Jellybeans

Sadly, however, that is not true, and my personal view is that it is better to be honest, even with very young children. Whilst there are talented children that are overlooked from time to time, these schemes are about taking the MOST talented and that is the nature of the dance world at every level. far better, in my opinion, to prepare them for that straight away rather than building up false hope for the future. Those that want it enough will try again, and some may be successful second or third time around. But some will not. Apologies for the dose of realism!

The site still implies that they are trying to raise funds and at some time may be able to offer financial support. If this is no longer the case I feel that they should amend thei formation as it is misleading and may give false hope!

That's a relief!!

As an old hand at waiting for letters, RBS and otherwise, I can tell you that the letters will come when they are ready. There is not necessarily a pattern from year to year and they do not often come when they say they will, although it is more often before! Sometimes they are sent out by centre, sometimes not. The waiting is very frustrating but there is nothing that you can do to speed it up or influence the content so it really is best just to try not to worry. If your dd/ds pick up on how you are feeling they may begin to feel it too, or even feel under pressure to do well if they see that it means a lot to you. Good luck!

When you say that you have seen girls at all the schools "stretched like this" do you mean in over splits or in the back bend position in he photograph that has been talked about?

In my post above, I was trying to offer a different perspective. To me, it goes without saying that children should not be en pointe and this topic has been debated over and over. Although it looks amazing because of her age, I, personally, did not think that Lada was that good because she has obviously picked up bad habits from doing too much too soon. My point was that I wonder if she will be able to compensate for those as she progresses or if they will become ingrained and hold her back. Probably had she concentrated on dancing in flats then she would be amazing. Regardless of the effect on her feet, Perhaps her talent has been wasted by going en pointe too soon. Only time will tell.

Some of these videos definitely have the wow factor but, when you break them down, the technique is not wonderful. For their age, yes, they are amazing but I wonder how they will progress when they pick up bad habits by doing too much too soon.

I have seen this and it is seriously scary!! I wonder, though, if they are ballet dancers or gymnasts? I know that they are at a barre but the style of their leotards and foot thongs are more normally seen in gym.

Thank you everyone. I'm glad that there is written work too as it provides at least some preparation for the real world should the students not become dancers!

I know that various schools offer either degree or diploma level qualifications in the 6th form but could anybody tell me what the work for this actually entails? Is it all practical work or do the students have to complete written work for this as well and if so, in what sort of subjects?

Convertible rights also make it very easy to attend to dressings etc on the feet or to pop in toe spacers or whatever else is needed for pointe work but not regular class.

I have been following the thread about the Bolshoi and found some video footage on YouTube of the student who is hoping to start at the school this September. This is the closest that I have come to seeing the standard that is required at this level so it is very interesting as I have a daughter who will be auditioning for 6th form places soon. Is this similar to the level required by the leading UK classical schools or are their requirements generally considered to be higher or lower than the Bolshoi? I wish her the very best of luck and hope that if she or her family are reading this that they are flattered that I have used her as an example of something to aspire to!! Edited to add a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4L4UJFMCt0&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Anjuli, this is, indeed, very sad but it does seem to be a reflection on the dance world today - or at least that part of it which focusses on festivals and competitions. There seems to be a lot of emphasis, even on this board, on results, levels, achievements etc and one cannot help but wonder if that, for some people,is what it is all about, rather than the joy of dance! Out of interest, did you think that any of the dancers featured in the film have the potential to go on to do well in BALLET in the future?

I am sure that it has been said before but being able to do an over split does not make you a good dancer and I hope above all hope that one can be a good dancer without being able to achieve this. I worry that the more it is said how impressive/ important it is to achieve this, the more young people will try and do it, and risk injuring themselves in the process.

I would tell them straight away! As it is obviously a previous commitment then if you wait until after casting then it will be particularly obvious that you waited because you didn't want to jeopardise the part that your dd was given. They might just think that was a bit sneaky and make it awkward for you.

But they are still not allowed to throw the ball!! My comment was meant as a simple analogy to explain the development of "ballet". Please lets not get into a discussion about football!!!

If it is so that ballet has evolved, perhaps it has evolved beyond the point of still being ballet, from a purists point of view. Imagine this: In a game called football, the ball was passed by being kicked from player to player. There came a time when the ball was picked up, as well, and thrown from player to player. Now, this new game may be entertaining and exciting. It might draw the crowds, but is it still football? I appreciate that some people may favour the extreme positions that we are currently witnessing. I don't, but, either way, we have to ask ourselves if it is still ballet or if it, too, has become something else.

Anjuli, I would love to have seen your face if confronted, as I was recently, with a young dancer "warming up" by doing the splits with her feet on two chairs, placed a "splits width" apart!! There were lots of even younger dancers in the room that thought she was so very clever, even when I tried to suggest that it was not something that they should be copying!!

I'm not sure that you tube plays a great part in the selection of dancers. It seems to be that the very vast majority of clips on there are posted because the dancer wants to show off. It is the same with Facebook. The profile pictures of so many student dancers show them in positions of extreme flexibility and I am not sure that that demonstrates a particularly accurate understanding of the art.

Two days? Scary thought! Out of interest, how many hours of dancing in them does that equate to? That must cost an absolute fortune, even if hey are "cheap" over there!!

I am confused now! I thought that stronger feet needed a harder shank to prevent the shoe breaking so quickly? edited to say Don't worry, now I have re read it, I think that is what you were saying!!

I do agree that working on just syllabus work could make one stale so it is always better to mix this with unset work, in my opinion. I am not saying that an exam mark is a true reflection of a dancer but that a lower mark may make people look twice. Of course, that is not always a bad thing! I am fairly sure that it is possible to take an exam at another centre or at Battersea in extenuating circumstances and would think it better to do that than take an exam when unwell and jeopardise the mark. Having said that, I also know that the RAD do give special consideration marks when candidates are ill or injured so do try and reflect what they feel a dancer may otherwise have scored.

It has always been my understanding that over splits a unnecessary and dangerous! I know some people are naturally very flexible but, personally, I don't think it is worth the risk of injury to achieve them! far better to work on the strength to use what flexibility you have!

I really don't think that the exam grades are important at all and it is always possible to get a note from a teacher to give an idea of level for auditions, summer schools etc if no exams have been taken. I do, however, think that the actual grades achieved in any exam taken will at least merit a second look. It is all very well a student saying that they are working at a certain level but if they have only just passed previous exams then that doesn't mean that they are particularly advanced. I think what I am trying to say is that it would be better to be working at a lower level having always achieved distinctions than at a higher level having only ever achieved a merit or a pass. Better to hold off taking an exam than risk a lower mark if you are relying on the result for an application form!

Yes, good point, Glowlight!