Yrosered

I doubt the reason is anything sinister, probably more to do with safeguarding. My daughter did a year of Scholars last year and two or three summer schools. She had some brilliant teachers across all three disciplines - and would love to still learn with the contemporary teacher and at least one of the ballet teachers and several jazz if she could; they were all very well renowned. The focus is no longer purely on classical because of the recognition that dancers need to be more well rounded, but the classical teaching is very good and at least two alumni went to well reputed vocational ballet schools at 16 last year. Worth auditioning and seeing what she thinks and decide from there!

Academy holidays start at the end of this week so that may be why - the staff are probably taking some much needed leave!

My daughter's now a CAT after three years as an Associate and there is no denying it is a HUGE commitment, with intensives in half terms and holidays as well as evenings and weekends. However the teaching and pastoral care is wonderful, their outcomes are fantastic and learning alongside a working company is an absolute privilege - the insight they get into life as a dancer is unparalleled. She has also grown up a huge amount this year, commuting both in and out, which I just wouldn't have thought possible at the beginning of the year. Obviously your daughter is too young to do this, but there may be lift share opportunities with other parents and the office can help you find those. All I can suggest for the audition is that your daughter do her best and does her best to enjoy it - and to show she's having fun. Don't be afraid to answer questions if any are asked and to remember that a no is not a no forever, it might just be a not yet. Good luck!

Hi, yes, this is the flaw in the plan! We'll be having a chat with the head of sixth form next year when we know for sure that we are going to wait to see what they advise... it might be that we have to pay for AS Level exams. It would be great if this doesn't happen and she auditions next year, but if a year makes a difference between acceptance at a good school and not then we'll just have to make the best of it I guess.

Hello I was advised last week to wait a year before my daughter auditions. She's Y10 right now, and her teacher has suggested she has an extra year of training and auditions in Y12 not 11 as her body just isn't strong enough and she thinks the extra year to mature will give her the strength she needs to get into the schools she wants to study at. I was taken aback at first as the message has been clear that for classical ballet you must go away at 16, but her teacher is very well respected and I trust her implicitly so, unless my daughter's strength improves faster than expected we will wait. Educationally this means she can concentrate on her GCSEs and do AS levels, plus she'll be a little more mature when she leaves home and get another year of top training and preparation. So, if things don't work out for you this year, there is always next, when you've had a chance to grow. It's not impossible. Congratulations on KS Dance and I hope there are more yesses in your future.

Hi. My daughter also started ballet fairly late - she was nearly 9, and went into a Primary/G1 combined class where she was, to her horror, the oldest. She stayed there for around a year until she skipped the primary exam to do her G1 and moved into G2. But within two years she caught up with the girls her age, and then overtook them and at 15 is in a CAT scheme and hoping to audition for vocational training next year. My advice would be to show your daughter what this basic training can lead to - mine only did ballet because she was growing so fast and losing all coordination, but as soon as she saw girls en pointe she was determined to get to that level and it really spurred her on. As others have said make sure the teachers have the right qualifications, that the older pupils seem happy and are given opportunities like exams, shows, comps and associates if they want it and if not then maybe look around for somewhere else, we ended up moving for non ballet classes and my only regret was not doing it sooner!

Sorry, only just seen this! She's 14 otherwise that would have been lovely. She decided against in the end which I think is a real shame, but I believe she's been helping other people out with theirs and cracking on with some GCSE homework as well which is less fun but sadly necessary!

Great! Will DM.

Thank you, that would be great. Is your daughter doing NYB by any chance?

Thank you, I may well take you up on that! I'm very pleased she's having this opportunity but there's a lot to organise!

That sounds perfect. How much would you want for it? Thanks!

Hi! My daughter needs a character skirt for NYB but she's never owned one before and probably won't use it again so would rather buy second hand! She's 23 inch waist and 25 inch waist to knee so probably needs a 26 inch length I think? Does anyone have one for sale? Thanks!

Just realised the only way to make sure DD is there by 10 on the first day is to stay over the night before which,as her CAT summer school doesn't finish until 3 on the Sat, makes for an extremely busy weekend and an extra expense I wasn't planning on! Does anyone have approx prices for a taxi from the city centre to Elmhurst please? Also, she's unsure about whether or not to enter the choreographic competition, this is her first time at NYB and she doesn't know anyone who's gone before. Do most people have a go? Thanks!

Another recommendation for York Scholars. DD is moving to CAT this year so can't go but has been twice, one boarding, one not, and loved both weeks. Friendly, great teachers, lovely location and exceptional pastoral care (her jazz teacher is a house mother this year and you couldn't meet a lovelier person). It's a really good introduction to boarding and at 4 nights not too long for first timers. We're really sorry to have to miss it.

Hi, does anyone know when the Sadler's Wells tickets are going on sale? Thanks!

I've just had to ask for 4 days in a week's time for Easter school, as the holidays don't match up, the next day for an audition and the following Wednesday for an exam. School just said they were really proud of how hard she works and - and that's Y9 with one early GCSE to work for. I was really relieved, pretty surprised and completely grateful to have chosen a state school which values the Arts - they still offer GCSE and A-Level Dance, Music and Drama despite cuts. But didn't realise until this morning just how lucky we are.

I don't believe it's usual when they start out. If we'd lived in an area where one dance school could have given her all the hours she needs we probably wouldn't have done it, but most have only a few classes for the older more serious student so we have to combine. However she loves the variety - says RAD gives her the precision and technique and ISTD freedom to explore why. And before this she did IDTA for class and RAD for vocational exam work with no worries. Plus of course Associate classes have their own methods so it's good to learn how to respond to different styles of teaching. The bad habits point I do agree with, not all ballet classes are created equal, but if it's a reputable school with good outcomes ie plenty of Associates/children applying to vocational schools then that's unlikely to be an issue.

Hello It can all be a little overwhelming can't it? However there is time. My daughter (14) didn't even start ballet until she was 9. I didn't dance and my only knowledge came from Lorna Hill and Noel Streatfeild books (which were very much of the too much to soon harms the child's development. Goodness knows what they'd think of all the courses today) ballet wasn't on our radar at all. If she hadn't had a huge growth spurt and kept falling over I probably would never have sent her to classes at all... She skipped Primary, still took her Inter F at 12, has studied IDTA g 1-3, just taken ISTD G6 and is about to take RAD Intermediate, jumped 2 tap grades and all the Modern Grades to take her G5 in Dec and currently learns at 2 dance schools (one ISTD, one RAD vocational) and two Associate schemes. All this was possible because she had a fantastic and helpful RAD ballet teacher who has gone above and beyond to support her as well as teach her at a high level, phoning up to get her associate auditions when we missed deadlines, suggesting summer schools, coaching for comps etc. It's a little hectic! Will she be good enough to get a funded place at 16? I have no idea. Should I have tried to get her into Voc school at 11? No. She didn't want to leave home, or her RAD ballet teacher and I couldn't afford to send her. So we do our best and while she enjoys it and is motivated to work hard and doesn't mind missing out on sleepovers and parties and not taking her place in the school hockey team etc it we'll continue. It doesn't sound like your daughter is going to progress where she is. If you think she's serious about wanting to study ballet then talk to her about it and explain that moving will make that more likely. A good summer school or associate scheme will help her and you see what else is out there. But to be honest, she'll make new friends... Hope that helps!

That's really interesting. Where would you recommend abroad?

Interesting and a little depressing - makes you wonder how many people with potential don't make it because they simply couldn't afford to train. I know when teen gets to 16, getting a place is only half the battle (and it feels like a battle!). If it's not a funded place she'll have to go for option B and that's always been clear. But it would be easier in many ways if she gets no place rather than a place we can't afford for her to take up...

And it’s a no. Which solves the fees/leave problem I guess - 2 weeks was eye wateringly pricy. Well done to all the yeses and fingers crossed for those on the waiting list.

Nothing for us yet either - we applied for 2 weeks though, does that come separately? Still, not expecting a yes so teen is fine.

And to you! Really not expecting a yes but would just like to know...

I only entered on a 'if we don't there is no chance' whim, and as it's the first time we've ever done anything RBS don't expect to get in at all - and she's also trying for YBSS, Elmhurst AND NYB all for the first time as well (thinking we might as well practice auditions and application forms with Y11 and voc school auditions just 2 years away). But I am finding myself refreshing my email anxiously. Partly because I would love her to get in because such an amazing opportunity and partly because I'm not sure how we'll pay for it if she does - and I would need to use up two days of AL to take her and pick her up!

I emailed in a few days ago as I have to book (increasingly pricey) trains and, depending on times, a hotel as well, and they said they wouldn't know the times until they had final numbers for each age group but would let us know asap after the closing date. Hoping to be able to day trip it and that the fares aren't too extortionate!