Wigglybunny

9 hours ago, Emma101 said:

Out of interest is anyone an associate and festival dancer? Do they allow time off for comps? 

Sorry am completely gatecrashing your thread, but well done to all the ‘yes’ so far and commiserations to the ‘no not yet’s. Just to say DS did three years of JAs also juggling festivals and being a cathedral chorister. We managed it and prioritised as best we could (sometimes with the tightest of logistics!) We were totally open and honest with everyone about where he was (I.e. he was never ‘sick’ unless he was actually ill). Luckily most comps he was in were around school holiday time and he didn’t actually miss much JAs at all. But he did get very tired. JAs is a long class, especially for the year 4s. In all honesty, it is not for everyone. But very much worth it for DS. Good luck to all still waiting for results xx

It’s about 30 or so y7 girls and the same number of boys invited to finals. It’s not a definite number each year though. 

1 hour ago, AMP said:

Thanks I just checked and the letter says the audition is for both, but I guess that is a standard letter and doesn't confirm if I did not tick the box.  Not sure how to check now, guess I will just have to sit and wait!  

 

As far as I am aware, the audition is for both and I certainly know you can be called for finals without having ticked the WL box if they like what they see at the audition enough. (I know this because of the shocked look on the face of one of the mums from DS’s old dance school whose daughter got through to WL finals and she definitely, definitely didn’t tick the box!)

Good luck, well done and/or commiserations (delete as appropriate!)  to all auditioning this year.

On 31/10/2018 at 12:45, Tops said:

Slightly away from original post but hopefully related. Does any one know if the UK vocational lower schools have any upper and lower height limits ?

Not that I know of, but we were worried when DS auditioned, as he is tall for his age. There is head and shoulders difference between the tallest and shortest boys in his class, but they are the best of friends.

6 hours ago, DD Driver said:

 

I guess I can not begrudge the RBS taking the opportunity to make some cash and take greater control of their entry processes/auditions.  It is just buyer beware.  Until your child is at an age where they are ready to audition for RBS or similar then the summer schools or intensives are not necessarily the best use of your money.  Same could be said of attending the big competitions.  Thoughts?

 

Some parents explain that they are sending young students to elite school summer schools/intensives - when they are not looking to make a move yet - in order for the school to get to know the child and vice versa.  Exposure.   In a large class and with teachers that may not be part of the year-round faculty, I'm not sure if this is realistic (?) Also I have heard that sometimes the number of hours each day are short and the skill level is not advanced.  This is fine if the price is right but from where we sit it involves expensive fees and flights and accommodation when attending outside your own city/state/country.  I'd be very happy for someone to enlighten me as to the value in sending your child at a younger age i.e. under 14/15 years!

I’m our experience, summer school has been great from a young age. I would say there is real benefit if your child is looking to go to lower school and hasn’t been away from home before. My son went aged 10 the year before he auditioned for voc school to see if he could cope being away from home but mainly to see if he liked it. He went to two very different summer schools that year and ended up only auditioning for one because one was right for him and the other (which he thought he would prefer) really wasn’t. He learned lots and from a male perspective, he really benefitted from being in a class of all boys, almost all of whom were older. It was a huge inspiration for him and not something he could have got in many places elsewhere. 

On 10/09/2018 at 18:16, ButterflyBallerina said:

Do White Lodge do an open day ? would love to go and have a look around x

Yes, there is an open day at WL, usually in mid June that is open to the public. You can do a tour of the school and watch the children dancing too. I appreciate it’s a bit late if you were thinking of auditioning this year, though. 

A related observation from the RBS programme at the Holland Park performances this year was the percentage of students who were JAs/MAs. Each student from yr7-US were listed by school year in the programme and if they were a JA/MA they had an asterisk next to their name. For year 7/8 it was the case for the majority, by yr 10/11 it was about half. In the first year of US it was about a third and by the third year there were no asterisks. It made me a bit sad, but is a wholy unscientific observation! 

2 tickets - Blue row N. Please let me know if interested. 

On 03/05/2018 at 07:06, follycat said:

Just like to add that my daughter was fortunate enough to be at a top vocational school and is now with Birmingham Royal Ballet. She was about the only one in her class not doing extra classes in the holidays...she liked her holidays and family time too much!

I am not suggesting summer schools are a bad thing but just pointing out it is possible to have a career without extras. Incidentally, she was also fortunate to be the only one never to have an injury. I am not saying one was the result of the other. I used to 'panic' sometimes hearing about what everyone else did in the holidays but glad we went with our gut feeling and now have a lovely but more importantly, well grounded daughter.

I’m really relieved to hear this! We simply can’t afford much outside of voc school. And although he loves it there, DS is exhausted by the end of term. I truly think he needs the break in the holidays. And it’s lovely to spend time with the young man he is becoming. 

DS is at voc school and broke his toe at the end of sept. He was prescribed vitamin d by the medical team and took it all through the winter. No idea whether it helped healing, but he seems fine now! 

My DD also attends a school where distinction is expected. Sadly, she was the only one to get a (very good!) merit out of the whole primary class when she took her exam aged 6 a few years ago. Everyone else got distinction. She hasn’t been allowed to take an exam since (she is now 8 and studying grade 3) but her teacher hasn’t ever mentioned it...she just hasn’t entered her. Luckily she’s not that bothered and has gained distinctions  in non-dancing exams such as LAMDA and ABRSM, but having had an older DS who got very good RAD distinctions, it’s difficult seeing both sides of the coin, so to speak.

On 23/03/2018 at 16:51, Sugarplummum said:

Oh, changing the topic slightly, i rang RBS the other day to ask about JA , they told me the deadline was Monday just gone, but that if i could get application in that day they would process it. 

Well i did....eek!

 

Now im 💩ing my pants, especially about the photos i sent in with it!

Because it was last minute I had to do them myself, in the kitchen 🙈 

Omg, can just imagine their faces when they look at them! 

 

Sorry, I feel like I am gatecrashing your thread, but I would say go with your gut feeling. If you are concerned, move her. In all honesty, what have you got to lose? And as others have said, if your dd is serious about any kind of dancing, it will be difficult to stay with friends the whole time.

And as regards photos...your post made me chuckle, as I completely empathise. I am so disorganised, I have always had to take DS’s photos for any applications...on my phone...in the living room! One time, (to my absolute shame!!)I had completely forgotten that it was the closing date for summer school and I had to go and get him up out of bed at 10pm to take them. But he has always got in to whatever he has applied for, so although I wouldn’t advocate being as rubbish as me, it’s definitely not the quality of photography that makes the difference. They know what they are looking for and what will be will be.

All the very best of luck, whatever you decide. xx

I always spoke directly to his teacher and she was very understanding. That said, though, we made every effort to catch up on any missed work etc. We were at b’ham.

Also, often festivals are in the school holidays, so it can mean that JAs actually isn’t on that same weekend. We were lucky in that regard a couple of times. 

DS was a JA and did lots of festivals including nationals and the dance world cup. He was also a cathedral chorister, so i seemed to spend all my time juggling, prioritising and apologising to everyone about why he might be late or why we were prioritising one thing over another. That said, we only ever missed JAs if he actually had a festival at the same time as a class or there was a cathedral service scheduled at the same time (which was rare as his ja classes were on a sat.) I always tried to give lots of notice as others have said and always told the truth about where he was. He was never ‘ill’. I think a variety of experiences is good for them, although he did get very tired. That said, i don’t miss the juggling now he is away at school.

20 hours ago, drdance said:

On a tangent - the BRB production is different, and the childrens' roles are different too (this may reflect the lack of a nearby school at the time of the creation of the production by Sir Peter Wright). All the youngsters are JA age, I believe, the party children don't dance as much as in the Royal production (probably due to their youth) but they still get to be mice and soldiers. In the recent Albert Hall production I believe Elmhurst and RB upper school students danced as snowflakes and flowers too.

The BRB production is very different for the kids. They choose from the RBS JAs by watching one of the first classes in sept and also audition at Elmhurst. They usually choose very small and young looking children and they are only in the party scene. 

From a personal perspective, DS was a b’ham JA and right from y4 he was told by his teacher not to get his hopes up, as he was too tall, even back then. We were told ‘if the costumes don’t fit, you can’t be in it!’ He never got cast and was philosophical about it, but secretly a bit gutted.

Then he watched the nutcracker documentary at Christmas last year before auditioning for WL and realised that almost all the Y7,8&9 WL children get to be in the London production. I am sure that realisation made him even more determined to get a place and made up his mind that’s what he wanted. He’s just finished his first term at WL and his first nutcracker run at ROH and loved every minute. 

On 04/01/2018 at 09:59, bangorballetboy said:

 

They are "largish child" size...

The characters who arrive with St Nick in the RB London production are played by members of the company and are the same once they return during the transformation. But the gingerbreads (or dolls) are definitely RBS children and represent the dances in the second half.

Y7 and 8 boys also play the paiges at the start of the second act and a few y7 boys and girls are ‘naughty children’ right at the start. DS had his last night as a ‘tall soldier’ last night. Has been a fantastic experience.

Paperchase has a lovely range of nutcracker wrapping paper and gift boxes/bags, with ribbon,  confetti and even nutcracker patterned sellotape! Also some (very cute) little nutcracker pegs and a musical ballerina card. John Lewis also has nutcracker greeting cards. Have just realised I may sound a little obsessed! 😂 

If he's 8 he will also be able to audition for Royal Ballet junior associate classes in for next year: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/train/dancer-training/associate-programme/junior-associates/

The above is the only associate scheme DS had experience of (albeit in birmingham) but he loved it. Some other ideas below, but no endorsement from me, as haven't tried any of them! Although DS did do a balletboyz workshop in the summer and loved it. 

Not sure when when your DS is 9, but I know at least one of my son's now classmates was in this last year: http://www.londonchildrensballet.com/ 

Rad do a boys programme: https://www.rad.org.uk/learn-to-dance/our-dance-school-in-london/rad-boys-ballet-classes

There is also London boys ballet: https://www.boysballetlondon.com/boys-rad-ballet

depending on where you are, balletboyz do classes in Kingstone: http://www.balletboyz.com/get-involved/childrens-ballet/

Hope these help! x

That's great to hear and best of luck to your dd. Just wanted to add my own experiences, I was diagnosed with gf in early may this year (aged 36!) and was off work for 6 weeks and probably not fully better for 8. Absolutely fine since, though, but I can remember clearly the day the 'fog' lifted and I felt much better. One of the things the dr said, though was that the incubation period is 6-8 weeks and symptoms are often very different depending on your age (for example, I had no sore throat at all, but my liver and spleen were badly affected.)I got lots of ribbing about 'who had I been kissing?!' (Particularly from hubby!!) But then it occurred to me...about two months previously, DS had been ill on and off for weeks and had the most horrendous cough he couldn't shift. He was off school a few days, but wasn't ill enough to remain home all the time. It was, however, over the period of school entrance exams, WL finals and various other things and looking back, his symptoms fitted gf. My youngest is a toddler and around the same time had constant bright red cheeks, but no other symptoms. Again, Epstein Barr (the gf virus) can show in toddlers that way.

I just wanted to show that gf definitely isn't the same for everyone and similarly to your dd, carmen67, my DS was successful in his auditions. It's an horrendous disease and having had it myself, I would absolutely say giving in and sleeping and resting when it is at it's worst is vital. But you will know when you are better, or at least I did. xx

I can definitely relate to this. DS is 11 and for the last couple of years this has been him at regular intervals. He struggles with pain in his heels when he has had a growth spurt, too, which isn't helpful. His ballet teacher has helped him focus on strengthening his core so that he feels more centred, but I think it's just one of those things as they are growing. It does improve over time, but DS has struggled with confidence at times. I think he's now resigned himself to the fact that as he grows he will have to put up with it! xx

Been thinking of you all today, as it popped up on my fb memories that 3 years ago today we found out DS had got a place. Fingers crossed the wait won't be much longer and best of luck to all DC xxx

We were there this week and bumped into several children who are off to voc school with DS in September. Interestingly, not one of them qualified for the national finals in ballet, although DS qualified in several song and dance classes and others qualified in other genres. The standard was very, very high, as usual. Lovely to see. 

Edited to add: But I don't think they will be allowed to compete one they are actually at school. 

Balletmum55 couldn't have described the experience of dropping the dc off better! That was exactly our experience. And I was definitely more worried than DS (also aged 10 at the time). He didn't even Skype us until the Friday and I was due to pick him up on the sat!! Hope it works out for week 4, JanJas.

On 13/05/2017 at 06:14, Ballet4Boyz said:

You can also Google "Dr Dancebelts Guide" . This is a website covering advice on every aspect of dance belts and you could get your DS to read through it. Basically dance belts are primarily for protection and appearance. Everything is packaged in a forward position, fairly tightly (but comfortably) to limit movement. Without a dance belt , during certain dance movements the testicles could become trapped/crushed between the thighs......very painful I would imagine. 

When putting a dance belt on, all the tackle should be positioned forward with the penis in an upright position (pointing towards the belly button) - swoop & scoop as they say. 

Fortunately our DS didn't seem embarrassed about any of this & fell about laughing the first time he donned one.....walking around more like a duck than a ballet dancer for a few minutes 

The first time he wore one in class - he announced to his teacher - if I dance "a bit funny" today Miss, it's because I'm wearing my new dance belt !!! - to which she replied - "don't worry I will let you off & well done for trying" . This of course caused much amusement, hilarity & intrigue amongst the girls, which DS just laughed off.....think he secretly liked the fact he now 'needed' to wear one 

Apologies if this contains a bit more detail than some would like, but I remember knowing very little at the time about such things, and often there aren't any older boys parents to ask at your own dance school. I'm glad our DS got used to wearing one before going to vocational school as its one less concern for them when everything else is new & challenging.

Our DS is fine with them now, although glad to de-robe at the end of the day !! ?

Thanks Ballet4boyz...very useful! xx