everyone , just changing the subject away from Tring for the moment ....... my DS is lucky enough to have a final audition with RBS this Thursday. On the schedule for the day it gives the candidates a short time to get changed into their dance wear - wearing a track suit etc over the top. I'd planned to send my son already underchanged & wearing a nice tracksuit to begin with .......figuring if he attends like this - it's less for him to think of later in the morning but also a bit more of a casual regime he's used to with other auditions. I've since wondered if most of the other children will arrive very smartly dressed in more formal clothes & don't wish my son to feel a little too casual ......... I must admit, the more suited & booted he is - it tends to add to his nerves !!! Can anyone 'in the know' advise me on the dress code for arrival or is it not really important as long as his tracksuit is acceptable . Thanks v much x

Last year my DD went underchanged with a tracksuit on - as you say one less thing to think about. Just look tidy. They are only being judged on dancing and not their clothes. My DD got a place so it didn't affect her options!

Good luck.

Hi, does anyone have any idea how many places are available in Year 9 at The Royal? Do they have extra beds as they move up the school?

I know that there are currently 14 year 7 girls and 13 year 8 girls so may be 1 place? Sometimes the day students still stay at times so are allocated beds - not sure if you have a dd or dd?

Last year my dd had offers from WL, Elmhurst and Tring and the timing was such that we did have time to make a decision (although not sure about Tring as she didn't really ever want to go there and as lucky enough to have offers from the others we didn't really consider it).

The schools do expect this to happen so you can say that you would like to accept the place before you actually have to pay a deposit and then turn them down. Good luck

Does anyone know anything about the academic side of White Lodge? All of the info I can find is that they teach 2/3 of a timetable compared to non-vocational schools. Wondering about teaching staff for academic subjects, options at GCSE, GCSE results etc ...... My dd has a final audition at White Lodge and people ask if she'll go there if she's offered a place. It's hard to answer having never seen the school and knowing nothing about the curriculum apart from ballet!

My dd is currently year 7 at WL. The curriculum covers what you might call the slightly more traditional subjects with limited choice compared to a more ordinary secondary school. They have 6 40 min lessons a day rather than 50 mins but with classes of only 12 and all extremely well behaved children, they seem to cover as much if not more than my other dd does in her lessons!! From what I could find, recently they have been in the top 15% of non selective schools from an academic perspective.

Good luck.

WL do still have assessments at Year 7 - my dd has hers in the exit 2 weeks!! The aim is not to assess out in year 7 or 8 but it can still happen. Only about half made it through from year 9 to 10 last year - that is the toughest assessment. No assessment in Year 10.

My dd has been invited for a final audition at White Lodge .... does anyone know how many girls they tend to invite to this audition (it's for Year 7 place)?

Thanks!

Last year it was 40 girls and 20 boys for Year 7. - best of luck.

Well our letter hasn't arrived due to a typo and it being sent to the wrong address so the school were good enough to email us the letter and unfortunately it's a no for dd this year! Quite sad as she made it to finals last year so feels like taking a step back, but then to be honest we started out the season expecting all no's as dd is trying for year 8, she doesn't have a lot of experience and she doesn't get the amount of hours in as most children her age, so we are just going to be very grateful for the Hammond and Tring finals, and hope and pray that she gets funding...and if not then it wasn't meant to be and she will continue to enjoy dancing and if she wants to try again next year (which I'm sure she will) then we shall try again then!! Good luck to those still waiting and a massive congratulations to the yes letters received today

 

Sorry to hear this Lema - hope your dd is ok? The whole process is so stressful. Year 10 is a big audition year so hope she keeps going.

I think the assessment process is quite clear at RBS now - as parents we get to watch ballet classes, see termly reports and meet with the ballet teacher to discuss these reports. Lower down the school the teacher assessment is worth 60% of the overall assessment marks rather than just the actual assessment class. My DD is only in year 7 so don't know what it was like before - but so far I'm happy????

You haven't said how old your DC is? If primary age, do they have a strong desire to attend a vocational school. If not then I think attend the associate programme that fits you, your DC and family best. If they want to audition for a particular school then I think being in the relevant programme is probably an advantage. My DD got into year 7 RBS this year and says other than the foreign children she thinks all the DCs went to RBS JAs other than those who attended RBS and Elmhurst!!!

I often getting chatting to another dance mum - couple of cups of coffee and a long natter - time soon goes. 4 hours will go quickly - wait until the final auditions - I spent 8 waiting at White Lodge!!????