sophie_rebecca

On 28/10/2017 at 07:46, cavycapers said:

Hi, I am looking for size 18 performance ballet wear.  I can see loads of sites in the US that cater for larger sizes, but very few in the UK.  Does anyone know of a good source in the uk please?

So Danca Size 7 will do you well & have some gorgeous leo's, Mirella (Bloch) sometimes do XL in their limited editions which most of the time fit me (I'm about an 18 too) but they go SO fast, I did a little blog about this a year ago https://transdancers.wordpress.com/2016/12/09/adult-attire/ hope this helps x

Freed actually make the exam leotards to order if you really want to be perfect, I was a bit worried about what to wear but my teacher (& RAD examiner for over 40 years) said no one has ever failed an exam for not wearing the correct uniform & there are no marks awarded for uniform, obviously if you're neat, tidy & clean etc then you're showing the right attitude, I wore a black leo a bit like Freed Bethany but with a couple of crossover straps in the back this was me on my exam morning, it's one of my least favourite leo's but was as close as I could get.

3 hours ago, Viv said:

My enchainment was this:
Music was 4/4 with a 4 count introduction.
Start croisse, left leg in front. For the introduction stand still on 1 and 2, raise your arms to 5th on 3 and then to 2nd on 4.
On counts 1, 2, 3, three sissone ferme in a row (over, under, over) with arms changing on each one (3rd, demi bras, 3rd), then stretch and bend on counts 'and 4'. On count 5, extend the back leg to second en fondue, then pas de bouree under 'and a 6' to face corner six. On count 7, changement with arms to 5th, changing your alignment to face corner five. Repeat on the other side. Then do it all again on both sides!

Fingers crossed for your results but I'm sure you've done fine & not half as bad as you think, I cried for about 3 days after my exam convinced I'd failed & I've been told that's fairly common  it's when people come out & go "I nailed that" that the results tend to be worse.

I wish I'd had that free enchainment though   

Given I'm 6'3" I wondered why I was taught variation 2 as it really didn't suit me but it was because I hate waltz with a passion, since doing the exam I've dropped into another adult class doing IF to help & I've learned variation 1 which actually I find I'm much more suited.

Let us know when you get the results but I'm sure you've done fab 

1 hour ago, Viv said:

Thanks so much everyone  I'll be sure to check back in next week to tell you how it all went (and to type out the free enchainment to help out people who are taking this next).

The free enchainment is made up by the examiner on the day but will be a combination of 1 or more of, assembles, jetes or soubresauts, I'll never forget it after I made such a hash of it 

6 hours ago, Viv said:

I have Grade 6 on the 10th and IF on the 11th.

I just wanted to wish you luck but I'm sure you don't need it, have a wonderful exam.

2 hours ago, cavycapers said:

I am in my fifties and am quite often instructed to do a running step in my various adult ballet classes, but have never been taught it.  Could anyone give me any guidance please on how to run in a ballet way, without looking like a complete idiot, which would be quite likely at my age and not being a size 8!  I can't find anything on Youtube except for 4 and 5 year olds!

I've recently been going over this a bit in my private lessons as there's quite a lot of running in Grade 7, I'll try & describe as best I can what my teacher has been telling me, run on a low demi (not fully up) lifted up through the chest, legs straight feet & through 1st, I was previously running like said 4/5 year olds & watching it back on video has been mortifying 

22 minutes ago, balletbean said:

Why do you think that Sophie_Rebecca? 

It's was just a light hearted comment at the fact 64% of awards were merit's last year, with 29% Distinctions & 6.5% a Pass, as youngatheart says most trachers wouldn't put their pupils in until they knew they were capable of a merit, I know Lynne didn't with me, I'm doing Grade 7 at the moment, I haven't decided if I will take the exam or not yet as I'm really looking forward to the new repertoire syllabus next year & may switch to that but if I to take it I know I'll want a gold medal so have a lot more hard work ahead.

All of a sudden my Merit doesn't feel so special 

42 minutes ago, Michelle_Richer said:

Hi Sophie

 

 Its academic now as I didn’t get a place, but was placed first on the reserve this.

 

Hi Michelle, you are quite welcome, if you're first on the list I'm pretty sure you''ll get in, as these things draw closer work commitments get in the way for people, MPH was on the Leeds waiting list for a long time & got in with a few weeks notice.

I wasn't at the Jewels retreat I just knew that's the rep they did so don't know which exact variation they did, it was right around the time my exam result went public so I had a lot going on, Like you I'm an ardent classical fan & I love the staple variations from Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, Nutcracker, La Sylphide etc but wouldn't be too put out by a contemporary rep every now & then.

Fingers crossed for you but I'm sure you'll get in.

7 hours ago, Michelle_Richer said:

If anyone is thinking of booking Leeds TBR, its almost fully booked, there were only three places left last night (Wednesday), against my better judgement I've booked one of them as the rep is not disclosed until two weeks before the event, normally I wouldn't have booked that.

As yet I haven't received conformation, so I resent the email.

Confirmations went out this morning, regarding the rep, 2 of the last 3 retreats we didn't find out until the 1st day only 1 of them did we get 24H notice of which rep we were doing, 2 weeks would be nice but I doubt it'll happen.

8 hours ago, LinMM said:

Thank you mph!! 

Just nice to know at least one or two in ones own decade!! 

I personally know someone in their 60's in that class & I know at lest 3 others were north of 65, you've no excuse 

This was my 3rd Ballet Retreat, MPH has covered most of it but I'll add my 2 pence worth.

The facilities are always top class, Rambert & Northern Ballet are of course two amazing companies so have amazing studios, the food is always great too, at Northern you get a light lunch of a mix of sandwiches etc or the time before we had soups etc, at Rambert there's a small restaurant next to Ramberd & the food is amazing but be warned the portions are huge for dancing after with.

David is a fabulous teacher, the emphasis is very much working with what you've got in terms of elevation & turnout & just having fun, as there's usually a mixed group ability details are never hung up on but he will occasionally single someone out to help demonstrate a better way of doing something, Hanna does the warmup & cooldown & also all the admin, she's always got things super organised & is such a lovely person.

As for the people who attend the retreat it's becoming like a family, there's a good bunch from David's London classes who attend both venues & when we all see each other it's like a reunion, they are of course used to his style of teaching & barre routines, everyone is amazingly friendly & always helping each other.

The day starts with a warmup then barre work, then a company class which is generally similar to the variation you're going to do then the afternoon is dedicated to learning the variation, the last day you'll perform the entire variation at least once & usually twice.

The variations are always challenging but you can choose to simplify them so doing things on flat instead of Demi, the last few for the ladies have been La Bayadere Gamzatti, Odette Act 1, Rubies from Jewels & the Bluebird from Sleeping Beauty, I don't remember the mens variations but in a group of 45 there's usually around 8 men.

I'd certainly recommend anyone who's interested in Ballet to give it a go, I don't think you could regret it, I always get a bit blue in the days after as it's as close as I'll ever be to being in a company & we always have such a good time, be warned they fill up fast but David & Hannah are always looking to add more dates if possible, it's just hard as they have to work around NB & Rambert companies.

Hope this helps.

Soph

Flic Flac custom make the skirts to whatever size you want, I'm way beyond a size 12 at a 92cm waist it was the largest she could make before an additional charge for extra material. I'm super pleased with the result though & finally have a wrap that wraps instead of a saucy side slit!

Here's a snip from my conversation with Katharine, 

"Customising the width isn't a problem. I often do that. Most of the fabrics I use tend to be wide enough to cut up to about 120cm width and then after that I have to turn the fabric and cut along the length so it depends how much there is left. If I have to turn the fabric it means a bit more wastage so the skirts would cost £25. 120cm would give you 28cm overlap which isn't generous but might be ok. try measuring it and see what you think. I usually go for about 30cm, so it's nearly there!"

Hope this helps, Soph x

Hi YorkshirePudding,

The RAD have recently launched their ProjectB to get more boys into dance, I know yours is already dancing but there are a few boys only classes led by Iain Mackay that he might enjoy just being with other like minded dancers, there's some more info here https://www.rad.org.uk/learn-to-dance/project-b 

Soph

1 hour ago, Kate_N said:

 

Oh I know that feeling!

 

I was just trying to think about how an adult might get the same benefit from a syllabus, but without doing exams - as Peanut had said upthread that she found it difficult to get to classes consistently enough to do the syllabus work - that's the problem for adult learners: our brains catch up & surpass our bodies/ understanding of the work, but LIFE gets in the way ....

Sorry for double post but I saw the multiquote option too late!, I work incredibly hard & long hours but my 3 hours a week I set aside for dancing cannot be interrupted, for IF the exam specification recommends 150 hours of hands on (lessons to the syllabus) & 100 hours of general dancing exams aren't the be all & end all for everyone but for me it was a nice way to reward / underscore the hard work & you don't have to rush to the exam either, I became super focused on my exam to the point of obsession but then I did load myself under a lot of pressure & expectations it did however take some fun away from dance for the 2 months before the exam, I'm so much happier now using grade 7 as a base & just enjoying it again.

On 27/06/2017 at 00:39, Viv said:

I find I struggle to self motivate and tend to slack off if left to my own devices... I don't realise I'm doing it, I genuinely think I'm working hard, but without my current exam teacher giving me her razor eyed stare and simply saying 'foot' I would really think that I was pointing as hard as I could, until I point harder and realise I was slacking hahaha.

haha you're note the only one, the amount of times I've been told to grow or turnout & I almost throw a strop because I'm convinced that I am doing it as hard as I can then a little more comes, we film my classes every 6 months so I can see the progress & look for areas to improve & I so often find myself saying to my teacher "oh you're right I do do that" & that's to someone who's been teaching longer than I've been alive  (I do apologise profusely these days when ever I knee jerk the are you sure line)

7 hours ago, Viv said:

How is everybody going with their exam prep? I will be sitting mine in October  Grade 6 also in October, within the same couple of days... So that'll be interesting! 

Hope everyone is doing great with their exam prep, I was talking to my teacher today about doing two grades at once at the moment (Grade 7 & Intermediate) & how I'm confusing things sometimes (as you mentioned IF & Grade 6) & apparently at the last exams one of our young dancers who was doing grade 5 & IF was half way through the Grade 5 adage & started doing the IF adage  poor thing, still it didn't actually hurt her grade much as she danced it so well.

I've nominated someone but I've not heard anything yet, not sure if their selection criteria is on quality or quantity etc, I'm crossing my fingers but aren't we all :-) there's so many amazing teachers worth of awards year after year.

I'll be seeing my teacher tomorrow who's an RAD consistency examiner (she trains & assesses other examiners) who's been examining many years & I believe on the rare occasion for her own students has had to query a result, in the mean time the official RAD documentation is a bit wordy but explains the process.

https://www.rad.org.uk/documents/exam-docs/20150121Complaintsenquiriesaboutresultsandappealspolicy.pdf

hope this helps

21 hours ago, Ocs97 said:

Is there anywhere to stay nearby? Thanks 

I've not been to the London one yet so can't recommend any hotel but there's, 

Ibis - Blackfriars

Travelodge  - London Central Waterloo

Premiere Inn - London Waterloo

All in walking distance, Rambert is at https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rambert/@51.5061265,-0.1156433,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48760e6cbbcf9b61:0x847960275f647346!8m2!3d51.5061232!4d-0.1134546?hl=en

There are still spaces for the July 15/16 retreat at Rambert in London but they won't last long, the waiting list for Leeds is quite long as I understand it, there will likely be another London and Leeds date added this year, If you're at intermediate level you'll find these both challenging and enjoyable.

2 hours ago, Dormouse said:

 

That's what I was studying, then I passed my Grade 6 (I'm the oldest old fogie in the country to pass that exam),

Forgive me but is that you Doreen? I was incredibly moved by your story if that is you, I keep citing you as an example of exactly why no one has any excuse not to do ballet, that it really is for everyone & great fun / exercise.

Grade 7 in the short time I've been doing it has been great at bringing in a more expressive & gently movement quality into my dancing, I'm the first to admit I can be quite wooden at times as I think through the moves rather than feeling them but grade 7 has just touched something inside me.

So sorry to hear about your knee & wish you a swift recovery <3 x

1 minute ago, Colman said:

How are these for boys? I'm half contemplating trying one: if you can sort cheap flights Birmingham is a comfortable day trip from Dublin.

That's a long way to go for a 2 1/2 hour lesson! If you're coming that far I'd say The Ballet Retreat in either Leeds or London would be good, they're 2-3 days of, in the morning it's company classes then the afternoon boys / girls split for the variation, I think in a class of 45 ish there were about 8 boys at the one in Jan

On 12/05/2017 at 11:45, Kate_N said:

Actually, that information is locatable on the RAD website - well, certainly I found it there, and the links to the Eventbrite site.

Really? I was going backwards and forwards here https://www.rad.org.uk/events using location or "Adult Repertoire" in the search terms & could only find the London courses, no idea what I'm doing wrong.

I just noticed some RAD 18+ Repertoire classes at Elmhurst in Birmingham & thought I'd share, for some reason they don't show on the main RAD website.

I've linked to the listing with the early bird discount.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coppelia-adult-repertoire-workshop-birmingham-tickets-34232148277?discount=earlybird10 Coppelia Sept 24th

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/la-sylphide-adult-repertoire-workshop-birmingham-tickets-34232395015?discount=earlybird10 La Sylphide Oct 15th

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nutcracker-adult-repertoire-workshop-birmingham-tickets-34232412066?discount=earlybird10 Nutcracker Nov 19th

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/giselle-adult-repertoire-workshop-birmingham-tickets-34232437141?discount=earlybird10 Giselle Jan 14th

I may be going to some of these  but I never post where I am or going to be publicly for my own safety <3 x