MrsMoo2

Yep and I’ve noticed how they are adding little things on and saying, it’s not necessary but adviseable, so of course you part with the dosh in case it affects your DS/DD’s chances! Then, when you ask for feedback in some cases you won’t even get that. Should deffo be looked at...😯 xx

Thanks for all the tips guys. All a bit of a mystery to me atm! I’d like him to go for two weeks but think realistically a weeks probably a better idea as he’s not been away for more than 2 nights before! 

His own school usually do a week but you never get to see what they’ve been doing! 😂 

One last question, he’s 10 and 11 in August, so which group would he fit in? xx

DS (10) said to tell your DD, “keep going, and going and going, One day though...never lose that conviction and just say to yourself it wasn’t meant to be”.

Try to enjoy them too! 👍👍 xx

Hi gang,

Just wondered if I could pick your brains about SS.

DS has read about them and is keen but I don’t want him to be out of his depth! Can anyone advise of any that would accommodate him? He’s 10, and has stayed away from home before but not for more than 4 nights. Been dancing for 2 years, top of grade 2 now but was unsuccessful at vocational school audition for year 7.

Would love for him to have a really good, positive experience. 

Cost not that important as long as he has a good time and location as near to the M6 corridor as poss.

Thank you...👍👍👍

Had to laugh at his determination, when I told him, he just said, “Well I’ll just try again next year and the year after that and the year after that and the year after that...” 😆😆😆😆😆

Well done to your DD too pictures! Exciting...xx

Just wanted to say that I have had some great feedback from Hammond, has really given DS areas to work on to maybe retry next year. 

He was closer than I thought he was, scoring high on physique, flexibility, and proportion but was let down on technique and the ability to look at the audience! (Things we can work on)

Surprisingly his solo, which was cobbled together by him and his sister was well received.

If only all places gave such good feedback eh???

Asked him to join associates class in May to see if he can keep up. If he can, he can do that for 12 months. Keep him busy!!

🙂🙂🙂🙂

12 minutes ago, Sarah2203 said:

Sorry to hear that @MrsMoo2. My dd had similar feedback last year. She has spent the last year working hard to improve her muscle tone and strength. I can really see a difference in her now. I hope he keeps perusing his dream. Is there a CAT scheme local to you? They've been such a brilliant help to my dd since she started and booked her in with physio as soon as she started with them.

Thanks Sarah, I think our nearest CAT scheme is Manchester, about 90 minutes away. I’ll look into it. He has come on so much in the last 18 months I know he will get where he wants to be one day. At 10, he still has time on his side, just!

He’s playing in the snow now with the dog, I just can’t look when he throws his sledge down big hills, as all I see are broken legs! 🙈🙈🙈

Just to move the thread on, my DS has a no for Y7 at Hammond. He’s beside himself, but has vowed to keep fighting. I’m going to call for feedback next week. Any specifics I should ask?? DS said the only negative things he heard came from the physio assessment around lack of strength?

Feeling sad for him today...😟 xx

10 minutes ago, Picturesinthefirelight said:

 

They are usually very quick. Going from past experience letters usually go out the Friday afterwards, however they’ve also got Seniors funding tomorrow & Graduate showcase on Thursday (thank goodness as it was the original venue had a fire last eek) &  I’m not sure if it’s happened before where lots  of things are all in the same week. 

I think they said as the recall is next Wednesday for MDS, they’d get the results out by then. DS seems amazingly chilled! I can feel a migraine coming on! 😆😆😆

Oh no, hope she can manage tomorrow. DS said it went well. He sang Happy Birthday in the end to Gandalf! Random as ever...😆😆 Said he was pleased his music had worked on the sound system, and he remembered all his steps.

Just the wait now, let’s hope they don’t keep us in suspense for too long! 👍👍👍👍

So, I’m sat at home, waiting for DS to finish at 4, the suspense of not knowing what he’s up to is killing me!! Auditions are deffo harder for parents! 😂😂😂

5 hours ago, Sarah2203 said:

Thankyou @MrsMoo2. We had a lovely day. Weather limited our outside time but my dd is in love with the beautiful place already. My friends ds attends the school already so we picked him up after school and spent sometime catching up. When we dropped him off at the boarding house we were invited in to meet the kids. They were all so lovely and put on a little showcase for us. So inspiring watching these kids that just live and breathe performing. They managed to persuade dd to show her dance and vocal solo and made her feel so great about herself. She's even more ready to audition now, they were all so lovely to her. Absolute credit to parents every single child in the house.

  I'll be spending the day having a look around the city again and searching for cafes to read in again. I found a book stall last year in the market so hoping to find some good reads there. 

My dd is the tiny one who will more than likely wearing her most comfortable mustard yellow hoodie. 

 

Go to the cafe beneath Debenhams under the rows. Very atmospheric, especially if you’re reading a Dracula or such like! 👍👍👍 xxx

Oh no! PBM, I’m feeling for you and your DS. Take it easy. My DS has an audition tomorrow and has barely looked at anything today! Far too laid back...😂😂

Does anyone know if you can get any feedback from vocational auditions? Be interesting for future reference to know if DS had two left legs? 🤪🤪 (Going silently round the twist!) xx

On 10/03/2018 at 16:13, Sarah2203 said:

@MrsMoo2 my dd is so excited now. She's had her final private lesson today and her solo is looking great. She loves to sing so really looking forward to that part of the audition too. We're heading down early Monday so we can explore Chester as she never saw any of it last year. She's after a yr8 place so in all honesty we know places are like gold dust x

Have a lovely time in Chester. We live here! Spent a lovely few hours down the river yesterday just mooching about with the dog.

DS is looking forward to tomorrow, he’s upstairs now running through his solo!

Less enthusiastic about the singing, but he said he’ll give it his best shot.

What are you going to do while you wait?? DS is blonde and has a blue tracksuit! 😄😄 xx 

On 20/02/2018 at 21:06, Sarah2203 said:

Is anyone doing the Hammond first round lower audition in March? I requested a later date due to my own health issues. I did want to change to an earlier date but my dd has been insistent I leave it as it'd be unlucky to change it. Last year we had finished all the first round auditions by Jan so it's feeling very strange leaving it so late. 

Hi Sarah, yes, my DS will be there, looking for a year 7 place...👍

Hows the prep going?? xx

On 05/03/2018 at 11:43, Picturesinthefirelight said:

That sounds great. And the fact he choreographed it himself shows creativity. 

 

Has he got his singing music sorted?

I called the school, as DS is not a natural singer really. They said he can just go in with the teacher and do some vocal exercises. Hopefully he will be ok with this. All getting a bit close now...😯😯😯

Thanks for this. DS has (with his sister) choreographed a ballet solo to the theme music from The Hobbit. (One of his favourite films). We’ve tracked down a piano version of it and it sounds gorgeous. 

Two weeks to work on his performance of it now...oooooooooooooh!! 😄😄😄

Just wondering for those of you who have already been, what do they look for in a solo? DS is torn between trying out moves he’d like to do but hasn’t quite perfected or going simple. 

We’re overthinking this, can you tell??? 🤣🤣🤣

Awww, thanks guys. DS said tonight he’s hoping for another snow day again this week so he can practise his solo. Lol! 😂 I just love how they take it in their strides, I’m the one having kittens about if he’ll be ok when in reality I know he’s cheeky enough to look after himself! 😆😆

Yeah, DS is just treating it as a day off school and a nice lunch! He’s not convinced on the singing but he’s happy to sing in a group or with instruction. Funny enough when he did the boys day, he said his fave thing was the musical theatre. Kids eh? 

Can I ask if you used an app to chop the music?? Thanks, MM xx

Anyone auditioning on 13th March for Hammond?? 

We stand two chances, Little and none but thought we’d say hi anyway! 😆 DS is so excited to do his “one on my own!” 👍👍👍 xx

Interesting! 

I was debating this with a teacher just last week. My DS, 10, is quite clearly on the dyslexia spectrum. This year he had asked to audition for vocational school. I didn’t mention it initially but as the school requested more info, I had to give them the details. 

I was pleasantly surprised by their reaction, they said the had boys and girls who had diagnoses of various learning difficulties, including autism, dyspraxia and adhd. They had a full additional needs classroom, and being smaller classes often had better results with the kids.

The main thing the schools are after, is a passion for dance. Educational attainment isn’t everything and if it means my DS is more engaged with the school, because he’s doing things he likes, it will have been worth it.

Saying that, he hasn’t got a place yet! Keeping fingers and toes crossed.

Are you thinking of RBS JA’s?? We are lucky in that DS could be a day student.

Best of luck!!

Year 6, so would be 7 in September. He’s the youngest in his year tho and was 3 months prem. Borderline dyslexic too, but I’m assured this could be managed and he’d probably do better in a smaller class...xx

Yes, it’s the School he’d be applying for. Hey ho, get my thinking cap on! 😁