margarite

11 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

Sorry to hear. Did you apply for summer as well?

No as I know that it’s even harder to get a summer place. DD was absolutely fine about it - it’s a bit of a running joke in our house that’s she’s blacklisted by RBS!

Late to the party but DD got her expected no for the spring intensive - we haven’t applied before as after years of no’s for JAs and MAs we weren’t feeling the RBS love 😆.

I was glad to see that they have started to write the ‘no’ emails with warmer and more encouraging language - so more chance of getting my £36 next year too ...

1 hour ago, TKT said:

Thank you Margarite, did your DD apply again or did she move on elsewhere? I’m not too disheartened as she is with TLBC. 
My no letter from Tring was apply for Tring Park Schools other Associates Programmes which I’m assuming means she needs more training? Xx

She was going to apply again the following November, but got into London Children’s Ballet that autumn so her Sundays were taken up with that and then she got a FT place at Hammond.

I do hope your DD tries again. One girl I heard of got an outright no for CBA then was waitlisted for RBS JAs a couple of weeks later which is no mean feat! She got into CBA the second time.

You should look at Ballet Boost they have a very good scheme too x

My daughter didn’t get a place when she auditioned for CBA in 2017. As far as I can remember her letter said something along the lines of ‘ blah blah unfortunately not offering xx a place at this time. But her dancing was of a good standard, so we recommend working on xxx and xxxx and coming back and trying again.’ 

Tring send three types of letter, yes, no and come back. I know of people who have had the ‘come back’ letter several times and also those that have have turned a no into a yes on a second attempt - so nothing is ever a ‘forever no’ xx

8 hours ago, HopelessMummy said:

 

You're welcome 😂

 

I'll have to tell my DD in the morning she didn't get through. Bit sad about it as it would have been an amazing opp but I'm sure she will be fine.

 

Does anyone know if previous years' dancers will always make the cut? DD was auditioning in the same group as that amazing girl who was Posy in Ballet Shoes last year.

 

Massive congrats to those who got through. Commiserations to those who didn't.

Previous year’s dancers don’t automatically  make the cut - they are treated the same as the other children at the audition so it’s a level playing field. 

In 2017 we got results the Friday after the final audition - so five days later. Good luck  everyone 🍀

I seem to remember people saying they got emails last year. We got a letter in 2017.

DD was an associate with the London Ballet Company before going to vocational school. Despite being an associate elsewhere with another, more well-known scheme, TLBC was her favourite. I agree it doesn’t have the benefits of being attached to a vocational school, but we saw it as DD having an instructive and enjoyable class with other likeminded children and as an accompaniment to her other training. She didn’t do any of the holiday schemes due to other commitments. The director also has links with Rambert and Elmhurst I think? Hope that helps.

I heard they might be going to Richmond- upon-Thames in early summer, so that’s possibly the July performance. 

There was a voluntary contribution to costumes, shoes and LCB t-shirt ( around £70 I think) which those on low incomes were not expected to pay, but you had to pay your own travel expenses. As the rest of the experience and all tuition was completely free, it seemed very fair.

8 hours ago, HopelessMummy said:

Where were the rehearsals?

Mainly at Central in Farringdon ( but think Central have moved now?) and also at Pineapple, Jerwood and Rambert on South Bank and also Wayne McGregor in Stratford. This was for the 2018 production.

2 hours ago, HopelessMummy said:

Thanks. That is super helpful, margarite and confuddled. I've

 deferred her ballet exam to next year just in case she gets through to the finals but we signed her up for the Rad competition which if she gets through, she's going to have to miss or some miracle has to happen with the rehearsal schedule. Then there are the associate classes she has and would miss at least 5. 🤪🤪 This is all very difficult. That is, of course, assuming she gets through. It looks very competitive. Over 700 kids for 56 spaces... If she doesn't get through, then there is no issue 😁😁😁

It was a huge, huge commitment, but possibly one of the most exciting and memorable events in DD’s life and she didn’t want the whole experience to end. Well worth every moment for us too, despite having every weekend devoted to shuttling her around ( she had Saturday associates too) and many an hour spent nursing stewed cups of tea in various cafes.

Hello my daughter danced with LCB in 2018. All cast members are needed pretty much every rehearsal. In the rehearsals from Jan to April DD rehearsed every Sunday bar one and she was in the corp ( though towards the end she was understudy to a main role). However rehearsals can be anytime between 1-6pm on a Sunday and you can often only needed for two hours so possible to fit in other things. DD often did associate class in the morning before going to rehearsals later on. 

There was another girl at DD's old dance school whose mum chose not to query why she was with much younger children and her daughter ended up in Grade 2 until she was nearly 11, despite getting mid 80s in her Grade 1 exam. I think everyone has a fear of being 'that mum' but sometimes you just have to speak out.

There's the possibility that the teacher might have her age/year group wrong? Is she small for her age?

 My DD had to be slightly fast-tracked as the school principal realised that they had her down as a year younger -  she took her Grade 1 at 8.5, but then only did Grade 2 for two terms and joined her peer group in G3 when she was 9.

14 hours ago, SissonneDoublee said:

What a lovely message! It is a hectic time and a big wrench as children go back to boarding school and college.

To the parents of new starters: you will manage so much better than you think you are going to. The children are starting the journey towards their dream, and it is hard to watch them go, but may you see them thrive as I have seen DD thrive; may your relationship with them grow stronger as my relationship with DD has grown stronger; and may you discover new interests and friendships to supplement the areas that quieten down when a high-maintenance Dancing child goes off to vocational school, as I have.

These were my fears this time last year. It was all fine. Better than fine! Our lives have adjusted and a year on, I don’t feel the dread as I help DD pack that I felt last year. Thinking of you all xx

All of this!

It might seem that life will never seem the same again but suddenly you have a 'new normal'.

Both DD and I (and even her dad) have made some wonderful new friends.

Good luck everyone xxx

Discovered yesterday that DD's backup tracksuit bottoms are now swinging around her knees (she's finally grown - hurray!) so are up for sale for £5.

Suitable for a teeny year 7 - I think 24 waist and 26 leg.

They have been used but still got a bit of life in them - ideal for having as a spare pair.

I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. Sending my condolences to his family and friends x

5 hours ago, Meglorien said:

I was told this weekend that there was some sort of closure, and that they focus more on contemporary than in classical ballet. I'll read through the thread to see what people say about the various school before asking more questions 😉

My DD is in Year 7 and there's at least one ballet class everyday, sometimes two. She is more of a classical dancer and is very ballet-orientated, but enjoys the modern and tap lessons too (there's approx two hours of tap and four hours of modern weekly) The standard is very high, I would say around 75% of  her year were JA previously and the other 25% associates elsewhere like Elmhurst, YDA etc. Hope that helps.

My DD has triangle Freeds 😀. Thanks for sharing!

I think EYB are really great at making sure that all the children get an equal amount of time on stage. My DD was a cygnet and loved it, so did her friend who was a courtier/servant. 

19 minutes ago, Ballet bun said:

Thank you everyone it sounds silly that I hadn't thought to esculate it. I think it's more a case of clashes, tiredness and clicks than bullying. 

I do agree with Sarahw that there is huge variations in matrons abilities, effort and thoughtfulness in handling the problems. 

I am just hoping that she has something positive in her last week or she might be too fearful to return as she feels desperately lonely at the moment. 

A good summer break will help I am sure. 

Thank you again. 

I’m so sorry your daughter is feeling lonely. In my opinion, some cliques do have the same effect as bullying, as they isolate and exclude people not in the group. I think of it as passive aggressive bullying! 

It might be too near the end of term to talk to staff, but I would definitely escalate it if she still felt the same in September.

If it’s any consolation, my normally happy DD was a bit teary last week, as others have said, the tiredness, hard work and anticipation of the big production were taking its toll.

I hope your DD feels more positive once she’s home and rested x

35 minutes ago, FlexyNexy said:

I have checked my email and AXA quote said £33.90 per month (386.46 annual)
My contact was Laura, i have explained whait we need (i.e. vocational ballet school requirements etc.)
 

Laura Ralph

Sales Executive

Individual Sales Centre

AXA PPP healthcare

Ground Floor

Eynsham House

Crescent Road

Tunbridge Wells

TN1 2PL

Tel: 0800 33 55 55  Ext.7344
laura.ralph@axa-ppp.co.uk

axappphealthcare.co.uk

 

Thanks for sharing  - was that a policy just for your daughter, or an addition to include her on to your existing policy? 

I’m paying just under £1000 a year for  the school’s policy at the mo, could do with reducing it  😳

I know some incredible dancers who were never picked for JA. Talent and potential plays a huge part, but there is also an element of luck involved. Good luck everyone ☘️

I managed to get a secondhand scarf, just as well as it’s spent the whole of Year 7 sitting under a yoga mat at the back of DD’s wardrobe 😆