Balletmum4ever

The original email said that it would be by 7th Nov so potentially another week. This is our first experience of this and I am finding the waiting absolute torture!! Fingers crossed for all those waiting and good luck for Sun for the 10, 12, 14s and boys.

You need to arrive pretty close to the time you have been given for registration, maybe 5 mins or so before as there is not much waiting space. My DD was excited and nervous in equal measure but she really enjoyed the experience. She said that it was fun and everyone was lovely. Can't comment on the standard as I did not see anyone dance nor would I feel qualified! Good luck!

She loved it and is so keen to get called to Finals now. Fingers crossed and good luck to others auditioning today and next week.

Sitting here at ENBS waiting. DD got through to the recall which is very exciting. They had 3 groups of 9 year olds, looked like about 30 in each group. 10 from DD's group went back in. Now the nerve racking wait for emails!

Any idea how many go through to the recall on the first audition day?

Yes, that was what I assumed but just wanted to check with those who have gone though the process. What group are you in Balletsister? We're group C (9 year olds).

My DD is auditioning tomorrow for LCB for the first time. On the confirmation email it says that the audition is 30 mins and then we have to wait to see if we are needed for the recall on the day. My DD asked me whether you are out if you are not taken in for recall on the day or not. I wasn't certain from the info that we have received what the purpose of the recall is so couldn't answer. Is it a second stage for those they like or to look more closely at those that they are undecided about? Any experience would be welcome so that I can manage expectations tomorrow!!

We just got back from the Tring Open Day and my DD now wants to apply for Yr 6 rather than Year 7 as she loved it so much! Not quite what I was planning! The school is lovely and the show at the end really showcased the amazing talent there.

Hi Neil. I will be there tomorrow with my DD. She is currently in Yr 5 but wanted to take a look at Tring this year to rule it in or out for applications for next year.

Oh, thanks for clarifying Busymum. I am pretty new to all of this. What group is your DC in and how do you find CBA?

Hi Primaballerina. My DD is auditioning in Group 2. We got a confirmation email on 28th September from Nikki Denton so may be worth calling her? Don't suppose anyone has any idea of how many places are likely to be available (particularly in Group 2!) I understand very few given that it's a mid-year audition.

I am looking for a good private ballet teacher who can work with my DD weekly on technique. She is 9 and currently RAD Grade 3. We are West London based. Any suggestions welcome.

Would also be interested to know how you find great private teachers! My DDs dance school struggle to accommodate privates in term time due to studio time and existing teaching commitments. Holidays are easier.

Hello all and thanks for the wise words. My DD certainly loves her dance and I am keen to encourage and support her passion as long as it may last. I think that I am exploring all the right avenues to broaden her exposure to the dance world already. I am, perhaps, being a little over cautious and protective about the likely rejection. Based on our limited experience so far, I think that I will probably take the inevitable rejections harder than my DD! What I have realised is that my main immediate concern is that she gets the best input to maximise her potential today so that she is as prepared as possible for what the future may bring. I have had a couple of really good suggestions by PM of dance school that offer excellent teaching that I am exploring to supplement her current classes which she loves. She is always keen to do more and I think that exposure to new teachers and teaching styles at this point will do her good. I really appreciate the advice.

Some help please for a dance world novice! My DD, aged 9, loves dance. With the encouragement of one of her local teachers, she has recently started to think more seriously about dance as a career and is expressing a desire to apply to vocational schools at Year 7. She is currently attending our local dance school and is doing 2 RAD ballet and 1 ballet technique class per week plus ISTD tap, non-syllabus jazz and a street dance class. She's started doing holiday workshops (eg NYB performance skills) this year and we were able to fit in a few private lessons during the summer when the studio was less busy. We have also started to look at Associate Programmes and performance opportunities (eg LCB) but in the knowledge that these are highly competitive and hard to get into. She had her first 'no' this week which, to get credit, she took incredibly well. As a mum, it's incredibly hard to know if your DD has what it takes and what these schools and programmes are looking for. I want to encourage and support her in pursuing opportunities but I also want to manage her expectations and avoid as much disappointment as possible. Before we plough ahead, I feel that it would be really helpful to get an objective assessment of her overall potential and some guidance on the routes that she should realistically explore. Has anyone gone through this with their DCs? Any advice would be welcome as I am not sure about who I could go to for this kind of advice. We are London based but also happy to travel.

She's 9. Just been advised by her dance teacher to look at broader opportunities (eg NYB, LCB) but not with much guidance on the Associate side of things. I want to make sure that she's as prepared as possible for the experience so any advice on what to expect from the audition would be gratefully received too.

My DD will be auditioning for LJB in September. We are new to the whole 'Associate' concept and this will be her first audition. Interested in hearing from others with more experience about what we should expect from the audition, whether LJB is a good junior programme and any others we should consider. We are London based do thinking Tring CBA, YDA and RBS JA would be worth looking at.