Peanut68

Interesting to see in latest RBS newsletter that Daria K is leaving her teaching role there to focus on other projects like her Prague Masterclasses so I expect we can see more of these programmes throughout the year plus new venues….maybe including in UK? I wonder….

Are there any train/tube strikes planned over the weekend? I usually just drive & park as even paying petrol, congestion charge & on street parking costs it id still way cheaper than train, tube & station parking from my neck of the woods even if it’s just me alone - isn’t that crazy? & it’s quicker too! If it’s just me I’m looking at c. £120 to use public transport versus £55-65 to drive…. And if I share car well that’s a massive saving on 2 or more public transport costs. Crazy huh?

Me too!! So excited (though still have to sort travel/accommodation…& ensure there’s enough ping food in fridge for family at home 🙄)

I’m wondering if Nov 7th was proving to be a slow sale day so this is a way of boosting interest? It’s got me hooked! Am defo wanting to get my hands on a ticket for that day - for FOMO reasons as much as just wanting to see the production. 😂

I’ve taken a child with their own car booster seat (the sort that are just a base…. Not a full one that looks like a whole racing car seat 😂) so they are already ‘at home’ with how the seat feels so less distracting shuffling for all! One thought…. Be careful if you do go for a fabulously expensive wonderful position seat as you may just find your young person gets rather a high taste & expects this sort of treat all the time!! My first ever experience of flying was in First Class (I was flying as a paid nanny with a family…) It was a bit of a shock to discover what ‘cattle class’ was like years later when I first flew on my own dime!! A lovely thing to do - have a wonderful time!! one final thought….what about extending to more family members/friends & share a box? If so, I’d highly recommend the Coliseum as I think I’m right in remembering they have dress circle or stalks circle boxes that span the whole circle so you can get a centrally placed one to get a terrific view & amazing special experience!! And you can I believe enjoy more personalised hospitality (can take in your bottle of wine & proper glasses) And oh the joy of people watching…. & indeed of ‘being watched’ & feeling ‘super special’ in a box like Royalty!! Think I’m talking myself into looking to book this again myself now - ha ha!! 😘

👍🏻👍🏻Thank you!

Hello - this looks very exciting. However, I cannot get to the website (says 'under construction')

Interested to see more south coast locations! We often seem to be a little left out (other than Plymouth & Southampton)

Ooooh - yet another thing I’m doing with my fantasy lottery win - ha ha!!

My immediate thought on reading the title of this thread (& will go through posts) was perhaps social media has recently become part of your DD’s life? I definitely think this can impact on dancers self esteem & lead to greater self criticism tendencies, body dysmorphia & this can then become an issue in the live situation in a studio. A ‘friend’ or fellow dancer might be less susceptible to outside imagery & this can make them appear more confident & this in turn can come across as ‘they must be a better dancer’ ‘they must have better figure’ etc etc. I honestly think the root cause of many issues our young dancers battle with lie in the unreal & often faked world of Instagram & the like where everyone appears perfect looking/dressed/perfect turnout/contortionist flexibility/ice-skater worthy turns etc etc. Especially the ‘well known’ popular vastly followed ‘dancers’. People mostly only post the best edit of themselves & their dancing. It’s not an accurate representation. On a more personal level - could other dancers at your DD’s school be posting ‘perfect’ moments on Instagram etc leading to a feeling that they are ‘better’ when in fact it’s just a small snapshot of time… the one video of a ‘perfect triple turn’ probably look about 20 attempts to get over several sessions. No one posts the 19 rubbish attempts (well - apart from that one spectacular fail when you fall on your backside if they have a sense of humour!) Of course if you see that wonderful photo or video of a classmate or hear of their really high exam score it’s easy for some to feel a little intimidated or jealous or wonder they’ll never be as good so what’s the point etc etc. I do often despair that sone seem to blatantly self promote with awful insensitivity but that sadly is part of life in every walk & we all at times need to learn to wear blinkers & learn to focus just on ourselves. And also need to learn to just put the blinking phones away!!

Interesting that NBS (Northern Ballet School in Manchester?) has students competing as traditionally schools tend to not to participate at all in comps or just enter perhaps one or two pupils in such things & even then I think it’s often more down to candidates self entering & arranging coaching etc themselves. I’d be interested to know if it is actually the school entering & coaching their students for this….good for them if so! I often feel there is a lack of level playing field with it either being the chosen favourite in an institution who may get entered or else those who can afford it (& often would need to be a day pupil in a school in order to get outside coaching in order to prepare what’s required). It’s also interesting to see them promoting that this year additional ‘prizes’ of such things as scholarships to courses…. Only notice this being said now after applications closed…. Was it promoted before? If so it would I’m sure encourage many more entries…. good luck to those joining in

Didn't the Genee used to be held in September? or even May?

Took the old adage of 'The Show Must Go On' to the letter that's for sure! Brave or foolish...I'm not sure!

Dancing in that strength of rain!! Was it just that piece the heavens opened in? The thought of pointe or Pas de Deux terrifies me!

Excited seeing the Jewels cast list (thanks Amanda Lui for posting link)& the programme for Sunday Gala....be great to see the cast list for this too & am sure will get to see additional dancers to those I see on the Saturday night!

Hi - love the sound of this & some very good comparative points raised! But as a non tech-savvy person, can you please put put on here links to go straight to the podcasts & to the 'En Pointe' blog Thanks!

Guess this is how come they are holding auditions including overseas

Part of me says run for the hills but actually Batman above does make valid points…it does indeed mirror much of what our youngsters (& we in our time had to) navigate in daily life at school & outside & perhaps we shouldn’t always try to helicopter in to try solve issues or evacuate them. Life lessons are often best learned when there is the rough with the smooth…. However, if there are concerns about any sort of abuse that would be deemed unacceptable in say a normal school setting or by your. Hood of you then that’s another issue & absolutely you must act. good luck

But believable in the ‘real world’…. Who wouldn’t fall for tall handsome him??!!

Another place to consider…. Vyne Academy in Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire. Easy to get to by car or on train from London. I believe they offer quite a comprehensive range of classes for teens on a Saturday so could perhaps do quite a full programme with one day commitment. They have a special teen programme too so worth contacting about that too. Good luck! https://vynearts.co.uk/timetables/

I hope you get sorted with a lift…. I often think we dance folk could more often offer lifts or even car share (so all still get to viewings etc) to get petrol costs down….We got off the YBSS ‘train’ a couple of years ago now otherwise I would’ve definitely offered to help out! I once did a share lift to Leeds with another travelling from SE & me from SW. We picked a nice market town on edge of North section of M25 close to M1 junction & left their car on a nice safe non permit residential street then had a meal & carried on up North in my car…Very sociable & I was pleased to get money towards the petrol costs for the northern leg of the trip! We could start a BalletCarPool on here as I’m sure so many times journeys are being replicated - not great for our pockets or the environment!

Rambert I believe offer weekend options you could look at - I think across varying levels of experience. Also Danceworks offer weekend options & can tailor programmes to suit. Good luck!

Been gobsmacked to see how much accommodation is…. Was at a uni open day in London & feeling horrified…. It’s not just dance that can bankrupt us families!!

At least there was a contract to read! Am appalled at how we almost let DC ‘join’ a ‘company’ overseas on a one way ticket we’d have had to pay for…. But when it became clear that there was indeed no contract, no clear info on t&c’s or work conditions or salary or expenses, just very ambiguous WhatsApp messages, DC realised that it wasn’t a job but exploitation & thankfully saw sense & declined…

Might just be - thanks!!