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balletbean

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  1. Hi. Just jumping in here. My eldest DD has a teaching post with a local dance school after graduating MT college with the Diploma level 6. She sourced a course off the ISTD approved list. The lady is based in Herne Bay nr Canterbury. DD attended a one week very intensive ISTD ballet course last Oct. Very challenging & exhausting but productive week. Stayed in an AirBnB. Exam on the last day. Just has to continue teaching within the studio and complete the final unit to obtain her full ISTD teacher status. https://www.danceteachertraining.org/ My Niece who has full RAD teacher status as she attended RAD as a full time student sourced a ISTD course held in Swindon to obtain her ISTD teaching quals. To add to her other qualifications incl RAD Silver Swans. There are so many routes available. Like so many others have said, it all depends on your end goal, incl time line. Your access to current teaching, take into account your availability to attend courses which might not be near your home and funds available. None of these short courses are residential so you do have to factor in these additional costs over and above the actual cost of the course. Obviously it’s all worth it if it gets you to where you want to be. 😊 Good Luck.
  2. Gosh, already fully booked! They used to have early bird rate until April time, encouraging returning students to book early ahead of those 1st yrs awaiting their A level results. How times have changed.
  3. Congratulations to your DD. The inner confidence grows when the offers start coming in as well as it’s always good to be in a position to have a choice in your final decision making. 🍀😊
  4. If you decide to take a stroll to stretch your legs during the audition process, may I suggest to turn right out of NBS then right again. At the end of the road you will see Unite Students accommodation New Medlock and the adjacent Parkway Gate. This is where many students stay and will give you an overall idea of the area etc. uS staff maybe on hand to answer any questions you may have about the services provided. 😊
  5. That’s great. And totally understandable not wanting to rely on the trains. With regards to the car that’s a yes, just past the Maldron in Charles Street there’s a multi storey carpark which is opposite the Ibis Hotel. We only had to wait a week for the letter to arrive in the post. Still hold that letter dear. Good Luck and best wishes to your DD. 🤞🏼😊🍀
  6. Hi. How exciting for your DD. I presume you’ve got all your travel plans sorted or would you like some advice? Audition day can feel like quite a daunting prospect however when my DD auditioned at NBS from the moment we arrived and throughout the day both the parents and DC were made to feel most welcome. (We hadn’t attended any open days either, so we were definitely the blind leading the blind on the day😉). I understand the process has changed over the past couple of years so would be unfair to comment directly about the actual audition but happy to provide any guidance/advice for parents 😊
  7. Hi. As mum to a graduate DD from NBS do you have any specific questions in mind? Accommodation? Living in Manchester? Auditioning post graduation? Academic module of the Diploma? As there have been changes with in the teaching faculty it would be wrong for me to try and answer questions related to that aspect.Happy to respond where I can either here or via a DM 😊
  8. I remember those days, sleepless nights, spread sheets and charts but fundamentally what it all boiled down to was the good old gut instinct you get to actually walk into the school or college. Whether it’s for an open day or only on the actual day of the audition. You will just know. Not all schools/colleges will suit all dancers even when they are offered a place. From my experience don’t verbalise those ‘gut instincts’ to your DC. Wait to hear from them as you maybe pleasantly surprised of how much you are both thinking alike without saying out loud or maybe select your questions very carefully on things you might have noticed or experienced that they might not have on the day to have that open and honest discussion. After all it won’t be us spending the next 3yrs of our life at the school or college. 😊
  9. Hi. For some unknown reason my first attempt to respond has disappeared into cyber space. So here goes….. All pupils are treated equally as they’ve all been accepted into first year based their skills & abilities. The expectations within the studio are the same. Whether they have just turned 16 or they are nearly 19 if not older. The only slight difference I have noticed along with others that I’ve spoken to at other well known MT colleges is that the 16yr old boys are not expected to lift the girls in partner work certainly in their first year. So they are treated slightly differently. They are encouraged to do more weight training or similar to develop stronger upper body muscles. Which all makes sense. Academically- those pupils that have secured higher grades in one or more of the Humanity subjects at GCSE’s or A levels if that’s appropriate tend to fair better when it comes to the essay writing modules of the syllabus for the Diploma. Those who have a keen eye for detail, presentation and being well organised within the academic work also tend to fair better overall. Unlike school the teaching staff are not there to remind their pupils to submit work. Most colleges do not have dedicated diploma academic teachers but rather the dancing teachers take on the role. It’s not hard to let things slide when the days are long and they are tired and when there’s food to prep/laundry to do etc but it is imperative that time is given on a regular basis within their schedule from the outset to ensure the written work is kept up to date. If you have any further questions regarding this please drop me a private message. Happy to help were I can. The difference in the ages really only becomes apparent within their social life and all that that entails. 😉
  10. Hi, I can understand and appreciate how you feel. My eldest went to Stella Mann on the diploma course, albeit a few yrs ago at 18. My youngest DD went to NBS also on the diploma course at 16 (also July). So I’ve experienced both ages leaving home. From that experience alone I’ve learnt not to overthink the age thing as some 16yr olds are more mature than many 18yr olds when living away from home for the first time 😉 The majority of first yrs at Stella Mann were 18yrs + at the time. Obviously I can’t comment on the schools current cohort. However, I can add that Bedford was a very budget friendly place for a student to shop for food and everyday essentials etc. The downside is that accommodation (old mainly terraced houses) is in the private rental market and the standard was sometimes questionable. We all know about rent increases and the costs of utility bills etc recently. Many of these old houses cost a lot to keep warm but then my DD’s accommodation over the 3yrs were always within a 20min walk of the school. So that’s a plus as there was no need for daily public transport. Plus and minus all to take into consideration. Whilst focusing on the audition itself is vitally important, please take time (if you haven’t already) to research in great detail the accommodation for all of the schools and colleges your DD is interested in. Some of the schools/colleges may have access to Halls type accommodation for their students like those for uni students. This type of accommodation offers a ‘safety net’ (as I call it) for the younger tenants. Rent incl utility bills, 24/7 security & maintenance etc. And generally in better state of repair and decoration. Happy to answer any more questions you may have. Wishing your DD all the best 🤞🏼
  11. Hi. Congratulations to your DD. What a fabulous start to the audition process. I’m mum to an NBS 2021 graduate. Feels like a lifetime away but as DD only revisited the school and teachers last Friday it feels like we’ve never left. 😊 Not sure if you are on FB or Instagram as their most recent posts on both forums offer some insight into what some of the staff were up to during the holidays. I’ve tagged @Dancers Dad in as they have a wealth of knowledge as to the day to day runnings of the school as a parent of a current pupil and of course the more practical aspect relating to accommodation etc.
  12. Hi. We are all here to help in anyway we can. 😊 From my experience the girls tended to wear nice pair of trousers and a top or a pretty (floral)day dress. Nothing too tight or too short. Sunday lunch not Saturday night vibe. (and not linked to their song). With their heels ie New Yorkers or similar. The heels helped them stand better than flats during their solo. Brush the hair down or leave 1/2 up. Light makeup. Light coloured lipstick. 🙂
  13. I know it’s easy to say to not be disappointed but it’s not to be seen as a No for the entire world of ballet. It’s just that the school possibly wasn’t the right fit. Also it’s worth remembering that these experiences helps the young dancer to learn and grow as an individual as when they do graduate they will be auditioning for companies and contracts. Not every company will want every dancer but there will be that one that does. No difference with Schools/Unis in fact any job we’ve ever applied for. Good Luck. The right school is out there I'm sure you will find it. 🩰🍀
  14. That’s interesting to see that those from the EU are still eligible for a DaDa subject to other conditions obviously. Students from the Channel Islands are not eligible. Even though the islands are a crown dependency they are still excluded. 😕
  15. Hi. be prepared, long response coming. I’m going to suggest that you may want to look at the Northern Ballet School (NBS) in Manchester. Not the stereotypical upper school as it doesn’t offer A levels like some of the big names. NBS offers a Diploma level 6 in professional dance. All pupils train in all genres for the first yr with the option to select either the classical focus or the jazz focus for their 2nd & 3rd year. When a pupil does select Classical it does not exclude other genres entirely as their timetable is developed around them giving the opportunity to continue broadening their training. And the jazz doesn’t exclude ballet either as that is such a core part of the pupils training. First yrs are not all 16yr olds like other upper schools as NBS cater for those intending to pursue the Jazz focus from the outset but everyone has an assessment and interview at the end of their 1st yr to assist them in selecting the correct focus to meet their skills, abilities and of course future employment in the industry. What also sets the school apart is the one day only audition process. Dates offered start on Nov early Dec then start up again late Jan. No recalls, no finals. Letter arrives about a week later. There is the option to be considered for a DaDa for funding and that does require a wait until all auditions are completed. Pupils live off site in one of the many Halls offered by Uni providers nearby but don’t worry as the providers do not mix the NBS pupils with Uni students in their flats. There’s also a small proportion of pupils across the year groups that commute in as they live within the Greater Manchester area. There was an announcement recently by ICTheatre who is the parent company that owns NBS that they had been confirmed that they can now offer a Degree along with the Diploma. Which would certainly bring the fees down for some in line with other degree courses. Whilst this isn’t probably available for the younger pupil it should mean that there are more DaDa’s available as the older pupils could select the degree course if the school retain the same amount if DaDa’s. But this is all fairly new so plenty of time to see what happens. DD graduated July 2021 so we’ve now moved away from school life and now gaining our experience and knowledge of the audition process & working within the industry. Which is another experience entirely. Any questions please just ask. 😊
  16. I’m so sorry to hear about your experiences. Have you spoken to staff at the school just to ascertain if there is an issue either in the classroom/studio or even the meals served & friendship groups etc, homesickness symptoms can manifest itself to be a reaction to other factors. The biggest cause for many is lack of sleep. It’s like a slow burn they just don’t recognise how tired they are. Once those factors can be ironed out it’s a way forward My DD was older when she went away but struggled with what she thought was homesickness in the January term after being home for the holidays. The school recognises that Sept then Jan of the first year are always the trigger points for potential homesickness. Instead of bringing her home again for the weekend (she would have had to fly back as we don’t live on the mainland) I travelled up to the school and checked into a hotel nearby for the night. She stayed with me. We visited some places in the area. Walked/talked/slept and ate out. Just Sat mid morning returning back later on Sunday evening. She still says now it was just what she needed. A good nights sleep just recharged her battery. It was like flicking on a light switch. Came home a few weeks later for 1/2 term full of life. (I also supplied her with her favourite homemade cake). Tired hungry children are never a good mix. The other option to consider if at all available….. If you have contacts with another parent in their yr group maybe they might be in a position to pop in one weekend and take their child and yours out for the day if school allows it. Might just be enough to help things ticking over until the end of term. Rest assured if that is such a thing, Homesickness is perfectly normal at any age when being away from our home. Best wishes. It’s just a small paragraph in chapter for the book of our life.
  17. balletbean

    UCAS

    Hi. Very valid question. Do the two vocational establishments request applications are done direct with themselves or via UCAS? If like a few vocational colleges they request application via UCAS your child can still apply for both on one application then add 3 unis for the academic choices on the same application form as there’s space for 5 choices. If it’s direct to the school/college then there’s nothing to stop your child completing their UCAS form with 5 Uni’s of choice and applying direct to the colleges in the usual way. Just ensure you meet the necessary deadlines for whichever route you take. Good Luck.
  18. Hi. I appreciate that we don’t know where your DD is applying for but from experience of the UCAS application process none of the institutions offer weekend interviews/auditions. Which isn’t ideal as we try to fathom out travelling time etc balanced out between mocks etc but hopefully all will work out well for you and your DD 🍀.
  19. Hi, from past experience (unless they have completely changed their dates) NBS start offering audition dates commencing in Nov. Dates are released late Sept. One round, no recalls. There’s a break then start again in the new yr, we chose the first date in Nov. Letter arrived in the post one week after audition. All done and dusted before Christmas and the mocks 🙂
  20. I think uS have a monopoly of Halls so they have become complacent over the years knowing that students have little other choice. Which is such a shame. My sons accommodation is on campus so the Uni has complete control over the accommodation. Somethings don’t change though. Missing shelves in fridge & freezers! Lol 🙄😅
  21. I’m so sorry to hear that uS are still up to their old tricks, having not learnt anything over the years. When my DD and friends moved in for their 2nd yr there was a supermarket trolley full of painters equipment. Overwhelming stink of white spirit and paint splatters all over the furniture. Not forgetting the hazard of storing flammable substances in a flat which I kindly brought to their attention. The staff were great and removed the items and replaced furniture but that shouldn’t have to happen on checkin day. Despite their reassurances that all flats receive a full inspection before students move in this was and by the looks of things very obviously still not happening. I’ve just taken my son to Uni for the first time, for about the same costs as uS accommodation, his flat was immaculate, the en-suite was of hotel standard. We were both pleasantly surprised having only had uS accommodation to base our expectations on. They even incl brand new bedding & linen!! I do hope everything is sorted out soon and everyone settles in to their new year.
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