Peanut68

Yes, it still happens at pre-selection too! I can hear the phrase ‘character building’ being shouted out - ha ha! Maybe the system of audition tours that USA companies/schools adopt could be more of a thing? And I seem to recall a thing called ‘Grand Audition’ whereby you could go do a day/few days (?) & be seen by several company directors? Trouble can be with some of these things that they become a bit of a jamboree & money making opportunity & also likely have the same people who are judges at the big comps attend (they seem to all like all expenses paid overseas trips! 🤔) And so it always seems to come down to money… money to train to be high enough standard, money to coach in solos, money to have photo shoots, money to hire studios & videographers, money for flights & hotels & food to fly all over the world to attend any auditions you get invited to… & the money to be able to have the time to do this (ie. most likely not working or able to afford to be in flexible work where you can disappear at the drop of a hat - well, that’s probs part time hospitality & let’s face it unlikely to cover rent, travel, food, regular dance classes let alone the other costs listed above…!) A solution?? Well, I think if only companies could move away from feeling they have to be ‘international’ could be a bit of a start…. And to have governments policies reflect this… ie. to remove the crazy ease to hire overseas dancers when our homegrown ones are unable to even get seen at audition…(& I agree that overseas countries should do this too). Certainly at entry level. I get the whole international guest artist or soloist etc but think visas to work should require that only at a certain level should overseas recruitment be allowed (incidentally, maybe the new ‘minimum £38K I think it is a year salary for overseas work visa to UK might by default actually enable this as I’m pretty sure a corps member in any UK company is unlikely to earn that much…?) In UK I certainly think much if this having ‘foreign talent’ is a hang over from the early days of British ballet when dancers were encouraged to change name to sound ‘foreign’ with the idea that the best dancers all came from Russia etc…(Margot Fonteyn was Peggy something I think?) & so audiences ‘trusted’ foreign dancers to be worth paying money to see….when all they had to go on was advance marketing by way of posters on walls & adverts in newspapers I kind of get that….and people wanted excitement away from the norm…. But now? With all the possibility to see people & companies in advance on TV, online & share reviews & knowledge, this is not at all needed. Wouldn’t it be truly fab for instance if London City Ballet actually has UK dancers? And English National Ballet surely too???!!!

I do miss the days of good old ‘open audition calls’ without video pre-selection…. Yes, I know it could save dancers potentially thousands of pounds in travel etc but I still feel that the audition pool can get small & miss out on those who struggle to have the support (money/studio use/teacher assistance etc) to prep a decent video & also those who lack the self belief & the ability to objectively see a video of themselves as being ‘good enough’ to send out. Plus that special ‘stage presence’ or hunger to be hired can never truly show up in the tiny video clip they may watch before putting you in the invite to audition or the outright no piles. Also, dancers I am sure only travel to auditions if they have truly researched the company & job & feel it’s right for them. Plus gaining ‘in the flesh’ audition experience is invaluable & if it’s the same pool who come across well in video & get audition invites then many miss out on gaining that experience & the dance company directors potentially miss out on seeing the wider variety out there & then we audience likewise miss out on variety & possibly some true talent is just lost to us all…. This could also help explain why there is a seemingly endless supply of rather bland overly similar dancers…. Just IMHO… Fewer risks taken these days & fewer ‘break the mould’ types to stand out & make us go ‘wow’!

Out of interest what is/where is Asami Maki Ballet?

I often think it would be nice if dancers could swiftly change into the nicest of the costumes they wore in a performance for the bow! Also, where dancers double up in corps & solo parts or dance in more than one ballet in day s triple bill, I’d love it if they could take bow in the cystine twisting to their personal ‘star part’ of their evening! Would help me identify who is who too!

It would be helpful to have an indicator of the age of the recipient!

I’d suggest this is actually a positive approach to bring all parties around the same table creating open communication links & less chance for ambiguity or questions pupils or parents may have being missed…

I recently heard that they are back using Hampton Lodge after a full renovation & all new furnishings…. Kind of pleased that the legacy of the original school building does live on! I had wondered if covenants/trusts would actually make it very hard to sell…. Pleased in a way it’s still part of Hammond! I do hope staff changes etc are not negative & do hope the Carols in Cathedral return for all… was the highlight of year & one to take a grandparent too! (Book Xmas lunch beforehand in the cathedral restaurant - really good! )

I’m intrigued - need to Google these!

I’d meant to suggest the gel super strong spray they tend to use at school to get the super slicked ‘not going anywhere’ hair look!!

Oh dear - I have no idea how my post above somehow merged two lots of typing - clearly ignore the last sentence as does not relate to the heel slippage at all! Tried to edit but clearly spotted too late 🤷🏻‍♀️

A generous spray of super firm holdhairspray to back of heels/ & inside back of shoe is a good trick to help hold heel of shoe in place useful for other parts of costume era). A full on spray on ribbons/shoes before performance might really make a difference & directors may make adjustajebrd based on weather/light

Think I do need one of these!!! But then also someone to wield it as I imagine it’s quite hard to get to just the right places at right angles & right pressure yourself….

It’s hard to let dreams lead the way but better to try to follow that path when passion is there than to look back & wonder ‘what if?’ Academic ambitions are far less time/youth dependant to achieve success & often passion for this may return later on & then studying will no doubt be happier & more successful! (I was given the chance to follow my dream as long as I took A levels too…. The latter diluted the dance content & frankly both ended up pretty much a failure…. This was in the 1980’s so different times….I did then - in my mid 20’s - return to education to take 2 more A levels in one year when I was keen to study & enjoyed doing them!) good luck all!

I’ve never before heard of a massage gun….am intrigued!! Can someone please post a photo or link to item/video to show what one is/does… would be really helpful! Thanks

For age 6 by ‘intensive’ I am guessing you perhaps rather mean seeking additional fun workshops? Lots of local theatres will often offer a fun family workshop event linked to a dance performance… pretty sure the ROH offer events suitable for a six year old linked to Nutcracker…& possibly so too do BRB, ENB & Northern…. RAD, BBO (& possibly RBS now with their new affiliate initiative & primary steps) also may hold workshops for the younger dancer too.

Maybe I’ll add taking my grade 5 theory of music to my ‘bucket list’…. I ticked off taking RAD Intermediate ballet a few years ago (almost 35 years after doing the old elementary 😮😂) so perhaps this could be next 🤔

My point is that any element of teaching music should involve sharing the vast array of genres, instruments, composers, performance styles, delivery methods (eg. radio, records, digital, live performances from busking to Opera - again so many places to discover music!). And maybe enable pupils to select area of their preferred interest to delve deeper into for project based work perhaps….? I know my own musical endeavours got curtailed by the insistence to continue beyond grade 5 instrumentally you had to take grade 5 theory… and I hated the dry teaching then so stopped the lot!! Regret it deeply now of course….

Well I wish that were true & that schools would offer an option of pop or rock music as part of A level music. One of my offspring sadly dropped A level as it was ‘too dry’. They are accomplished with Grade 8 in Trinity Rock & Pop one instrument Grade 5 several others in ABRSM and plays with Jazz & Swing bands & Orchestra but over emphasis on very intense classics left him very uninspired & so he dropped the A level. If only schools & teachers could embrace a wider variety & tailor teaching on a more individual level rather than just making each student do exactly the same… and in a class of just 5 disappointing it was not even discussed….sigh

I agree! And love you using word ‘wit’ - too often missing today & worse if replaced with base slapstick (like horrid ‘sisters’ interactions in RB recent Cinderella…IMHO anyhow)

I actually think intensives that are NOT aligned to a school perhaps a better option as the competitiveness perhaps a little reduced? Although it’s always there let’s face it in some form or other in this game!! YBSS years back had the while ‘this is the Royal barre’ thing going on which was rather intimidating to non RBS kids but at least it wasn’t seen as an audition for any school place. Malvern I think a happy balance between great training & happy & friendly downtime!

Tickets just gone on sale for first performances! Theater Royal, Bath 17-20th July....I've booked mine! https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/london-city-ballet/

Curious why no longer Goddard? He is a truly amazing & charismatic dancer

I think my phone was only showing half the screen as could never see feet!!

Lovely acknowledgement email for joining as a ‘friend’ with a newsletter to soon follow - am getting such a good feeling about this happy re-addition to the ballet world! 🥰

Was trying to see if danced em pointe or not? Anyone know? Thx