bettyballerina

Parents and students should also check out the information from the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, here is a link to some of their Resource papers that are helpful; https://www.iadms.org/?page=186

There are lots of excellent articles that can read on the website of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (www.iadms.org) on the resources pages. These are free and give lots of helpful information to students and parents. They can be downloaded; all free. This type of work has been going on in the UK for many years at the elite and vocational level and it is thanks to Dance UK that our dance students also have access to the National Institute for Dance Medicine and Science. Dancers can get help with their injuries by being referred by their GP.

Apparently the delay was waiting for all parents to complete the financial declaration forms. Frustrating. They cannot allocate funding without knowing how much each student will need. Not all the parents have returned the forms.

I heard that they are auditioning all last week, this week and next week and each day is a double audition day. About 30 students each day, for lots and lots of days. That puts the number of auditionees at around 300+. That is a lot of forms to fill in. I am sure that everyone gets looked at properly as these people are very experienced in doing this and are able to make the appropriate decisions.

I know that some 6th form dancers do no A levels but take all the dance classes on offer. It is very much up to each student how many, if any they do. Of course, at the end of the course, the students get the Trinity Diploma which can be converted into a BA so it is not necessary to take A levels. If the head of dance has to report on each solo and they are only one minute long, then she has to write sometime. I think that the solo is important for those who are they are not sure about. If it is an easy 'yes' or 'no' then the decision is probably already made.

I had heard that only Tring and RBS allow students to take MDS into the 6th form. As this funding is much more generous than DADA is for parents, it seems reasonable for a school to ask for honesty if someone does not wish to stay on for 6th form so that the funding can be given to someone else who does want and need it. The difference between 6th form funding from an MDS to a DADA is on average about £10-£15k per year more generous for a middle income family (Because of boarding costs) so it is quite a difference for a family to find; over three years, this can add up. I also know that each school has to 'top up' the MDS fees as the government does not pay what it costs the school to train and they expect the contribution from the parents and the school. So if the school is also financially supporting MDS pupils it is quite an investment for them too. Schools cannot prevent pupils auditioning out and probably know when they do because most schools ask for references. If a pupil wishes to leave, then it is best they are honest with the school so that funding can be re-allocated to the many applicants who do want to train there.

Thank you Ellie and the other people who have posted. I am just so relieved that he has got into a ballet school where he can dance all day and not worry what other boys will say and make friends with other dancing boys too. He now cannot wait to start and wants to go now. All those ballet lessons in secret have paid off!

My grandson has just been given an MDs for Sept for yr 7, as a boarder. We could are the opposite of a rich family and when I found out this funding to help the most talented children regardless of income levels I cried. My grandson lives for dance and is so thrilled to be going to Tring Just wanted to say that without this funding he would be stuck in a failing state school at home and hiding his passion for dance from his friends. He has had to dance in secret already. The MDs will change his life. There are lots of good boys I think from what we saw, at the audition.