Petalviolet

She's at both :-) I think YDA is still only to 13 but I'm not too "in" with the upper echelons of YDA so others may well know more.

Actually they've given her a 9.00 start time not midday which means the younger group must be continuing? They've still got Tring and Royal to go but would be lovely if she came to YDA.

Results are out as DD's friend has a yes but another girl we know is still waiting.

If only DD was Ten! I have family in Escrick and it's a beautiful school! I shall remember this for next year, thank you for posting X

Oh thank you what lovely supportive words! I feel quite a plumped up PV now.

Morning everyone! JA results are out! Good luck to everyone and fingers crossed for good news! We are on the reserve list (so there is one) a sad little one but will try again next year!

Hope it went well for all the JAs auditioning yesterday - the standard looked very high! Can I ask - does NYB have a reserve list of dancers similar to EYB if someone can't take up their place for whatever reason? We managed to park about five feet away from the ENB school entrance and DH just kept shaking his head and saying 'this is too good to be true...must be a catch' and looking up and down the street a lot. DD loved the acting - reported back at one point asked to pretend they were at a fancy dressed ball and everyone was in gowns but she had gotten the theme wrong and had turned up dressed as a tomato. She had to act 'grumpy' and be consoled. My DD was the tomato. They had the measure of her that's for sure.

Well said.

Also South East Ballet Scholars? I've no personal experience or affiliation but another good option? Really there are so many schemes in and around Kent you're spoilt for choice if you put your mind too it!!

Hi love for ballet and welcome! We are also in Kent and I really understand where you are coming from regarding travelling out of County and expense/hassle, especially if you have other children in tow. A new scheme that offers pre vocational training at a selective level which is close to home sounds ideal but I would have a few questions first regarding Prima Associates and what they could offer that would be different from attending one of the many excellent ballet schools in Kent or applying to the London based Associate programs. What vocational school or examining body are they associates of? One of the most attractive aspects of an associate course is the opportunity to be seen and trained by teachers affiliated with a prospective school with an eye to future prospects! It's no guarantee of course but without that tantalising connection any scheme loses a lot of its appeal for me. So..they isn't a link to a vocational school but the teachers are well known and respected and the training will be great! Ok so they have some professional names mentoring the program but as to who is teaching the actual classes - are they any more experienced than say my DD's principal at her regular school? I'm not sure. I'm not saying they wouldn't be but I would have to have some VERY good reasons to present to my DD's teacher by way of explanation as to why we would want to attend this scheme and apart from 'so she can have a chance of building a relationship at X vocational school' what other reason is there that wouldn't be construed as dissatisfaction? but these classes will be selective so the standard will be higher than your average local class! An 'associate' scheme can only select from the pool of applicants it attracts. Well established schemes will be more competitive but (and this is only my personal opinion) if DD wasn't accepted into any of the four major ones within reach from Kent - RB, LJB, YDA and Tring then it was an indicator she probably wasn't suitable. Joining an unaffiliated new program instead where the chance of entry is much higher could also raise expectations and involve more money and effort and endeavour and pressure with no guarantee such training will pay off at year 7 entry? Because at the end of the day associates are just a class! DD misses her usual ballet friends, has to forgo bigger parts in productions as she can't commit to rehearsals, can't do everything she wants to in festivals etc not to mention the missed birthday parties because it's a big chunk of time she has to forgo for Associates. There is always a sacrifice and for it to be worth that then what's on offer has to be waaaaaaaaaay over and above what DD could be doing at her local school. Both DD and her JA friend have been offered performance opportunities this term they couldn't dream of doing otherwise which makes the effort of schlepping up to London vastly worthwhile. You have to want it though. Gymnastics training - that's new? I don't actually believe this is as bad/contradictory to ballet training as one would immediately think I just imagine it's another way of marketing the sort of conditioning excercises DD currently does with perhaps more of an emphasise on competitive tricks. Some people love this type of approach some people hate it. I don't like the influence of gymnastics as it can sometimes lead down a road that I feel is unartistic at best. That's just me! There is nothing wrong with new dance schools opening up - if that's what this is? Yet I can't help but hear warning bells. Its very important to me that a school display the highest regard for clarity and openness and this has to start right from the get-go in how it chooses to whip up support, especially online. I don't think any of the regular users on this forum are particularly naive. New schools opening up in an already saturated area offering Associate credentials as a marketing technique brings a wealth of drama and critique which I want to stay well clear off. I wish it every success though, the pamphlets are beautiful, the website is professional, the mentors are well known and it should be an exciting opportunity for children or parents who are unhappy at their current school and want to move but you are a braver parent than I if you want to attend this school and keep relations with another!

Just heard back will get a predicted result instead. So should anyone else have to miss assessments don't worry!

HAHAHAGAHAHA and the post of the day goes to Quintus!

Secret ballet code phrases? I need to channel my inner Mata Hari...

I think a red badge would match nicely with the furious blushing fit evoked if anyone were to tiptoe/sashay up to me and whisper "Balletco...?" *wink I would deny everything.

Helpful in that....we can take mutual comfort in our missing of assessment annoyance. X

I'm sorry to hear that Loulabelle, I hope she makes a swift recovery :-( Thank you for the helpful replies as always!

Hi everyone! Hopefully someone will have been here before. Tring CBA assessments will be 15th May but DD can't attend as she has the final EYB rehearsal from 11-5 that Sunday and the actual show is the following weekend! Have emailed with apologies etc but has anyone else had to miss their assements and did you arrange an alternative day or will it have any bearing on moving up in September? So typical that up till now she has 100% attendance and the one day she really needs to be there, it clashes!

It's an amazing achievement, well done!

I am an UD mum. Not afraid to admit it. God..one of my top front teeth is sticking out a lot more nowadays and I thought it was just my wisdom teeth but looking back..........? Was it UD mum hoodie antics? Maybe this train of thought is for another thread/time though.

It's never going to happen. We should unite and collate under the title of "the undancey dance mums" however.

Well if you want eye watering embarrassing ballet mum stories Last autumn during an impromptu watching week (only mum there THANK GOD) I got stuck half in half out of my superdry hoodie whilst waiting around in changing room (was a pull off one, no zip, just needed that extra oomph to get over shoulder blades) but one of the kids spotted me and before I could stop it, it had gone and got DD's dance teacher to help me. *oh for GOODNESS SAKE! She said and she wrenched it over my head with such force she jammed my nose right back into the cavity of my face that my top two front teeth were throbbing with pain so badly I thought they were going to fall out. So yeah, afterward eyes waterering and beetroot red I beheld the class.

XXL

Can I have a T shirt with "Not Ballet" please?

Pas de Quatre or...Pas de Chat......? A cunning poster.

Well I just walked straight into that didn't I. Typical.