TBG

On 2017-6-25 at 08:18, Annasophia said:

Hello Margarite and Dancer123, your daughters are amazing dancers.  YDA Associates is a great program.  I had a chance to see an open class yesterday for parents.  I don't know how the selection process works at RBS.  I didn't expect my DD to get a JA place, she was 20 cm taller then everyone in her JA audition class.  (above 99percentile height for her age group)  In fact she is only 9 but often mistaken for a 11-12 yo.   'Not yet' is a difficult answer for children to digest.  We had a very recent experience of MT Matilda audition and there despite standing in deep X she was too tall even for ensemble roles.  She really wanted to be in that musical, knows every song and learned the dance routines by watching youtube videos.  In that case we know the door is now closed for MT children roles.  By the time she turned 9 she was too tall. 4 years of MT dreams, drama school classes with singing, drama, jazz, tap, street dance classes. But all this training is beneficial long term.  Please encourage your girls to continue.  Reading about many dancers it wasn't easy for any of them. 

Annasophia my dd is also head and shoulders above other children her age ( 99 percentile range), always has been. Her daddy is 6'4".  She didn't audition for yr4 but got accepted to RBS JA's for yr5/6 and MA'S 7/8 and now going to Elmhurst in September, so keep trying, my dd seems to have stopped growing now so will prob find all the other children will catch up. Interestingly there are some very tall children at Elmhurst, whereas I think they do like them slightly more petite at RBS, despite Darcey being 5'7" - and that was a few years ago now. 

My dd1 and dd2  have never been able to apply for panto/MT as had to be over age 8 and under 4'6" - impossible!! But... I believe the rules change slightly when they get to 12 and can apply for the older roles, so there is still opportunity. Have a look at English Youth Ballet, size isn't an issue and they travel round the country and hold auditions looking for up to 100 children. Dd did Coppelia - amazing experience.

Hope this is all encouraging, there is more than 1 ballet school, and some of the others are just as good. 

Xx

DD was RBS and Elmhurst JA but never made final for Yr 7 or 8  at RBS, but got a mids place for yr7 and 8. Made Elmhurst final for yr7 - but had flu, reached final for yr8 and got a place at Elmhurst. 

Don't know why she didn't get final for RBS, but definately think Elmhurst is the best place for her. I do believe those that don't get RBS finals but they want to keep on eye on get the Mids places.

If you don't apply you will never know, and there is no point in guessing what RBS are looking for.

I am a great believer in fate,  enjoy the time you have with dc because it can all change very quickly. It might have been a no this time, but another year can make a big difference.

Only a couple of months till the Rollercoaster starts again.

Xx

So sorry to hear this Lisa, glad she was with you at the end. She would have been reassured at the end through all the love you showed her. Xx

On 2017-5-11 at 20:54, Bluebird22 said:

Apparently Matthew Bourne was at the mids assessment on Wednesday? 

WOW!! That would make dc perform well. Was that a one off as he wasn't there for Bath assessments. 

Dd gave up her yr 8 mids place next year  over weekend so some lucky person should be offered Bath from SWL, unless they saw it coming and had over subscribed the class . Good luck everyone. Xx

On 2017-6-7 at 15:24, Bluebird22 said:

One of my students has been invited to audition for year 8 

Is that a girl or boy? Hope it went well. How long before results?  Xx

We all like to second guess what they are looking for, but we don't really know. Also different schools look for different qualities than others this is evident when looking through posts of those who were offered one or two vocational schools but not the others. Potential plays a big part, whether they have perfected technique or not. X

Congrats ButterflyBallerina to your dc for getting a place. Who knows what the children will look like in 2/3/4 yrs time. Just enjoy the ride and ensure dc gets the most out of the lessons, you can't change what is out of your control, just take the opportunity to influence what you can. It is a long hard road for parents and children- for those who chose to take it. Xx

DD is now at Mid yr7 but was Totnes yr 6 and there were 15 in her group. When she was in the year 4/5 group there were also 15. They do very the group size according to who they want but the groups will never be many more than 15 children. Xx

I think you have been given some excellent advice on this post, but you definitely need quality and quantity to help with technique and stamina. I know its still a few months away  but talk to the students

/parents and teachers at the summer schools when you attend - there will be a lot of info available, especially if you are attending a relatively local one to your area - not sure if you are. Also, when you start your associate programme talk to the teacher/ students they may have recommendations of a dance school/teacher. Speak to your associate teacher about private lessons, financially this may be tricky.  in my experience I would ditch the festival lessons ( only if you are paying for these outside of your syllabus lessons),  to be able to accommodate some private lessons. I would also enlist the help of your parents as you are very determined and enthusiastic but with GCSE's ahead of you, 2 heads are better than 1, and hopefully they can take some of the stress away from you. 

Try not to worry about too much about your recent technique issue, you have probably had a growth spurt and this will have affected your muscles etc. Keep practising. As you are small and you start growing you will find that one day you can do the split then next day you can't.  Perseverance pays in the end. Has anyone videoed you in class before? Maybe at watching week - I know teens don't like parents watching their class but this can be really helpful for you to analyze how you are performing. 

Good luck, and hope to see some positive news for you in the future. Xxx

Good luck to all, such a lovely experience for all the children, but realistically so few places available. For Totnes yr4/5 - only 15 places, some of the current yr 4's will already be offered a further year. Yr 6 again only 15 places, and some of the current yr 5s will be offered a further year. So there will only be a few places available in each class, only the best will get a place, but, they are all so young and their bodies are growing, so next year they could look so different.  If dc get a no, it could be a no for now, and could be a yes in a year a two. It does require a lot of commitment from dc and parents, and the commitment is never ending once you get on the roundabout. At this age no one thinks about the sacrifices the dc and parents have to make for dc  to pursue a dream like ballet, the financial and social implications -  just something for you all to think about. Results will be out soon.... thE waiting is nearly over....good luck everyone.

Incidentally... the stalls are normally run by parents of dc at White Lodge and are usually very informative and helpful with any questions you have - sorry bit late for this year's auditions.

TBG

X

Hi Lisa, 

A simple blood test will reveal if you have arthritis, there are many types of arthritis and some worse than others. I was diagnosed after dd was born and although prescribed meds initially, I don't take anything now. I have learnt to live with it and when I have a flare up ibuprouen usually works. However my arthritis is mild so occasional ibuprofen is fine, but does have side effects if taken regularly and long term. I would recommend a visit to gp to clarify if you do have arthritis, and then gp can advise best treatment for you. Xx

We travel 2hrs to RBS mid associates nr Bath most Saturdays but share lifts with a friend. The first few times you travel seems quite  long way but the more times you do it, it does seem to feel quicker - you just have to resign yourself to losing that day most weekends. Ours was a no brainer as limited quality training in our area. So have taken advantage of all we could afford/fit in - consequently dd now has a place at Elmhurst. 

DD and friend both have junior SS places. Dd very excited. Xx

Well done to all those dc with yes's and fingers crossed for those with SWL. Those that have been offered full time places may not have informed RBS yet and I believe there are still funding auditions so still a lot of time for movement. Commiserations to the No's for now, keep trying. Xx

Congrats to dd a bitwornout.  That is an amazing achievement. Xx

Elmhurst don't usually give feedback from pre-lims due to the amount of dc auditioning. Feedback post finals last year was a phone call but was not until mid May, and was very helpful. Xx

Congratulations Balletallday, dd must be thrilled - is that for yr7? Xx

The early bird offer was by 10th March the closing date has disappeared but it was 24th or 26th March. As the application forms are still there I would be quick and apply. Xx

Roughly 12 for girls and 12 for boys. However they sometimes go over and will adjust accommodation so some yr 7s will be in yr8/9 accomodation. The same goes for Yr 8/9/10 so they only pick the best and don't always fill the beds as they still could take from summer school. Xx

Good luck xxx

Balletallday yes she did get MDS. This yr was less stressful because we really weren't expecting a place as so few for yr8 and above,so a yes was such a shock! However as some followers know dd had really bad flu last yr for final audition but still did the audition (apologies to anyone if they caught her flu afterwards) so didn't perform well and didn't get a place - so today's result is extra special to us xx

Balletallday I know a yr7 that was taken from wait list, and dd was a no last yr, but a yes this yr. It is hard for dc and parents when they get a no, but if it's what they really want make a plan and persevere. Good luck, hoping it's a delayed yes xx

Congrats to your ds happymum. Xx

It was a yes for Dd and her friend both for yr8. We are all very excited. Both with MDS.Xx

The letters are arriving for the girls....my hus band is a postman in sorting office and has been sorting them for delivery....start stalking your postman. Good luck everyone xxx