MumToTu

Hi Alison, can’t comment on ballet specifically, but as a keen gym class attendee for the past 15 + years, I certainly find the worst sports leggings for gym wear are the compression ones designed for running. They are thicker and have compression, so awful wearing to aerobic classes - even the nice sweaty betty designer ones I find can be too thick - albeit very flattering. I have different legging for different classes - nike / reebok “dry wear” look for “breathable” do thinner versions which allow for move movement. For yoga, I like athetica - very soft and don’t ride down move while practicing all class and lovely flattering high waist - nice soft comfortable fabric I can move in - I think sweaty betty do a yoga range - next on my list to try. I would totally recommend looking in or at John Lewis online - they have so of much amazing selection - lovely muted pinks and flattering tones as well as classic black - it’s worth paying a bit more as literally these kind of fabrics last years/ are very durable to wash . So, will last years - I live in mine on just my days off too x

Hi Lena, it is absolutely possible! We have seen it happen a lot on our journey & personally speaking my dd had full time funded offers for Tring & Central last year. She was an RBS SA, and at a good dance school - but certainly not over doing it training every week intensively! Most of the 2 years was all dancing in lockdown in a our living room so very limited and prepping for GCSEs which she did well at so were not neglected at all. In fact some students we have seen seem to do very well who go later. My dd is another story, unfortunately lockdown changed her feelings about dance and made her decide on another path - she now want to study law now at university for now, you have to do the right thing for you at that point in time. Everything, can change you never know what is round the corner - my advice is to just enjoy the journey it’s a fabulous one xx

Blue Lucky Leo also now sold.

Claudia Dean bag now sold.

Deep blue and white & blue Claudia Dean now also sold.

Also for sale, Rose Gold Claudia Dean dance bag - never used. £45 - sold out online. No tags on. Very nice bag with handy cool pocket for sandwiches / drink / snacks. Grishko / black and white pattern / warm up booties / £15 / worn once Capazio - black knee pads - size medium - never worn - still in packet - £10 + P&P £3.50. Thanks, if you DM me your email I will send photo's.

Blue Degas & Red Claudia Dean - now sold x

Happy New Year @balletcoforum Having a spring clear out. All for Sale and most only worn a couple of times, if not new & labelled. Daughter always stuck to her greens & blacks / so, most gifts not worn or for auditions / SS's. 1 x S, Lucky Leo, capped sleeve - ice blue with white lace - fully lined - £30 Very pretty - comes up small for size / more like XS 1 x same in blush pink - £30 1 x Degas - camisole / deep mid blue / T1 / never worn - perfect for ballet audition - £25 1 x Claudia Dean / size M / white / white net / blue floral pattern on front. Still labelled - never worn - £25 1 x Claudia Dean - deep red - camisole - size M - £20 1 x Claudia Dean - turquoise - camisole- size M - £20 1 x Claudia Dean - bold mid blue - camisole - M - £20. 1 x wider strapped camisole Claudia Dean - size M / black leotard- £20. 1 x Wear Moi - mint size S - Majeste style - never worn - £20 1 x Wear Moi - attached / shirted vivid purple camisole leotard - £25 - never worn- with label. RAD - wide strapped black camisole uniform leotard / size S - £15 1 x pair of size S Bloch full length dance lycra leggings with pink flowers and mesh detail at bottom - £15. 1 x wool Wear Moi / black long sleeved ballet wrap around cardigan - size S - £5 1 x Grischo camisole / acrylic look black full length warm up jump suit - £15 Sasha / teal and black fleece / warm up cami jump suit full length/ size S - £15. 1 x french blue / size S / lace topped cami Leo - £20 - worn only once. Any photo needed / DM me. Extra £3 to add for postage, or let me know if you want any further details.

Hi MrsMac, we had the similar dilemma (though we are UK based this year). My dd wanted to study at least 3 A levels as she is academic as well as being keen on ballet, ie rather than dance in general. The only place to offer this is Tring. (Although, we only looked at courses which offered funding) There is also the option of Rambert at 18 post A level - I think it’s worth looking at the graduate destinations on the websites to gain an insight on employment prospects after. Or, perhaps just doing a graduate 3rd year maybe an option for some if exceptionally talented after A levels, if you can afford the funding x

Mental "blocks" in gymnastics are normal even at recreational level. However, very dangerous as causes a gymnast to freeze and stop rotating in mid air and needing to be spotted/caught by their poor coaches. My dd them on her back tucks from flick on floor. I can't even image the danger Simone would be in with her ability/skills and power if she froze on her blocked twists and landed her neck. She is phenomenal in everyway! Her beam had no twisting - hopefully, she will get her mind and body back sync soon - her smile is just radiant x

Does anyone know if Tring ever offer MDS for 6th form late on my dd was offered a Dada a while back this year, but we sadly had to decline as just over the £90k thread this year as an exception ? She is wanting to do 3 /4 as very academic A levels, but we can’t reach the full fees - would if we could - Tring looks outstanding! She has also had to turn down the degree offers as she had as no A level option sadly as she loved Central - very annoying for her xx

Hi Proudmumoffdd My daughter is an SA2 (next year) in Birmingham and a Young Dancer also / the classes fit in really well. At the moment I don’t think anyone can say what will happen in September as restrictions can change on a weekly basis and could be lifted or tightened accordingly to how the virus is being contained. I would email Elmhurst’s administration team as they have been active in updating the current Young Dancers so still open on some capacity. They are extremely helpful. Please feel free to dm me for any more help. Best wishes X

I am so sorry to hear this sad news. Sending our sincere condolences to all his family and friends 💕

I have the following leotards for sale. 1 x white Claudia Dean Collections Aurora leotard in Adult Petite. Worn once - £30 1 x light turquoise Degas leotard in size T1 soft fabric 80 percent polyamide. Camisole style. £25 worn once. . 1 purple Mirella leotard adult petite £12.50 worn once. Camisole lace back detail. Worn once 1 x red Mirella leotard adult petite, lace detail on back and front £12.50. Worn once Pair of Wear Moi black flared jazz pants size ladies small - never worn £7.50. plus £2.85 postage via Royal Mail. DM is you want me to email you a photo.

My dd (14) loves acro, but as she’s from a artistic gymnastics background she completed successfully at national level before giving up at 11 to focus on ballet. She does an hour acro a week, but it gives her the chance to practise basic core skills and hand stands etc only on mats so she knows not to somersault I think it’s an amazing class and so good for strengthening. I do however strongly feel after watching some acro at festivals and conventions - a lot of young dancers are overusing the lumbar spine in tumbling they are not using the required shoulder flexibility. I have seen lots of chucking acro skills with huge run ins. Why include it in a dance if it doesn’t look fluid, effortless or correctly executed with straight legs and pointed feet ? - it ruins the dance and makes it look all stop start. I have seen so many near head plants at festivals !! It scares me - how dangerous is that!! I feel scared sometimes for the children as they don’t look secure in their skills at all. But, maybe that’s just me 🙂

I wouldn’t feel at all concerned @HowMuch! as long as your dd is tired at school - I am sure her teacher would tell you if so and her dance teacher if she was exhausted in class. My year 9 dd dances 4 nights a week straight after school and we don’t get home until 9.30. Saturday does RBS associates and festival classes. She also makes her own way to school on the bus and packs her own tea and lunch. She loves it and is in the top sets for English and maths at a very academic Grammer. I am sure all the dancing has made her mind sharp and not to mention the health benefits and other transferable life skills. My dd wasnt in the top set at primary either - I didn’t realise how bright she was until she started excelling in secondary - she was fortunate to get a dance scholarship to go this private Grammer school - Which also goes to show other kinds of doors can open if you have a dedicated attitude x

Thanks so much @Balletmum55 💕 Will keep you posted Xxx

Thanks @Sheila Beelam this sounds really good 💕 I am ordering dd some now ! Thank you so much for your help & advice Xxx

Thank you @Harwel 💕 Keep me posted via DM @Picturesinthefirelight sending virtual hugs - Xxx

This has made me giggle and think of my non dancing Dad in pointe shoes!! 😂 😆 Thanks Sarahw we will definitely give these a try - I will invest in some toe tape too - it sounds great for blisters xx

Thanks so much Anna C She’s got 3 newish pairs on the go at the moment typically ! 😢 She’s started to rotate them and I bought an extra pair just incase she broke one of the 2 pairs at summer school...! Hence the hope of extra slim lined ones to trial until her next pointe shoe fitting.... 😂 If only it was that simple .... Thanks for all the recommendations ! We will look at them all and try on at her next fitting X

My dd, 13, has asked me if I could get her some pads to wear in her pointe shoes. She already wears a gel big toe pad and lambs wool / but after trying out a friends pad - she found it more comfortable to dance en pointe with the pads especially when dancing more intensively in her show etc. She has been en pointe 2 years and wears a grishko 2007 in hard shank shoe. Any slimline , breathable ones anyone can recommend? She suffers from mild excema so breathable would be good ! Any reviews or recommendations we would be so grateful for 😊 TIA

Yes - it must be heartbreaking for you all - it’s so hard watching someone you love suffering what should still be their younger years - I hope there is something they can do to relieve your husbands hearing symptoms when he gets a diagnosis 💕

Sorry to hear about your dh illness - my dh was rushed into hospital last year with a suspected stroke at age 42 after losing the ability to walk properly on one side, balance and slurring his speech - then having to undergo horrendous tests for a suspected brain tumour. This has been ongoing now for a year - we are on holiday in Croatia now - but as soon as we get back he is in for a lumbar punture / dreading it - no mention of a diagnosis her from his neaulogist / I dread the hospital letters - just a suspected damage to cerebral / he did have a bad fall off his bike and waiting and see if stays the same or deteriorates / Lyme disease hasn’t been mentioned - just a diagnosis and treatment plan would be a godsend ! As he is really struggling and still having falls. I hope your dd gets sorted out - She must be worried about her dad xxx

Signed and shared on my FB 💕 Xxx