xanthe

I find it quite worrying that the teacher is obviously age grouping the children - the idea of the 'older ones' not wanting her to dance with them is also ridiculous. My 7 year-old DD starts grade 3 in a couple of weeks - she's done a term at grade 2 but we opted to not sit the exam this week. The teachers decision was based entirely on her having solid technique and the ability to do the higher grade - she's definitely one of, if not the youngest, in a mixed-age class. None of the girls have said anything bad about DD being younger and moving up with them after far less time at the same level - if children are saying that kind of thing, it's because they're hearing it elsewhere. I'm definitely in the school of learning to walk before you can run, but having gone through the syllabi for the grades, so much of the early grades involves repetition and building on core movements and skills that I really don't understand why the teacher is so against it (we do Cecchetti so I don't know if other methods are similar). At your DD's age, the amount of dancing she's doing and being a JA as well, I would want her to be being gently challenged rather than bored. I'd look for a new school that was more flexible.

This year they are asking for Grade 4 dance standard - doesn't specify a particular genre, but they have asked for a list of completed grades. They're super-strict on height for most of the WE roles - the lady who runs the auditions for Little Cosette in Les Mis has a measuring stick with her to check! My DD is almost 8 and is 123cm so just over 4 feet (and she sees the endocrinologists because of growth delay!) so they really are tiny - they're looking for well under the average height for age given they want the older ones for Matilda.

Thank you so much for the replies here and all the PMs - all very helpful and I will be contacting the various physios people have recommended and suggested. Snowflake - so sorry to hear about your DD and I'm glad it has settled down for her - hopefully that's it done (sometimes it can reoccur with another growth spurt). Interesting that she has the high arches and long legs - it does seem to be a factor. So far my DD is fine - it was me who had it so badly as a child. I remember the misery of both the pain and the ban on sports for those two years and I wouldn't wish it on anyone! Given how identical she is to me in terms of her feet and legs, I'm hoping to prevent if possible or at least potentially minimise the problem - the idea of enforcing complete rest in DD fills me with horror!

Does anyone have recommendations for a London based (south-east or central preferably) physio who is knowledgeable about feet, dance and young children? I'm looking for one for one main reason and one secondary. Secondary reason is that I'd quite like an overall idea of DD's potential in terms of flexibility and turnout - I wouldn't book a physio appointment just for that, but if I can satisfy some curiosity and also tuck away the info in case it's useful later then killing two birds with one stone would be great. The primary reason is due to Severs Disease - this is a nasty that tends to hit between the ages of 9 and 11 and causes inflammation in the growth plates in the heel. It's horribly hereditary and both my father and I had it very severely as children (2/3 of my siblings had it mildly) - I spent over 2 years in plaster casts (6 weeks in, 4 weeks out) and it's miserable... feels as if you have a piece of broken glass stuck in your foot with every step and I had to give up all sport for nearly 3 years. My father, me and DD all have the same shape legs and feet - disproportionately long legs and very high arches and insteps, which leads me to suspect that DD will have a similar muscle, bone, ligament and tendon structure and therefore have a high chance of developing Severs. Nowadays the treatment is generally rest, ice and insoles, but there are people who are using physio to work on lengthening the hamstrings and various other bits to stop the pulling and inflammation. DD is nearly 8, so if there are exercises out there that could help we'd have some time to get cracking. I spoke to our GP about seeing a physio and she basically said to bring DD in if she develops the pain and they will do a referral then. Did not understand at all that I would like to pre-empt her ever developing the wretched thing. So I've decided it would be best if I take DD to see someone myself but finding the right physio is hard. DD does have BUPA, but not sure that this would be something they would cover. Would also love to know if anyone else has successfully used physio to treat/prevent Severs.

Your poor DD - I get migraines and they make you feel so horribly unwell. If you are not a coffee drinker then a small coffee can stave them off, otherwise there is a wonderful drug called Zomig that I have found miraculous and doesn't make you feel as icky as some of the migraine meds can. A hefty one like you describe is rarely shifted by the OTC remedies. There is a Zomig nasal spray for 12-18 year olds. Unfortunately they are often linked with drops in oestrogen levels and it's very common for them to occur around ovulation and menstruation... joyous. So nice of the ROH to do what they did and I hope you enjoyed what you did see.

Gandolfi do leather ballet shoes - I had to go there for DD's uniform and picked up a new pair of shoes at the same time and they are definitely a nicer fit than any of the other pairs she's ever had. Their factory is in the UK - they did have a shop in Baker Street, but closed just before xmas, but they are very helpful.

Thank you! I knew you could apply for two different locations, but it wasn't clear if London was potentially 2 options or not. There's no way we could get to anywhere else, so I'll put it down twice.

Quick question on the JA forms.... There's an option to select a second choice should the first choice not be available. Does this just mean that you can select two separate venues - i.e. Bath as second choice should London not be available, or can you select London 32 weeks as first choice and London 24 weeks as second choice?

I was very brave (I know.. I'm pathetic!) and asked DD's teacher about putting her in for the JA... and the answer has been that they are very supportive of the students attending their extra classes applying for associate programmes, as long as they are aware of the odds and able to handle the almost inevitable disappointment. Hooray, such a relief as I would hate to feel that I'd upset the teacher over it, or that I'd managed to pick a school where they weren't keen to encourage the children to try things. On the physique question, I've spent a lot of time looking at the kids in the backgrounds of videos from the RBS - it seems like there's a big mix of heights, and I did think the body shapes looked like a variation. Then I watched some videos from other schools and whereas places like the Vaganova Academy were all identikit (short back/long limbs), a lot of the others were far more varied compared with RBS. I imagine they have an 'ideal' list and then things alter depending on who they have in front of them and gorgeous feet might offset a shorter neck, and someone who has that 'x' factor that makes you have to watch them might get a pass on having body and limbs more in proportion. I guess you'd have to be on the panel to know what makes them say yay or nay. DD has the short body, long legs and high arches, but her neck doesn't look particularly long to me and she's can't do splits or anything like that - she has a dancing cousin of the same age who has a long body and short limbs but can effortlessly put her body in positions that bring tears to my eyes! It's really tough in performing arts and so often not because of what a child can or can't do. I know casting directors who bring a height stick to auditions and once you hit the 4ft 4" or whatever the limit is, you aren't even seen. I know of boys who have got roles in the WE after months of callbacks and then had to leave while the show is still in the rehearsal stages because their voices have broken.

No problem - we all have similar kinds of concerns! It sounds to me as if you will regret not trying and that your daughter is very keen. My DD has auditioned for musical theatre productions in the WE and not got through to the final rounds - there have been tears, but it's then that I have seen DD's determination and persistence come to the fore (rather than just because I have thwarted her in some way!). Not once has she said that she wishes she hadn't tried or that she doesn't want to do it again and it's actually been really good for her to not always get what she wants delivered on a plate. Her confidence has also been hugely boosted - even getting initial recalls has meant that she feels that she had a legitimate reason for being there and that she 'could' eventually succeed. I find the whole audition thing far more gruelling as a parent! Given the height question is not on the forms then I'm not so worried about things and I will leave all the health stuff off (and not wear heels to take her to the audition!) Thanks for the advice on that. Still trying to work out which forms it was that did have the parental height question on... or if I'm going mad.

I see your dilemma and it's really tricky to know what to do, especially if you don't want to upset the teacher - or your child. With the auditions only being once a year it's not as if you get many opportunities to have a go and you don't want to make the wrong choice. Is there anyway you could get a second opinion? I'd also heard that while the photos are fairly important, they are judging more on potential than what they've learnt so far. I'm in a slightly similar position - DD's new teacher wants to discuss her taking an extra invitation-only class and doing both standard and grades exams. Although madam has boundless energy, she will be taking 2hrs ballet, 1hr modern, 1hr drama, 2hrs singing a week plus her school have a dancer-in-residence that she does an hour with and she has choir after-school. If she was to get a place in the JA, that would be a heck of a lot for a child her age. It would feel criminal turning down the opportunity so now I'm not sure if she should even try out this year. I think frank discussion is probably needed but tricky at the moment as the teacher hasn't known DD long enough to know her strengths/weaknesses yet. At least applications are open till March! Double checked the forms and parental height isn't on that one. Not sure which forms it was on as I know I saw it somewhere!

Thank you all for the welcome and answers! The growth one is tricky - one doesn't want to make a point of mentioning a health issue, especially when it has no day to day effects, but I know the parental heights will give them a prediction of 5ft 9", yet the hospital are pretty certain that she will be between 5ft 2" and 5ft 6" and probably on the upper end. I think I will try and find a very simple way of explaining it - sadly/happily she doesn't fit in any of the standard 'conditions' so no nice, easy label either. It's annoying as she is probably going to be a perfectly reasonable height for dance, but on paper she won't. I'm going to send an email to her new ballet teacher and see how things are going, and I will let her know that I'd like her to have a go at the JAs. Princessballerina - lots of luck to your DD. I've been looking at the photo instructions... yikes! sarahw - I will go and have a look at some of the others in the London area, thank you for the suggestion.

Hello to all! I've done a bit of a read through old threads but didn't find an answer so hopefully I'm not asking something that has been asked a thousand times before. Apologies if I do! So, two questions... I have a 7 year-old DD (turns 8 in the summer) who has been dancing for around 3 years (modern) and 18 months for ballet. She's currently doing Cecchetti Standard 2. We've had some issues with timings for ballet classes and have had to move schools this year - finally found what seems like a fantastic class, but I haven't had a chance to get to know the teacher well and with evening sessions back to back it's not going to be easy. I was thinking of putting DD in for the JA auditions this year, but worried about whether I need to get permission from the new teacher (I don't want to look like 'that parent' being pushy about their child from the start). Can I apply without a reference - do RBS even contact the teacher? Is it a terrible idea to do a self-entry? My second question is about the medical section on the form. DD has been being seen for growth delay since she was 2 years old. She lacks a hormone called IGF-1 which is basically the ignition switch for the body to use growth hormone. Other than lacking this and having a 2+ year delayed bone age on x-ray she is 100% healthy and the hospital will monitor till her 20's but almost certainly never treat. Physically she is small for her age (10th centile), very slim, short body, long limbs, very high insteps and arches and has a fair degree of hyper-extension. Should I put any of this on the application form? One of my reasons for asking is that I come from a family of giants and I am the tiny one at 5ft 10". Both my father's cousins were at WL and both were asked to leave the Upper School as they grew too tall. I have no idea if height is a major issue these days, but I remember being devastated as a child when a ballet teacher told me that I may as well give up now after she met my 6ft 8" father at the end of class. I would hate the staff to take one look at me and feel that way when she's unlikely to make more than 5ft 5", but also don't want to add a load of stuff to the form if it's not relevant!