Confuddled

Watching ours now as a relaxing start to half term.

18 hours ago, Canary said:

Might have changed but it use to be

meet and greet, hand child over and make a note of their number. 

 

The children do a warm up - jumps, points etc in a side room with a teacher then go through to the audition room for an audition where a smiley panel will be watching them. 

 

Then the numbers of the children staying are called out to waiting parents, the other children are then free to leave and join you and they come out smiling a couple of minutes later. 

 

The parents of the children still in the warm up room are then given a time to collect and the results are emailed out after that in one go. 

 

Then a second audition is held but all the children present are part of the company this time they are being selected for particular roles. 

 

The atmosphere is great and all children are congratulated for attending and made to feel special. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, that’s so helpful!

So if they come straight out, is that a definite ‘no’? But if their number is called to stay it’s a ‘got through to the next stage’? I have a dd who likes to know exactly how things will work and gets stressed if she doesn’t...

Does anyone know how the auditions work? DD did EYB, which was all together on stage then numbers called out that were in, but I presume it can’t be that given LCB has a two stage process.

On 23/07/2018 at 14:24, Paleblueleotard said:

I emailed LCB last week about the venues both re the auditions and also the rehearsals as it will impact on whether it's practical for us to apply/take part.  I heard back this morning - they are still tbc. but should know the audition venues in a week or so apparently.  

I was wondering you you’d heard back on the audition venue? I’ve just applied for dd. Not knowing which weekend it will be until very close to the time is rather mucking up any possibility of going away at half term...

It was quite amazing how much they had learned in two weeks - really impressive. I have no idea about the technical aspects, but I enjoyed watching and they looked like they were having fun.

I have a very tired dd this morning, but she’s still keen to know when (if!) EYB will be back in Wimbledon.

4 hours ago, AdageKitty said:

Hi everyone!

My DD has just completed The London Ballet Company summer intensive for the second year now, and has been reaccepted as TLBC Associate from September as well so just wanted to give a huge shout out to the Director, Sophie and her team who have just been amazing!

 

The Associates run once a month on Sundays in Battersea and it’s an excellent addition to existing ballet training to get the creative juices flowing and for anyone who is interested in contemporary ballet. Another one of their amazing features is YoBallet which focusses on strengthening the core and using all the right muscles.

 

They also have a school in Wimbledon that is worth checking out (although we don’t currently attend as it quite a distance for us) but what’s different about them is that they don’t follow any strict syllabus and work by strengthening and stretching the right muscles and correcting posture to get the best results.

 

Just had to post as it’s been a little secret of my DD for a while now and she comes out beaming after every session The facilities are of an excellent standard too and since I ran a search and couldn’t find any posts on them so I thought I’d get the word out there.

 

 

 Can you tell me the name

of the school in Wimbledon? One of dd’s friends would be interested, I think, and it’s the right area for her.

People are keen until I tell them the price of tickets - it’s a big ask, one child and one parent from school are coming but they are paying nearly £50 to do so.

I do hope they can sell more - dd is desperate for them to come back soon. She’s absolutely loving being a courtier, though she’s hoping its not too hot as apparently the costume has lots of layers including a fur coat!

Dd is loving it, but is eating double her normal amount of food and is very, very tired! 

Im wondering when they'll next be in Wimbledon (or close-ish) as she's already very keen to do it again. Is it usually two years?

On 01/08/2018 at 14:26, Jay Jay said:

I’m not sure what to send with DS food wise. Packed lunch and a snack?

I was going to go with a small packed lunch like a sandwich and a drink (dd has form for not eating when there’s exciting dancing to be done) and a couple of quick to eat, non-messy snacks. I’m assuming nothing containing nuts, as that’s the usual rule at school and other summer activities that she’s been to.

On 23/07/2018 at 21:53, MAK said:

Yes it's Wimbledon. Glad you mentioned it or I'd never have known! 😊

I had to enlarge to the max to work out that it was definitely dd in there!

On 20/07/2018 at 00:36, Hazel said:

I might be missing it but can anyone tell me where the auditions or rehearsals are held. No idea if it’s practical for DD to try for this!!

 

thanks!

I was looking for that info, too! Previous threads say auditions were at Herbal Hill (which is East Central London), but I haven't seen anything about rehearsals. It really makes a difference to the logistics, how near it is to a tube station and which side of London.

Thanks for the heads up! Is there a page on the website for rehearsal dates? I've only found audition and performance dates so far.

On 17/07/2018 at 20:44, Dancey said:

My daughter is a small 10 year old and I have always found the selection in the London shops to be a little lacking in her size.   I have visited lots and I think I have only ever bought one or two leotards.   Hopefully you will have more luck  

Bloch had nothing but Dancia had a decent selection in her size - four to choose from (would have been more, but we were avoiding pink and purple).

Thanks taxi4ballet! Covent Garden it is, then.

Can anyone recommend anywhere in London to buy a ‘special’ leotard? My daughter wants a pretty leotard for summer schools, but I’m not up for a trip to central London in this heat unless I know there’s somewhere with a good selection! She’s 10, but small for her age, so I would have thought still definitely in children’s sizes.

Thanks!

9 hours ago, Tiredtoes said:

Anyone know anything about a courtier role too? 

My dd and her friends are courtiers too. Anyone know if they get much dancing or is it mostly being on stage looking decorative?

3 hours ago, Pups_mum said:

No, parents aren't usually able to watch dress rehearsals. Sometimes EYB sell tickets for the dress rehearsal to local schools at a reduced price so if you know anyone who is taking a school party you could maybe get in with them I suppose, but I have never heard of tickets going on general sale. Normally parents get to watch the last run through at the rehearsal venue but not the dress rehearsal.

1 hour ago, Pointetoes said:

The Friday afternoon dress rehearsals is for your daughters schools and local schools  ( appreciation this one is in the holidays) You are invited to watch the whole thing on the last day of rehearsals BUT there are no costumes, staging etc because it’s in the rehearsal venue. It really is worth getting tickets to see the actual performance. 

Thank you both! I will get tickets for Saturday, then.

Does anyone know whether the dress rehearsal in the theatre is open to parents to watch, with EYB? I’m wondering whether to book a Saturday evening ticket and arrange babysitting, or whether I’ll get to watch the Friday dress rehearsal anyway and so can avoid faffing around finding a babysitter for Saturday evening (this is for Swan Lake in Wimbledon).

That's all really interesting. I've always bought barefoot style shoes (wide toe box, no heel drop, very flexible) for dd, and we go barefoot in the house. Has anyone

had any advice about the suitability (or not!) of these types of shoes for dancers?

On 16/06/2018 at 16:39, Jay Jay said:

Thanks Confuddled. I was wondering if there was parking in the school as it is the holidays?

No idea, sorry! It looks like there’s a small staff car park, but I don’t know it it’ll be available.

I’ve just had a google, and according to Merton council’s website there are meters on Crescent Road (though I don’t know how many). You have to pay to park between 8.30 and 18.30, and it’s £1.20 an hour. This page (scroll down to nearly the bottom) gives the information: https://www2.merton.gov.uk/transport-streets/parking/parking-meters_30a5b07.htm#find 

It’s only half a mile from Raynes Park station (or a bit over a mile or a short bus ride from Wimbledon station), so that might be easier.

1 hour ago, MAK said:

I'll PM you as I'm not sure I'm allowed to share on a public forum?

Could you pm me as well? Thanks!

On 15/05/2018 at 08:21, Kate_N said:

I find this post (on another & highly-respected ballet board) very useful:

 

Alignment (from Ballet Talk for Dancers)

I read it and didn’t completely get it, but dd did! Thanks!

On 20/05/2018 at 03:20, Viv said:

While ballet terms can sometimes be confusing, or even contradict the every day meaning of words, in the case of alignment, it means exactly the same thing. The definition of alignment is "the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts in relation to each other". In this case we mean body parts. Alignment also means "the line thus formed" and this is what speaks to me more in a ballet sense. We spend a lot of time in ballet talking about 'lines' and alignment is a huge part of that. 

 

What makes alignment so confusing for me is that it's not just up and down, if that makes sense. It's not just ribs and pelvis and knees and toes all being in line straight up and down, but also is reflected in the alignment of the arms and legs in certain ballet positions. I know a big struggle girls in my class have is when the leg is pointed to the back. It is easier to keep your turnout if the leg is slightly more open and it can even feel like the leg is fully behind you, but when seen from the front it is actually pointing almost out to the side. The leg is not 'aligned' with the spine, so even if your spine is perfectly straight up and down, your alignment is still off. Unfortunately, just getting your leg behind you doesn't fully tick the alignment box either. If, in order to get the leg fully behind you, you drop one hip lower than the others, now your hips are out of alignment. If you tilt your booty back to get your leg back, now your pelvis is out of alignment. This is why I think of alignment as sort of gyroscopic, everything must be in the right place up and down, side to side and in and out.

 

Alignment isn't just about hips and legs though! I struggle with the alignment of my arms in arabesque because my shoulders, elbows and wrists all hyperextend and point in different directions. I have to make sure my shoulders are facing the right direction, that one shoulder is not higher than the other, that the elbows are softened and not hyperextended, and that the wrist is not fished to the side. All of this, unfortunately, is also alignment, and is what contributes to making balletic and beautiful lines. Alignment is huge and complicated! In a 'simple' first arabesque, you must make sure that your leg is fully stretched and feet pointed, the leg is aligned with the spine, the hips are sitting square and straight and both are pointing in the same direction, that your sit bones are under your spine, that the spine is stacked evenly with each vertebra lined up with the one above and below, that the ribs are soft and not jutting out to one side, that the shoulders are facing the same direction as the hips and neither shoulder is higher than the other, that the front arm is slightly curved and the fingertips are in line with your nose and your side arm is not too far back or forward and is curving downwards, that your fingers are relaxed but not curled, that your head is floating on top of your spine and is not thrust forward or back, and that the eyeline extends above beyond the fingertips... And all of that, is alignment. All I can say is, good luck to your DD! I would say first step is making sure shoulders and hips facing the same way, then start working on the rest of it haha.

Ah, that makes sense, thank you!

My dd is doing it, too - she knows a few others from her ballet school. Just waiting to hear about the rehearsal venue now.

Thank you all, I think I’m starting to understand it. So it’s sort of another word for posture, and not only posture standing still (I’d thought it couldn’t just be ‘standing up nice and straight’!) but also when you move? I can see why dd is having trouble explaining it to me, I still can’t ‘see’ when a move is right or wrong, unless she really exaggerates and shows me very slowly.