Pointytoes

On 09/10/2020 at 18:41, The red shoes said:

No wonder Elmhurst seems to be the preferred option. 

This I believe is a rather odd statement since many Elmhurst students turn up at auditions year on year from their lower school trying to gain a place at WhiteLodge. There are parents who have seen Elmhurst as the second best place after not gaining a place for year seven at WhiteLodge. These outweigh the parents who see Elmhurst as the ‘ preferred option’. 
Both schools have a very different approach, the success rate from both is debatable on many levels. 
The vocational route is not for the faint hearted and ballet training in this country brings many debates to the fore. 
These two schools are not really comparable on many levels. 

On 09/10/2020 at 18:41, The red shoes said:

No wonder Elmhurst seems to be the preferred option. 

This I believe is a rather odd statement since many Elmhurst students turn up at auditions year on year from their lower school trying to gain a place at WhiteLodge. There are parents who have seen Elmhurst as the second best place after not gaining a place for year seven at WhiteLodge. These outweigh the parents who see Elmhurst as the ‘ preferred option’. 
Both schools have a very different approach, the success rate from both is debatable on many levels. 
The vocational route is not for the faint hearted and ballet training in this country brings many debates to the fore. 
These two schools are not really comparable on many levels. 

I’m afraid to say the reality beneath the gloss of articles of such nature is not what happens at ground level. It really does not matter how many times you weigh and measure the Ballet students in a school, what is more important Is how this information is assessed and utilised to move each student forward. 

No minor in a school should be given their weight but rather a much more scientific approach needs to implemented and parents informed and if needed brought on board much earlier. I have observed too many students where too little too late has been the result. 

There are many examples where the warning signs are there for all to see, but only when it is too late is  reactionary intervention applied often resulting in the student simply being told to go home to get better. These are observations to date and I’m afraid the ballet world in this country is still hugely lacking in its approach to these young artistic athletes. 
Great facilities does not make a great department unfortunately. 
I agree with the above comments of ‘ in our day’ we had it much harder. Sorry, times have changed, the science is there, time to move with it! Time also to not see strength and conditioning as the enemy for ballet dancers but thats another whole can of worms!
 

Think my child would have minded though! 
Even the longeurs must cut their teeth somewhere! 😂

On 04/03/2020 at 18:55, Dawnstar said:

As someone seeing it tonight, I would have much preferred they cut the brief appearances by the children so Corrales could appear!

What a cavalier and rather quite selfish comment! 
Safeguarding of young students health let alone the fact they too have worked hard and been at rehearsals for months even for their small roles played should not be dismissed out of hand. 
I am sure you will enjoy many more of this artists forthcoming appearances ! 
 

I read all of the above with interest. 
Having teenage daughters in dance it is very hard to navigate all of the above. 
Social media is a huge part of their  lives whether we as parents like it or not we cannot protect them from it. Kindness, appreciation of others hard work and talents should always be promoted and blaming socia media or indeed a schools campaign to attract further talent can not  or should not be sited as a reason for a dancer to walk away. 
In my humble opinion we parents seem to be the last to know or sometimes recognise when their child has had enough of dance as the fear of disappointing their parent is all too real. 
I have also noticed that some  ballet parents seem to want this life more for their children than they do themselves which is hard to watch also and thus often they  miss the signs of when enough is enough. 
Body shape changes, the need to dance changes other priorities take over. 
The mental health and happiness of our children should come above all else. 
Be Kind is the only message needed to all. 
Sorry Soap box moment over!

19 hours ago, sunrise81 said:

In group 2 the majority of the girls were in elmhurst associates uniform too! My dd decided not to wear her Royal JA uniform! 

I agree, personally I think it is hugely disrespectful to turn up to any school in another schools uniform claiming you want a place at that school! 

My husband a-likened it to turning up at Man Utd for a trial wearing a Man City kit!🥴

Im not sure of parents thinking behind it as the white JA leotards are not exactly flattering! 

These schools take what they want regardless of whatever uniform they are sporting! 

It is also worth knowing that a few of the places gained by the second round of auditions last year had previously been given a no, so as already stated anything is possible! 

Best wishes to your steadfast friend! 

Our JA teachers are always so nice to soften this process. They are wonderful !

And the fact some had to be seen later in the week as did not make the audition weekend due to the snow! 

All children still leave the aforementioned process knowing they could be a yes but ultimately still a no, but that status is no different from their arrival! This in no way changes their achievement of getting this far. 

The ballet world is a brutal business. Too many people send their children into it with a romantic and idealist view. It is important that they learn this sooner then later if they stand any chance in such a competitive business. 

There isn’t anything indiscrete about the process at all, the checking process could be something very minor and ultimately parents should welcome this. A yes is a yes however the decision is taken. The urban myths of a brutal process must rather be seen as a meticulous one rather than dramatise a much needed procedure. 

The term ‘ living the dream’ should be put to rest but enabling young artistic atheltes to pursue an obsession perhaps more realistic. There will always be bumps along the way. We need to enable our young dancers to be resilient to compete post 16  and mentally strong, not wrap them in cotton wool! 

There is the million dollar question!There were a limited number of girls last year who were not needed in call backs with a definite yes. The call backs were made up of pupils with something to check. Some of these call backs ended up as no’s and the rest yeses. 

You could speculate forever! 

No call back means they are very clear about  suitability for their training. 

Good luck to those waiting. 

If there were more it must be remembered some girls were auditioning for other years. 

Last year there were two groups indeed of year 7 girls on rotation throughout the day but there was definitely not more than 35 to forty girls in attendance. Some had dropped out. 

I cannot comment on the boys sorry. 

Hi ,

I Can perhaps help with both questions. 

Last year there were approximately 30 pupils auditioning for year 7. 

The current year 9 is one of the largest year groups. 

I can’t comnent on availability of beds as some years have more pupils than others but Elmhurst seem to have the ability to find space if they need it and usually try to fill their MDS spaces. 

Hope this helps. 

I agree these vocational students do cope well in general with appraisals especially when you read the Frenzie that happens each year on here trying to find out if there are beds, places etc at White Lodge. I have a child there and I still find it incredible that parents are hoping their children gain a place by discussing beds, spaces or assessing out. 

If they want your dancer they want them and that is it! No point in going round in circles. 

There are many paths to Rome and it’s all hard work!

Not sure, Birmingham girls results are out for year 7.

I have a vocational child at Elmhurst and one in associates who also takes modern and tap at her own stage school and competes etc etc.

I strongly advise that you make the decision based on what is best suited to the interests and development of your own child. Dance schools are often guilty of making parents feel that unless completely committed to them your child will not progress. As a previous post has pointed out modern and tap classes can be accomadated and sourced else where....where else do you source an Elmhurst associate place that she has earned?

Sorry I know this sounds opinionated but it frustrates me when parents are made to feel this way.

Thank you for your response.

Hi, she heading into year 5 in September and is of very slim build and 138cm in height.

Thank you.

Anyone selling or willing to sell RBS JA blue character skirt?

A lot if the above comments are very true, I was, and to a certain extent still am a 'festival parent' and while I have loved to sit and watch my child pick up many awards including All England finals titles, it was my husband who needed to point out to me that they had become involved in an obsessive trail of trophy hunting. My child had been saying its ballet and only ballet I want and she was becoming a great festival child, a jack of all trades but master of none as he had put it. The fear was that she had become too 'festivilsed' ( no such word I know) and this would be viewed poorly in the ballet world. We pulled her out a year ago, and it was just ballet through audition time. Festival children are not viewed in a very positive light in the purist world of ballet. More importantly her physique and facility were correct and she begins her vocational ballet life in September. Festivals have their place but they are generally not comparable to the ballet world, and whilst great fun and friendships can be made in the correct environment they can also become very time and money consuming without a real focus long term.

Yes, for year 7 at Elmhurst as the earlier post enquires, and no application for the other two schools mentioned above. Good luck .x

My daughter was awarded a place also! She is very excited.