famcandance2

To change the subject slightly, has anyone ever appealed a decision made by a vocational school? Are you allowed to appeal or does everyone just accept that their decision is final? Would love to know.

No we have not had an independant assessment and we don't know where to go to get one. I understand that not all associates are routinely offered places at the school, but surely knowing that about 200 children auditioned for an associate place and she got one makes me think she must have some talent. She hasn't tried for any other schools as they are all too far away from us to be viable. I have a ds at one vocational school and an older disabled child at home. It would mean trying to be in two or three places at once if she auditioned any further than the one we tried. I spoke to the head of dance after she wasn't offered a place and was told she had auditioned really well in all other aspects exept the one. Don't know what to think anymore. Edited to answer above post: Unfortunately there is absolutely nothing in our area. I would like to see her do more advanced jazz and tap classes but the teacher doesnt seem qualified to do more advanced classes and won't move her anyway because they insist on keeping the same age group together rather than going on ability. Thanks for your suggestions though.

I know I seem to be throwing up problems here, but our situation is that we are in a rural area with no good dance schools. I already travel 1hour twice weekly to get her to the best school we could find. She also does associates which is a three hour journey so have to stay overnight the night before. This is once a month. She gets good results in exams so I know she can dance. She probably was always more interested in doing musical theatre anyway, but the only way in to vocational schools is through ballet and she is very good at it. The only thing lacking is flexibility which I feel would resolve itself if she were able to dance every day and do some work on every day. Unfortunately the school we chose is already 3 hours from where we live and to go any further is impossible as I have other children. I feel that they have chosen her for associates so must have seen something when she auditioned for that and nothing was mentioned. I just feel that no-one will give this child a break which is all she needs and then I know she will be up and away! Edited to add: I see your point Anjuli, however I feel that if she had the chance to be taught properly and dance every day (as she would if she had been given a place) that she would move forward.

I understand what Anjuli is saying. However when a student has a good amount of natural talent, works hard at the level she is offered and achieves at this level, how then can one element take all this away? I would understand if as per the example it was something that couldn't be changed, but when it's something like flexibility or turnout where the child has never been taught this properly and doesn't have the teacher to help with this or the amount of classes available to change this on their own, I would have thought that giving that child a break and allowing them to be taught properly and then seeing how they responded would be a way to go. As for honesty, I would far rather know that my child is unsuitable than deceive the child into thinking they can make it when clearly they can't. Also, why say the child has no talent for dancing when she is on the school's own associate programme? She auditioned for this too and was chosen, so why? Thanks for your feedback Anjuli, I always appreciate your wisdom.

Am feeling pretty cynical myself right now. Dd turned down for school due to one element in her dance which I personally feel she could work on and improve given the opportunity to dance every day. At the moment circumstances dictate that she can only dance twice a week, hence she is not having the opportunity to "fix" this problem. Also was hinted that she should give up on dance and try drama or music. This has never been mentioned before even though she has auditioned 3 times at this school and is currently on their associates program! Why can't people just be honest and why can't they give the less advantaged dancers a break? Sorry if I am stepping on toes, but am feeling a little upset right now.

You're welcome Beljul. Wish more teachers would use her methods cos I think she is very good. We have the front splits fast book (also not cheap) and it deals with all sorts, not only the splits. It has great excercises in it and is very inspiring. It's also great to know you can ask a question of an expert and get a reply. Hope you enjoy your programme.

Hi all We have had dd go for a neck and back massage and the pain in her shin is gone! Well done Lisa Howell. We think it must have been a caught nerve and releasing the neck and back muscles released the nerve. It also made her a lot more flexible. Anyone with a similar problem, I would really recommend the balletblog as there are some really good tips and you can ask questions and get answers from an expert. Thanks for all your advice and support.

Has anyone heard of any year 9 students getting a place for Hammond this year? Am interested as I have friends dd's that have auditioned and have only heard no's! Would like to hear some yeses, so if anyone out there knows of any, please let us know.

Yes we have tried a number of the excercises and they are very useful. Also her tips on youtube. We have the front splits fast book and it has helped her a lot. Hope this helps. Also go to the ballet blog and you can download (for a fee) onto your ipod.

yea, that was me asking. I decided to ask you guys as well coz sometimes she doesn't answer. Got a really good reply so if anyone else has this problem, take a look.

ItsCecchetti standard 5. Her teacher thought it might be a shin splint but the gp says not. Having looked at Lisa Howells blog on neural movement, I'm inclined to think it could be a nerve that is caught. Doctor recommended ibuprofen for a few days to see if that helps in case of slight inflammation of the nerve. She has stopped doing that particular excercise but has continued to stretch in other ways that don't hurt.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Unfortunately we have to sort it as not doing this excercise is not an option. She does Cecchetti and has an excercise where she puts her foot on the bar and then bends forward. I don't think they'll let her off this in the exam, so she needs to find the cause. I will try all your suggestions and let you know what works. Thanks again.

My dd has been dancing since she was three. She is now 12 and has suddenly developed a pain down the front of one shin but only when doing one particular excercise. She is not in pain when walking or dancing so don't think it's a shin splint. She only gets pain on the one side when putting her nose to her knee. Has anyone got any suggestions/advice? Thanks

Well done. Good luck for the funding auditions.

Still no letters? They really are taking their time this year. Still, good luck to all waiting.

Hope its good news, what year is he going for? Am surprised, thought you would have heard by now. Good luck.

Thanks thats good to hear. I certainly dont assume that everyone reads this website, however there are a number of people who have been on in the past who I know have auditioned, and every year there is someone posting that they have got a place. I was just interested to know how they got on. Certainly if any of my children do well, I like to share (not broadcast) on this website as there is so much positive support.

I hope so. Many have read it tho!

Do I understand from the response that no one has got into the Hammond this year? Thats worrying.

Hi does anyone know of anyone who has done Hammond auditions and has got a yes? Also what years they are in? Just interested to see what they're doing this year. Thanks

Sadly I have found by experience that vocational schools dont take girls on potential, good movement, etc. It seems they are looking for girls that are technically correct and fit their way of teaching. Sorry to sound negative, but dd did a beautiful contemporary dance for an audition which was passionate and had a lovely flow to it. She still didn't get in. When we enquired why we were told she fell down on a few technical points. Hard to know what they want these days!

No they don't. They just change their shoes if need be but perform in their leotard and tights they have been wearing for the day.

Well, as said above my son did a dance which incorporated ballet, jazz, highland and tap. He is now at vocational school with an mds and they were so keen they phoned him the day after the audition! I think everyone's thoughts are correct in that they need to do what they're comfortable with and what they're good at. Seeing as they normally do a ballet class before the dance solo, they will have a good idea of the ballet capability anyway. Hope this helps.

Thank you all for your very good and very appreciated advice. We may have to rethink this one. When my ds auditioned for Hammond he said all the girls did ballet. He did a dance with a bit of everything in it so no specific style. He is a performer though and very passionate about his dancing so I think that probably showed. He did Hairspray, so don't want dd to do the same. Will definitely consider some of the above options though. Thanks again everyone.

No there are no cat schemes round us in Scotland. Also there are only two associate schemes in Scotland. Both are very difficult to get into because they take so few children and have to cater for the whole of Scotland so unfortunately neither of these is an option. Thanks for your suggestions though.