sophie_rebecca

Ok here you go, Take the tutu,

Fold it in half, you'll probably be amazed how willing it is, in on its self to protect the bodice / decoration.

Then again, 

If you've got a big suitcase (like the max size you're allowed) one half is more than enough for 2 and sometimes 3 hooped tutu's, me romantic tutu's go in the other half, I've flown like this 4 times, 3 of those were 23 hour journeys.

Hope this helps @Julia Cornette

So when I've had to travel internationally to perform (still feels weird saying that!) I have a hard suitcase I use just for my costumes including 2-3 hooped tutu's, I personally don't trust the airlines as I believe it's up to the pilot on the day and they're huge!

What you may not realise is that they can be safely folded, fold them like a taco then into a 1/4 loosely in the case, when you get to the destination take them out and let them recover.

If I get chance later I'll take some pics to demonstrate.

2 hours ago, The_Red_Shoes said:

What do people think about whether it's better to have piano or recorded music for Grade 7 exams? I'm being offered a choice as there will be others taking IF the same day so my teacher will be hiring the pianist for that day anyway. However this pianist has never played for Grade 7 before. I love live piano music but I think the tempi in Grade 7 are very unforgiving. The classical dance played a smidge too fast would be panic-stricken and too slow would be horribly heavy. The character exercises taken any faster than the recorded music would be physically impossible - but a pianist could take them a fraction slower. It would be expensive paying for a piano rehearsal but I wouldn't want to try it without a run through and the chance to talk about it. I think a rehearsal would only be possible in any case if the IFs also want one.

I'll be having a pianist for my G7 next year as I'll need the character slowing down ever so slightly, I do love the extra feeling / performance I get from dancing with a pianist but that comes at the price of adapting to the music when they get carried away, that said there is a certain reliability from a CD, I guess I've just said it'll be down to your personal preference 😉  for my its a pianist all the way.

On 15/10/2019 at 11:28, The_Red_Shoes said:

First of all huge congratulations Sophie on recent achievements AND dancing in America again AND upcoming marriage.No wonder  I haven't seen you around for a while - you've had/got/will have a lot going on.

Thank you The_Red_Shoes, I've been here lurking, I've had an amazing year but always feels a bit self indulgent to post about my travels, I was back in the USA in August, LA to be precise dancing again which was another amazing experience, I've been invited to dance in Cuba / China / Russia in the future but they're all 3 places that I'd be nervous to travel to, when I go back ti Missoula I'll be working with Charlene the choreographer on the next instalment as she want's it to be a trilogy but this time I'll get a lot more input so it should be rather emotional & I really want to push myself physically too.

I hope everything went well with your eye surgery & wish you a speedy recovery x

10 hours ago, The_Red_Shoes said:

How are you getting on with the character section? I think that Cabrioles and Quick Letjos will be the death of me!

 

I saw your port de bras video. Looking good.

I'm getting closer to my G7 exam now too after 2 years or doing it in my weekly private lessons & in Jan I joined the G7 class of youngsters, we've only recently started doing the character & also feel it will kill me! I've kicked my shins & stood on my own feet in the heel'd character shoes which hurt like hell

I've also got the Royal Danish performance on DVD for some inspiration but I think we've become a bit spoilt in recent times as the physical abilities of dancers seem's to be getting pushed higher all the time.

Personally after starting at Inter Foundation level I'm loving G7 for giving my dancing so much more quality, IF was a great technical base & G7 is the icing on the cake of the performance / arms, I'm doing the classical dance but I've learned both as I think the majority of the other girls are doing the free movement dance.

We were looking at exams in early Feb but I'm away in Jan performing in America, we've got our show at the end of Feb, I'm also learning Discovering Repertoire Level 2 Variation 2 & Level 3 Class & Variation 1 as well as getting married in March so realistically I think it'll be mid next year before I take the G7 exam.

Talking of exams I think I neglected to post that back in June I took Discovering Repertoire Level 2 Class & Variation 1 exams & got a Distinction & a Merit, can't say I'm a huge fan of DR but at least I've got a couple more certificates 😉 

11 hours ago, The_Red_Shoes said:

Sadly, due to a family emergency, I've had to withdraw from the Chelsea Ballet summer school. And since I didn't book a place on the Leeds August Ballet Retreat that's no more dancing for me until the new school term. Pity, as I was feeling in great form by the end of the RAD summer course (it was challenging but excellent stuff) and I was just raring to continue.  I also met two other members of this forum at intensives this summer, which was a lovely surprise.

I do hope all is ok with the family ❤️

TBR August is on a waiting list at the moment but it's worth joining as a quite a few times people pull out a week or two ahead, they've also recenrly added October 5th-6th at Sadlers Wells & 24th Nov at Yorkshire Dance.

6 minutes ago, DeveloppeD said:

 

Ooh what did you get for them? I’m hoping to learn that syllabus too at some point. Did you do the variation on pointe? Xx

No Pointe as there’s no point 🤣 there’s no extra marks for pointe work & only the chance to lose them for poor work.

we both got Distinctions in the class exam & merits in the variation, I threw my fan at the examiner 🤣 never dropped it on a year of class then 1 min into the piece whoosh off it went! 🤣

On 30/06/2019 at 17:13, DeveloppeD said:

Hello, 

has anyone else just sat an exam and impatiently awaiting the results?! I’m an adult student and I’ve just done my RAD Grade 5. Having achieved a high Merit in my grade 4, I’ve been pulling out all the stops to try scrape into the Distinction category this time! I do think it went very well - I was much more prepared this time and I didn’t mess anything up majorly or get overly nervous either. I think I might *just* have done it, but you never know how your performance was perceived by the examiner on the day. Aaaargh I can’t wait to find out my results. 

I’ve worked so hard, I’ll be so disappointed if I haven’t achieved the mark I want. 

I sat RAD Discovering Rep Level 2 Class & Variation 1 units (2 separate exams) on the 2nd June we got the results on the 26th June (3 & a bit weeks) so I guess that's about the length of the current turn around, fingers crossed they come swiftly & are what you want ❤️ 

Thanks for the updates everyone, I had a bit of an idea today & I hope this is ok to share, I've added the intensives to a shared calendar & embedded it on my blog to make it rather easy to find retreats throughout the year, I'll keep it up to date as I find out about more dates throughout the year. it's now also the home of the adult ballet map so if you know of someone looking for adult ballet classes near them feel free to share the link.

https://sophiedancer.co.uk/adult-ballet-uk/

On 28/05/2019 at 11:02, RuthE said:

 

Oooh, I've just spotted that some suppliers do it in royal blue.  Might have to go leotard-shopping again...

Sorry I missed your post here, there's a Midnight Blue, it's one of my favourite colours but I'd say it was closer to Navy than Royal but with a purple hue it's kind of its own thing!

I've attached a pic of 2 midnight blue with a freed navy for comparison, I'd say they were a little darker than appears in the picture but should give you a good guide.

On 26/05/2019 at 16:44, LinMM said:

I do like the Burgundy one with the Lacey top and little sleeves.

But when I go into the So Danca website you don't seem to be able to order this one in XL size 7 ....only in L size 6

Let me know if you defo have this one which is high at the back ( above the bra line) in a size 7) 

The So Danca E-10945 is a great addition to any dance wardrobe, I have several in different colours & two in black after the elastic became a little frayed on a 2 year old leo, if you like lacey with sleeves there are 2 new ones I've got that you may like RDE-1913 & RDE-1910 they're from the Sara Mearns special additions so may be harder to find but they do make them! 

9 hours ago, balletgremlin said:

How quickly do you usually get a reply from the Ballet Retreat? I filled in their online form and haven't heard anything since.

Normally within a few days, you can give Hannah a poke at hannah@theballetretreat.com if it has been longer.

Thanks for all the posts everyone, I was going to update the OP but didn't realise I can't edit my own posts but at least we're creating a great directory.

On 10/05/2019 at 09:39, RuthE said:

 

This is a bit off-topic from the OP because the leotards I'm talking about are too fussy/lacy for exams, but I just wanted to chip in and say that Sheila recently sold me 2 leotards including the So Danca lace top one she mentions.  You've met me, I'm a bit smaller than you but you've seen how curvy I am. The Large/size 6 fits me beautifully and it's VERY stretchy, so I think you might consider giving the size 7 a try.

Another vote here for So Danca, I always recommend them to my adult dance friends who are no longer a size 8!   I got 15 from the last catalogue (I know that sounds bad but nice fashion leo's rarely come along in my size & I dance 5 days a week) they're everything from fancy lace affairs through to simple leo's suitable for exams.

Oops! that's what I get for copy pasting from a Facebook post like a lazy person 😉  regarding The Ballet Retreat, August tends to be very popular, they used to sell out within a few weeks but as they do a lot of year it's tended to fall back to 2-4 weeks before the event they book up. there are a lot of regulars on the TBR weekend, for the first few years I wen't to them all but last year I scaled back to just the Leeds ones, if you do come let me know & I'll say hello.

Hope everyone is doing great, I started to put a list together of the adult classes over summer as our regular schools often take a break so thought I'd share it here, please feel free to make me aware of anymore.

The Ballet Retreat 9th June (Corps de Ballet single day)
https://www.theballetretreat.com/

Aspire Ballet London 14th-20th July Summer School
https://www.aspireballet.org/summer-2019

Royal Academy of Dance 15th-19th July Adult Classes
https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/…/adult-summer-course-…/

Yorkshire Ballet Seminars 20th July
https://www.ybss.co.uk/…/adult-ballet-class-rep-masterclass…

Yorkshire Ballet Seminars 27th July
https://www.ybss.co.uk/…/adult-ballet-class-rep-masterclass…

Chelsea Ballet 5th-10th August Adult Summer School
http://www.chelsea-ballet.com/summerschool/

The Ballet Retreat 24th-26th August (Classical Rep)
https://www.theballetretreat.com/

6 minutes ago, RHowarth said:

Dance for All in Edinburgh has a good timetable of adult classes. Sheena Gough who teaches on a Tuesday night is legendary. I occasionally travel to Edinburgh specially to take her class. Plus, she doesn't tend to stop for school holidays - her classes run through summer, half term etc. 

Added & oh my goodness you're spoilt in Edinburgh! 

33 minutes ago, Picturesinthefirelight said:

The link won't load for me.  But are Daniel Jones classes in Newcastle-under-Lyme on it?

I've added it but can't find much info on his facebook page about which classes are for adults & when, if you know can you tell me & I'll update the entry.

Not sure why it's not working for you it's just a google map with an overlay.

8 minutes ago, Kate_N said:

Bumping this for Polik. Lots of information here, although maybe we need to update it?

I created a google map with all the adult ballet classes I could find which people contributed to which makes finding classes in a new area super easy, I'm sure there are loads that are missing, I'd be happy to add other administrators to it.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1LQe92qPsOF3qHObTMypt_r-j6qE&usp=sharing

5 hours ago, LinMM said:

That looks like a truely amazing experience Sophie Rebecca!! I've not heard of Ballet Beyond Borders before.

When you say it was a competition were you taking part in that .....or dancing as an additional act in the gala show these comps  often have? Was it an Anglo American thing or world wide competitors.  Wonderful achievement anyway. 

It really was! yes it's a 3 day competition topped off with a Gala, in the morning of the gala there's lots of talks on a diverse range of subjects like a dance highlighting the missing & murdered native american women & human trafficking pandemic in north america to diversity in dance then there's a gala made up of guest artists (I think that was technically me but feels weird to be referred to as an artist!) & the best of the competition dancers, there were dancers from Italy, Romania, Israel, USA, Brazil, Portugal, China, Korea & that's just the ones I can remember, I was the only Brit there sadly but it meant I got to carry the union jack onto stage at the end which was cool 😀

I've said they need an adult ex pro & amateur category for next year 😉

Just to share with you all i was invited to dance in the USA at the Ballet Beyond Borders competition, as a late 30's adult it was something of a special opportunity but I still took a little convincing.

We landed at 23:58 on Thursday & got to the hotel at 01:30 ish, at about 04:30 I was awake (curse you jetlag!) & at 10am I was ferried to the studio to begin to learn the 10 minute dance the choreographer had been working on since May last year, the next 4 days were spent dancing 3-4 hours a day with about an hour & a half dedicated to learning the dance, luckily I was able to pick it up quite quickly, Monday was a rest day then Tuesday was stage walk through, we had a full grand concert piano on stage we had to check our positioning with.

Wed-Fri the competitions started so I made the most of the classes, it was rather amazing to be in class with professional dancers from Boston Ballet, Washington Ballet & Ballet BC to name a few, I was a bit intimidated going into the senior / professional class even more so when Charla Genn (who I'd taken class with in the previous week) told me I wouldn't be able to do all that was coming but to just sit out what I couldn't & listen / learn when I sat, it was good advice, I did well at the barre but about 3 or 4 movements into the centre things started to get very advanced so I swallowed my pride & sat out rather than trying to force it & ending up injured.

There's so much I could ramble on about but I'll save you the details, At the gala when we were getting ready there was none of the emotion I felt the first time I performed on stage I was just super focused on doing the best I could & not screwing up, the dance went well & we got an amazing applause which was so very kind, I was awkwardly waiting for the curtain to close but got waved up from the wings to take a second bow.

It took a long time to process all the emotions, we flew back the day after the performance which wasn't the cleverest idea but once home there were plenty of tears & I have so many amazing memories I'll treasure. I may be invited to another in LA later in the year where I intend to dance Gamzatti & this dance again.

On 06/12/2018 at 13:22, Viv said:

The results are in! Pretty happy all around, distinctions for Grade 7 and Intermediate (Grade 7 was my highest mark ever!) and a decent merit for Advanced Foundation

Fabulous results huge congratulations, I hope you're very very proud ❤️

A couple of the production companies I've worked with used Vimeo to distribute pre broadcast versions they didn't want releasing, you can password the video & prevent it from being downloaded if you wish, support for up to 4k

You may in the end be amazed how many people still have standard def tv's & DVD players, it bugs me our annual show is always shot in HD then scaled fown to SD for DVD & on my 4K TV it looks like minecraft! 😂

1 hour ago, LinMM said:

I asked the teacher about this and ...if I haven't misunderstood this....was told you can sort of mix and match at exam level....

 

Yes, each DR level is split into 3 units, Barre & Centre, Variation 1 with preparatory exercises & Variation 2 with preparatory exercises, You get a unit certificate with each & when you've completed all 3 you get a total level certificate.

The way we're learning it at the moment, Barre + 1 variation each from level 2 & 3 I'd much rather focus on one barre & variation complete that then move on, as it is we'll take a lot longer & be ready for 4 exams at the same time which doesn't make huge sense to me, typically I believe the people taking DR exams so far have been taking barre + 1 variation (so 2 units) at a time, although some have been doing barre + variation 1 & 2 at the same time.

12 hours ago, youngatheart said:

A shame you're not enjoying it, Sophie, as I recall you were really looking forward to learning it before?

 

Very much so, I mean the chance to learn actual variations for an exam situation is pretty perfect & I do love the variations, they're very physical but rewarding & there's something about doing proper variations to the music that makes it all so special it's just let down by the simplicity of the barre, the over complication of the centre & the inconsistency of the prep exercises I feel.

From talking to friends at RAD HQ most people are taking at least 2 units at once if not all 3 (I really think all 3 is pushing it) so barre & Centre + prep & variation = about 40-45 mins (same as say IF) if you did barre & centre + variation 1 then I think if you focused on variation 2 it wouldn't take long to take that unit & move on to the next level, the only problem I'm having with doing level 2 & 3 at the same time is remembering where I am, normally the music guides me but a few times I've done the level 3 stuff to level 2 music as I've gotten muddled  

2 hours ago, The_Red_Shoes said:

It's so new: maybe they will change some things as students start to come through the system and what is working/not working becomes more apparent. I know that feedback from the original trials did contain some criticism of the level of difficulty. BTW does anybody know if anyone has actually taken any DR exams yet (apart from the people in the original trial)?

You may get minor revisions here & there but given the amount of material produced (exam guides / spec, DVD's etc etc) it's unlikely to change in any significant way, I hope they'll do a supplemental to guide what is & isn't optional through all the exercises but the way it's structured which I struggle with will stay the same, that said grade 7 in the past year has worked wonders for my dancing! I got sent a promo from a production company that have been following me for the last few years & the stuff from this year compared to last was so much better! 

Short version I'll be glad when the exam is done & I don't have to do it again 😉