swe

Goodness knows where July came from! That is so helpful-I knew I could rely on someone-thank you oldermum x

I wondered if anyone could help please.. dd has been offered a tuition day by ISTD following a day at the Imperial Ballet Awards (grade 6). Her teacher has told her about it but she is away at the moment and we don't know the date-although I think it is July. There is nothing on the website so I thought I would try here? Many thanks all swe

Wonderful-thanks smallbythesea

Hi there I know there was another thread in which it was explained that this scheme is nothing to do with MIDAS but would someone be able to post a link to the Newark scheme please as I am going round in circles when I google Midlands Associate Scheme/Peter Parker etc. I would love to know about the associate scheme in Newark and/or summer school. Thanks Swe x

In year 8 at school, dd wanted the fashionable 'pump' shoe type, but not long into the year she had problems with her ankle and tendons in her heels. We went to a physio who told her straight that to look after your feet you need good shoes-that did the trick! She wears Clarkes brogues-so they are still fashionable but sturdy and I have to say we have have had no recurring foot issues (touch wood!)

That's very reassuring-thanks so much swe

Morning Spanner Does Rambert focus on ballet? (I still know nothing about the ballet world...well a bit more than I did thanks to this forum!) I will google them Thanks x

We are facing a dilemma too-dd knows if she wants a career in ballet, she really must go to vocational school at 16, this means applying next year and she just can't face leaving home. she has always been a 'home bird' and I don't want to push her away but we will have to make decisions after the summer holidays. She is now talking about doing A levels and applying for Musical Theatre at 18. Gosh it's so hard trying to do the right thing....

You lot are such a laugh sometimes! What a shame we can't do a coffee together and 'compare notes'-I don't seem to have all this stuff in common with my friends as hardly any of their dds/dss do dance

Yes we have been at auditions which look like a competition in the warm-up area and it can be quite off-putting! I agree some cardio stuff first then gentle stretches-as well as getting the body ready I think it gives your dd/ds something to concentrate on rather than worrying about the actual audition.

Hello everyone Thank goodness for the forum! It is great to 'speak' with understanding people. I agree we wouldn't get the comments if she were at vocational school and I need to ignore them but it is hard particularly when it is family. I found myself on the verge of cancelling associate class this week by listening to other people-I'm so pleased I didn't she is on top form again! Thanks so much for the support x

Hi afab She is 14 (15 in a few months). I get really upset when I feel that people are judging us over what dd does and I feel that if she is ever ill we are made to feel it's because she is doing too much-nothing to do with picking it up at school!

I couldn't think of a better title for this topic but I am really looking for views/support. Some of you may have read the thread I started on tiredness-well it turns out that underlying dd's tiredness, she had a chest infection which I didn't pick up on! Guilty mum! Despite this I have changed diet and tried to cut down on a few lessons over the last few weeks. My problem is the constant comments from parents/in-laws and to some degree friends who say she is doing too much. I think nowadays kids do lot of stuff out of school and I am definitely a taxi service but by very supportive dh always reminds me that she is 'training' ultimately and these are not just lessons for leisure. I also think about kids training for olympics etc. etc. who must go straight from school to train. My dd does 6 dance classes a week plus associates then there is singing and piano. I know every child is different but if I ask if she wants to give up anything the answer is always 'no'.

Why don't we have a 'buy and sell' page-that would be great -we can go directly to that page and just edit our entry when we sell something? May be the technical team could organise something for us? x

Hi Spanner Thanks for the informative reply. I will have a look on the link. Dd's shoes are Grishko 2007 pro-I think they are 'traditionally' made-but not 100% sure. swe x

I am not really 'in the know' about pointe shoes and I have had to rely on dd for all the info. She has been en pointe a couple of years and has very strong feet and has probably had about 7 pairs. The last pair lasted about 5 weeks because she says she thinks they are broken. The are certainly very bendy but I really don't know whether this is 'broken in' What do people mean by this expression? I have heard about squeezing the block between the door etc. but what does this do? I would be frightened to do anything to the shoe for fear of damaging it-especially if the last pair lasted so short a time. This last pair have a hard shank so I am hoping these will last longer-but I wondered how long they would now take to break in..sorry am waffling now.

DD doesn't have this problem but I do!! However magically solved by Mycil foot powder (Blue and yellow container) -it is for Athletes foot-which I don't have but it seems to work for sweaty feet!

Hi spanner-yes I think you mentioned it to me-can't thank you enough-that's the lovely things that come out of this forum x

Just wanted to add that on a previous thread I started regarding dancers and tiredness, I mentioned that I was ordering a book on nutrition. Well the book has arrived and I would like to recommend it as it is a fabulous source of information regarding health and diet and seems to link in nicely with this thread. Title: Nutrition for the Dancer by Zerlina Mastin. swe

I feel sure it would be terrible to be let down by anyone involved in a production and total commitment will be needed by all. Whilst I understand the organiser's frustration, 'the show must go on'. My view is it is ok to speak directly to parents/children, but broadcasting such comments in a newsletter seems unprofessional and frankly a little childish (can you imagine a teacher writing something along those lines in a school newsletter?) There would be uproar!! Furthermore, to allow children to see you put flowers in the bin, which were intended as an apology..I am stumped for words.

Hi RK Have just had another look at certificates and I am muddling up those awarded for 'championships'- which are run by IDTA and the exam certificates (ISTD) my mistake-at least I am clear now! Many thanks swe

I confess I am a bit confused; my dd does ISTD modern tap and ballet and she also does RAD ballet at another school. To this point I am clear, however I notice that the certificates that she receives for the ISTD syllabus say IDTA on them. I know what the letters stand for but I don't know what the difference is between ISTD and IDTA-is one the examining board and the other the syllabus and if this is the case what is RAD-the board or the syllabus? Thanks everyone

DD is senior associate and was inter-everyone wears navy leotard (as far as I know)-not sure if there is a standard one but planet dance are the official suppliers if that helps. The IF sounds new so it could be something different? If your dd is doing contemporary they ask for black footless tights. You should get everything confirmed in a letter x

Hello Taxi Certainly she has just finished mocks and has several gcse papers coming up so yes, she is probably stressed. We are also at that time where we need to be thinking about A levels v vocational school as she is in year 10 and in September need to start the application process. She knows that if she wants to try and have a career in ballet she needs to go away at 16 but me and dh worry about her not getting A levels. She is also a 'young one' still 14 not 15 til August and never wanted to go away to vocational school. Decisions decisions..

Agree with Robin on the sodium lauryl sulphate-other younger dd gets awful mouth ulcers when tired and run down but since changing toothpaste- a definite improvement. Superdrug do one in a lilac tube without this ingredient (I believe it's only a foaming agent so you are not missing anything vital). Thanks for the good wished re the blood tests x