MrsMoo2

Hi guys,

DS is looking for some private lessons in North West/North Wales. He’s 11 and is feeling a bit left out. He’s had RAD classes for 3 years but finds the syllabus “boring” and wants to learn some man moves!

We’ve asked his previous teacher but she can’t fit him into her schedule, which is another story! 😯

He's at the gangly age where his legs are too long for his brain and would really benefit from 1-1 time with a teacher. 

We are happy to travel, within reason and are looking at other ideas too like CAT schemes etc etc.

Hope you guys can help.

👍👍👍 He’s really missing his classes...xx

The one in Warrington is a fair way from the station too. She’s be better getting the train to Liverpool and going to the big one, can’t remember it’s name, maybe that’s entertainment? It’s literally 5 mins from Lime Street Station round the corner...👍👍

DS auditioned last year, sadly unsuccessfully but his solo was one we had come up with to a piece of music he liked. (Music from The Hobbit) It wasn’t technically brilliant but it showed musicality and he took great delight in wearing a t shirt he had designed for it.

He is very slight for his age (prem baby) and the feedback he was given was to work on upper body strength. He sang Happy Birthday as he’s not really a singer! Lol! 

He enjoyed the day, as a parent it was useful to find out about funding and bursaries.

He plans to try again maybe next year, when he’s a bit more muscley (as he says!) xx

Can she do privates with her current teacher? Only saying as the teachers tend to not like you going elsewhere unless it’s some sort of JA/ENB type class. Maybe speak with her teacher and see if she could recommend/fit you in for extras...👍👍👍

Morning peoples,

DS is off to a ballet/dance photo shoot today and just realised it’s asked for him to have a few poses prepared. 

Hasn’t been dancing long and isn’t particularly flexible, any ideas welcome! 😆😆 xx

On the back of this, can anyone point us in the direction of boys classes in the NW/NWales. Or at least places with more than 1 boy. DS is getting bullied by his high school friends for wearing “tights” and he’s feeling marginalised being the only boy in the class. Have him booked onto the Hammond day in Jan but need something more grown up for him to find some man moves! (He’s 12). Made me sad to see him open his ballet based Christmas presents and get upset, being torn between being cool, at school or continuing his dance dreams.

Considering private’s if I can’t find more boys or even a boys school of my own!! 🙈😆 xx

No for DS, week 1 boys, WL, first time we had applied so expected it tbh. Working on the, “it’s a marathon not a sprint” thing! Lol! 😆😆😆

Merry Christmas to you and all your DC...🎅🏼🎄🎅🏼 xxx

No news yet for DS, age 11, week 1/2, assuming a negative with the huge number of apppicants, wait and see, I guess! 👍👍👍

Had the itinerary through today, looks good. Any other DS’s going?? xx

My DS auditioned for JA’s last year and didn’t get in. I thought it would put him off dancing and agonised about telling him the “no” letter had arrived. As it happens it’s just made him more determined! He’s more willing to try auditions now as he’s not scared of the “no” anymore.

He now actively hunts out auditions and pesters me to take him, he just keeps saying, “One day Mum, one day” 😊😊😊😊

Hi hun,

Great that you’ve been given this opportunity. I think dance should be available to everyone.

As regards uniform I’d ask the class teacher, some schools have very set ideas about leotards and tights but yours might be more flexible. Obviously the teacher has to be able to see the shapes you are making with your limbs so she can give you corrections.

I’d just check with the teacher about boys. My DS is the only boy in his class of 11+12 year olds, but still maybe your parents wouldn’t be happy with boys in the class?

Hope you can figure something out, you’ll love it! 👍👍👍👍👍

Capezio hanami’s here too. DS likes the stretch canvas and they hug the arch better than his old ones, which I think were so danca. I like that there’s no sewing! Lol! 😆😆

Out of interest, how many of you put residential and how many not? DS would be 11 next summer and would prefer it if I stayed down there with him and took him each morning but I don’t want him to miss out on the social side? Wait and see I guess! 😄 Don’t envy them having to choose the participants! xx

16 hours ago, Peanut68 said:

Well you put me to shame.... don’t think I’ve ever been so thoughtful - hats off to you MrsMoo! 

suspect a few of us are now seeing how we can copy this one...

nutcracker tickets in the teeth of a nutcracker doll perhaps? Hee hee! 

I’m sure it will be wasted on him and once he sees the tickets the swan will be cast adrift! Lol!! 😂😂 Just wanted a better way to hand them to him than an envelope! 😆 xx

Not quite Christmas but BRB are doing a Nutcracker repertoire class at the end of November. Split up into 60/90 minute sessions for different grades.

DS has booked himself in! Lol! xx

https://www.brb.org.uk/get-involved/ballet-training

DS has asked for tickets to see Matthew Bournes Swan Lake in the New Year. This weekend I’ve ordered a toy swan to hold the tickets (bought him good seats) and a tiny personalised music box from eBay that plays the music from swan lake. See where I’m going with this theme? Lol!! xx

Hi Zelda, nice to meet you. I studied A Level Dance many many years ago. If your family favour academia over more vocational type courses, it’s certainly an option. It’s not as dancey as you might think it is, a lot of A Level Dance is dedicated to the study of anatomy and physiology, dance notation, research around a set choreographer, or ballet. (Mine was Giselle). There are written exams in this then you have to choreograph a group and individual dance. You then have to dance in your classmates exam pieces, dance in a set study and interpret a dance notation in about 30 minutes.

When my friends used to tell me it was an easy option, it most definitely is not!! 

I also studied A levels in Psychology, General Studies and Performing Arts which I found much easier! 😆😆

Thanks for that Julie, it’s lovely to read there is life after a childhood ballet career! I myself danced till injury forced me out at 19, I’ve since gone on to have a successful career in mental health nursing after being everyone’s favourite agony sister at vocational school! 😄

My DS dances now, and I’ve always said to him when it stops being fun is when it’s time to stop. For now he leaps out of bed like a gazelle on dancing days!

Lots of luck for the future to you and your DC.

xxxx

There’s sooo many manufacturers out there and certain ones will fit your foot shape better.

my DS favours the Capezio Romeo as it’s a stretch canvas with no fiddly bows! 😆 (His words!) xx

Hi, and welcome! 👍

My DS auditioned for JA’s last year and didn’t get in. To be fair he’d only been dancing 18 months and was still in grade 1 at 10. 

He loved it though!! He’d gone into it with the right attitude, “I’ll try but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t get in” 

Its given him a taste for auditions!! He’s tried about 4 more since, all without the elusive “yes” yet but he remains hopeful. He’s working harder than ever in his classes, (now grade 3/4) and getting stronger by the week! (Upper body strength was one of his areas to work on).

Going to look at a Ceccheti associates class in a few weeks. I’m sure one day he’ll get the “yes” he dreams of but till then we’ll enjoy the train trips, days out and classes with amazing teachers.

xxx 

1 hour ago, Jan McNulty said:

Mrs Moo, I don't want to alarm you but when the orchestra pit isn't in (ie row AA-DD are being sold) those rows are too low to see the feet.  You will need a booster cushion for him.  I'm 5'3" and prefer to go row K or further back if the front row isn't A.  I go so far back because that is where the rake on the stalls starts, otherwise heads in the way are a big problem.

Don’t worry, we’ll take a massive cushion! 😆😆

Booked to take my ballet boy in April to Liverpool Empire. Managed to got front row seats so he can “watch the feet” as he put it! We saw Bournes Cinderella there last year and it was thoroughly enjoyed, even from our seats up in the gods! 😆

Roll on April!! 👍👍👍👍

My DS has been told he was too skinny, well actually was told he lacked upper body strength. That was at 8. He’s nearly 12 now and is filling his shape, and strong as anything. His twin sister till this year was the opposite and has slimmed down in literally 6 months as she has grown taller! 

Some kids are just later bloomers. I’d just give her time...👍👍

If you were just a smidge closer, I’d send the DS! 😄

Just printing our form out now, fab opportunity for the boys! 👍👍👍