poodle

3 minutes ago, Moonbeam said:

They do focus a lot on competitions and do a show annually which understand is a lot for a school to cope with. My dd wants to learn more ballet and doesn’t want to repeat the same class she’s already spent a long time in and we did ask if she could move on and were told “we don’t do that here” meaning without the exam she won’t be moved on even though they have a 5 year old that just joined in the primary class and my other dd is 6 and still in pre primary.  I can’t get my head around what they’re doing if you join you get put into age appropriate classes but if you’ve been there you can’t without the exams. 

It's a shame they won't just move your daughter up and I do wonder if they worry that everyone else will want to do the same.  And yes, it's the same at our school that a new joiner might get put in a higher (age appropriate) grade than someone who has been there for 2 years waiting for their exam to be booked in which is frustrating.

Are there any other schools that might provide more of what you want as, in my experience, these schools don't change the way they do things?  I have never moved mine because she is so happy there, does a number of different dance genres and has made great friends (as have I).  We are always at dancing doing something or other and when DD does do exams she gets distinctions so staying in the class a bit longer does get her good marks.

Hey Moonbeam

I think you need to find out a bit more about the dance school.  Some schools push through exams really quickly, offering a number of ballet classes a week and pushing up the more able.  Other schools concentrate more on comps, shows and performance in general.  DD's dance school is a small one and most kids only do 1 ballet class a week until they get to grade 3 then its 2, and they alternate between doing a big show one year and exams the next.

It is frustrating being in the same grade for 2 years, especially for the more able dancers, but for the smaller dance schools with a limited number of studios and teachers I think it can be hard fitting everything in.

If your DD is enjoying it and has lots of good friends I would not worry too much unless she wants to be a ballerina.  Alternatively, ask her to be moved up to Grade 1 or find a school that is more focussed on getting through the grades.

On 30/05/2018 at 23:01, Jan McNulty said:

The Exmouth Market area looks as though it is only about a 10 minute walk away - full of cafes, bars, restaurants and some interesting shops.

 

I recently stayed at the Travelodge on Farringdon Road and walked to the London Mithraeum which involved carrying on down Farringdon Road beyond Roseberry Ave/Exmouth Market.  There seemed to be quite a few cafes/bars/restaurants there too. 

I will have a walk down Exmouth Market, thanks.

On 30/05/2018 at 23:51, TYR said:

Terroni's Italian restaurant, since 1875, is like a hundred yards up the street and so much better than anything a bleedin' Pret will offer you.

I looked it up and it looks lovely I will give it a try, thanks:)

Thank you MAK. 

How many of the 30 auditionees do they take on do you know?

Just now, Anna C said:

It's a long time since my dd auditioned for Central Preps but as she was a Prep/Pre-Senior for 5 years, I can definitely answer the question about parents - there's a Pret à Manger a few doors down.  There's also (assuming it's still there) a nice Costa halfway along Hatton Garden. 

Thanks Anna

Good to know there are places nearby it's quite a long wait :0)

Hi there

Can anyone give any insight to the central preps audition please.  What sort of things are the dancers asked to do, are they in big groups, etc etc.

Interested to hear others experiences and where Parents went whilst waiting ?

Thank you

On 26/02/2018 at 12:38, MAK said:

@Confuddled our forecast in East Berks is for disruption tomorrow and Wednesday with the latter having the heaviest snow but I'm very much hoping it doesn't materialise 😊

Well it’s snowed, I wonder if they will cancel the audition ?

10 hours ago, MAK said:

Ok so I know it's only Monday but as a few large snowflakes start to float around outside the window, with "Beast of the East" weather warnings issued for tomorrow and Wednesday, I'm already feeling slightly nervous about our prospects of making it to Wimbledon for the Swan Lake audition on Weds. Fingers crossed it's not as bad as forecast!

I was thinking the same but will play it by ear.   The media do tend to create concern, apparently everyone should commute home from London tonight before 6pm .....

I wonder if Miss Lewis will change the date if there is a huge amount of snowfall ?

10 hours ago, Pointetoes said:

DD says Pizzicato from Sylvia 

and she should know 

 

it it reminds me of the old Cadbury Fruit & Nut advert. 

The Fruit and Nut song is from the Nutcracker I think ..... ?

Used to love those adverts .....

3 hours ago, thewinelake said:

Sounds OK so far. For my part, I've been conducting painstaking research concerning the local eateries and hostelries in the area. So far Coach and Horses has come up trumps. A remarkably good (though small) fine wine list at very reasonable prices, and the food's good too. Maurizio's up next - for an eat-in-the-car-while-driving-home pizza!

 

PT - sounds like your DD's solo is quite something - can't wait to see the run-through....

Winelake, loving your research :-)

The casting is quite fun, everyone seems to enjoy it.   Dancers grouped by ability / Pointe / non Pointe / height then given some steps in groups.   There is a bit of shuffling while they get the groups right.

After that they go for press shots.

2 hours ago, TooTu said:

Sorry I had read your post completely the wrong way round!! I have only heard of a couple of seniors that got in as juniors but didn't get in as seniors. Good luck to your dd 

Thank you

I've told her it's all about her performance on the day :-)

12 hours ago, TooTu said:

My dd got a no at her first  EYB audition & went back next time & got the full scholarship so it's definitely worth trying again even if you have got a no in the past

Thanks TooTu.  Well done your DD for getting the full scholarship !

My DD got in first time round & was offered a place at the audition much to her delight.  I Just wondered if it was usual to get through subsequent auditions or whether lots got a "no" 2nd time round.  Shes's 10 so doing Junior audition again :-)

17 hours ago, tutusatDawn said:

 

 

Does anyone know? Do the photos for Northern need to be 'proper printed photos' or can they just be on normal paper? Thanks.

Drop them a line and ask, I’m in sane process down South and seems they are happy with photos printed on normal paper :-)

Poodle

Can they tell flat turn out from a photo ?

Is flat turn out a pre requisite for all Associates Programmes ?

Thank you :-)

A quick question - for those Associates Programmes where photos need to be provided......do they use the photos to filter out applicants or do they allow all applicants to audition regardless.

What do they get from the photos ??

Thanks so much 

Poodle

edited to say thank you for answering my questions it’s all new to me ....

Thank you.

I don’t want DD to expect to get through again just because she has before and have not read of anyone not getting through subsequent auditions in here.  

However, I guess you never know ....

Hia

Question for those that have done lots of EYBs, is it usual to get through subsequent auditions or do many get a “no”?

thanks 

2 hours ago, taxi4ballet said:

Some associates are on Saturdays and some on Sundays, and people do attend both if they are lucky enough to get in. Otherwise, if your dc is offered a place at a good-ish one, you can afford it and the distance/timings are ok, and they like the atmosphere/teachers, then accept it. There's no guarantee that you will be offered a place elsewhere, because the schools look for different attributes.

Thanks.

Fave one on paper has the last audition date but you are right, no guarantee of any offers at all........

Looking at which Associates programmers are the right age group and still have auditions for September entry and going to give them all a go.

Dilemma is that auditions span through Feb - May.   I am hoping they all offer at a similar time so it’s  easy to choose from any offers available.  Anyone been in this sort of dilemma, if so how did you manage it ?

Thanks :-)

On 19/12/2017 at 16:23, Lemongirl said:

poodle - do you know when the rehearsals are for Wimbledon?

Hi there

Sorry Just seen this and glad someone helped you.

No idea about rehearsal venue I'm afraid and i don't know Wimbledon very well so no idea where rehearsals are likely to be........

Thank you, I'm looking through them all.  Need to start thinking about photos for most applications 

Hi there

I've been trying to search but can't find a list of Associate programmes across London and the SE.  I know of RBS and Tring CBA, any others worth looking into?

Thank you

No worries, I've done a search and found the threads.  Should have done that before posting :-)