YorkshirePudding

Just out of interest how does that rate compare to other flexibility- related sports, such as ice skating or gymnastics? Is ballet behind in terms of injury prevention strategies being woven into training or are we culturally pushing our young elite to breaking point in all every discipline?

Excellent! My DS was 6 when I took him to his first ballet - the nutcracker and his comments were: 'She really IS on her tippy toes!'(he had obviously thought pointe work was a myth I had entirely invented) And 'I liked it but there weren't enough songs'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2hedijmagxxtfqo/2016-04-15%2011.43.10.png?dl=0 Hmmmmm

It's a website from Microsoft Lisa, that is meant to automatically caption photos for you, but it doesn't seem to know what anything is and gives ridiculous captions as a consequence - as in trog's post. I don't seem to be able to make the link turn into a photo in my post, and although the link works for me I don't know if it works for everyone? My picture was of swan lake (original photo here) http://globedancer.com/swan-lake-pacific-northwest-ballet/ When I put it into the captionbot website it captioned it "I'm not really confident but I think it is a row of urinals and they seem " Not a rip roaring success I would say...!

I don't know if I have done the link to the photo correctly but this was the first one I tried... I agree they look ???????????????????????????? but to call all the dancers urinals seemed a bit harsh! https://www.dropbox.com/s/emt1yotaara82km/2016-04-14%2013.25.53.png?dl=0

Yes pictures - I need a 'words alone cannot express my revulsion' button!

Oh my word. I didn't even know walking could be done like that and still be thought of as walking... the closest we have ever come is my son post knee surgery with the 'straight legged swing through' although his was accompanied by flailing crutches and rather less wiggle.

Completely agree LinMM (sorry I don't seem to be able to use the quotes function properly ???? I don't teach dance, but I do teach music and have studied music education pedagogy. I think much of the same principles would apply. Criticism of the work offered by the student is ok, criticism of the person is not. After all the student is offering their work for constructive criticism by coming to a lesson. So (using a music example) ' the arm weight in that phrase needs to be lighter' rather than 'YOU played that too heavily'. Effective learning happens when a student is sufficiently comfortable and emotionally confident to be able to allow their mistakes to happen as part of their progress. That moment where someone lets go enough and goes for it is both the moment where they are most likely to fall over, and most likely to go 'Aha!' I get what I did wrong! Now I can fix it. ???? In my opinion training can be extremely disciplined, and unambiguous in its expectations and unyielding in the standards of behaviour required and still be enjoyable, healthy and positive. However where students feel uncomfortable to make mistakes because they feel THEY are personally being criticised or belittled they are less likely to learn. By extension an environment which is unhealthy, critical, belittling or intimidating and where a student's discomfort or confusion cannot be verbalised creates an environment where abuse can flourish. You ask how can you tell? I tend to think that 'if it feels not ok then it's not ok'. It's as simple as that. And the teacher's job is to create an environment where everyone feels ok - not acts like it's ok, but actually FEELS ok. Of course you can't know how other people, feel, but if it doesn't feel ok observing the treatment of others, or being treated that way yourself, then it's not ok.

I think if it made you or anyone else who was present feel uncomfortable then the line has been crossed. Repeated instances of this sort and a culture where problems and emotional discomfort cannot be discussed through fear or repercussions is the beginnings of an abusive relationship. There is a place for constructive physical feedback in teaching if everybody accepts this and understands the boundaries, and there can be a place for humour and 'mock outrage' to emphasise a point if everybody understands that this is what is happening. But and it is a very big BUT, it is very clearly unacceptable (and potentially a safeguarding issue) to behave towards a student in a way which makes either they or their fellow students feel unhappy, anxious or unsafe. You described the situation in your scenario as a smack, and seemed to be confused as to how it was intended and not comfortable to ask the question of the teacher. It feels like an uncomfortable situation to be in and not a very positive learning environment. I would hesitate to suggest anything further purely on the back of a few lines of information but clearly if you conclude that what you experienced was abuse of others then it must be reported even if they do not wish to, or feel able to do so. There are many different teaching styles and many many positive places to learn. I hope you are able to develop your dancing somewhere where you feel comfortable. You should be able to feel so secure and emotionally safe in a learning environment that you do not have these nagging questions gnawing away at you.

Yep! And although being a trampolining mum doesn't involve sewing on ribbons it does mean you always have to have unbranded white ankle socks in your bag at all times... I'm a cycling mum too pups_mum (middle son) which I think you said your DS is, so by all means PM me re how to survive the winter as a cyclist if it turns out ballet isn't the ultimate solution. Difficult to take on ballet again as a family knowing how all consuming it can be, if your child already has an all consuming hobby. Nice problem to have though, to have a child eager to learn more and explore new things.

To be honest, chances are if he tries something else - be it trampolining or whatever you'll probably end up with him wanting to do that AND ballet! And then your logistics get even more complicated! Good luck. Enjoy whatever you end up doing x

My eldest does diving and trampolining - great for core strength, flexibility and brilliant to watch. Highly recommended if you have any good clubs nearby.

Tutugirl are you running summer schools again this year?

Ohhhhh I feel really quite emotional reading these wonderful posts, peanut and Ballet4Boyz. Amazing parents finding successful routes through a complex childhood for their boys with the help of dance, and some talented people within it. So many 'bravo's' to you!

DS started with drama...wanted to stay on afterwards to do musical theatre...started modern to help with musical theatre...started tap because he wanted to stay after modern...started ballet because he wanted to stay after tap...now also stays on to do extra body conditioning to help with ballet. Think he just loves his dance teacher. He would probably stay on to help her with the washing up if it meant he could spend more time at dance school...

Thank you! That's an amazing and inspirational story. How exciting for you and your DS and congratulations to him. My DS has only just turned 7 so we a bit of time before associate programmes become relevant, which is good as it gives him time to find his dancing feet, so to speak, but less good in that associates ( if successful) do seem to be the way to find more boys. I'm not sure he is of that calibre anyway, but he is enjoying himself so we shall see! Welcome to the forum and lovely to have another Yorkshire DS on here! We are north of Leeds so not quite your neck of the woods but it sounds like all roads eventually lead to Northern Ballet so you never know we may eventually end up there?!??!?! Best of luck and keep us posted how he is getting on.

???? ha! Yes I should make the most of the relative calm and economy shouldn't I?! I guess if he sticks with it opportunities will present themselves. And if he doesn't he will be stronger, fitter, more flexible, more musical and know more girls than otherwise!! And maybe have better hair too?????? Just picked him up from today's class - today's analysis delivered with huge grin ' Maaan, ballet's tough - I love it!' On we roll... Lovely to hear from you all. X

Thank you again! Dancingboy65 I have just looked up Balletlorent, which looks fantastic - just need them to bring their Snow White a bit closer to Leeds! Yes, Northern Ballet JAs is probably the best route in due course -if he progresses both in terms of passion and technique! we will watch and wait, but thank you all for your very warm welcome, enthusiasm and words of advice. Much appreciated.

Thank you everybody! Loads of great ideas to follow up. I took him to watch the Northern ballet Nutcracker before Christmas and he was in awe of the men, and wanted to be one of the junior boys - so yes watching more is a great idea. Lucky me too! He also gasped out loud and said ' Mummy Mummy she really IS up on her tippy toes!' - I think he thought I had been making it up! Nice to find other ballet boy families out there - and that CBeebies thing is really cute. My son wears glasses so I will show him that and he will identify with it immediately! Thanks again and I will let you know how we get on.

Hello, I have been lurking for a while, and learning lots from you all, so thank you in advance. DS (7) has sidled into the dance world almost without us knowing it, having started off loving drama, added musical theatre, and has then been asking to do more and more dancing to go alongside that. Having done tap and modern for a while he finally asked if he could stay on after his other classes to join in with the girls ballet, and go early to musical theatre to do a limbering/conditioning class. He has been the only boy in all his dance classes for the last year, which he has been fine with, but would clearly love to find some other boys to dance with. He is clearly conscious that some of his friends 'don't get it' - "I'll tell xxxx about dance class this week, but not xxxxxxx because he will be silly about it." We are up in Yorkshire, but his grandparents live near Tring and mentioned the Boys Kick Start programme there which he was beaming and bouncing about, but can't join for another year. Are there any 'experience' type days aimed at boys, or any other places dancing boys are lurking that we haven't found?! Don't mind a bit of travel for an occasional one off, but clearly a regular thing would need to be northern. He is not sufficiently experienced to be hurled into anything requiring knowledge or technique in any depth so many of the Boys Days of Dance would be a bit much for now. He's not about to give up because of the lack of boys, and he gets on fine with the girls, who are lovely, but it would be nice to reinforce that he is not alone! Anyone got a suggestion, or does he just go into 'dance zone' and ignore the social limitations?