Swanilda

Congratulations to your DD! Year 4 places in London are rare. It could indeed be that the school doesn't yet know how competitive the RBS JA selection process is. My DD gained a place in JA year 5 in London for next year. The Headteacher congratulated her wholeheartedly. My DD requested not to celebrate it in the assembly because her dear friend auditioned too but didn't get in this year. DD said it wouldn't be considerate towards her friend. Could it be that there are more kids who auditioned from your school for the same program? Don't let the little cloud spoil your party. See you in September in Covent Garden.

Hello, I searched for navy track suit bottoms to match the associate sweatshirt too. By chance I found Jacadi, it's £15 on sale now (-50%. French narrow leg cut. It's the closest shade of navy I found and it is online too. https://www.jacadi.co.uk/summer-sale-ss17/all-sale-ss17/stretch-trousers-2011619.html My Dd is 148cm tall (in case here are some parents with tall girls) Option 1. Jacadi joggers Size 12 pants inside leg seam measurement is 65cm. That reachers my dd ankle, but looks nice. Top part is a little big. However, waist has two adjustable elastic with buttons. Option 2. I ordered RBS JA pants in size 12-13 years for her inside leg measurement of 72cm RBS joggers for 9-11 years -for 65 cm measurement, would have been too short. For 12-13 years -71 cm is good length wise but the width fits an adult comfortably I am not joking. I requested a local tailor to cut 10 cm of material from each side to create a better fit - and still ample room there. RBS JA pants cost £14.99 plus £15 to tailor...most expensive option. Option 3. Bought Zara joggers in size 9-11 (for 150cm height) they are too short in length and very big around belly/bottom. Those are priced best at £6 appx on sale but I also thought the shade in new item looked already washed off as compared to the Deep blue of the RBS JA top. I returned it. 9-11 RBS JA zip up jacket is wide but at least the sleeves are Ok - from the neck to wrist it's 63 cm. I just heard RBS JA sweatshirt and track suit bottoms are optional? Is it correct? The white leotard's cut is not great. It can't be re-tailored. Will have to endure this one. x

Thank you, MAK, just registered my DD.

Thank you TBG, I will definitely look at EYB. My DD will be starting the RBS JA yr5 group in September - lucky this year. She is now preparing for a tour with LCB - she loves any opportunity to dance. We were at the 'In conversation with Zenaida Yanowski' session at the Royal Opera House last week. Zenaida shared her experience being a tall dancer and how tall ballerinas can face difficulties being cast into certain roles. I hope the situation will improve 5'7" outside ballet world is considered average. x

Hi Meglorien, your DD's teacher may try to contact the Associate Programme Manager, Sylvia Hubbard. She was one of the 3 judges on the selection panel in London. I do not know which way will be best to contact. If you DD's teacher calls the associates number on their email perhaps it might be easier?

Hi Baletmummy28, my DD will be starting at JA3 (year5) at 12 noon, which group is your daughter going to be next year? Is it a mixed group yr4/5 boys and girls? Very excited to join the class.

Ladies, if it helps, it is also possible to get RBS JA audition feedback. Last year we had yr4 SWL and my DD ballet teacher spoke with the Head of the JA program. Our ballet teacher was very kind to make this contact. Mrs Sylvia Hubbard gave very constructive feedback pointing to where the focus should be to fix the shortcoming. My DD then was able to focus on the area and showed improvement. I understand that JA would not be able to speak with parents but will respond to a professional enquiry from a ballet teacher x

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.

I am so happy with a yes for my DD. Yr5 London results are out. She loves YDA associates and hope we can combine both on Saturdays. Good luck to all who are still waiting results! ???

My daughter is now preparing for the July tour. Children are taught by Victoria Collinson and two other teachers. DD is so looking forward to every Sunday morning. They are doing the same Secret Garden ballet but might be a slightly shorter version. Victoria was also on our judging panel together with Sylvia Hubbard and 1 or 2 others for RBS JA year5 in London in May. I am not sure about the panel composition on other days. We are waiting for theJA results

Last year the results for the year 4 entry were emailed to us on 20th June after the audition on 3 June. 2.5 weeks seems efficient

We are on Thursday at 10 a.m. DD is so excited

Good luck to everyone! My dd will be auditioning in London on 1 June. A few friends will be there at the same time and she is very excited about going to RBS JA audition again

Currently Jessica Ronan (casting director) runs auditions for ensemble roles (Hortensia, Amanda, Lavender etc) and the dates for the first round are 28.04, 03.05, 07.05. Recalls will be on 13.05 and the finals will be on 20.05 My 9yo recently compared herself to an Ashton's style lyrical ballerina . However, she always loved all Dahl's books and was lucky to see the Matilda musical, she is thrilled to be invited for this audition. She is 4 ft 9' and height restriction for ensemble roles is 4 ft10. For a few days now I've been watching her following wild street dance routines she found on YouTube. There are so many children applying. Good luck to all auditioning.

My daughter will join the Masters of Ballet summer school. The training will be at Sadler's Wells Theater. http://www.mastersofballet.org/

The Royal Ballet School posted a video on 13 January 2017 answering many questions about their Associate program and Auditions process. Please follow the link https://www.facebook.com/royal.ballet.school/

Margarite, Petalviolet and Flowerpot, your daughters did amazingly well to get to the finals. I haven't figured out how selection process works, my dd says all girls at the finals danced really well. I re-read the letter again, the touring company this year will train for 5 days on Sundays * 5 hours per day and then will tour for 5 days with performances in February or July or September. It would not be a huge commitment. It also says that 48 kids were selected for the touring co from 450 auditioned. 30 were taken into the main company. I have many friends with ballet kids but know only one girl who danced in the main company last year. My DD can still audition for RBS JA since she will be free in May. This year she had a place on RBS JA Yr 4 SWL but a place didn't materialise. DD will go to audition again.

My DD is invited to join the LCB2 touring company. She is really happy! X

Flowerpot, the letter states that results following the Finals will reach us by Friday 2nd December. Only a couple of days to wait;) Wishing all to have good news!

Congratulations to all! My DD will be in the group 'R1' for the final audition at 9:30. She will be so happy to hear the news. In any case it will be a wonderful experience.

Margarite and Flowerpot, hope we all meet on 20th. I agree, regardless of the final outcome, even going through the audition experience is wonderful for our girls. Good luck to all!

We went to the first LCB audition last Sunday (31.10). There were 3 groups of 9 yo girls. In our group A we had 35 girls and 11 were recalled to stay. I noticed that number 1 was missing, maybe dropped out last minute. The audition process was friendly, interesting and fun. My daughter loved it. I was told to expect results regarding the final audition in 10 days, it will be distributed (by mail/email), 3 days after 10,12,14 yo girls and boys auditioned this coming Sunday. Last year only four 9 yo dancers were invited into the LCB company chosen from about the same number of applicants. This year the cast will be smaller, about a half. We saw 3 LCB beautiful performances on stage and it's the first time my daughter had a chance to apply. I am guessing (based on the last year's assessment schedule) that 9yo RBS JA audition in London will be on Thursday and it would not clash with the Secret Garden performances (Mon-We'd).

My 8yo will start at the YDA Associates program in September, she is on a SWL RBS JA and if a place becomes available she will be happy to combine both. YDA Associates is a great program and DD is very excited.

Thank you Gowiththeflo and congratulations to your DD! MAK, appreciate your feedback. Will keep our fingers crossed and if this year doesn't work for DD will try next year. The audition process was welcoming and professional, all girls looked happy. In 2016 there were 1200+ applicants, 850 chose london as their preferred location. I did some historical analysis: According to the 2015 RBS annual report. Last year there were 929 applicants to RBS JA, 333 auditioned in london (266girls/67boys). - page 14 2015 Intake was 26girls/20 boys across 8-10 years in london Based on the 2014 RBS annual report data 928 kids applied, 339 in London (294 girls of which 28 accepted), 45 boys applied /15 accepted Page 12 10% intake for girls and 33% for boys are valid.

Hello, My dd was offered a place on SWL in London. She will be in year4. Would you know from experience if the WL clears? Thank you.