Ballet4Boyz

re the prize giving ceremony coming up in June , are parents invited to attend or is it just for the students ? Can't seem to find any info on it - thanks all 

Yes Sarahw  ..... I was thinking around that figure too, the number of other dependant children you have can make a slight difference too. It of course depends if you are given a 50% bursary as well.

Congratulations to your DD Elfin, fantastic news 

Yes Pictures, you're advice & knowledge in the past has been a great help I know for me & Im sure for many others. Hope you're still staying around !!

Yes .... It's a massive achievement to make finals for any of these schools as there are so many talented & deserving students out there, all competing for so few MDS awards. There is also bound to be years where the number of awards available fluctuate quite considerably, therefore some years this just adds to the difficulty.

It's very, very sad for all those disappointed & does make you realise how lucky you are if in receipt of such an award.

.........don't get me started on that one !! I wrongly thought after DS started at vocational school - life would be easier with a little extra time freed up. The fact that we seem to lose whole weekends travelling for EXEAT and non dancing daughter's life being taken over with badminton - I find I've even less time !!

house work , coping ?? - I've found its really advantageous to be very short-sighted, drink a little wine & not get too hung up on it ... for my own sanity. 

My house USED to be like a show-home ...... many years ago, before acquiring a partner & kids !!

Yes, that is correct - which is why for some higher earning families offered an MDS - the actual bursary can work out better and they may decide to relinquish the MDS, hence some movement can occur from the reserve list over the next couple of weeks. 

Hammond is an amazing school - for all those on reserve list ...... don't give up all hope yet !! There is always some movement, as for some families the bursaries which can be very generous, will work out better than being on an MDS. Good Luck everyone , I remember this agonising wait last year !!

Yes .....Kevin Williams such an inspirational teacher, full of enthusiasm & gets all the students singing their hearts out & enjoying themselves.....along with the many other fantastic teachers at Hammond !! 

Good luck to all those waiting for audition results 

Meant to add, our DS was always slightly reserved re singing - he now feels so much more confidant with his singing & happy to volunteer to sing solos & audition for singing parts ...... never thought we'd see that !!

........what wonderful memories they give us though !!

Dont even get me started on scuffed school shoes x

.......also be careful what you wish for mumofthree .....once they get the bug !!

Our DS has gone from being anxious about divulging his dancing to dancing anywhere & everywhere , not caring whose watching !! Quiet supermarket aisles, parks, walking along the road or even crossing the kitchen floor whilst emptying the dishwasher  - our DS will spontaneously burst into some kind of dance routine.

We've got used to it as a family & his sister has long given up with the "please stop dancing, people are looking" comments as she rolls her eyes !!

As for my lounge ceiling below his bedroom - the plasterwork has definitely seen better days from all his tapping, leaping, pirouettes etc, etc

like I say ....... once they've got the bug !! 

That said, I wouldn't have him any other way !

Yes, I would agree with that meadowblythe on both fronts !! Allowing younger boys to find ballet in their own time naturally, maybe following on from other dance genres when they realise all dance forms are for boys and girls. Also, we are frequent theatre-goers and enabling our DS to watch male professional dancers really enthralled & inspired him .......and still does !!!

Not long ago we went to see Matthew Bournes "Edward Scissorhands" ...... our DS was literally on cloud nine afterwards, he enjoyed it so much & said "I'd love to be as good as those dancers one day & be in a show like that" 

He still talks about Dominic Norths performance now !!

Is this in relation to girls ? How did the boys fare ? Thanks

Hi mumofthree,  I can only comment on our experience. Our DS is now at vocational school in year 7. He suffered quite badly with bullying in primary school - mainly by a small group of boys, but who managed to make his life a misery. We had an extremely supportive headteacher who has a DD himself and he was very proactive in encouraging our DS and stamping out the bullying. His dance teachers also used to encourage him through the tough times. I think if it were not for all their  support - our DS may have at times - given ballet up. We were relieved when he won a place at vocational school as to continue with ballet training at secondary school as a boy ........ very sadly, filled us all with dread. 

I think the stereotypes continue for a while I'm afraid but once the boys reach a certain age - they seem to cope with 'being deemed a little different' much better & brush these views off. We've always pointed out the positives to our DS of being a dancer - strength, athleticism , confidence, posture etc etc. I can safely say now our DS wouldn't even consider giving ballet up - even if he were the only boy in the class !! I wish things were different and these issues didn't arise as I'm sure many talented boys with great potential may have been lost because of it. I do like to think however that things are slowly improving ....... forever the optimist . 

Hi Sophie_Rebecca ..... I think as an adult (& I'm speaking from my own perspective here), it's often quite daunting to take up a new hobby for fear of the unknown and  lack of confidence as well as a feeling of it being just 'too late' to start something new !! 

I think you should be applauded for taking up ballet as an adult & encouraging others to do the same if they are considering it !!

As for ripping your dancing apart ...... who in their right mind would criticise someone for following their own passion and clearly loving it to boot. I've viewed a few of your videos & enjoyed watching you dance & the sense of achievement you clearly gained from your exam result......congratulations !!! 

That's great, thanks Balletmum - was just wondering as its been a few weeks and DS just gave a blank look & shrugged his shoulders when I mentioned it !!

boys eh !! x

Does anyone know when we receive the results of the recent RAD exams ? Do we receive them directly through the post or are the students given the results at school ? Thanks 

Thankyou all, very interesting - looks an amazing school

Oh gosh - is that because they assess out ?

Does anyone know how many students Central take each year & breakdown between number of boys & girls, are many 16yr olds offered places ??

Sounds like the new facilities will be fantastic for the school.

Especially good news for younger students who might love the school but be daunted living elsewhere in London !!

Begs the question - why do they enquire about finances before offering places ??

Congratulations to all the DC & their families with a yes !!! To all those with a 'not this time' I know from our own experiences what that feels like & it's so tough. Remember they are extremely talented to get this far & one school may say 'no' and another school say 'yes' ....... for so many different reasons !! All the vocational schools have positives & negatives and different schools will be a 'better fit' for different DC....... So it is very wise advice to consider all aspects before making any decisions. I'm a great believer in - if the DC is happy & settled in their school - this will be reflected in their dancing. Wishing all these DC and their families the best of luck with their own journeys.

I'm not aware of streaming in modern classes, but if I'm wrong, happy to be corrected

Hi Lema ...... the year groups stick in their years for ballet lessons, however RAD lessons are separate & have mixed years in them. For instance some year 7's are about to sit IF exam with some year 8's. Some yr 7's have already passed IF - so it depends what stage they have reached upto starting at Hammond.