DancingPixie

Ha! I was there today, and will be next week. It was a real treat today.

Wish me luck! Just off to do my first class in ages...

This reminds me of the time I took DS age 3 to buy his first ballet uniform after his trial class. He was very quiet as we measured his feet and tried on the leotard and shorts. As we waited to pay he tugged my sleeve and said, "But mummy, when do I get my ballet skirt? Everyone else in the class was wearing pink skirts, why do I have blue shorts?'

That was the day he learned about discrimination...

I got in touch with Ballet Tust two years ago, and was very touched by the detailed and helpful response I received!

I would echo Primrose's post. My DS never made associates but is currently at White Lodge. His friend, also never an associate is joining WL next year. Meanwhile two other friends who were both JAs and MAs didn't even make final auditions for WL last year or this year. You really can never tell!

Just don't forget the boys and men!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thing that the weight-loss Primrose referred to may have been an incidental side-effect of the increased work in preparation for the auditions, rather than sought specifically?

RAD HQ in Battersea has boys classes on a Saturday morning.

Have PM'd you x

I think it touches on two points - one, whether the RB should be free to pick who they want irregardless of whether they are RB trained, and two, whether by restricting themselves to a larger proportion of RB trained dancers they could achieve a more cohesive style.

Ed for typo...

Don't mean to sound grumpy - just something I feel quite strongly about

As you have every right to!

I don't think it is a silly question at all! I guess they don't 'need' to, but may want the name for the CV. I can't imagine this applies to a lot of students though.

As far as I know, the SA places are allocated without consideration of whether the dancer is full-time vocational or not.

I was conversing with someone the other day and mentioned that my DS was currently at WL. Her response was, "Oh wow, that is amazing! So, does he now get a guaranteed place at the Royal Ballet when he leaves?' Words failed me... but only temporarily before I explained the appraisal procedure and the statistics of those that move through the school into the US and then into the company...

Dear friend's DS got place for Y9!

Last year the girls got their letters on Wednesday, and the boys on Thursday. Won't be too long a wait!

You can stay all day at WL, as they take the students out on visits that day. The students arrive back usually in time to see the auditionees and can spend a short time with them if they know them.