Petalviolet

r3dh3d are you me using another name? Marvellous.

And a yes for mini pv too!

Bloody Thatcher.

I love a Balletco conspiracy theory. Trump is to blame for sudden dearth of hairpins - can you imagine on Tuesday..electrified by triumph he executes celebratory twirl and sends that bastard of a wig scything through crowd??? Take the pins Trump, take all the pins you want..

I didn't think we needed any..but now I hear stocks are low I'm starting to panic. This is how it snowballs people.

Exactly MAK - certainly tough decisions but not ones based on "talent" but on scheduling commitments and personal preference.

I wondered if anyone would make a comment that the more talented children would now pull out leaving a smaller pool of more average dancers for LCB to chose from. I hope it's not the case that these "more talented" children then don't go on to make All Englands finals or get a place on the JA programme as what a shame for them, they won't be doing anything at all. At least a few of the average children auditioning for LCB will I'm sure, have a fabulous experience. You could of course still audition for LCB and if lucky enough to gain a place still turn it down? Don't they operate a reserve place system like NYB? I don't know. I would have thought the audition itself excellent practice for a JA audition come May next year even though the two schemes are looking for vastly different things and success in one does not guarantee success in the other. After all, arent the All England Finals/JA auditions quite a long time away? I guess there are a lot of very confident parents out there!! I prefer to think that it may be more the case of you can't do everything. The children who are more committed to the festival circuit will decline an audition in favour of competitions. The children with hopes of a place on the JA scheme will decline in favour of training. The children who are performers and love youth ballets will audition for LCB. good luck to everyone in your chosen route but please don't make any assumptions.

DD did York this summer and it was her first residential (she's nine), the pastoral care and accommodation were fantastic and the course itself was very varied and offered ballet, jazz, a taster session of contemporary for juniors and musical theatre! There was swimming, face painting, t shirt decorating and movie nights too in between classes and the end of week show was superb. I thought it was excellent value of money and would highly recommend to anyone thinking of doing a first residential. I don't know of Opes I'm afraid but heard it mentioned a lot on the forum too - very popular.

Otter fluffer or dog handler at Crufts? I'd like a dog with a nice long coat - Afghan Hound - take it for a lap, get a nice swishy pace up, lots of tweaking and re-positioning of it.. then graciously accept Best In Show (little curtsy).

Chocolate truffle quality controller Something in a Manhattan style loft office where I trot in around about midday with a massive mocha, browse social media and bitch whilst eating Camembert and rebuff advances of mad men style boss. Essentially getting paid to be snooty? Sommelier, bridal shop, local branch of Sweaty Betty.... Private detective. Noir. Me: hair like Lauren Bacall, perching to take notes in pencil skirt, arching eyebrows a lot OR biographer to some crazy explorer/inventor Golf caddy but just driving the golf buggy around (fun) not lugging stuff. Seriously: commissioning editor for a publishing house.

cringe Now let us all join hands and unite to mourn the passing of a benign and innocuous thread. A moment of silent contemplation to adjust your bewildered minds..I do enjoy when others *offer their opinion. *lays an egg of drama.

Just got back to find a mystery letter to DD.... It's from the jogging bottoms she met at York Dance Assembly!! I didn't even know they had exchanged addresses!! So now she has had two letters in two days from ballet pen pal chums that she wouldn't have found if it weren't for Balletco!! Also got back to see DH "working from home" just happens to have the women's beach volleyball on...in the background....hmmmm.

That tribal dance was brilliant!

Also back from York Assembly and DD loved it! It was her first experience of a residential summer school and she's just turned nine so a little younger than the other girls - if anyone reading this is thinking about trying a boarding option but is worried I would highly recommend this - great pastoral, facilities,food etc but it's the teaching I'd like to highlight! I think Antonio Borelli made quite an impression as he even gave the juniors a class and it's all DD has been practising since she got back. (Cartwheel, squat, sweep left, sweep right..ponder..run round in circle....I think this was his work...I'm not sure this is doing it justice here) I was so impressed by the quality of the contemporary and jazz work for the inters and the seniors. Such powerful choreography and so original. None of the usual music video stuff that can be a bit uncomfortable as a parent to watch - mature, expressive and I thought a genuine attempt to push all of the dancers so that even the simpler parts where still impressive and cohesive and you could tell were a joy to dance. As part of the closing speech to parents the integrity of the choreography was brought up and I'd not really ever thought about this before but it summed up my overall impression beautifully. A lot of thought and effort was put into each group dance to present work that had real intention. Usually when Hubbie and I sit through the summer school or end of year show I'm a bit...well....if the one I made isn't in it I'm not as concentraty as I could be... but I genuinely enjoyed watching the older groups and to see girls not being girly but given something a bit empowering to dance to wasnt what I expected from a ballet course at all!

Ooooh that's a lovely post BluLou! Can't wait till Friday! And no. Not just because somebody mentioned cake ok.

We dropped DD off yesterday at York Dance Assembly too and it's her first summer school experience so we were all a bit nervous. The timetable for the juniors looked so much fun - swimming and T shirt decorating and make up tutorials and movie nights - hope they can squeeze in some ballet??!! DD and I happened to be standing next to another girl who was there for the first time too and by coincidence they were wearing the same jogging bottoms? THE SAME JOGGING BOTTOMS. Well..that was it. No other introductions necessary. I was immediately surplus to requirements and summarily dismissed till Friday.

Ah ok I googled foot undeez and I've seen these on older girls. Googling toe pants however...results were unexpected!

Foot thongs? Is that dancer speak for flip flops?

How funny! Thanks X

Could anyone tell me when to expect details to be sent out for this? I haven't received anything yet and wondered if anyone had? Thanks!

Have you thought about York Ballet Scholars? She might need to be residential but they offer ballet, contemporary, jazz I think and musical theatre? There is a thread somewhere... Applications close in July so there is still time to apply?

We had a YES for London for one of DD's classmates today but not sure if he counts as "London" results as they had to audition in Southampton last minute due to an error over audition dates? Very exciting!!

No on both counts as we are going away that week pus she hasn't been old enough to board anywhere before. I think there might be other more suitable options for her this year. Hopefully another on the reserve list will get the chance now though!!!

Thanks! I'd just chalked it up to experience and have been trying to arrange another summer school instead? We did meet someone through EYB offered a JA spot but no boarding so as it stood she couldn't accept..? Maybe this is why a spot cropped up? We would be in exactly same position though (need residential) and they wouldn't offer boarding to us and not her. I'm not sure she can apply next year as it will clash with 11+ exams. Ah well....

Oh dear :-( DD just been offered a place from the reserve list but.. We've booked our family holiday! Typical! Not sure if I should tell her?