margarite

I don't think it's 'easy' to get a place, my daughter auditioned last year (she was an associate there) and she said the standard was higher than all the other prelims. Why not contact them? I don't think they've had their finals yet?

When DD applied to London JA in 2016 and 2017, someone worked out afterwards that there was a 1 in 14 chance of getting a place ... (this was for girls, think boys stood a 1 in 5 chance)

I'm so pleased for you! The recall day is shorter and parents just drop and leave. There's a ballet class, then a modern class and then they do a musical theatre workshop. In this they learn a song from a musical and each sing a line. DD was nervous about this bit, but I think it's to identify all rounders rather than penalise anyone if that makes sense. There are children in her year who have funding and aren't particularly strong singers. As far as I can remember I dropped off at 9am and picked her up around 1pm.

In the current year 7 there are 18 dancers, 14 girls and 4 boys. As far as I can tell, there's a similar number in year 8 and 9.

In RAD classes they are split into those doing Intermediate and those doing Inter-foundation, not by year, so there's a mix of year 7 and 8 in DD's current RAD class. They have non-syllabus classes together as a year group. There were a couple of girls who were ready to take the IF exam at Christmas as they'd already studied at that level, DD and others are taking it next week, and there's a few who aren't quite ready yet who'll do it in year 8.

My daughter never did tap before starting at Hammond, and is still not a natural tapper, but it’s helped strengthen her legs and sharpened her timing.

That’s my daughter’s year. Fingers crossed. That’s great he got Elmhurst finals for year 7 - an achievement in itself!

Good luck to him! What year is he auditioning for?

I can’t edit my post now but the first sentence should read ‘My daughter did a dance that she’d performed at festivals’ - not as I mistakenly put ‘quite a dance’. I sounded like an over-proud dance mom 😆

My daughter did quite a dance that she’d performed at festivals. It wasn’t the most technically complicated, but as she knew it so well she was able to perform it very confidently. I’m guessing they can see technical skills in the ballet class, so this is the time to show performance? Regarding the vocals, it’s not as scary as it sounds. DD sang Naughty from Matilda but some children didn’t prepare anything and just told to sing ‘happy birthday’. They don’t sing in front of each other. I hope your son enjoys the day, it’s a lovely school and DD is very happy there. She found the audition day very low-key and friendly.

I know YDA have a couple of bursaries for full time, not sure about the associate course though. No harm in asking? My daughter was an associate there for two years and is now at vocational school so it was money well spent, but it was a stretch sometimes!

Very true! She is a joy to watch x

There was an article posted recently about academics at Hammond: http://www.boarding.org.uk/media/news/article/10011/Academic-and-Vocational-Excellence-At-The-Hammond-

I too would have never considered a private education for my daughter, she is now in her second term at Hammond. I can’t say what the future holds for her, but I can already see the benefit of both the vocational and academic classes. She works hard, but is very average academically so the smaller class sizes benefit her greatly. I feel she would get lost in the average comp, as bobs along in the middle of the class. Dance wise she has improved so much, she only took her Grade 3 last April but is already taking her IF exam in March. I think being with likeminded children has helped spur her on too. It seems to be working for us at the moment, but I do miss her!

I heard that there was only one year 8 place, so it makes sense I guess to be very careful of the numbers they invite to finals so not to raise expectations. Good luck everyone still to hear. I remember the waiting well xx

Whereabouts are you based? Interested in the mirror ...

Last year DD did the audition on the Friday and we got the results the following Saturday - so eight days. Good luck everyone xx

Went to CG today and got DD fitted for new pointe shoes - got a lovely pair of Grishko which seem a much better fit for her narrow D width feet, and no slipping off at the heels! Thanks all for the advice.

Happy Christmas to you too! 🌲🎅✨

I would ring/email them first thing tomorrow to get clarification.

Haha! It's possibly my favourite thread title ever

Sounds to me that’s a place in the main company - for the main production. That’s what DD’s letter said last year ...

She did do the first ribbons on her pair - as I said they were a little wonky - it was like Frankenstein’s ballet shoes 😆 Good tip about the breaking in though, fingers crossed that’s all this pair needs too ...

Yes she’s at Hammond, popping to see her this weekend so will take elastic with me! Luckily we live in London so not too much of a mission for another fitting.

Thanks Sarah, I might well take a trip to CG in the hols if the elastic doesn’t work. She does have little, narrow fairy feet!