ScottishDancerMum

Thank you!

Hello all

Do dancers need to wear their hair in a bun for ballet competitions, or is off the face sufficient?  My daughter was asking about wearing hers pulled up tight on the sides and front, but long and wavy in the back.  Is this ever a thing, or do I just tell her a bun is required?

My daughter had the same problem, but with her heel.  She changed to the So Danca SD120.  They have a designated left and right foot, and they were heaps more comfortable for her.  But the sizing is different from the SD16 so make sure your dancer is fitted.

 

Email. My daughter is in the current group, but did not audition for next year. Her BW friends found out via email this morning. 

Auditions results posted today.  Sunday was the year's final presentation - I figured they wouldn't post them until after that.

Hmmm... a lot to think about.  Thank you all.

My daughter has been in an associates program for 2 years.  We've never been given any feedback about how she is doing... other than a scholarship award given to one student at the end of the year, we really have been given no information at all about her progress (short of passing the audition the second time).

Is this typical?

Child does not want to return next season (she is almost 10).  I'm not wanting to push her as this has been on her mind for months (and she'll continue her other classes), but don't know if I should mention it beforehand to her program head that she won't be auditioning.  

What do you think?

We get them quite often on the FB selling page "Ballet Tutus and Dancewear secondhand and new". Lots of people buy old ones to decorate. Come join if you want to unload some

Thanks all - I sent this link to my friend but I think the end date for the program is over.  I'm not sure how she handled it in the end.  

I really appreciate your input!

On 24/01/2019 at 13:55, FlexyNexy said:

You can get her to contact me. I had spreadsheet going on with all the schools we applied and their requirements. Photos including profile was done by ex ENB dancer (could provide contact) and that was the best decision i have done. I used to take them myself, but for upper schools i didn't want to let my DD down. I have good contact for someone (freelance cameraman for BBC) who did our audition video editing as our teacher just took took various videos and email them in. I could not even imagine to cut it all to 12 minutes. He did fantastic job including introduction and labeled all exercises and we met the audition deadlines.
Both photos and videos had that professional touch and i could sleep at night that DD is presented in the best light at the initial stages. 

We even used those same photos for this year auditions for various summer programs and they did the job again. (all money worth spent). 

I just saw this - thanks, Flexy!

4 hours ago, Pas de Quatre said:

Why isn't her teacher helping?  Whenever any of my pupils wish to apply with photos I help guide the pose while mum takes the pics.  Having an older student there can be useful too. 

I asked, but she didn't tell me.  I promise this isn't me... I would have done this with our teacher as I'm no expert.

Me too!

Thanks for this.... I'll pass it to my friend.

A friend of mine is helping her daughter with her dance program application, and asked me to help with one of the photo positions.

The only one I wasn't sure on was this:

Full length, leg in second position en l'air, en face

Can someone clarify?  Thank you x

I'll be lurking at Dance Base... Middles aged with brown hair, jeans, navy tunic top and silver chain necklace. 

Diddydancer, what's your start time?  As one of our mums isn't there until noon, shall we make lunch instead?

ArucariaBallerina - see you on Sunday?  Let your folks know if they want to join us?

I had to write to the admin to ask.  Junior class is usually 10am -12:15 or thereabouts.  E's senior group is 10-2.  They like them to be checked in by 930am, and the first day was a bit longer to get everyone checked in.  


So far, we have:
ScottishDancerMum
Danceforjoy
Diddydancer

 

And please disregard the grammar error in the heading... I can't seem to find out how to edit (I didn't mean to add the apostrophe!)

As BW Associates is starting up again this Sunday, who would like to meet up after the dancers get settled and have a breakfast in the Grassmarket?

PM me on here, and I'll compile numbers and we can book somewhere.

Class starts at 10am, so 10:15 ish?

I'm going to start a post about our EA Breakfast!  Please come and find us!

38 minutes ago, taxi4ballet said:

Have you asked her what it is about her ballet classes that she finds boring at the moment? Would there be the option for her to do the grade above hers instead of the one below? She might just need a new challenge.

There isn't any other class within her school. She's in a class with younger kids, plus the one with older kids is the only class. She's 9, and the other kids are 10 to 12. She's doing grade 3 and 4 UKA syllabus concurrently and will examine in 2 months time. 

Thank you everyone.  I am just treading lightly as she's really talented but I don't want to be some harridan stage mother who pushes her kid into unhappiness and depression.

So she has a competition next week, and I've told her that we will hold any further comps until next spring.  She is taking jazz, tap and musical theatre, and refuses to let any of those classes go.  She normally does a private ballet lesson and two regular ballet classes (one is at her level and the other is a lower grade but she goes to help with strength and stamina.  So I think she should let the lower grade class go for now as it's boring.

She also has her Associates classes one Sunday a month.  She seems to like going, and they are involved in the Nutcracker this year so I'm hoping that gives her a bit of inspiration.

Before she auditions next year for Associates, we'll have to have a serious discussion about how much dance she wants to do.  I just paid her fees for the year - a huge feat for me - so yes, I do feel pressured to make sure she dances this year.  But I don't want her unhappy.

On 29 August 2018 at 16:22, Picturesinthefirelight said:

 

I'm sorry but that is ridiculous.  Unlss this brand of shoe does multiple widths and depths then surely comfort and safety and long term foot health is more important than anything else.

It's a nice shoe, and they do wear them for performances so they need to be the same.  We seem to have found a workaround though - So Danca makes another version of the same shoe with a smaller heel bump and narrower profile.  You can't tell they are different shoes when they are on, but Daughter liked the fit of the second ones much better.

Daughter is 9 and is thinking she doesn't like ballet anymore. She likes her jazz and Tap classes but thinks ballet is boring, despite being good at it. Is there any way we can help keep her motivated and build interest? (I'm not expecting her to try for a career in dance, but as I don't have a love of physical activity, I'd love to see her mKe better use of her body than I have). 

Any ideas? 

In my daughter's class (junior level) at Ballet West Associates last year, there was a lovely little girl who drove up from Newcastle for the class each month.  I'm not sure where you are in the NE, but don't discount going further north for some fantastic programs