Yrosered

As previously posted I'm very much a new ballet goer and as a writer I do like a discernable narrative! I brought my teenage daughter (in vocational training so knows a lot more than me) to see the double bill last night as a pre GCSE half term break treat and we both agreed that we did really enjoy Dancers, especially Nunez who was luminous last night, but it was 15 mins too long. Contrary to most people here (so far) we absolutely loved The Cellist. I was almost in tears at the end... But we've both seen Victoria and there are some similarities with the use of the corps as background/objects there so maybe it just wasn't such an adjustment as a result. We found it very moving and emotional with wonderful performances from the main three.

Leeds College of Music was the first conservatoire to scrap audition fees this year recognising the barrier they can create. Next year when DD auditions I am fully prepared to need to spend upwards of £1000 of which at least £300 will be on fees. For that, and my time, I expect the audition panel to give her the respect of their attention during the process like any professional should. It's not a huge amount to ask no matter how many auditions they sit through.

Perhaps, but if your job involves outreach and children come out of an audition feeling that they've been dismissed before they've even danced then maybe you're in the wrong job. Lots of UK children audition for RBS US having never been in their system at all, paying to do so. Auditioning them in a way that knocks their confidence may mirror the professional audition circuit but it's rude. They all deserve the illusion of a fair chance - or better a real chance!

My DD is 16 and this year does Monday Tues optional Thurs and Fri, all approx 5 - 8 plus all day sat (11.30 - 6 I think). Intensives are: a day in Oct half term, 2 weekdays Feb half term, 3/4 weekdays at Easter and 3 May half term plus couple of Sundays leading up to the show. The year starts with three weeks during the summer. They do get the occasional weekend off in term time, 4 or 5 overall. Last year she did some work with the level 3s to build up her strength (that personalised timetable) and so was in on a wed. So if your child joins at level 1 and goes all the way through expect movement as to what evenings they do! As they get older lots who can use public transport do and she always walks to the station with other students, we collect when that isn't possible. She's made amazing friends, they often go out after class for birthday meals etc, they're a lovely supportive bunch. She is, despite being very tired esp as this is GCSE year, very very happy. And she has come on SO much in the year and a half she's been there.

I can't reiterate enough the time commitment. Evenings, weekends and holidays for intensives. But, it's worth it. Small classes, tailored learning, the opportunity to train in the same building as a working company which I think is unique in this country, especially at lower school level and staying in mainstream education to give a good grounding for those that choose another path. DD didn't want to board and we are so lucky that she can get affordable vocational training and live at home. But it takes a lot of work to make it happen logistically, and as she didn't start until Y10 she has done a great deal of independent travel from the start thank goodness. But if you can make it work, do.

Hi, I've just booked for the first week of RCS for my DD and as she's 16 she is planning to stay in RCS accommodation and have a go at being independent (she's in for a shock!). The website recommends Base Glasgow but the Base website just goes to a bad link when I try and book for a summer course and when I emailed in the very unhelpful reply was that they only took a minimum 8 week booking! Has anyone else booked RCS yet and if so have they had any better luck?! Thanks. Ps if anyone else has booked it would be good to know as DD won't know anyone else there I don't think.

Oh, that's very disappointing. Much as it will be nice not to spend my summer holiday in Birmingham (great city, but not very summer holidayish) the summer will feel flat without NYB. My teen has done the last two seasons and they were incredible experiences. She learned a lot, made some great friends and had the unforgettable opportunity to dance at Sadlers Wells. I hope they don't take too long a hiatus because it really is a unique summer school.

My daughter did the Easter course a couple of years ago and we combined it with a week's holiday. She danced all day, we got to know a beautiful part of the country we would never have visited otherwise. It worked out almost the same as her boarding financially - the only downside was having to get up to drive her in every morning, holidays should include sleep ins!

A decade ago I had only ever seen one ballet - a Nutcracker, in Nottingham, when I was about ten. I'd have been completely happy never to have never ever seen another ballet as long as I lived. And then my daughter started dancing and so, in summer 2014, I took her to see ENB Romeo and Juliet in the round and it changed everything. I can't remember who danced that Saturday matinee but I was in floods by the end (to her embarrassment). Five and a half years later we've been to the ROH as much as money, distance and her schedule allows (booked for five times this season) attended most live screenings, seen a variety of mixed bills, galas and full length ballets both classical and modern. This Christmas we saw Anna Rose O Sullivan debut in Coppelia, Northern Ballet's fabulous Cinderella and will be at their gala on Sat - and I've watched her twice at National Youth Ballet. Maybe her dedication and love for ballet would have won me round eventually, but the beauty, spectacle and emotion of that first Romeo and Juliet changed my view of ballet for ever, and that makes it the highlight of the decade for me. I'm far too uncritical a viewer to have a lowlight!

Announcement tomorrow according to insta...

Thank you all! Off to research!

Hi All With the rise of Instagram comes the rise of the gorgeous ballet photo! I would really like to buy my teen a photoshoot for Christmas as I am not skilled in this direction, one using outdoor locations as I know she really likes these - we live in York so there are lotds of very scenic places very close by!. Does anyone have any recommendations for Yorkshire/NE and how much should we realistically pay for 2 hours? Thanks!

Hello There's no booking system, you simply turn up and queue. We've waited half an hour and we've been seen straight away, it just depends how busy they are. Some times my daughter has been fitted very quickly, other times it's taken several styles and sizes before they and she are happy. We live a long way away so tend to pop in every time we're in London and my daughter is now quite happy to go alone (at 15) if time is short. Any problems you can email them - we've sometimes booked appointments in Bloch and Capezio as well just to give her a good assortment to try. Hope that helps!

We've been travelling to Northern Ballet for over four years now, and have almost solely used the train. It's a fast ten minutes walk from the station, means no dealing with the one way system, car park charges etc and now the daughter is older she can travel independently which is great preparation for going away. Obviously she would prefer to be driven there and back, especially back, but she's used to the train now and regular commuting has really helped her mature. Not possible for everyone I know, and it isn't cheap either, but it's really helped my time management!

Hi, can you send me photos? Thanks!

If the dates fit then packaging it can take a lot of the visa hassles away and be cheaper. Sixteen years ago we found it was half the price to go with Jules Verne than independently although at just 30 then we were about half the age of everyone else! We did everything independently once in St Petersburg although there were tours if people wanted them - I think everyone else did. I wish we'd done both cities, but we just did St P which was glorious. Sadly I wasn't a ballet fan at the time so didn't even try for tickets. A big regret! It was April and very wet!

Hi, we packed a leotard per day plus tights etc, otherwise she just wore tracksuits/leggings/ tees and something a little smarter for the party. She didn't wear half the casual stuff she brought. Otherwise I'd recommend a little money for tuck and that's it. They don't need very much. My daughter didn't know anyone and can be a little shy but she was absolutely fine. I did send her a chocolate pizza to share about 3 nights in and that really helped her feel sort of a group. It was a great experience and she loved every moment. Feel free to DM with any questions!

Hi Has the Claudia Dean been sold? Thanks!

Hi, I am in the process of doing this for my 15 year old daughter for the exact same reasons. She isn't even at upper school yet, let alone looking for a job, but I wanted her to have the security of EU membership before she applies to upper school and shuts down other career options, especially as she is keen on applying to Europe for vocational school. It took me 6 months to get my passport and we are currently 8 months into waiting for her nationalisation. Passport will be another 6 months so I'm glad we did this well in advance. It's long-winded and complicated and expensive - but I did keep my passport by sending in a notorised copy. It's also worth it to keep her career options open in and out of dance. Good luck!

Thanks so much everyone. It's definitely doable to day trip, but maybe not for a sixteenth birthday trip and school/work the next day. We'll have to experiment on a weekend... Lamb and Vadim it is. Now I just have to decide where to book tickets. We usually stand at the top of the amphitheatre but that seems a little unfair for a birthday present!

My daughter would like to see Manon for her 16th birthday which is on the 3 October. She happens to have a school teacher training day on her birthday so I was thinking of either leaving work early and whisking her straight to London after school (we live in York) for the opening performance on the 2nd to see Lamb and Vadim and staying over or day tripping down on her actual birthday for Cuthbertson and Ball. She would adore either cast. If we day trip then the last train back is at 11. Do any experienced ROH goers get this train and how tight is it time wise getting from CV to KC at that time? Thanks!

Does anyone know of any performances in New York later this month? I'm at a conference from July 23 for 4 nights and would love to see some ballet while I'm there but can't see anything on during those dates.

Sorry for the jargon! It's Birmingham and the ICE is the International Conference and Exhibition centre (I think? Big conference centre anyway!). It's 2 mins from the Crescent theatre where NYB do 3 shows and so uses the same hotels NYB parents and friends do.

Hi Just a heads up to parents whose DC are doing NYB this year, there's a big HE Conference at the ICE and they have conference rates at all the usual hotels near the Crescent, so you may want to book early. Planning to combine dance momming with work this year and attend the conference which is how I know!

I've come latish to watching ballet and if it wasn't for an aspiring ballerina daughter would probably have never come to it at all. But through her I've spent the last few years watching the RB, BRB, ENB, New Adventures and NB live and on screen. I'm very uncritical, mostly due to ignorance, and, as a writer not a dancer, much much prefer a clear narrative structure and like to know who everything or everyone is, why they are there and how they contribute to the plot. So when I read the first reviews of Victoria I was nervous about whether it was for me or not. I didn't need to worry, I was absolutely blown away by the dancing - the trio with young and old Beatrice had me close to tears - and with a quick read of the programme and this forum found it easy to follow, although I did take Jan's advice and not worry too much about which child was which. The childbirth scene felt comical at first, then increasingly grim as the reality of the impact of constant birth had on her hit home. I would love to watch it again - and so would my 15 year old daughter who came out glowing and who enjoyed both the story and the dancing. As someone who lives in the north and whose schedule - and more restrictively child's schedule - means getting to London to see the RB is achievable once a year a most, I am so grateful for innovative and accessible regional dance and to see it discussed here with such passion.