balletcoach

13 minutes ago, Tutumuchmum said:

Thank you , Sounds like a tough ride for girls . Does the school give preference to their own home grown students that they’ve had from JA through to white lodge ? Does seem like quite a small number to be taken into the upper school. Especially when students give up so much to train there . 

In later years, mostly international (and with sponsors or able to pay a full fee)

Please also consider that, if privately try to cover all dancing subjects that are covered at vocational upper schools, even ballet-wise, not just ballet class, but pas de deux, character, contemporary, history of ballet/theatre, stage make-up, repertoire (not just as a solo, but most importantly as part of the corps - as it is the most important at the start of any young ballet dancer starting at any company), so group work is very important. Also, if possible stage experience (again as part of a corps) - and this is mostly only possible when you're at VOC. school, as have a run at Royal Opera House with Royal Ballet company what is for RBS students only, or with Birmingham Royal Ballet, or English National Ballet and the list going on. If privately, those opportunities are fades away. If possible, I think the best option is to go to vocational school and have some private coaching along the way, but if not, try to cover core ballet disciplines at least. And at the auditions it's more about you and your facilities/training as a potential ballet dancer than the Diploma alone, so good luck! 

Normally they use JA's, didn't they?

Also strange, nothing on BRB website, only old 2018 link that no longer available, also when downloading the form (it's 2018 one) and no any questions regarding level of ballet child is doing (as it is open* audition)

Anyway thank you for sharing, I know a few children who loves RAH stage

This is interesting. (This year)

Yes, it is possible indeed @Diva05

But don't forget that the training/lessons have to cover a lot from:

1)ballet(+pointe, +repertoire later and partnering/pas de deux).

2)Then character,

modern,

national (historical).

3)Then conditioning and gymnastics. 4)Then other artistic/academic as follows:

drama,

music,

history of ballet/theatre,

stage make-up.

5)Then theoretic:

Physio/Nutrition/Healthy dancer programme.

6)Then one of the most important and exciting thing is: Stage practice! On professional stage within professional company, alongside pro's and famous!

This above thing is, of course, without doubt can be fully achieved only at vocational school as it provides all necessary basis to mould a Ballet DANCER at the end of Lower school.

Don't forget that most upper school taking in ready 'material' and only adding that final polish, masterly, virtuosity and individual artistry!  By the end of Upper school it is a Ballet ARTIST.

But, if someone's really try hard, they can get some parts of this huge puzzle on their own, and as people saying this happening from time to time! So everything is possible. 

On 19/03/2018 at 20:26, invisiblecircus said:

Regarding the fact that only 2 girls who have been at WL from year 7 have been accepted to US (alongside 2 WL girls who started in Y11 and 2 other WL girls), do we know how many WL girls who started in year 7 are still at the school, and out of those, how many actually wanted an US place? I seem to say the same thing every year when this topic comes up, but the number might not be as bad as it seems, especially since we know a higher number of boys have been given places in US. There is a fairly high rate of attrition throughout the lower school with injuries, assessing out and students simply deciding that dance or the school are not for them, and only a small number of students to begin with. If there were 12 girls who started in Y7, it is almost certainly not the case that the same 12 are vying for US places. Some probably dropped out before and of those remaining, they might not all have wanted an US place.

 

On the subject of the standard of training at UK lower schools in general, the UK does have a bit of a reputation, justifiably so in my opinion, to spend a lot of time on perfecting movements before progressing to more advanced work. Some posters have mentioned the balance between Dance and academic study, suggesting that foreign schools spend more time on dance at the expense of academic preparation. Obviously all schools differ in this but I do feel that a higher standard could be achieved dance-wise in the UK without any change in the amount of time spent in the studio by starting to teach more advanced work at a younger age instead of spending so long perfecting the basics.

Lastly, I would like to comment on people's different reports, both positive and negative about their time at vocational school. I attended a vocational school in Europe and a few years after graduating, got back in touch with a girl I had been close friends with during my time there. We lived in the same dorm, had mostly the same friends and all the same teachers (but were in different classes) but our feelings about our time at the school could not be more different. I remember hard times, but have only happy memories and still consider my time at the school to be the best of my life. My friend still felt traumatised by her experience of the school. My point is that two people living through the same thing can experience it differently depending on their personality, so what might bother some, would not bother another. That is not to suggest that there does not need to be a great deal more mental health support in vocational schools. I have no personal experience of UK schools but from others' accounts there does seem to be a huge need for greater support as well as a change in the "beyond reproach" attitude that some of the schools have.

It's not so difficult to find out. Look at RBS broshure (paper one, Summer perfomances each year). At the end you can see names of students, if you see  name* - it's mean they were JA's (so most likely y7 as well). Well... look at the names in US, especially graduating year - the little * dissapears. Most of those perfect and talented from God,  very carefully selected 'clay' to work and Craft with... dissapears. The problem is, perfect ones - often the ones who not madly fighting for survival (NOT ALL, of course, but from years of observation, even my students), then they might be let down as a consequence. And that is what AD has mentioned about not so long ago in some ballet journal as well.

14 hours ago, KeepDancing!! said:

 

Ballet Coach, sorry I wasn't quite clear - are you saying you disagree with the approach taken by international competition winners, and that the UK method of not allowing teachers to 'push hard' is in your opinion a better approach?

I'm agree. It's just not making any sense as training in GB is weak in comparement to Worldwide, but why then worldwide students going to UK, especially at 16+.... Just because of the school name, or route through school to 'Rome'? Well, there's so many 'Rome' companies out there.

13 hours ago, valentina said:

I am not disputing that there are obvious issues with the low number of lower school pupils graduating to upper school. If we compare to Paris Opera where most ( not all) seem to go through the whole system. However, I feel your account of acceptance of international students is a little biased. There were 3 new students accepted into yr 9  last September, all British and not competition winners.

Well, one was 'returning' student, one british, but trained and lives abroad (so, no british trained), one british, and one to join in y10 from Australia (competition one).

On 15/03/2018 at 21:57, Sadielou said:

Does anyone else find it odd that RBS have found the money to create a new post for Samira Saidi to "recruit the worlds most gifted dancers" ? - especially as competition entrants from both YAGP and Prix are already making up two thirds of each RBS US year group. Do we really need to pay somebody to find more ?  RBS even have an International scholars page, talented kids who are technically too advanced for White Lodge and have been promised US places if they want them when they are old enough. Several foreign students in year 1 are currently only year 11 age and there is one girl joining US next term who is only 14. The RBS year 7s have the same initial potential as those students from abroad, but are obviously not getting the training they need and deserve. Why are the RBS not embarrassed about the lack of home trained students coming through ? Why is nobody questioning this. Surely money would be better spent training the students they already have to the standard they obviously require. Anybody can cherry pick from the competitions, but it seems that very few can actually train dancers !

I think the answer is simple, in GB regulations.... not allowing teachers push to hard ( health&safety, 'child abuse',  etc...) And also WL students not allowed to take part in competitions in the first place as it can 'damage' them and disturb their studies. Take note, that those international competition winners mostly home educated, private over coached, hardly pushed children ('abused' in the studio 24/7). There are few who were not really talented 'ballet children' only some years ago, now are the stars, because of all said above + really extreem strive to succeed. 

I don't know what else it can be.

Interesting how many children they have in current y9? I also know few children who were advised Hammond, but never done any tap/nor interested and also not RAD trained.

Yes, as said above to see a physio instead of GP. Then let him do the audition, but let the panel fully know / aware of his recently injury. But not to much exercises right now, no jumping etc whatever hurt. 

The good news is, as he is a JA - they know him, as they observe children during the years (esp. year 6), so they know about his abilities / potential,  so maybe he don't need to do some jumps etc and explain it to him as well, so he don't have to worry. Good luck 🍀 

Don't worry, they won't be pale on audition! They would be pretty pink- cheeky and sweaty as there's lot of physical efforts will be. So, go better for waterproof mascara and better leave the skin just to breath and glow naturally. What is actually needed is lip balm! As mouth/lips would get dry. Good luck 🍀 

This is what particular school means under Aesthetics ⬇

(all parents should have a copy of policy) 

"4. Aesthetics Currently Observed for Classical Ballet

a. Aesthetics 
b. Flexibility
c. Natural hip rotation (turn-out)
d. Natural elevation"

It's not just a body, it's more of the lines perfections created by that body. And yes, it can change, so don't worry to much yet. 

JA do audition with everyone else, no really priorities, they even encouraged not to wear their JA uniform,  so not to stress other children and parents. 

Yes, only finals are in London - White Lodge. 

Huge congratulations, what a choice ?!!! And well deserved! I think you have to choose the main 3, as Primorsk is really faraway in far East of Russia (in case you need to visit him). Bless xxx

It's for the company itself :

https://www.operadeparis.fr/artistes/concours-et-auditions/ballet

There are some children, who weren't JA's have been successful for White Lodge. So, you can always try, never say never.

At this stage (for y7 intake) they are still looking pretty much for potential, rather than advance techniques, very important body and leg lines.

Huge congratulations ???? to you, @Dormouse!!!

What a excellent example for other older ballet students! And you look so beautiful and graceful, and most importantly happy! Well done!

Yes, it's so sad to see some children that 'have to dance' can't afford it in the first place and been never discovered... In my opinion the State or Councils have to stop seeing ballet as very elithish, yes it is for an elithish audience, but the dancers mostly comes from all different backgrounds as it is purely on tallent. Can't imagine the very elithish parents wanted their offspring earn their money from dance...instead of owning companies etc.

In my days we (as students) were paid to attend a ballet school (but after a very serious selection process). If students done very well they got increase in pay, if not - were out. But it's more vocational thing.

As here - there are two different paths: recreational or vocational. For the recreational you need indeed probably more technical side to shine in productions and workshops - and to get there cost money. For vocational pathway - most important thing is what's child born with (what is free of charge) and then some technics, but no virtuosity necessary.

Hello everyone!

 

Sorry, I keep asking similar things!

 

What I really would like to know (from anyone with experience of both) is which is the better associate programme, LJB or YDA?

 

DD is at one and we have been offered the other. I want to make sure we are making the right decision if we change. She is 10, auditioning for vocational school next year.

 

Would any of you advise doing both? (I don't think this is an option financially, but wondered what thoughts you experienced parents may have).

 

Thank you all in advance :-).

YDA, as they are a full-time vocational school from y7 to y11 and is good preparation for the upper schools (in case if you get in for y7).

every time I make a comment it's wrong. Other people can have open and frank discussions but it would appear that I don't meet the standards to be involved in that. I will delete my account immediately

Don't, Pointeyourtoes! Don't worry or take it to personal

My dd was also in that green group, I've been there. I know what you mean Don't see anything to 'private', there were a lots of girls in black and br. anyway

Also, I agree, it would be nicer if the presentation was on the Stage in M.F. Theatre studio, like last year with the speech of A.D. and certificate ceremony at the end! Also were two, even three persons per student allowed.

Is there any time table (what time the lessons going to start and), and how much is the cost?

I would like one as well!

Very well done, congratulations to you both!!!