Waitingmum

I am not sure what age you are asking about. The only thing that I can add related to year 7 is that except for 3 foreign students all students that made it into RBS this year were JAs from RBS. Majority of Elmhurst final auditionees were also JAs from either RBS or Elmhurst. I don't think they take this into consideration as such but I guess dds are already filtered/trained to some degree.

My dd is in year 7 at RBS and she says the teacher has positively discouraged any hypermobility type poses - says they are here to learn technique and are not on dance moms. Very glad to hear!! Although they obviously want excellent turnout my dd never thought she would get into WL as she is not hyperflexible and was worried that she couldn't do these poses that are all over instagram!

I would certainly agree with the above thoughts. Not sure what age your DC is or where they are hoping to audition for? my dd is starting year 7 at White Lodge this September and there seemed to be quite a variation of exam levels achieved by audition time. The most interesting thing was that all successful candidates, except for those from abroad, were all JAs!!

I know there is one dd going into year 8 at White Lodge this year - it is harder but not impossible!

Twoballerinas my dd is also going to WL Year 7!! She is very excited - I keep coming home from work and finding her in her uniform!!! My dd sounds exactly the same as yours in personality!! Thank you also for all these comments - very helpful - I will definitely share them with her. Instagram may have some negatives but it has really helped my dd as she already feels that she is friends with most of her year and she has only met them once - definitely reduces the stress of going away (for her at least!!!!)

Not exactly breakdowns but my dd is also worrying about the same issue - I guess it's not completely a bad thing to be realistic having always been best in her school to realise that this won't be the case in vocational school. I also think it isn't helped by my dd already being on Instagram with other new starters who are posting incredible photos of themselves - I do point out to her it is not just about how flexible you are - more to dance than tricks!! Where is you dd starting?

My DD took part last year in Level 1. She absolutely loved it, great chance to meet other dancers and teachers and they were very good about teaching performance aspects of performing her solo. I am a bit biased as she went through to Antwerp but would definitely recommend it as an experience what ever the outcome. It is not really about the final outcome but the whole experience. Hope you enjoy it.

That is what I said when my DD started this journey. Never believed I would even need to give it any consideration!! However, this is one roller coaster of a journey that you can't seem to get off - should you even start if another whole question!!!!!! As others have said look at the MDS scheme - but on average it works out at about 10% of your salary unless you are below a certain threshold. Good luck!

I agree with the above posts - number of sessions should not make a difference and some of the reasons for how many are offered are down to the teacher availability. My DD did 24 in Year 5 with a few more offered in Year 6 & is off to WL this September. Quality not quantity!!

Thankyou for the warning, I will get in the fridge supplies in preparation!! I have loved all the local festivals and have made a lot of friends and they have certainly taught my dd stage presence and controlling nerves. How ever I will not miss the stress of travel, costumes and the worries about whether the music will work!! Looking forward to The Nutcracker this christmas, at least I can just turn up to watch!!

Ignore - says far more about this woman than it does about your dd - who should be very proud about her achievement. I asked my DDs teacher this very same question regarding festivals and vocational schools as she was commenting on some of the winners although being very showy and on the surface (to my ignorant eyes) excellent dancers, she was saying their basic technique was not brilliant so although they did well at festivals they would never make professional ballet dancers. This was somewhat of a relief as my dd has always done well in exams and is going to White Lodge this September and although does quite well at festivals has struggled with trying to achieve the showiness that seems to be required - does not come naturally to her!!! Not sure if I will even go to All England finals - seems an unnecessary stress! I certainly know which ability I would rather she had although do not mean this negatively to some of the dancers at festivals who are amazing. Just in my ignorance I thought if good at exams/technique, would do well in festivals but not the same thing at all!!

If Elmhurst have a second hand stall like WL has then I would definitely buy at induction and allow for growth. Every item 50p - huge savings!!!! Enjoy your day - WL was fantastic and my dd has made loads of friends already. Very exciting.

Loopy, I am interested in how 6 went through in 1 section, as we only had 3 maximum per class even when 4 or 5 received honours? Congratulations to your DD - huge achievement. I agree, no idea how the judges did it - especially at the end of a 12 hour day - huge admiration!

I'm sure you are right dancingdays , it was only a small subsection of kids in the junior section - most people were lovely and the organizers were great. Congratulations to your dd to reaching the finals - as you say the competition was incredibly tough. I shall chalk it up to a learning experience and just be grateful that on the whole that this is not the norm - like normal life I guess!!! Thank you to all for your reassurance. X

They were quite big - 20-30 in many categories. Results were also quite variable from none going through to all the top 3 or honours going to top 4 or 5. The split groups seemed quite variable too - not sure how they were worked out. In my Dd ballet age groups - first group only 1 dd got honours and went through whereas in my dd group 4 got honours so only 3 could go through.

Been to nationals once before and it was fine so perhaps we just had a bad couple of days!! I will see what my dd wants to do nearer the time - as always it her choice.

West region although I have to say it was not local families but ones out of region!

Luckily it wasn't directed at her so no she was fine but we did have a discussion on the way home about it!!!

Just back from regional finals and have to say I have witnessed some appalling behaviour from both parents and children - with parents making negative comments about children dancing whilst sat watching and children making loud comments in the wings about children that were actually dancing to put them off. And don't get me started on the dressing room. Everything I thought ballet would be but have so far not witnessed coming from a small ballet school where everyone is incredibly supportive of each other. If this is what the regionals are like then despite my dd qualifying for 2 solos I am not sure I want to go to the Nationals!! I am fully aware how competitive ballet world is but if my dd ever behaved like this I would be appalled - please tell me it is not like this at the vocational schools as she is off to White Lodge this September?????

My dd never practiced at that age either but now can't ever stop dancing and is off to White Lodge this September. I always think they have to want to do it, you can't make them. Ultimately it should be about having fun!!

Only found out the numbers in each category when we arrived last time! Wish they would hurry up with the SouthWest timetable!!

I believe that 2 of the 12 girls for the year 7 intake were not JAs so obviously you stand a much higher chance if you are but not impossible. This year you applied online so no forms handed out but JAs are encouraged to apply although not all from my DDs group did.

How exciting - my dd's dream may yet come true of dancing The Nutcracker as a year 7! Opening performance is her birthday - what a present that would be! My dd is looking forward to meeting your daughter OstKampfer - she thinks she spent time with her at the final audition at the writing test and said how nice she was.

Yes my Dd is going to level 2 course (she is only 11!) with a couple of friends.