Peanut68

Mind you...just thought ‘Tights - colour of your choice’ could lead to some fetching neon greens or deep magenta legs???🤣

Jewel - that sounds like progress from at least one school! Great!

And in so much choreography now where lines of distinction are gloriously blurred with partnering work being across gender. Again gender often indistinguishable - especially in an ensemble piece - where it is often impossible (& not necessary) to differentiate between the Male & Female forms amongst the dancers. And afterall, isn’t Ballet the true trailblazer of this in the Arts? The Corps de Ballet is just that; a body of dance made up of many individual bodies to create one form!!

NJH - not sure I understand your last post?

I recall in an open to all (teens/adults) class a boy who was a Senior Associate with RBS wouid occassijvakky wear white canvas pointe shoes. I recall he said they did it as part of the course to build foot & ankle strength & build a working empathy with the females they traditionally are likely to partner in traditional ballet performances. Empathy for the work/pain etc involved (from prepping shoes to the training required to the rubbing & the blisters!) & also for how it changes the centre of gravity & body positioning which is really helpful to know for pas de deux. And in an ever changing world there surely is no longer a need to attach gender to a shoe or choice....& likewise I do wish we females could be taught some of the ‘make’ steps & rep for often...I bet there are many male dancers who can achieve 32 fouetteees en pointe & I’ve always had a secret passion to try a tour en l’air!!

Great post Pups Mum....thank you! x

Top advice from Canary for all looking at any vocational schools/colleges/uni courses... It was a real eye opener for me when I compared timetables of content & hours in vocational schools across the year groups....

I’m so sorry to hear of the not this time disappointments....heartfelt hugs to DC’s & parents...especially as this year all seems to have been a much longer time to receicevdecisions from schools & so much stress with not having current schooling & routines in place. I think all should take huge amounts of praise for getting so far & draw strength of character having gone through such a rigorous & testing process....let’s face it, the majority of our youngsters do not really go through this sort of think untilt university applications! So good luck in your continued journeys....and I wish all keep finding joy in dance! 💜

The provision of academics in ‘mainstream’ schools varies hugely between schools/year groups.... I’ve not been impressed by fact so far my sons year 9 lockdown education has merely been work uploaded to complete then upload into teachers. No actual lessons....no timetable....finally (after parent feedback) they arranged a Zoom meeting of kids with form tutor & have said there may be an occassionsl future subject lesson via zoom (or similar platfirn) that may trial soon.....way too late imho.... I think it’s going to be very hard to adjust back to school in September for many & much time spent on ‘catch up’ for those unable for whatever reasons to fully participate/complete online work.... The lack of relationship building & practising & developing social skills used in day to day regular school life will also be massively set back I feel....too many are being enforced to become loners....so so sad (& possibly unnecessary as maybe things could have been better managed in all sorts of areas? At School & at government level) Pysical & mental health is not really being addressed as much as I think it could/should be....

I know my DD starting Upper School wouid very happily go back to start term early....is it wrong as a mum to also like that idea?????🤔! I imagine though lots of impact on booked family holidays (or is that an ironic laugh thought?) And of course the costs....how to finance it from own & any government/bursary awards.... complicated

Wraps we were writing at same time!

I had wondered about the whole mix of day pupils & boarders....almost thinking that it’d be ‘easier’ to open just to boarders who could almost be ‘self isolated’ in small groups - a small group sleeping in same dorm, using same dining table & taught together initially for 2 weeks to monitor for any symptoms etc.... then groups could be reintroduced to be together....but then I think better to do away with exeat/half term....& not sure families would cope with all that? Maybe Upper School age? These are just musings....from a mum with kids desperate to be back at school (& let’s just say I’m enthusiastic fir that too!! 🍷🍷🍷)

Am I the only cynic on here I wonder who will be musing at how much RBS & others will charge & how ‘open to all’ classes will or won’t be & thus how much an individual is likely to get from these? And if this will end up becoming a new very profitable income stream???

Thank you Tango for sharing that laugh out loud story - so funny! 🤣🤣🤣

When I first saw the campaign & I think subsequent launch from (a few?) brands of a range of skin tone co-ordinating tights & shoes it hit as I had never really thought about it before....& that disappointed me about myself & my ‘industry’ as it were. Glad things are catching up & if shops won’t/can’t hold enough variety of stock then I guess the online retailers will win the business....but come on dance brands; make sure your stockists know what IS available & provide them with samples /colour swatches of shoes & tights to ensure all store customers are included & they can at least see what’s available & for stores themselves to be able to place speedy orders - even if needs be in small or one off quantities.

And also about having a good selection of images in studios representing all ages/genders/communities/ethnicities.... actuslly it is amazing to think we need to think this but must confess, most studios I’ve been in could do well to look to add in these policies....

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Sorry for my typo....should read analogy!!

Just saw this opportunity that might be of interest to those graduating... https://www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk/artists/gradlab/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=grad_lab_callout&utm_campaign=grad_lab&dm_i=2MI5,1LDBB,9AY0CD,5EGYM,1

Just saw this opportunity..... https://www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk/artists/gradlab/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=grad_lab_callout&utm_campaign=grad_lab&dm_i=2MI5,1LDBB,9AY0CD,5EGYM,1

I ‘liked’ your post above Glidsade as totally agree re: oversolits snslogy....but I actually was grossed out by it too once I clicked the link 😱😂

That spelling makes sense with the chicken story so I’m laughing at my very British spelling earlier 😂

Tring I think do also have another programme caed Kick start for Boys....not 100% sure of content but think it’s possibly a monthly ofr once a term day with ballet & other dance genres & a mentoring approach? Possibly even free but I might be wrong....Am sure someone on forum will know more from having a DS attend! There’s also a boys only bursary (Paul Watson bursary?) that I think can help fund boys at Tring ‘extras’ like short courses/days of dance....

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Hi BalletBoysDad & thank you for your response....& for not taking any offence in words I proffered from a distance! Its great that your son loves ballet & has found a ‘happy place’ - especially important for our youngsters of whom so many just do not find that (& worse) in day to day school situations....And the many activities & disciplines he leans through ballet & dance - physical & mental & relationship building - will help him build a lifelong foundation of multi transferable skills plus the immense joy of dance, music & artistry! He is lucky to have supportive family (& teachers too it sounds like) so I wish you all well! But remember to maintain life/ballet balance as it can start to be a bit like a chore dictating everyone in a family’s timetables/finances etc.... (I did also forget that often not all associate schemes are weekly but may well be fortnightly or even just once a month) Explore all avenues & be guided by where your son feels happiest....& of course getting 👍🏻👍🏻 up & feedback from those on this forum with first hand experience will be useful too! (My DD had happy experience of Tring CBA back in the day....many years ago now....but I do recall it caused family agro with the costs of the course & travel & time away with resultant impact on rest of family life....& pretty sure it was just once a month then!) We parents can just source & research & try put opportunities their way to nurture & support our offspring as best we can! The future is theirs..... Good luck all!