dancefanatic

Sunshine girl, firstly congrats to your DD for Elmhurst Yr9 finals, that is brilliant. FYI, last year 6 girls were called back for WL Y8 finals and one place was offered. I'm not sure how many were called back for Elmhurst Y8 but do know that 2 of them were from the 6 that went to WL as my DD was one of those 2, it might have been 8 or 9. Anyway, in the end only 2 places were offered for Y8 entry at Elmhurst and both of those were for boys. However, just to be boring for those who already know (sorry), my DD was offered a place in October and started at Elmhurst 3 weeks later. Now I know there is at least one place coming available for her year come next September when they will be Y9 so don't give up hope. Yes, it is much harder to get a place than for Y7 but then there are fewer DC auditioning for interim years due to the dearth of places so it isn't impossible! Keep going and keep smiling for her. All auditions are worth doing and, as I was told by my DD's MA teacher, it is important to keep putting our talented DC in front of the schools so that, when they have a space, they will remember them and sometimes places do come this way.

How frustrating to wait Sunshine girl but fantastic news! Congrats to you DC

The Carla doesn't come with a belt but I bought matching ones easily from Amazon.

Firstly, welcome ArucariaBallerina. You should find lots of information on this forum and all the members are very friendly and helpful. With regard to what to wear, my DD's RBS JA (and MA) teacher recommends to all her students that they wear a leotard called Carla (made by Arabesque) as it is a high legged one. My DD's always required a little alteration as she is tiny and quite flat chested - I have removed most of the front ruching and shortened straps. Wear leotards with a belt as this helps the panel to see the alignment of your hips I understand. Colour-wise, chose a colour that flatters you. I would suggest you do want to stand out a little so that they can easily recall you as being one in a smaller group of colours, if that makes sense. That said, my DD wore either royal blue or black as she is very fair and these colours really suit her. Shoewise, wear the ones you are most comfortable in and that flatter your feet. For most, this does seem to be split soles but I have seen such a variety at auditions I don't think it matters too much. Lastly, good luck with the auditions. The most important thing is to enjoy the class as that shows to the panel and, where they might have two girls of equal talent but one has more fire in her eyes, they will go with the one with the fire and obvious enjoyment. Hope that makes sense.

Yeay!! Wonderful news Happymum and Armydancer

Good luck to all auditioned this morning. Hope the day goes well and all enjoy it.

She got a straight No both years so we were very surprised to get an email from the school in mid-September. What did help I think was the fact she did Summer school again this year and danced her heart out all three days. Mr Parker told us he could see the fire in her eyes and her determination whenever he watched her during summer school too. I left her at the school in August with the instructions to treat the entire time as an audition but to also enjoy the whole experience which she did. And she seems to have settled in really well which is a relief, particularly as we ended up with only 3 weeks to get organised!! To moral is that anything is possible and not to get disheartened by a No as it often is simply a No not right now. I hope my DDs experience can help others as I know stories like this helped her enormously.

Sunshine girl, my DD auditioned for Elmhurst the last 2 years for Y7 & Y8. Both times she got finals and the letter came in a DL sized envelope. It seems to be the finals results that come in different size envelops - she sadly got a no both times but then was invited to join Y8 after all in October so is there now and loving it. Wishing your DD all the best and hope she gets the result she wants.

Absolutely good luck to everyone auditioning this week. Happymum, I hope it all goes well tomorrow for your fab DS - I will be thinking of you and be with you in spirit. xx

My DD's JA teacher told me a couple of years ago that the bun needed to be high on the head and flat so that I'd didn't distort her neck when lying flat on her back on the floor when doing the stretching exercises, if that helps?

Congrats to your son Armydancer. Hope everyone else gets good news today

My SD is in Y8 and just started at vocational school. Y7 and beginning of this term life was hectic with fitting it all in for both of us and very stressful at times as well as tiring. She is loving her new school and although tired, she is certainly happier not to have all the rushing around, driving all over the place, packed suppers to gobble down in the car plus fitting in mountains of homework too. I know it's not for everyone but when the child is the one pushing to achieve their dream, we all do what we can to support them. Yes it's hard giving responsibility of her welfare to others but I am enjoying a less pressured week which gives my younger child more of my time too. Good luck with whichever decision you make and don't doubt yourself as you will make the right one for your DD and family.

Previous years results have always come in the post although all other communications were by email. Re groups,I think they're done alphabetically by year group as first year my DD auditioned she was in the first group (Y7)) and last year (Y8) in the second group which was made up of Y7 & Y8 hopefuls. Hope that helps.

thank you Balletmummy55

Hearing about the DC who get there via a different route is heartening. My DD auditioned the last two years for Y7 & Y8 - got to finals and no further. She did summer school at her preferred school the last two summers and started vocational school just a few days ago, partly as a result of the fire and determination she showed throughout SS (plus a place being available). Still early days but she is loving it and we're still pinching ourselves as hadn't expected something like this could happen to her. So she's now in Y8 at her preferred school and now the hard work begins for her. Having resigned myself to doing the audition circuit again this year, I am pleased not to but also think I will miss the audition days themselves (but not the stressful waiting for results). So to all those taking the different route like my DD, believe in yourselves as fire and determination, as well as the talent all our DC have, are what will get them to where they are going. And good luck to all auditioning this year.

Happymum - although we're suddenly out of the auditions this year (thankfully!!) I will be happy to give you as much support for your lovely DS (and you) as I can. I am sure he will do well but it is a horribly stressful time regardless. But am sure there must be others out there on this forum...?!

I looked st Swindon CAT a year ago for my DD (they do a contemporary scheme and an urban one) and they said once a dancer joins the scheme then they stay on until they either leave for a vocational school/conservatoire or are too old. So although assessments happen they gave the impression they worked with dancers rather than said no thank you. But as their contemporary scheme is for 11-18 but only 11 year boys seem to get a place, girls are told they're too young(!) I don't know much more.

Finals for the last two years have been in mid March (17th in 2015 I recall).

Happymum - just going to send you a PM

My DD is going to the junior session for the second year in a row. Apart from home-sickness at bedtime last year, she absolutely loved it and wished it had lasted longer than the 3 days. As we left last year she was desperate to go again and was lucky enough to be offered a place again this year (she's Year 7, 12 in late June).

I wish we were nearer to it! We have a contemporary CAT scheme near us which is good and often has dancers leaving to take up sixth form contemporary places but my DD is all about ballet, although she does now do contemporary classes at the same dance academy as our local CAT scheme and is currently in their pre-CAT scheme performance group.

A bit of a trek from Brighton but my DD's MA's teacher recommends Dancewell in Bristol. We've been there twice now and both fitters seem to know their stuff. My DD's feet are wide across the ball of the foot with narrow heels, high arches and turn into those fantastic banana feet when pointed (which makes finding a good shoe for her quite hard I think). They stock a wide range of pointes too and, although our teacher prefers certain styles, they ended up moving away from those in order to find the best fit for her.

My DD also wears the Bloch Heritage. She was fitted for them last August and we went back to the same shop in Bristol last week. She was fitted in the next size up but the fitter still checked her with a number of other shoes, being her second pair, to ensure they were still the best shoe for her. You've guessed it, she ended up with the Heritage again and now muggins is bruising her fingers, yet again, darning them etc (her MA teacher prefers darning to the handy stick-on pads, just as well my grandmother taught me how to do mine when I was a teenager some years ago!). Tuco, I hope your daughter enjoys wearing them as much as my DD does :-)

My DD has also been offered a place for the junior SS. She went last year and enjoyed it and, as you say TBG, it's really nice to get a yes result after the no's from finals. She wasn't sure at first she wanted to go but has realised it's good to keep putting herself out there for the schools' to continue to notice her, as per her MA teacher's feedback after the results from finals. Well done to the other yes's, I'm sure your DCs will love it. And if you're worried about the food, my DD is quite fussy when away from home and she ate really well there last year.

DancingShoes, I am so sorry to hear that. I firmly believe that it can still be their time in the future, but their path is just going to be different and perhaps a bit more adventurous. Certainly, my DD has achieved a lot and I do think finals for two years in a row is absolutely amazing. Maybe, if you're strong enough to try again next year, we'll see you on the circuit. No matter what, lots of commiserations for you and your DD and don't give up. Now is simply a time to reflect and re-evaluate the road to take, x