Katia05

My DDs old dance school encouraged everyone to start on pointe after their grade 3 RAD exam, whatever their age or size or shape... My DD was just turning 11 but hasn't started her growth spurt yet at all and is very small for her age. So... we deliberated long and hard and moved dance school, which caused a lot of soul-searching, as she'd been there since she was 2. But now 3 months later it's liberating to have made a good choice for DD and still have all the time ahead to do pointe when her feet have developed more and she has more core strength overall. Each child can be so different and we're glad we took the step to change, though it did make me feel unpopular at the time.

We've also got the situation at primary school where the same two or three children are given all the main parts - they are good singers, so it's okay for the ears, but they are on the 'gifted and talented' register for performing so the school maybe sees this as a way of 'extension' for their talents... Dancers really don't get noticed at school or put on this register since the teacher never sees their talents in action... I dread the 'audition' process for the school play each year, as it's always such a disappointment - dd puts herself forward each time with new enthusiasm and hope, but then every year the big parts go to the same 'gifted' children!! The RB process was much more encouraging and well handled in my opinion!

MAK that sounds perfect! How lovely to find such a place. 

i think increased applications perhaps because of social media making more and more people aware of the opportunities. RBS itself does a good job of promoting JA and you can see how many views there are on their promo video. its frightening in itself.

 

sparkle you may be right that its best not to know. then you can carry on thinking its down to a dollop of luck and its worth trying again. however, we have never had a single word from her teacher. the only encouragement has been from other girls and other mums from time to time, making some generous remarks.

We're in the same position as you, isadora - I think it must be true that you stand a better chance if you have an enthusiastic teacher behind you, rather than just the parent trying to fathom it all out, especially with things like the photos (ours were so amateurish in the lounge!) and what to wear, how to put yourself across at an audition etc. But then it's a great experience for the children if they can take it without too many expectations. Glad we did it, though I guess if my dd had been really desperate to get a place it might have been stressful without a teacher reassuring her afterwards, rather than just chatting it through with me! As it is, it hasn't knocked her confidence at all and she's keen to try again.

Ours was the Tues at 12. Good luck! The waiting is awful, isn't it?!! DD took her disappointment well here, bless her! Good luck to all those still waiting!

Just heard here - and...  it's a 'no' ... Oh well, there's always MAs next year! Congratulations to all those who got a 'yes' ! Phew, glad that wait is over. Now to tell dd...

Wonderful! Very well done to your dds, AuntieNora and MAK!!! 

Is there an Open Day every year? We couldn't make it this year but would love to go next year.

Nothing here yet either - maybe it will be another whole week?

Anyone think it will be today for London then?!! Wish we knew for sure which week it was at least, then we could forget about it for the time being!

Anything through from London for anyone yet?!! Getting a bit nervewracking now!

so this would mean august 2017. she will be still ten. so that would be ok? sorry to be so slow about this.

Yes. If she'll be 10 on August 31st 2017 she'll still be a JA for that year starting in September 2017. I know because my friend's dd is born on 1st Sept and we had to find out the details to see which year she'd fit! Think of it as school years - JAs go up to year 6. Then year 7 are MAs.

I have a question regarding age limit for RBS JAs. Ive been assuming all along that we can re-apply next year, but its not clear to me when the age 10 limit refers to. On the web page it says the age in August, but which August? The one before the auditions or the one after? As my daughter is going to be 10 this year, would she actually have another chance at JA? 

 

Many thanks to anyone who can advise.

It means age 10 when you apply, so anyone who is 10 at 31 August (after the auditions) counts as a JA. The next year would be MAs. 

So looks like tomorrow could be the day! Good luck everyone when the emails start to ping through. Thanks for your post, Pups_mum - very timely for all this! 

Looks like it's just London left then?! Do they come out in the order that the auditions took place ie. oldest first?!

Does anyone know how many children are offered places each year?

If you look on the RB website at the annual report page 15 it tells you last year's figures, so probably pretty similar   Very few places compared to the numbers auditioning!

 http://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/annual-report/

My DD got SWL. Is there any realistic hope or should I let her down gently??

Well done, Toomuch, and definitely keep hope! Not sure how many are on the SWL but they probably don't put too many on it?

Yes, I'm sure that's right, Legseleven. Thanks for reassuring. I guess they are keen not to single out any ambitious students for special treatment too when the rest of the class are watching, which is admirable really, I think. I'm not a fan of the tendency of some schools to post individual successes on their websites etc and make one or two feel fabulous and successful, while the majority who just work hard and make quiet progress at their own rate are ignored. Unless it's a major achievement of course, which would inspire the others too to keep working hard and love dancing! 

We entered with acknowledgment from the teacher but not much interest - think she was trying not to get dd's hopes up really... It's quite an un-selfpromoting school, though one of their students was a JA, then Upper School and is now in the RB, so I think after that they maybe don't want to spoil the record or something! No pressure on, at least not from the teachers!!

That's wonderful, Balletbod - congratulations!! She must be thrilled! 

Sounds like Eastleigh are coming out now...

So just Bath, Totnes and London to go... 

Thanks so much! 

Hope London waits until the end of next week - my dd has her ballet exam on Monday and it would be nice to get beyond that first before getting a 'no' from JAs!

Congratulations, Tiaramum! How exciting! Is it a girl or boy place? Massive well done to them!

Hope you hear soon Ballet'n'broke! We were London, so not expecting to hear for a couple of weeks yet. Good luck!