chloe123

My daughter is around the same age (although in high school so maybe a school year above?) She does ISTD grade 3 - 2 lessons per week. One of these classes is for everyone and one is an exam class. She also does 1 grade 5 class as, like your situation, there isn't a grade 4 class available. So in total she does around 3 hours ballet a week (plus some classes in other dance styles). She manages the grade 5 fine and enjoys it although you can tell she isn't of exam standard for this grade. However, she is not intending on applying for vocational school or associates so I'm not sure if that really helps answer your question!

They are doing Giselle. I have been impressed so far, it's very well organised and although they have high expectations it is in a friendly, encouraging way.

Just thought I would update this in case it helps anyone else in future. My daughter is really enjoying rehearsals. She doesn't have a solo or main part (which we didn't expect anyway as ballet is very much a hobby for her and she is only 11). She is probably in the oldest group to not yet be doing pointe and I think she was worried that not doing pointe would mean she would end up dancing with much younger girls. However, she is with a group of girls of around the same age / ability and she feels she is being challenged and learning a lot. Thank you all for encouraging her (and me!) to go ahead with it.

My (very limited) experience of this is that it's quite rare - at least it is at my daughters dance school. They are assessed when they join the school, start in the appropriate grade for their ability and go from there. If an older child with no ballet experience joins then they are not put in with the 5 year olds - they start in an age appropriate class but often don't do exams as they have so much to catch up on. There are separate exam classes which these children don't do though so it doesn't really slow down everyone else's progress.

Thank you all, I feel much better now. She's 11 and did the junior audition. She is probably around the height of an average 9 year old. We certainly have no expectation of her getting a solo or main part but as long as she's being challenged and having a good time that's all that matters. I'm sure the comment must have come from the girls mum or another adult as it's an odd thing for a child to say!

Hi, My daughter successfully auditioned for a place with EYB and has her casting day next month. Her dance school is supportive and a few of her friends have also got a place so she has been really looking forward to it. Unfortunately a girl at school (academic school, not dance school) who dances elsewhere has said to her she shouldn't bother doing it because she's too short. Apparently if you're short you only get 'easy parts'. I passed it off as sour grapes but after googling it it would seem there might be some truth in it? She is excited to take part but it is a lot of money so I need to be sure she will benefit from it as well. Any thoughts? Thanks