Sozo

I have tenchillies itas or something like that! It causes the side of my heel to hurt, and stops me from pointing my toe properly! I find I can't go on pointe when it's bad! Maybe you have something similar! It's usually worse when I've been doing a lot of ballet

I recently took my grade 6 exam and I didn't find that I hit a wall. I really enjoyed it! It is a lot more 'dancey' that the old grades 1-5. If you don't like charecter like me, that's also a lot more fun! I also don't think that your daughters shyness will affect how she does in her exam, shy dancers often do just as well. Also, there were a lot of girls in my class who took the exam who normally get merits . They got just as high merits as normal. We also took the exam in less time than most schools, only a year since we started so it did feel a little rushed! But still in our class of 7, three of us got distinction and the other 4 got merit. Personally I think your teacher was being very mean, as far as I can see there is nothing to stop you taking the exam and doing well.

Wow I hate stereotypes, boys should do ballet!! We need them! As a teenage girl I can't even begin to imagine the excitement our ballet class would have if a boy joined! Also ballet is so not airy fairy, can't think of many boys who would put up with the pain of point work. Those who say ballet isn't a proper form of exercise seriously need to attend a ballet class, see how they feel then! When they relise that ballet dancers can stand in 5th position for the whole lesson with no real trouble and they can't even begin to try! I think your project will be amazing keep going with it.

My teacher doesn't let us do competitions or festivals, but I wish she did. I have been to watch a few and they look great fun! My friend who has done them loves them, so I suggest you let your daughter go for it!

I went to a junior associates day twice the girls just wore random things! Just wear the leotard you want to. If the audition has already been I hope it went well! If it hasn't been yet good luck! I never auditioned for the junior associates and I regret it! So just make sure your dd gets through her audition and enjoys the day! Don't worry too much about what she's wearing just make sure she's happy!

I get exactly what you mean, I find it really hard to do a releve and then turn. One thing I do know about pirouettes is they are a lot easier if you turn out the working leg at the knee. This means you have more power to get round! This probably doesn't help!!

Hi everyone ,thank you so much for the great advice. Well done to everyone who has been successful in the auditions. Yes, it's fine with my parents for me to be contributing to the forum. But thanks for your concern! Maybe it's not to late to reach my dream, I now understand that if I work hard one day it might come true! I will defiantly talk to my parents and audition for some form of upper school. My dance teacher at school suggests I audition for rambert dance school , so I could try this. My ballet teacher is also still very supportive and encouraging of me. Obviously, my dream of going to white lodge will never come true, but as you point out I am not the only one, hundreds of girls who are good at ballet will never have been able to go either. I should consider myself lucky because I am slim, good at ballet and I have the best teachers possible!! At the end of the day I don't need to be at the Rbs to enjoy ballet and fulfil my dream of being a dancer! Thanks so much guys, it has made me feel a lot better knowing that there are people out there who I can talk to and who love ballet like me!

Whoops, don't know why the one about the recent audition came up with my name, I just posted the one above this

I am 14 years old and I have always dreamt of going to white lodge! I never auditioned because I felt my parents wouldn't encourage me. Now not auditioning is the biggest regret of my life. I've just missed the audition for year 10 now as well. Have any of u got any tips for living with this regret? I still love ballet!!!