MrsMoo2

DS has some anime comic type books, that are based on a boy ballet dancers experiences. Think Stephen McCrae had something to do with them. DS was so pleased when he found them, I’ll try to find it and post the title...xx

I used to read a book, you’d be surprised how people forget you’re there and don’t like to interrupt! Top tip that! 😂😂

From our experiences, I’d say to enjoy the stage where your DD is now, and try not to get too whipped up in the whole vocational school thing at 11. DS did start to lose some on the joy of dancing once it got a bit serious. If I think back to the concert his school gave when he was 10, he was just loving everything, randomly free styling at the end during the encore and throwing his hat in the audience! That’s the kind of dancing I want him to experience and I’m thankful that now at 13, he has found his own path, which isn’t necessarily traditional classical ballet, but dancing which absorbs him, that gives him joy and that’s the most important thing. Sending (((hugs))) xxx

Sounds familiar! We have encountered it in previous school. I first noticed it when we were on the other side, our teacher would e mail me saying how talented etc she thought DS was then offered to let him into the “advanced” classes. Obvs we were flattered (and a bit naive!) so paid for all the extras. Little did we know that the teacher had moved onto the next talented child and we fell from favour. The teacher from then overlooked DS, letting him get a bit cheeky in class and fooling around. When it came to audition time for vocational school, the teacher choreographed the other applicants solos while my DS was left to choreograph his own. (He did a good job but obvs wasn’t as profess as the others) so just missed out on a place. I’m pretty sure it’s motivated by money, obvs the teachers need the money from private classes, and they know that not all families can afford it, but if you tell someone often enough their child is talented, they start to think, “well, it must be true so I’ll find the money”. We left that particular school soon after, and now dance at a much more inclusive setting. I have found as the kids get older and into their teens, it happens less. That could be because the teens only want their parents to drop and run rather than kick about in waiting rooms! DS now takes part in lots of different classes, mixed classes, boys classes, classes with adults, etc which he couldn’t have done if he’d gone down the vocational route. Sorry you’re going through this, having been there it’s not nice when you fall from favour. Move schools quickly! 😆😆 xx

We auditioned two years ago and DS was unsuccessful x2. What we did notice was the ones who got in were generally associates at that establishment, and although they say it doesn’t give them an advantage it’s hard to not think they know these kids really well from their classes and know what they can do. If you’re not successful, make sure you ask for feedback to give you pointers for the future. DS was told to work on his upper body strength and musicality. Two years later he’s obviously grown, and upper body strength seems to be something that has come with age. I’d just say 11 is very young, I’m not sure had my son got in how he would have coped with being away from home, (He’s an August baby!) As it is, he’s had lots of different experiences in the past few years at lots of different associates and classes and has realised there are more ways to crack an egg! He’s made so many friends and contacts in the dance world that he may not have made if he’d gone vocational at 11. Best of luck! xx

I’m confused! Are we allowed to go out of County to an Associates class this weekend?? My brain is fried! 🙈😆🙈😆🙈

Incidentally my friend went to White Lodge Upper school in the 90’s and is a social worker now. She’d got in at year 11 entry and stayed for two years to leave and return home following a period of drug abuse and mental illness. These institutions are quick to boast their successes but don’t forget not all the stories end as happily. xx

DS went to an audition for the BRB Nutcracker a few years ago and when he was getting changed we realised he had no white socks! He auditioned in his Navy tights and furry Chewbacca socks and it worked! He was cast as an understudy... 😂😂😂

I had a reasonable dance career till my mid twenties then went back to study GCSE’s, A Levels and a degree in Psychology. I now work with dancers with Mental Health problems as it was something I was all too aware of during my own training. I’m still an avid watcher and dance myself twice a week for fun. My own son now has a talent for dancing and I’d say let your kids follow their dreams. You’re a long time an adult and you’d be surprised how even the youngest can figure stuff out for themselves. Education doesn’t have to stop at 21, as far as I’m concerned I’m still learning, and I hope my children continue to learn into adulthood. I did a second degree at 37, and I wasn’t the oldest in the class! 😄😄😄😄

That’s Entertainment in Liverpool are good. Right next to Lime Street Station too. I remember buying mine from Barnums years ago! 😁😁

I think the trick is starting young! As you get older you do lose flexibility and it’s much harder to stretch like this. My DS does but he has been attending class since he was 8. (He’s 13 now) Good supportive underwear and dance belt will help with your quest and don’t over stretch. In ballet it’s more about strength for the boys, so they can do all the lifting of the ladies. Think strength with grace. Good luck!

Not this year but my DS applied in 2018 and the only feedback we got when I asked was a phone call. They didn’t give me that many proper reasons either, it was all things that would have come as he had grown. They said he did not have enough muscle and upper body strength, and now two years on, he’s a lean mean muscle machine! 😂 We could never have afforded it without bursaries or MDS anyway so it’s worked out ok. (Even though he was distraught at the time). Remember not all the top dancers went the vocational route. There’s more than one way to crack an egg! DS is still dancing and has been able to expand his repertoire more than he could have had he gone to Hammond. Sending (((hugs))) We’ve been there...xx

Our High School in Wales, not a vocational one are opening gradually from 29th June. To be honest my kids are ready for it, I’ve taught them all I can but struggle with some of the stuff they study! They haven’t seen any of their friends for 12 weeks and they are ready for going back. I haven’t missed being taxi tho! I’m a nurse on a Covid+ ward, I have worked right the way through and will have them all tooled up with the sanitiser etc etc! when they were first off the novelty of being at home doing school work motivated them, now I’d have to put a rocket up their bums to get them interested!! 😂 Come back teachers!! 😂😂

We’ve been following stretching classes online but by far the hardest part was getting YouTube on the TV! 😂😂 I’m doing part of a step class with em later! One week in, it’s all still a novelty but it may wear thin next week! 😂😂

I remember for DS at WL they had them improvise an under the sea dance. Pretending to be fish to see how they interpreted the music and story. They also took shoes off and looked at their feet, points and arches. Seem to remember him saying they tickled their feet, to make them relax and giggle. He said it was a fun experience. Lots of luck! 👍👍👍

My daughter had an underwear leotard thingy, basically another layer, skin colour. Gave her a bit more confidence. xx

I started F/T dance training at 18 and quickly realised how few people actually get jobs in the area. (My friend went to RBS upper and ended up with no work or sporadic work). I transferred onto a psychology degree, in a better academic university then a nursing masters elsewhere and never looked back. I thoroughly enjoyed dancing in my teens but as I got older and creakier, I realised it was a young persons game. Pleased to say I’ve never been out of work since I left uni, and will always be a dancer/spectator on the weekends! I have, however, two dancing children! All their own work, and love watching them grow and develop their own styles, it’s obviously a hereditary gene, dancing! 😆😆

Yep, centre point for Manchester. Good Luck everyone! Sadly DS is too old now but he had a lovely audition there a few years back. xxx

We did the Manchester one last year. Kids had a workshop and a little tour of The Lowry Theatre. My son loved it but he was still a bit young, so maybe audition for it in the next few years. I had a lovely coffee in the company of LS Lowry’s etchings! 😆😆 xx

We wear capezio hanami here, DS has always worn white shoes in class. Once he wore grey for a show, they were tricky to get hold of! 😆

DH has just reminded me of the time we found him age 2 behind the sequinned scarves in Debenhams! 😆😆😆

I have a photo of my DS aged about 3, where we had gone to watch a Cinderella performance and the back stage curtain was pale blue and covered in sparkles. We waited for ages to get out after the show and he went missing in the foyer. He’d sneaked back in to watch the sparkly curtain from the back of the stalls with no one else in sight! On the photo, it’s just his back looking at the stage, leaning on the back row and it’s just magical. 💕💕

I don’t think there’s anything to stop you from getting involved in exams if that’s what you want. Only thing I would say is I’m 43 and wouldn’t attempt some of the dancing I could do at 19, not sure my bones and muscles would cope! Don’t push yourself to the point of injury. 😊😊😊

Hi, I’m Shelley and can be a source of anything northern going on. (Well, above Birmingham!) My DS dances, and I’m an ageing dancer from long ago, trained at KS Dance, and BRB for a time before falling in love with contemporary on a dance degree. I love anything contemporary in my viewing. Especially Lea Anderson. Then anything by Alston or Cunningham. Confined to spectating now, but still have a good eye! 😆😆 Would love to join in the thread when time permits as I’m now a mental health nurse working with, among others, dancers! Full circle! 😆😆

Yep, I’d second this, my DS is left handed and also on the dyslexic spectrum and has benefited no end from the discipline and precision of classical ballet. He used to be quite a clumsy child and is now quite graceful. I’d say his concentration has improved and he’s doing much better at school now. Happy to chat if you need any participants...👍👍