BlueLou

I agree absolutely! Dancing is about so much more than a short tick list of desirable attributes. But are all upper schools looking to fill their places with dancers that 'draw you in'? I’ve wondered about this. If they are ultimately trying to staff their company, then they need a lot of coryphee, an individual member of which shouldn’t generally draw the eye too much. Maybe they have to select dancers considering who will blend into the coryphee, both physically and as performers, and they might not necessarily be ‘the best dancers’. Just musings ………..

I believe it is a tough one to get a place on, but as Legseleven said above, you’ve got to try! As with so many other competitive potential opportunities in dance, you just have to keep trying and stay positive. And have a back-up plan at the ready in case of disappointment! This year they have changed from viewing photographs to viewing a video link as part of the selection process. This has to be a better and fairer way of doing it I think; I hate photographs! Dancing is about more than who can developpe their leg higher at the age of 10 ………

Dd de-shanks old pointe shoes and uses those as soft blocks, so they are already broken in. It’s time-consuming, but she seems to think it’s worth it.

Sorry to go slightly off-topic, but Dd will be applying for Rambert for 2018 entry. Just wondering if anyone knows anything about where the students live? Their website says that they point you towards private sector options and try to link you up with other students, but I believe private landlords are generally unwilling to rent to under 18s. Central benefits from being close to Liberty Living accommodation which will take under 18s. Not sure how the 16/17 year olds get on near Rambert though?? I guess there aren’t that many of them - think it has been mentioned before that most of their intake are 18??

In central Leeds there are 3 places that I know of that do drop in classes - Northern Ballet, The Dance Studio, and Yorkshire Dance. Links ……… http://thedancestudioleeds.com http://www.yorkshiredance.com

Does it have to be ballet? My older daughter (not a dancer!), dropped out of dance classes when she reached about grade 3 or 4 because she simply couldn’t do it. She still liked dancing though. I thought at the time that a non-syllabus class for teenagers would have suited her perfectly - mixed styles, bit of jazz, tap, commercial ……..

I am a private tutor too - secondary Sciences and Maths. Happy to give any advice I can - PM or within the thread I know several highly regarded tutors who tutor online, using Skype and whiteboard software.

Yes, my dd attends this, as do all of the Northern Ballet CAT students. She thinks it’s very worthwhile. Last year there were vocational students from Central, Elmhurst and Ballet West (and probably others), and some international students. A lot of CAT alumni come back to do it. They do ballet, rep, pointe, contemporary and pilates. The facilities are excellent and the atmosphere is very friendly. There were (I think) 4 groups of about 10-15 last year. It’s non-residential but they have an agreement with a nearby hall of residence. Any other questions, feel free to PM me

There are so many Mae! It depends a lot on where you are and how far you will travel, your budget, whether your dd is purely classical or likes a bit of MT or contemporary too, how many she wants to do ……… My dd loved her first summer school at the Yorkshire Ballet Assembly one is Escrick, which is a mixture of ballet, MT and contemporary. The Hammond is also good if you want a bit of a mix. RB or YBSS are the most prestigious classical summer schools, but very difficult to get onto and expensive. Ballet West seems to be highly recommended, but it’s remote. Northern Ballet do Easter and Summer schools which are very good, non-residential but they have an agreement with a local hall of residence. Ballet Boost, Tring, Elmhurst, ENBS, ……. I could go on! You need a good spreadsheet!

Urdang also do a BA in dance and Musical Theatre, so I assume you could access student finance for that.

It’s a bit like buying a lottery ticket Mousey’s Mum. Chances are very slim, but got to be in it to win it. There has been much discussion on photos, and how RB select based on them. Taking them from a seated position makes them look better. Also, using ‘photo bursts’ on your camera then choosing the best one. YBSS is also a very difficult to get onto SS and they have changed their application requirements this year - no more photos, instead you have to upload a 3 minute video of dancing including specified exercises/steps. That would seem to be a better/fairer way of selection to me. There are lots of really good first-come-first-served SS’s too though (see thread on 2016 summer school feedback), so I definitely agree with Jane - it’s good to have a plan b already in mind to present to your dd in case of disappointment. My dd was wait-listed for RB SS last year and ended up doing The Hammond one instead and absolutely loved it. This year our back-up is BalletWest. Good luck!

My advice is to make a rubbish job of it. In my experience, if you do a good job of things like this you'll end up doing it for the whole dance school Everyone knows I can’t do hair or fancy make-up or complicated costumes or props - makes for an easier life

All things much discussed in our house as we are at the same stage as you Balletbean. Dd has 2 ‘dream schools’ so it looks likely that we will only apply to 3 or 4 schools for entry at age 16. If she’s successful then it was meant to be, and if not it can wait a couple of years! One of her ‘dream schools’ seems to take more at 18 than at 16 anyway, so we decided that if she didn’t get in at 16 it would be better to wait a couple of years and do some A levels and try again at 18, rather than settling for a dance school that she’s not so keen on at 16. Of course, I understand that a lot of dancers change their mind on what is their ‘dream school’ when they visit for auditions, hence why we’ll apply for 3 or 4 rather than just the 2. The extra 1 or 2 that we’ll apply for are also a much discussed topic - see my previous thread on possibilities!

Apologies - I think I may have caused offence and I really didn’t mean to I’m sure the perceived lack of emotion is largely due to this being a run through for the video. I think you’d be much better off listening to Petunia and Kate I wish you the very best of luck xx

I meant something to consider really. It seems a bit ‘mechanical’ and unemotional, but that may be because it was just a run through for the video Good luck!

I suspect that Kate and Petunia are far more qualified to comment than I am - but for what it's worth here's my tuppence worth. I think the panel must see a lot of similar stuff, a lot of arabesques and leg lifts and rolls, and to be honest they will see some that are technically stronger than yours. But what I suspect they see a lot less of, and would be really attracted to, is someone really baring their soul. Someone famous said - show them something they haven't seen before, show them your soul. I like that - anyone know who said it?? Anyway, I'll stop the uninformed rambling - best of luck anondancer!

Dd absolutely loves the sequinned crop top we bought from you at Leeds CYD this year, so no doubt we will come along for another browse

Thanks anondancer - I’ve studied the class descriptions a lot more now. There seems to be little consistency regarding standards required for intermediate/advanced. For example Kimberley Walsh describes advanced as training 6+ hours a week, whereas Lukas McFarlane describes advanced as being for professionals. I think it’s up to the individual class provider how they brand and market their class, so all a bit random. Thanks for the advice Pictures - will avoid the RAD classes. To be honest, I can’t see the point in dd doing a 45 minute ballet class when she does 12+ hours a week of it anyway. I’m trying to steer her towards stuff she wouldn’t normally get to do. I did suggest Tango and Flamenco, but she’s not keen! Maybe I’ll have a go Canary - it all sounds like a bigger version of the So You Think You Can Dance events! Very loud and crowded, bit overwhelming for me but dd and all of the other young dancers absolutely loved it. The VIP area attracted me because of the word ‘lounge’. I was rather hoping for a peaceful retreat for me to hide in with a cappuccino! I guess not …..

The Move It dance convention has just gone on sale for 2017. Does anyone have any experience of Move It? Specifically - is it worth paying extra for the VIP tickets? And any guidance on levels? Dd will be 15 and dances about 17 hours a week - would that be intermediate or advanced?? Any specific classes or teachers to look out for? There are hundreds of classes - all a bit confuddling!

I do think you have a good point here Flora. It has often been noted in sport that British talent tends to develop a little later because in this country we encourage strong academics alongside training, as opposed to other countries which select talented young children and then train them at the expense of any form of plan B. Perhaps the same could be said for classical ballet. There may indeed be many British dancers who can’t compete internationally at age 15 because they have not focussed so exclusively on dance, but they may well be ‘up there’ at age 21 given the chance. As for the ‘gap in the market’, I was hoping that BalletWest was filling that to some extent, but that’s just a semi-informed hopeful guess really!

Last year’s rejection email (well, wait list!) said they’d had over 1680 applicants for 350 places, but no idea of the age breakdown. They are grouped by age. Students aged 14-15 are only eligible for the 2 week White Lodge course. Lots of info on the website http://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/train/summer-programme/white-lodge/

Applications close 20th January and we will be told by 1st March, but I believe they informed everyone earlier last year. They must get hundreds of very very similar looking photos - I wonder if they get a protractor out??

Well, that’s it - application in. Not happy with the developpe photo, but then who ever is??? Also not keen on the 'tendu devant efface with arms in fourth’ as it just looks like dd is having a quick armpit sniff - but to be fair it looks like that on the photographic requirements silhouette. Will start researching the back-up plans now

I think Balletbean’s doing the rounds with me next year! We’re both lurking and looking for tips off this year’s lot I do like the idea of shared sustenance during the audition rounds though ………… Balletbean??

Yes, it all looks fabulous on the website. And very cheap. Seemed too good to be true! I think we’ll try to do their summer school next year