balletbean
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Evening all, I have just been trawling through the RAD website without success. Could anyone help me with a link to the website page that would have the Grades and the Marks awarded for the RAD Graded and Vocational exams. (How many pupils awarded Pass, Merit and Distinctions but also what their scores were within the awards). Purely for my personal research purposes. Thank you
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Cost of living away from home 6th form dance colleges
balletbean replied to Siconne50's topic in Doing Dance
Where we live the Student Grant (£7500) is applied to the individual student subject to the families income. The Grant can then be used for post 16 Vocational training as long as the establishment is on the approved list. Post 18 for Unis. It gives the student more control over where they wish to study/train when the offer letters are received. Rather than relying on the schools making the final decision. However, there is obviously a shortfall which families have still got to fund. It sounds great however as the Grant is offered on a sliding scale the middle income families are hit the hardest (nothing unusual there) and no student loan scheme either. Cost of living is also offered to the lowest income families, this barely covers rent and food and certainly not travel. I don't think there appear to be any ideal funding arrangement, unless you are mega rich and just sign a cheque (in our dreams) Challenging times for all families, especially as many have more than one child to consider. But then we wouldn't have it any other way, watching our darlings living their dream............................................ -
Student railcard 16 to 25 is a must. If your DC still has an ID card from their old academic school they can use this in the short term at shops and food outlets as many offer student discount. Teach them to ask. It's surprising how much the odd 10% discount soon adds up. Teaching them to be thrifty from day one is a very valuable lesson. If you don't ask you don't get ..... as the saying goes.
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Good idea, I also incl some stamps (not that teenagers know what to do with them! lol) envelopes etc and a small first aid box. incl girlie medication for those rather more challenging times.........
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Thank you, Due to our geographical location an examiner visits us when all the schools in the area agree on certain dates. The vocational exam pupils are all grouped together for the exams as there aren't enough per school to warrant individual examinations (costs and time). It must be just my DD's teachers preference then rather than a RAD rule. Just mildly frustrating for my DD as she will have a few weeks of Inter with some pupils but also balance the Adv1 Foun with others. As long as she remembers where she should be and what time the mummy taxi picks up, I shall just go with the flow. PS Just heard DD received a Distinction for Grade 6 so fingers crossed for next exam.
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Hi, Not too sure of the date for your exams so I might be a tad late on this post. I'm interested to know how your teacher was able to enter you for two exams on the same day. My DD missed out on RAD Intermediate this summer as she was taking her Grade 6. Her teacher informed her she would have to wait until the Autumn as "you can't take Graded and Voc exams at the same time" . So after the summer break she will have just a few weeks to get back up to speed before the exam. If you have taken the exams, I hope all went well for you.
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I am totally in agreement with you on this one. There are so many studios now offering more general dance training. With students constantly posting the next 'must have' splits, over splits and whatever they call it (I can't keep up!) as there way to being a great dancer. A "one hit wonder" as I call it. A showy routine, sparkly costume and a well known catchy tune does hide the truth from an adjudicator. They have seen it all before, hence the comment "improve technique". Just like a building, without solid foundations they do not last. Without solid technique a dancer will not progress. Their work can appear sloppy and the dancer will be more prone to injury.
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Yup, been there myself. Chaperoning definitely passes the time and comes with the territory. But I do understand that some productions do not allow parents backstage and employ professional child carers. Worth asking though.
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After this years SS I was led to believe (but not confirmed) that not everyone that applied would be granted an audition. Photo application first, then invitation to prelim audition, then if lucky enough the final. It may appear harsh but it does seem like common sense, for those applying as well as from a business point of view. When you look at costs and man hours involved for each school to organise the auditions with the sheer volume of applications submitted, I understand that the camera isn't always a friend but we have to believe that the Artistic Director at the school knows what they are initially looking for. Fingers crossed.
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I bought my DD a mutli picture frame filled with family pics to hang on the wall, along with a fluffy throw for her bed. It's amazing the amount of times the throw was dragged down to the tv lounge to curl up in a chair/sofa, or just curled up on the bed whilst reading. Especially in the winter months, oh and a wheat germ bag like a teddy bear or similar that could be heated up in the microwave for those colder nights and achy muscles.
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From my experience (2 DD's) 10 is rather on the young side, it's not just based on their ballet technique but you have to consider the growth and development of the feet, calcification of the foot bones, cartilage, tendons etc Also 6 weeks seems very short period of time in prep classes. My DD's started once they were in RAD Grade 4 in prep for RAD IF but it took at least 6 months prep classes before they were assessed individually for Pointes. I'm not sure it was correct to 'dangle the carrot' in front of your DD by giving her the time scale of 6 weeks before she even starts. Buying your first Pointes is so exciting for the young dancer that they just don't see the bigger picture and possibly not allowed to buy them in the magical 6 weeks might be too hard to understand.
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My DD always wears a belt and never found one to fit either! Always requires a needle. cotton and pair of scissors. She always wears one for Class, exams and SS and now Grade 7/Intermediate RAD. I wasn't too sure about auditions so I was pleased you asked the question
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Thank you all for your replies. I must admit I thought it was based on Pass Merit & Distinction. I am obviously wrong. I watched the presentations at the end of the SS's as I was keen not to just watch my DD but also to see where she was pitched within her class and the rest. I felt that she held her own beautifully. However, as we all know the supportive words of a mum doesn't always work when it comes to teenagers and when they get something fixated in their mind no amount of reassuring words will work. They have to work it out in their own good time and way. Your posts have been very reassuring and ones I will share to show DD, that it appears that even though the application paperwork plays some part it boils down to the audition and how they perform on the day. Just like an academic exam. On judgement day it can all go brilliantly well or pear-shaped. Fingers crossed.
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Thank you Moneypenny, This has only happened since she has returned from a couple of the SS. Never realizing before how low her Grades were in comparison to her peers. It's so reassuring to hear your experience. I've tried to explain that even within a Grade marks can vary greatly and being of a higher grade doesn't automatically guarantee stronger technique. But we all know what teenagers can be like when they get a bee in their bonnet. Bless them all. I will keep on trying...........................
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Hi all, Currently researching possible sixth form entry and wondering if those lovely DC that have just been offered a place for September could help. What Grade/Mark was achieved in the recent ballet exam. If that's not being too personal. My DD attended a couple of SS's and appeared to be a grade or two lower than most of the pupils at the same age and is now having a crisis of confidence and whether she is at the right grade to even apply let alone audition for sixth form. Watching the review at the end of the week of the SS I couldn't tell the difference but DD can't get this Grade level thing out of her head! We are not sure what Grade/level the Vocational schools are expecting their new pupils to be at when they start. and therefore unsure what to expect at an audition. I hope some of that makes some kind of sense. Thank you
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My friend posted one to me the same principal may apply with taking the tutu on a flight. The tutu was covered in a sheet then sandwiched between two large circles of card and taped down, making the biggest frisbee the postman had seen. Obviously covered with "Fragile" stickers all over it. Take it to the checkin desk. Try to bluff your way to take to the steps like a childs buggy etc or if not it will have to go in hold luggage. Depending on the airline, some can be very accommodating other budget airlines might not be helpful. Would it be easier to post to your destination? It would be good to know the actual answer that worked. Good Luck
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Hi, Just wondering how old your DS is. Not that is should affect the way he was treated at all. Just curiosity. Regarding a certificate, my DD's school along with many local others that I know of present certificates at the end of the workshop, how ever many days that may be. You might just have to wait until the workshop/summer school finishes. Hope it all settles down for your son.
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Ballet West, Scotland. West of Glasgow International Airport heading towards Oban. Residential, beautiful, caring, safe and secure environment. Just make sure you google Ballet West UK as there is another school of similar name in America! The only issue with Scotland is that the SS are run earlier than those in England as their school summer holidays are earlier and they return to academic school in August. Not sure if the dates would be compatible with Australia term dates. There are always 4 weeks to select. First come first come basis and for as many weeks out of the 4 you wish.
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I chose ISTD and RAD as they appear to be the mostly widely recognised examination board used for me locally. RAD in particular is the one board mentioned on many application forms for vocational schools and incl those for many SS. Vocational schools also appear to continue with the RAD syllabus and examinations. Success in these examinations also opens the doors for pupils to enter national and international competitions like the Genee. Medal winners of these competitions use this opportunity to showcase their talents and offers for places in a ballet company have arisen as a direct result of these competitions. A pupil that was considering auditioning for a vocational school rather than enjoying Ballet as a hobby would have already trained in this Board will obviously find the transition to vocational schools and even the audition day itself, slightly easier as they would already be familiar with the terminology and technique. Obviously if a pupil that was RAD trained but decided to attend a Russian based vocational school could experience challenging times with the transition but in the reverse.
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Hi, I maybe a tad late joining this post but I thought I would through my thoughts into the ring. When considering a school, not only research classes which is self explanatory but what about the exam results. Are the teachers RAD or ISTD qualified? The most recent exam season results should be filtering through about now. Watching a production is helpful but if it's a long term career choice for your DC then you really need to look at exam results for the school. Cost can also play a factor so look closely at the fee structure. Some schools offer a sliding scale reduced rate subject to the more lessons taken. Even to the extent that after the first 6 weekly lessons paid for any more are free. This will encourage pupils to join in the none syllabus classes. i.e Stretch/Conditioning/Acro etc Good Luck, not easy but at the end of the day it's you requiring a service so you expect (naturally) for the business (studio) to reciprocate.
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Hi, This year, for the first time the 14/15yr olds were catered for at WL instead of CG, which might explain 16yr olds being the youngest
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Just collected DD from Elmhurst. First ever time. Loved it. Teachers, staff and more importantly her peers. Mixed abilities which did surprise me slightly. Not sure if that is the norm. Also attended ENBS SS . Performances st the end of each week were amazing. Certainly exhausting last month. Now for a little down time before own dancing schools summer workshop. Before we know it it will be September and a new term. Did someone say this was the summer hols?. Lol😉😂
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Having a DD who has just attended 2 SS and witnessing an array of skirts. I would suggest a skirt that just covers the lower part of leotard. Any longer makes the legs look short. Soft flowery pattern in wrapover chiffon hang the nicest. Flat against waist with no gathers. Choose carefully aswell. Some 'cheap' fabrics crease and don't hang and move well (static) with the dancer.
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That's my method as well fortunately or unfortunately (depending on which way you are looking at it). It now only takes me 45 mins for each shoe. Full darn, elastic and ribbons. My housework list has had to be shortened
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Differences between AAD and RAD grade marks??
balletbean replied to Pointe-less's topic in Doing Dance
Sorry if my response is a bit late but I've been wrapped in end of academic school year straight into summer schools. Just to add a foot note to the exam marks. RAD is broken down in to 10 different categories and each one is marked out of 10 thus giving the final mark ie Technicality, knowledge of syllabus etc. A pupil maybe marked low on one section but pick up extra marks for another. It is truly hard to compare one exam board to another. Each must be really taken on their own merit. The syllabus will also vary between AAD and RAD just like ISTD Ballet. I would like to see another mark within RAD Distinction like a * (similar to the old academic GCSE grades) to indicate a high Distinction. There is a massive difference in a pupils ability from a 75 to a 95 for example. Application forms for Vocational schools and colleges never ask for the mark only the Grade.
