Clarkd3

15 hours ago, MrsMoo2 said:

Might see you there, we’ve booked our train and just planning our picnic! Looking at the trains we get there early so just seeing if there’s much else to do in the area for an hour or two! 👍👍👍

Yes just booked ours too, we are there mid afternoon! Also hoping to find something to do in the area as can’t risk sightseeing! ☺️

7 hours ago, Darkbeans said:

My husband was given a sheet with the specific times and dates of all rehearsals (I can dm you a copy if you like!) All rehearsals until the performance dates are listed as Birmingham. 

 

 

Definitely check the trains - they quite often do works on the weekend so as not to affect commuters. I did check about a week ago and didn’t spot any mention of anything! 

 

DD said there were about 20 children in her audition group, of which 2 were boys. X

 

Ahh thank you, that's really good of you but we're all set for Sunday now so I'll get one there 😊 Nearly didn't plan to audition though because of the stated Wednesday evening rehearsals in London! X

17 minutes ago, Darkbeans said:

 

I’m not sure he was that keen (particularly as he had to do her hair etc as well!) but he braved it 😂. DD had a lovely time - particularly enjoyed the repertoire. I have to say though, looking in detail at the rehearsal schedule, even if she were to be chosen I think we’d struggle to do it - 4 Wednesday evening rehearsals in Birmingham would be a challenge, being that we live in Cornwall 🤦‍♀️!!

Wow even hair!

Ahh glad your Dd enjoyed it, the chances are so remote that a good day out is the aim of our trip! 😊

I thought the Wednesday evening rehearsals were in Covent Garden when I made enquiries back in July....we live near Birmingham so wasn’t too sure how we’d do it but decided to cross that bridge  if and when! X

Wow! You've got a brave husband taking DD to an audition, my husband struggles with dance classes! 🙄  Hope it went well for your DD, we're there next Sunday.....first time doing anything like this! 😳

My DD did a Jon Applegate shoot and he requested light make up as stage make up doesn’t work well with the lighting if that helps? 😊

My DD is in full time dance/ dance teacher training and full make is expected for all classes! Preparation for the professional world apparently! 

1 hour ago, sunrise81 said:

On the website there is a rehearsal schedule. For us from the north it isn't feasible, plus school hasn't broken up for the two days in December so I would have to take days off unpaid

Thanks for the heads up about the rehearsal schedule, I've emailed for further clarity! 😊

Does anyone have knowledge of what this would entail if chosen? Think my little DD would love it but don’t want to even apply for an audition if it wasn’t feasible! 🙈

22 hours ago, balletbean said:

Just out of interest, what’s classed as a ‘small school’ and what would be classed as ‘large’?  Is it based on pupil numbers per school or pupils per class? Thank you. 

Hmm, I’d say a small school is based on low total pupil numbers which I guess has a knock on effect to small classes and maybe just one teacher doing it all? 

8 minutes ago, mummytwo said:

 

Hello Clarkd3

 

Thank you for your message. 

 

Yes, some of the other classes are also mixed.  I haven’t asked the principal as to why the grades are now mixed in DD’s class, what makes it even more frustrating that the principal is in the same building doing paperwork I believe, while the mixed grade lessons are taking place, surely she should be separating the class like she used to previously, maybe then my DD would be ready for her exam by now.

I dread to think when the next exam session will take place (last exam session Feb 18’), holding my DD back even more.

I know of a good dance school, but, they offer IDTA Tap and would like to keep the ISTD syllabus, plus I feel we are stuck there as she also does competitions.......really hard to find a school which ticks all the boxes !

 

Try and speak to the principle if you can about your concerns, it might help you to understand her reasoning and vice versa! Good luck, it’s all a minefield but I have learned from reading this forum  that parental instinct is usually right! X

Hi, that's a tricky situation! Can I ask if it's just in your daughters classes that the teacher is mixing in the lower grades and have you had the courage to ask the principle for the reasons behind this change?

I do understand your concerns though especially if the teacher is now spending time getting others up to speed rather than bringing the original class up to exam ready!

i agree that about a year in the grades is about right but we've seen the pace slow down as my DD's have reached grade 4 and beyond because of the increasing degree of complexity and strength needed, preparation for shows etc, mixed ability class and new people accepted into class!

If your dance school is quite small it may be that the teacher currently doesn't have enough grades that are exam ready to hold exam sessions at the dance school at the moment which is equally frustrating!

I would begin to have a look round for another dance school if your daughter was keen to progress! I'm sure a new teacher would move her up to the next grades if she could see that your DD was capable. That might be less messy than trying to slot your DD into exam slots with a new school especially when exam dances are choreographed by the individual teachers, well in ISTD modern and tap anyway, I'm not familiar with ISTD ballet!

Just to add...doing ISTD grade 5 tap would make more sense to your DD than switching to IDTA tap because the ISTD grades all have step build ups that help with the progression and understanding so look for what your DD knows ideally! X

It might be worth trying pineapple as my DD found that they fitted well before we discovered plume shorts

or found these on eBay which I think we had at some point!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F252282806391

We had success with plume  following similar issues with capezio! X

Thank you, all your comments have been helpful especially the fit of teen versus adult sizes 😊

Hi I’d like to buy my 12yr old  DD a non regulation leotard for her upcoming 13th birthday as a surprise but she is petite (wears age 11 clothes or sz 4 in primark) and I’m not sure what size to buy her? There is less choice in the age 12 -14 sizes and I’m a little wary of buying too small with no growing room however I’m not sure if adult petite/ XS will be too big. Any advice would be much appreciated! 

Balance is very different in soft blocks to flats so they should wear them from the outset according to my DD’s teacher! They are a nightmare to prepare though depending on how fussy the teacher is about the noise! X

There are various methods of achieving Registered teacher status RTS in RAD but as minimum a dancer needs intermediate ballet RAD so I’d say that would be the main priority for any prospective teacher! However first hand knowledge of the grade syllabus will obviously benefit the learner too so knowledge of both is ideal!

The RAD website gives lots of information on teacher training and the various routes available 😊

Sharon Morrison Physio is based in Sutton Coldfield and was part of the Elmhurst physio team for a long time, she offers private pre pointe assessment as well as general physio so she would be someone to consider for an evaluation 

I know a RAD examiner who talks in general terms about her tours, its more common for children to achieve merits than anything else! Therefore any distinction is a real achievement but I gather 90 plus is rare!

It’s what makes us want to watch a dancer ‘ on stage’ more than any other!

I think it is a combination of things..use of facial expression, eye line, use of head, line extensions and for the dances/ variations in RAD...understanding and telling the story behind the choreography eg in G4 the neoclassical dance is about water! 

We found a fine slumber net was more hardy for my dd to use, also an obliging sister or girls styling head was useful to practice using the bun pins before she did her own! 

After my dd going through more brands and pairs of pointe shoes than I care to remember, some only lasting an hours worth of wear with equal issues around the shank and box for not a lot of pointe class time...not to mention a metatarsal foot injury, she has finally found Russian Pointe Rubin V cut that seems to be ‘her shoe’  in dance college! Trouble is hardly anyone stocks them in the UK! Typical! 🙄

Just seen an email from Just ballet, they show a lovely matching set from So Danca 😊

My dd has always sewn ribbons the Grisko way i.e. under the heel and needs to make sure she buys extra long ribbon to do this!  She has a Facebook page for darning and ribbon sewing and most shoes she gets asked to sew haven't got long enough ribbon so she sews them from the sides and says she's had no complaints! 

Hi my dd dances with a small dance school just out of Droitwich, the teacher is an RAD examiner and teaches ISTD tap, modern and jazz too. She’s very nurturing and inclusive and offers regular exams, shows and local Panto. Her ballet exam results are particularly excellent!