Balletmum55

My dd has a place too. Year 7. So excited to tell her!!  Perhaps more uk dancers at this one with it being earlier in the year x

Tiredtoes my dd is 11 and watched the pre-general. She thought both The Illustated Farewell and Untouchable were amazing in different ways. They went as a group of Mid associates, and they, along with the WL students, were taken out for The Wind, as we were told by the RBS team that it wasn't appropriate for children in years 7,8 and 9 to watch. I haven't seen it so I can't comment on my opinion, but they may have been airing on the side of caution as I understand the storyline is very adult in theme, however the ROH website gives it a 12+ rating.  You know your dd better than anyone however, and if it was me I would have probably let my dd watch it with some discussion, so hope you have a fabulous time (and good luck to her for her audition ⭐️).

1 minute ago, Picturesinthefirelight said:

Dd went to Malvern last year & loved it. 

 

The same people (Olivia & Errol Pickford) slso run Winter classes at Dance Xchange in Birmingham between Christmas & New Year. No accommodation but we stay at the premier inn. 

Pictures that's so weird! Posting at the same time!! 

Malvern ballet seminars, ran by the same people as OPES, which is a brilliant summer course. I've heard equally excellent reviews of MBS for Easter and the venue looks beautiful and can be residential. Hoping my dd will go next year if our dates work out ok x 

Ballet boost also do an Easter course at pineapple studios in London - that's only 3 days and non residential. Teachers are fabulous tho!

I think at Christmas Olivia Pickford does a few days of classes in Birmingham. Pictures might know more about this??? 

6 hours ago, Bluebird22 said:

Balletmum55 did your DD enjoy her first MA session? 

It was last week and sadly she had a horrible bout of tonsillitis and was just not well enough to go and was still asleep when the class would have started! She was absolutely gutted but thankfully she's over it now and will be there with bells on next week 💗 Xxxx Thank you for asking xxx 

Def need a mat or towel. We were Birmingham and most girls took a mat as there are a lot of floor exercises.  There were only a couple that took a towel instead.  I think you'll probably find that each JA teacher has their own preferences   about a lot of things xx 

Yes, I thought that was you @ArucariaBallerina but didn't like to be too specific just in case!  I could see how much joy dancing brought you and it was infectious so I'm sure any panel will see the same. Wishing you all the best xxx 

9 minutes ago, Pixie said:

What did everyone do with the hair ribbons? I bought two but it now looks like they are too long. Is it okay to cut one ribbon in two or would they end up too short?

Some make very small bows with theirs and some are huge so I'd say it was personal choice as there are no instructions and various takes on the bows that I've seen! I went with medium size for the first term (so about 5/6" bow) and then we went gradually smaller as dd got older x  eventually we saw that dancique in Birmingham made pre-made blue bows on a clip in the royal blue ribbon so we changed to those and saved a good 10 minutes each Saturday trying to get it 'just so'!  

All the teachers I've come across at JAs are extremely friendly and relaxed with the children and the parents so don't worry xxx 

Hope all the Dc have a fabulous first class xx 

Good luck Arucaria ballet xxxx I think I may have watched you at OPES week 1 as I remember you saying you were going (my dd was in the inter group, I'm thinking you were the next group up and one of the smallest from what you've said?) anyway if I did you certainly had a special quality that stood out and looked like you were loving every second, so wishing you all the very best for audition season xxx 

Rant still in date sarahw 😂

But totally agree the blue skirt does look beautiful against the white leotard and it does feel special.  I paid for the shop to make mine save sourcing my own dressmaker (as absolutely no sewing skills myself!) and it has last her her whole time at JAs so the price per wear was not too extortionate in the end x 

I'd go with seamless black underwear. At my dd dance school they recommend buying Tesco (or other) seamless black shorts underwear instead of dance shorts for over their black modern tights because they're so well fitted and no bulky seams etc, so something like that could be an option! Oh and they're considerably cheaper than dance branded shorts. 

Theyre not a high waist as such tho but sure some of their options will be x

good luck finding something appropriate x 

14 hours ago, Picturesinthefirelight said:

 

 

I take it you succombed then. Dd had one of the very first skirts made & is developing a little collection!

Ha ha yes! She got one before opes with some bday money, then I was too tempted while we were there and she conned her dad into another, and so did youngest dd who doesn't really have chance to wearr

one but they were so pretty! 😆

Normally they take 4 boys and 4 girls from Elmhurst associates, and 4 boys and 4 girls from royal ballet associates, to make up 2 teams for their Birmingham  production. They get auditioned on their first day back in September as associates. 

This is the first time BRB have performed Nutcracker at RAH i understand so I presume they want more local children to that theatre. They'll continue to take the children from the normal route I presume for the longer Birmingham run of the nutcracker, but this will be a separate opportunity. 

My dd was lucky enough to be a party child in the Nutcracker with BRB last year when she was a JA (and is on the photo ☺️) and it was the best experience of her young life. (Lots of travelling for all the performances and LOTS of rehearsals tho,, and for the Birmingham one you had to commit to every single one or couldn't take part) - exhausting as we don't live in birmingham, but in hindsight it was totally worth sitting on the m6 every night xxx 

Love lily skirts are beautiful!!! ?

1 hour ago, ponklemum said:

I just asked my dd and she said it's hot food, things like jacket potatoes. 

I had to blackmail my dd into contacting  me yesterday and then I got approx 90 seconds of her time at lights out. Not a peep today all day today. So no more info I'm afraid so nice to hear some news from other dds ?

1 hour ago, ponklemum said:

Exactly what balletmum55 says, my dd (9) is there this week too and is loving it. 

Great news! Xxxx

My daughters there now and is 11. She is absolutely loving it and says everyone is so so friendly! All the teachers were there welcoming students and parents when we arrived and it was very reassuring.  After the drop off I haven't heard much however as she's having such a good time, so in terms of atmosphere it sounds great. (The food being prepared for them also smelt amazing , a big plus point!) 

Groups - I can see there is intermediate for the younger students, then senior b and senior a. I've guessed that senior b seems to be for 13/14+ from the girls I saw who were in it and senior a I presume is older students but sure someone else will correct me if incorrect. 

The standard I would say would be slightly mixed, as it's non-selective, but I would imagine you only go if you have a real love for dance as it's intensive.  But there was a good range of associate and vocational students there too. I'm sure you'd be made extremely welcome whatever level you're working at, it seems like that kind of place xxxx 

The timetable - 2 x 1.5 hour sessions each morning with a 15 min break between. An hour lunch. 2 x 1.25 hr sessions each afternoon. These are mainly ballet and repertoire classes and it seems to be 1 session per day of contemporary this year although last year I think it might have been jazz? 

Approx hour break then evening meal and activity. They have commercial and musical theatre workshops, bbq, band, pas de deux demo etc in the evenings. 

Hope that's helped Xx 

Oh and an hour performance for parents/guardians on the last day, which I hear is always excellent. 

Tracksuit definitely is optional. They're never worn into class so purely for travelling in. I'd say 90% had the zip up top in my dd JAs throughout the years. With regards to the bottoms, about 60% had them in yr 4/5 but only about 10/20% still wore the bottoms come year 6. Most wore leggings, other tracksuits, jeans, shorts, or other ballet warm up stuff. 

Totally agree re Brandon Lawrence! 

1 hour ago, Petalviolet said:

From Tring watching week;

 

YOU ARE KEBAB MEAT.

 

(instruction not criticism)

Ha ha ha that's a new one on me!  I'd have laughed!! Was it helpful instruction though? Struggling to think  ? 

2 hours ago, MoreExcited said:

I picked up this one online...http://www.roh.org.uk/products/royal-ballet-shoulder-bag-pink if that's any help.

Thats the one my dd has had all through JAs. Well we purchased it from the ROH shop on her first JA workshop in London in the October half term that they started. It's massive, has lots of useful pockets and is very good quality. She had it in the black and I think it will continue to last her for many years xx 

Ahh my dd did the JA 1 class in Birmingham for yr 4/5. It's a mixed boy girl class and they try and partner the children up for corner work if they have enough boys which is simply too cute xxxxx You have got THE most wonderful teacher there in Birmingham. Your children are going to love her!!!  ? 

10 minutes ago, sarahw said:

If it's any help i used to buy boy's joggers for my dd at that age as the shaping is better for skinnies.

Ooh good tip! 

I've had these before in grey and lovely slim fit. They do them in navy and look like a good colour match x 

https://m.zara.com/uk/en/sale/kids/girl-|-4-14-years/leggings-and-trousers/basic-plush-trousers-c0p4261670.html

2 hours ago, Littlebear said:

Hi Balletmum55 did you have any luck getting some navy joggers? The RB ones have arrived and are humumgous!! I'm going to return them. I would've thought they'd be a slim fit given the girls they are accepting into JA... 

No haven't got any yet, I'm thinking Zara or Abercrombie as both a slim fit so will keep my eye out. 

? Humungous is the right word! They are  ridiculous aren't they for the target audience! ? 

Mind you, my dd gave up on them most of year 6 and wore leggings, shorts or jeans most of the time, as did a lot of the girls, so I may not even get joggers. 

I would have bought them and had them tailored to size to keep the RBS logo, but without it I can't see why anyone will buy them as they remind me of MC Hammer pants ? ... or perhaps that's just showing my age!! 

39 minutes ago, Eowyn said:

Can anyone tell me if the JA tracksuits come up big or small please? My dd is only 8 but tall for her age and skinny! Not sure if we should order 7-8 or 9-11?

The tracksuits come up big. The jackets are not too bad actually but the bottoms are very wide indeed!!!!   My dd had the age 7-8 throughout JAs (the jacket still fits her and she's 11!). The bottoms got a little short for her, especially at the end of year 6 ? but still loads of width room!

A heads up though ....  The bottoms this year are totally plain and haven't got the royal logo on as apparently they've decided against it so I've returned the bottoms and just bought the new zip up this time and am going to get some slimmer fitting plain navy bottoms that are more flattering xxx