balletbean
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Everything posted by balletbean
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How much (if anything) should I be doing?
balletbean replied to Picturesinthefirelight's topic in Doing Dance
OMGoodness, That is a hard one. I can certainly sympathize with you, rather than do all the research may I suggest having a conversation just purely on time lines. As in, explain the time limits on applicants. Just applying doesn't force anyone to then audition or even accept an offer of a place if one is made after auditioning. Empathize, what she can''t do is apply next spring when she does make a decision. Maybe she doesn't quite understand there is a time frame but under no pressure to say yes. That is one decision that can wait. Good Luck. -
How much (if anything) should I be doing?
balletbean replied to Picturesinthefirelight's topic in Doing Dance
Hi, I also have a DD in yr 11 (ballet focused) and a older DD (now 22) having gone down the MT route. From my experience along with my eldest, If pursing an MT career training path. Stay and do A levels. MT colleges offer a Degree course for those post 18, Post 16 can only complete the Diploma. My eldest also said that even though many go at 16, accommodation on offer for the post 16 varies. Host families are either loved or loathed by some but compulsory for some colleges. Check the small print carefully. As there was also very little classroom time and academic studies were conducted independently some of the younger ones struggled. Obviously these are just personal views and others many disagree. I understand. The only person to really answer this is you and your DD, good luck I am finding it hard. Especially as my eldest has a Nov birthday so was nearly 19 when she went but my younger DD will only be 16 next July. PS Because of the mixed age groups in the MT 1st year the under 18's found it hard with the social life of their fellow MT 1st yrs but over 18's if that makes sense. -
I honestly thought all the finalists were in full time training. That is amazing not just for the pupils but also their teachers. The standard of training available outside the Vocational Schools must be very high at some Ballet Studios. Well done to them all. PS Would love to see an award/medal handed to the teachers of the medalists in the final, as an acknowledgement by the Genee.
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Genee 2018 has just been announced to be held in Hong Kong. Closer to home for those competitors down under.
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Well done on your perseverance, I would have given up. DD came home last night with her latest RAD exam certificate. 10 for Character, I am still in shock and thanking my lucky stars that she was the only one in the exam for two reasons. 1) Her ribbons were the wrong colour as her school have changed their uniform/ribbon colours but this bad mother had not got around to replacing it! 2) Her skirt was really just too short (right on the knee) but when standing there on her own there was no one to compare her to (thankfully). I feel your pain.
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Thank you, I didn't know that. The Tube doesn't look like a good option (just looking at the underground map) but then I'm no expert on the city public transport.
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It is a unique requirement for RAD so I can understand the reason for the question. Doesn't mean to say that UKA won't include character as some stage but they might have their own style of skirt to enhance the dances. The girls hold the skirts (1/2 circle) during the routines as and when they choreography requires it, tends to be on the fast turns or similar. Girls also wear headdresses like hair bands with long trailing ribbons or handkerchiefs along with their skirts for some grade. These accessories are provided by the dance schools and not bought individually by the girls. The dances are that traditional the accessories tend to have been in store at the schools for many years. PS Now my turn to ask a question. UKA? I have to admit I have never heard of that one before. Sorry RAD and ISTD appears to be my limit. Can you help? Thank you
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Amazing talent from everyone that took part and congratulations to all the medalists. Harris Beattie is certainly a name to follow when he Graduates. A bright future awaits him.
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They are used for RAD syllabus but can't remember what Grade from as we seem to have had them in the family forever. Each school can select their own graded ribbon colours to tone in with their uniform colours, skirts can be bought ready made but some colour choices can be rather more challenging to find. Should hang a couple of inches below the knee (as stipulated by RAD), which is a tad annoying as the waist bands are adjustable but our darling DD's tend to have a growth spurt normally just before their exams! Bless 'em The shoes are black canvas with a soft suede sole, pink elastic secured with a popper. Low heels for the younger girls and Cuban heels for the higher grades. Very soft and easy to dance in. Generally worn only for a short amount of time and not necessarily every lesson. Just enough to learn the Character dance for the exam. Shoes are out grown before out worn. Many studios have a second hand uniform shop of some description and well worth a look when these items are required. Skirts start at about £24/28 but vary depending on sizes.
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Thank you, having just googled the distances they are similar distance, about 45 mins walk from Liberty to old and same again to new address. Seems quite a hike for pupils after a long day in the studio and that's on a dry day! However, the distance between the old and new school building is just 26 min walk, due south across the bridge.
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Adding on to your question. Any news about how Central are to carry out the move to their new premises. All I've seen is 2018/2019. How will that work with accommodation for the pupils? As it has been reported Herbal Hill is not really practical location to stay once the school moves and if this is mid term I'm a tad confused what will happen. Does anyone have any more info. Thanks
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All I would suggest is that a leotard with scoop front so the straps are wide and incorporated as part of the leotard rather than sewn on for more support and try to avoid thin spaghetti type straps. Also look for double lined with 'bra shelf'. They offer more support and more discreet than Single layer leotards. Cotton and some colours also show perspiration in those areas that make girls more self conscious than others. Overall a good fitting leotard should offer the necessary support for most girls without the need for wearing a bra, a bra rides up with movement and also tends to make the bust area even bigger. If a bra is really needed try the Bloch underwear range designed to be seamless, with the clear straps and breathable nude colour fabric.
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Audition decision wait - compulsive email checking
balletbean replied to dancertaxi's topic in Doing Dance
Good Luck, I'm all for emails. We only receive single delivery on 5 days a week (Mon-Fri), anything up to about 4pm. No Saturday post and no parcels on a Monday. I'm a familiar face at the postal depot and courier hangar trying to locate missing post and costume parcels. I'm sure they think I am completely bonkers. -
Oh yes, been there. My DD also turned up without any makeup for her first lesson at MT college. Oh no, a well known teacher insisted full makeup everyday and made her do the Plank as punishment. I think the Plank was actually a test of character to see if he could get a reaction (Diva) from her. She wouldn't play the psychological game and just did as she was told.
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My eldest DD auditioned for MT college. Far more relaxed on what can be worn in a ballet class for the audition than Voc schools. Read the small print carefully, one or two state black but no particular style. Nothing too 'busy' as she can always change later when its the Jazz/Modern class. Wearing a pretty decoration around the bun can be good, especially if you keep that for later (when hair is in pony tail). I know numbers are worn but hair decoration is known to help to be seen. Subtle but effective. What surprised my DD was the standard (not) of a bun for the ballet class. Sounds silly but when your main genre has been ballet, a bun seems second nature. A few MT auctioneers don't class ballet as important (Commercial being favoured) and some have never attended a ballet class before!. For those that major in ballet it certainly settles the nerves at the audition as it is quite often the first class held. Good Luck
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I understand, my DD has been overlapping her ballet grades for the past couple of years, as the recommended hours can work out at about 2yrs of training (after school). After the 1st year of one Grade, she starts on the next Grade. Thus taking exams annually. It's been an education for me. Didn't even know there was a possibility of taking exams any quicker. Just curious on results, trying to break out of my little bubble and see what the rest of the UK are up to and the standard to expect for my DD at US auditions.
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The feedback from those girls that were Intermediate/Advanced level in Ballet/Modern/Tap didn't find the GCSE challenging or new at all. They preferred to focus attention on other subjects and leave dance to their Studio/School. But that was feedback from just one school. When it comes to academic school drama/musical productions the teachers have now learnt to leave the choreography to the upper senior girls themselves. Which they have totally embraced and taken it all to a whole new level. Much to the surprise of the drama dept. I would be interested to know who the creators of GCSE Dance consulted before setting the syllabus. Brand new subject will always be challenging for well established qualified teachers in other subjects to undertake.
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- A-levels
- A-level dance
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The other factor to consider with exam results: Are the teachers adhering to the recommended hours per RAD grades? I have seen a couple of posts where a DC has taken several exams in one year. I can't see how the recommended hours could have actually been achieved. Will this affect the marks awarded and thus the overall %'s? Not too sure now if I should have asked the original question, oops.
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My DD has also just started Yr11 at her academic school. They chose their GCSE options at the end of yr 8, starting in yr9. Dance was on on the curriculum at the time. Students of the same year group at other schools, who selected their GCSE options a year later were offered GCSE Dance, much to my DD's annoyance at the time. However, it now transpires that those pupils who pursue dancing outside school are more qualified in Dance than the actual GCSE teacher and didn't find the syllabus challenging enough . It has now been dropped as an option. probably to save the teachers reputation.
- 54 replies
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- 2
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- A-levels
- A-level dance
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I'm not too sure. With all the publicity I really thought a 9 would be 90% and above, an 8 would be 80 to 89% etc. No disrespect to those having just received a 9 but I honestly thought the marks were higher. Especially as some of the subjects had up to 3 separate papers. One student I know had to sit 27 GCSE exam papers, in just one exam season. Not forgetting the music and dancing exams. No wonder she was mentally and phonically exhausted by the end. On a slightly different note: On the BBC news page yesterday, quoted Dancers and Choreographers earning more than a Solicitor. Not too sure which planet the BBC found their info
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Yikes, that is high. With the new academic GCSE grades. To receive a coveted '9' which is apparently the 'cream of the crop' a student has to get 79% or above. For a ''5' it is 52%. Not too sure if awarded a '1' which is also a pass what a student would have had to have been given.
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Sadielou, This was partly my reason for asking the question. On this forum I have seen a few times a 'high merit' quoted. Having never seen this expression anywhere else I was curious. Thinking that the marks were released on a web page somewhere and I had missed them. I totally agree with you on the 55 to 74 mark. There is a a huge difference on the standard achieved/awarded.
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Why do you think that Sophie_Rebecca?
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My DD's have always been issued with a photo ID card from their schools. Just like adults may have in the workplace. Handy as it not only has a passport size photo but also their date of birth. I thought most senior schools issue them. They have come in very handy. Even passed as ID on domestic UK flights in place of a passport as well as retail outlets when claiming student discount.
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Thank you both for the links. Without a further breakdown it's impossible to know if all the Merits were just either one point away from a Pass or one point away from a Distinction and so on. Of which interests me. Is there even an average mark awarded for a P, M and D?
