Moneypenny

All the very best to you and your dd as she settles back in at home. A brave decision, but clearly the right one for your dd at the present time. The toughest bit is actually making the decision, after that you breathe a big sigh of relief and just get on with things. We had to give up a year 7 vocational place a few years ago, for different reasons, but it certainly wasn't the end of the road. Most important thing is that she is happy and that you are not constantly worrying. Good luck.

The winner was indeed a very worthy winner and the standard was very high throughout. I don't think it should matter which school the winner comes from and I for one was pleased to see certain students make it through to the final.

My dd would also love to do a US summer intensive, but I've yet to find anything that doesn't clash with vocational school here in the uk.

Help please! Dd is shortly due to compete in a ballet competition and we're having problems with the costume she was planning to wear. We are going to be in London Thur/Fri of this week and wondered if anyone knows of anywhere in London where we could buy a fairly simple off the peg costume ... either something with a short tutu or a simple skirt. We'll do the rounds of Bloch, Capezio, Sansha, Dancia etc, but just wondered if there was anywhere else. Alternatively, we could get to somewhere in the midlands on Saturday.

It depends on age/year group, but my dd did roughly 2 open ballet classes (non syllabus), 2 Rad vocational grade ballet classes, 2 Rad recreational grade ballet classes, pointe (2/3 per week in year 9), 1 Istd modern class, 1 Istd tap class and 1 non syllabus jazz class ... per week. Length of classes varied and lessons take place during the day, over lunch time and after school. She was also able to carry on with Royal MAs on Saturdays.

You're welcome.

I can only speak for dance, but there are girls for whom dance is a recreational hobby, some who prefer to do the vocational dance course versus sport (sport is dropped for girls on the vocational dance course so that all the dance studies can be fit in) and those like my dd who are serious about ballet/dance as a future potential career. I don't think there are any specific entry requirements. Best thing to do would be to contact Mr Alkins for a chat, he is very approachable, to discuss suitability for your dd.

I think AB could offer what you're looking for in terms of keeping all options open. Their academics are certainly pretty good. Not sure what the musical theatre course includes, but the school also offers dance, drama and singing lessons separately (all at an extra cost of course) and they have an excellent choir. Dd was also able to take a number of Lamda exams when she was there. The music, dance and drama departments are very good.

My dd used to attend this school, but she didn't do the musical theatre course, she did the vocational ballet course until she left to take up a place at vocational school. I think the musical theatre course is quite new and I don't know much about it. The ballet tuition given by Mr & Mrs Alkins who run the dance school is excellent. However, AB is first and foremost an independent academic school, which offers vocational m&t and dance courses, which fit around academic studies, it is not a vocational school like Royal, Elmhurst, Tring, Hammond etc, there are limited fixed scholarships and the school is non selective.

I keep nagging my dd to keep taking her Berroca Boost! Hope your dc's are all better soon. Frustrating so early into the term for bugs and viruses to be doing the rounds.

My dd has strong flexible feet with high arches and generally gets through point shoes at an alarming rate, however, she has been wearing Suffolk Solos for the last 6 months or so and absolutely loves them. We recently went to the Suffolk factory to get her fitted and stocked up. Mark Suffolk fitted her and recognized that she must get through shoes quite quickly and explained why. She now has a harder shoe and he even recommended a slight modification to enhance the look of the shoe on her foot when up on pointe. She loves the shoes and the fit and they do look beautiful. Dd is at vocational school and does have a few pairs, but it will be interesting to see how long it is before I get the call to order more shoes!

We too went down the 'try it and see what happens' route with our dd when she was in year 6 and whilst she was absolutely clear that she wanted to go to vocational school, we explained that we couldn't promise anything even if a place was offered. Dd was offered an mds place for year 7, which we accepted, however, we had to give up that place very late in the day for financial reasons. Breaking the news to her that she couldn't go at the 11th hour was utterly heartbreaking for all of us, but it was the right decision at the time and she did get over it and settle into secondary school. We then decided not to allow her to audition for year 8, which was another blow to her, but for year 9 we relented and she got on the wait list for the same school offered in year 7. For us the process hasn't been straightforward, but I do believe things turn out for a reason and the disappointments have only served to make dd stronger and more determined. She did eventually get and take up her place and is absolutely loving everything that vocational school has to offer and soaking up the opportunity. Good advice above about not getting caught up in all the hype ... it's about what is right for your dc and your family ... as parents you relinquish a lot of involvement and control when your child goes away to school. Going down the vocational route is a huge decision both financially and emotionally. Would we change anything though? ... absolutely not!

Dance direct have some nice gifts and if you order early enough in the day, I think they might do next day delivery. I've ordered posters, bags and t-shirts for presents.

My dd is currently on her second pair of Suffolk pointe shoes and absolutely loves them. Over the last few years she has had Capezios, Bloch, Griscko and several different styles of Freeds. She has tried on Gaynor's a couple of times and whilst they felt great, she never liked the look of them. She really does love her Suffolks and gets on with them really well.

We have two of dds from her days as a ja, but I know she would never part with them. The first one she had at 8 now just looks soooo cute. Fortunately my aunt is very handy at needlework and made both.

Shashee, Not sure how far away it is from you, but you could try Dancing Boutique in Tunbridge Wells. They supply to several dance schools.

Great minds think alike Hairbelles! And a journey it certainly is ... 6 years on from JAs, we're still on the road and a long way to go!

I agree spanner

Don't like the photo, but love the YouTube clip ... In my humble opinion, her physique is lovely, she looks strong and looks like a woman, not a scrawny waif!

Does anyone know yet what's happening with Dadas post 2012?

Very well done to all the yes's out there ... and so the journey begins!!! I still remember the elation of opening that letter and getting a yes for JAs just like it was yesterday, I even remember the very day, knowing the letter was on the doormat and that we wouldn't be home until late that night ... even though it was 6 years ago now! It's crazy how the years fly by. Like someone else said, I too have felt your tension .. It's such a long wait for THAT letter after the auditions have taken place. So sorry to all those who haven't been successful this time ... as my dd would say "keep calm and ballet on". x

I absolutely agree that it's about the journey and seeing how things develop .... even though it can be a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, but hey that's life, and I think as parents of a dc you always have to remain realistic and take things one step at a time. When dd took up dance lessons for fun at five, never could we have imagined where it would lead to. However, the decisions we have made have been based very much on how the journey has progressed and what has happened along the way. Each positive step gives you the confidence to push on to the next one. Dd has had plenty of opportunities to get involved in other things over the years, but ballet has always risen to the top to the exclusion of everything else. Who knows what will happen in the future and what difficult decisions lie ahead, but for now it's about the journey and making the most of the opportunities along the way.

We picked up dd on Friday evening last year ... Lots seemed to go home on friday night and I wasn't at all keen on leaving her in student halls of residence if hardly anyone was there.

I agree Ribbons ... as I said earlier in this thread, if ballet is the passion and the ambition, don't take extra risks on the sports field if you have a choice! And to Spanner's point, all things ballet training, summer schools etc cost more than a small fortune, so to miss out on exams, summer schools and costly training through a sports injury would be devastating both for dd and potentially a waste of lots of money!

Have a lovely evening ... I'm sure you will feel incredibly proud. x