dancertaxi

1 hour ago, Anna C said:

Which scheme is better, in terms of teaching, number of students moving on to full-time training, well-known school, etc. or are the two schemes "much of a muchness" as my Granny used to say?

Hi Anna,

These slow to respond scheme is definitely more preferable - I wouldn't be bothered usually but would rather DD didn't miss out on doing one of them at least.

Going to see if I can delay final answer for scheme B whilst I wait yet another week for Elmhurst.

Just needed a vent. Invite to first class of term as audition,  great verbal feedback to DD from teacher. Told by her decision this week. Now told by admin more auditions this weekend will get notified week after. 

Surely a no is a no, yes is a yes as they don't have set class sizes... Decision on another scheme with conflicting times is due on Monday  loosing the will!!!! 

1 hour ago, MrsMoo2 said:

Thank you! Was fretting for a minute thinking I'd took some poor Childs place! Lol! 😂😂

Might see you there, I'll be with 10 year old DS who's blonde...😊😊😊😊

Well if you have then I have too!

I ll look out for you - I ll probably be wearing a longish purple cardigan. DD looks mostly like any other 10 yr old dancer TBH so no point saying I ll be with the one leaping, pirouetting and generally nonstop dancing because I imagine there will be more than just her.  

46 minutes ago, MrsMoo2 said:

I've just booked to go to the October one at 10.30. Did you book two tickets for yourself and child or just one for the child? Confused! 🙈🙈 xx

I booked two - me and dd x

Anyone else going? So pleased they released a second date. Just booked.

6 minutes ago, Kate_N said:

I've often tread in this forum how much dancers (and their parents) would like feedback, and that it is not unreasonable to expect to receive feedback. So maybe this is an attempt to answer that sort of request? 

Possibly Kate_N although I am aware this was not consistent across the day for others auditioning. Time will tell whether this was generalised feedback or implying a positive outcome.

1 minute ago, LinMM said:

It's worse today with email etc

At least when I was younger it was just a dash to the morning post and then to tha afternoon post ( were two daily deliveries in those days) so could sort of worry/relax in between!! 

Good luck to your DD

LinMM I remember the good old 2nd post days - however I live rurally now so our only delivery seems to take days longer than it should and it doesnt arrive until after 2pm.

Email is definitely worse though - I've hit refresh countless times and double checked Spam folder. Each time I get an email notification I m nearly sick!

Roll on 4pm when I take DD to dance and have no reception for 4 hours.

Thankyou for the goodluck.x

Just now, sarahw said:

Wish I knew the answer..... I've wasted hours, no days, doing the same thing. Good luck!

Ha ha - I think we re worse than the kids for wanting to know...

Its not really about the outcome - its whether I need to reorganise my Saturday mornings to fit yet another thing in. Could do with a swift decision really.

1 hour ago, Kate_N said:

Maybe it might help (of course, it might not ) to give you a perspective from the assessor's point of view?

 

Caveat: it's not ballet, but anyway ...

 

Part of my university teaching requires me to assess student performances (in choreography, performance, dance, acting). Obviously, we see their shows and presentations, and they want us to say something immediately. We can't tell them our grading decisions - we have a pretty long & thorough process of discussion before we settle marks. So we say something encouraging, but a bit bland - we can't say what we really think re strengths and weaknesses, because that is in the written feedback (our students get about a page of written commentary).  

 

It's tricky - obviously, straight after a nerve-wracking performance, on which marks are based, you can't immediately go into the weaknesses; but nor can you praise in the "Dahling, you were fabulous" style, in response to obvious student nerves & excitement to make them feel better. Because the marks may in fact be much lower than the praise, and students remember (and resent).

 

And overall, whereas a student (I'm talking undergraduates here) may well take a 55% on an essay (which maybe they wrote over the weekend quite quickly) and detailed critique of how next time they can improve their essay, as an OK response (or even, as one said to me "Fair cop, I didn't spend a lot of time), if they're performing arts students, then their performances are very close to their self-image and self-esteem as people - in the way an essay is not. To give a student 55% for a performance cuts much much deeper - they are far less objective about their performances, becaue they're inexperienced & still learning. It's as if we're saying that they're mediocre people, because their performance was mediocre (which a 55% at university indicates - OK but lots of room to improve). 

 

So it's really tricky! Hence the comments from the auditioners may be because they're aware that dancers appreciate feedback. But that the feedback, and the decision to offer a place or not, are different things.

 

I hope that makes sense?

Kate_N  thanks - I too am a University Lecturer so fully understand the verbal vs assessment feedback and difficulties in implying.

In relation to the ballet auditions and any auditions DD has been to - both with positive and negative outcomes, at no time has the audition teacher made specific comment verbally or written in relation to DD performance within the process.

I believe from discussing with other parents auditioning at associate programmes this level of discussion - a good 5 minutes is unusual. They do not usually comment whatsoever at the time.

This waiting for outcomes of auditions is painful.... I must have checked my emails 20 times since 9am today.

DD auditioned Saturday for Elmhurst associate but as term has started I m hoping we hear quick.

I need distraction activities.... anyone?

1 hour ago, MoreExcited said:

We had similar yesterday too...teacher said she had worked really hard and was a great audition...just waiting to hear what the email says now as I'm taking the comments lightly. DD had a lovely experience regardless of the outcome.

Oh that's great MoreExcited. It was very odd to receive such individual comments  - please let me know when you hear?

9 hours ago, MrsMoo2 said:

We had one last year who came up to me as DS was in the changing room and said, "please do come back again, he has a great dance physique and we'd like to see how he grows..."

Didn't get in like, but he will try again this academic year...🤣🤣

Lol...xx

Aw I m sure he will be successful second time round.

DD got waiting list last year for these associates but never received any verbal feedback - just a generic email.

Just hope it hasn't increased DD expectation of being successful for her to get a no.

Anyone any experience of receiving positive verbal feedback at end of associate audition?  

DD attended an audition today after which the teacher said well done to the Principal of dance school for sending her and that DD did a really good audition - this was all said directly infront of her. 

Unusual we ve never had this direct feedback before.... 

1 hour ago, celb said:

Thanks for this but it's not the tambourine variation I'm looking for : it's the female variation of the grands pas des fleurs - I can find the ensemble,PDD and coda but not the variation. DD learnt it in Canada- but played by a pianist. I can find a piano copy but not orchestral 

I recall someone saying this piece is re used - the music that is - in la bayadere pas de deux - maybe you could locate that?

On 10/06/2017 at 11:27, MrsMoo2 said:

 

Yeah, I figure he'll be growing for a while yet! He's 10.

Loves his tap though. I'll keep looking...???

We have Bloch leather split sole pull on and full sole leather professional tap shoes both 3 if you still need

58 minutes ago, dizzyalice said:

Can anyone help? I'm getting desperate. The lady who I asked to make my daughter's skirt is now unable to and I'm stuck. I can't find anyone locally and have tried phoning the recommended service however the lovely chap says the worst case scenario is 3 weeks to make the skirt and my daughter starts on the 9th Sept. Does anyone please please have a skirt for sale? My DD is 8, and 21"-ish waist. Even if someone has one they could kindly and trustingly lend me until I can get one made and I will then send it back.

Where are you? Our costume maker might be able to help

I m not sure - maybe the 'pull it all in' spandex shorts,? They are thin and usually no lines visible but not sure how warm they d be!

18 minutes ago, sarahw said:

There are other ways to get performance opportunities such as EYB.

Sooooo hard - dd loves competing - not to win necessarily but to be on stage, receive critique, and improve her routines - lots of thinking I think, competition team can be intense - gosh dance world is tough

So juggling act has proved impossible - RBS obviously fantastic but flip side is missing performance opportunities and festivals at national-world cup level - any thoughts?DD age 10 grade 4

1 hour ago, joyofdance said:

Thank you , I will have a look at them.

There is a tap forum on Facebook but again a lot is american

7 minutes ago, Babyballerina said:

The letter that was emailed to me says year 6 is 12.45 to 14.15.  Hope this helps

Thankyou - I got sent the term dates but not times yet

Does anyone know current times for this year? DD has an in class audition and ideally need to re shuffle arrangements for the day so this would be very helpful while I wait for confirmation

Hi, we use spray gel which reduces the amount you need to put on and a toothbrush rather than a comb to stick all those whispie bits down

Thanks All, Dd is in no rush neither am I. I wonder whether the teacher made a mistake and meant 6-8 months rather than weeks??

Anyway we will certainly be delaying until nearer 11. Just wanted to check I m not being a crazy over protective parent in delaying 

Hi invisiblecircus, dd has just turned 10, she does 4 hrs ballet a week and 5 hours tap,modern,flexibility, conditioning, we are of the same mind in terms of no rush to get those pointe shoes!