Penguinboysmum

Please let me know if the white pen is any good. I've ordered woven labels and some clip things that I can use for some stuff. While I'm sat here overthinking, what is the heating like in the boarding houses? Just wondering what tog duvet to get and are fitted sheets ok?

I think everything will need naming and gps tagging, he's great at losing stuff 😫

So first job is order so sew in labels! My least favourite job is sewing so little and often sounds a much better plan, thanks!

That's great. Thank you.

Yes he got to Elmhurst finals last year, then a straight no from Elmhurst this year. We'd decided not to audition anywhere else this year until he was invited to audition at the Hammond. I'm so glad we let him! As the BBO world is quite small I have an idea who you may have been with. That's so sweet. Thank you x

Also is there any Wi-Fi in the boarding houses or will he need a hefty data allowance to video call us?

Hi. DS has just found out he has an MDS so will be joining Hammond in Year 8 in September. The letter says further information will be sent out in due course but I wondered if someone could let me know what happens between now and September? Do they have a transition day etc? What about buying uniform or finding out which boarding house he'll be in. We really weren't expecting to get funding so we're all in shock at the moment. Thanks in advance Xx

Thank you, that would be good x

Can't quite believe I'm posting this but DS has been offered an MDS place at Hammond for year 8!!! It's already been a long journey of nos and he's worked so hard for this I am so proud of his resilience. To those who have received nos this time round, don't give up hope. xx

Good luck to everyone that was at Hammond funding auditions yesterday as we wait for our results this next week. DS had a great time again and really loves the school so we've got fingers tightly crossed!!

Have you looked at any BBOdance schools? They also run a male ballet scholars scheme once a month at Centre Pointe, with a couple of intensives through the year held at Elmhurst. So if he was with a BBO teacher he could audition for that.

No. I asked them and unfortunately it's non-refundable.

Thank you Margarite.

Thank you everyone for your help and advice. He thoroughly enjoyed his audition day and has subsequently been offered a place for year 8 with an MDS recall. What is the funding audition like? Is it a similar day to the first audition?

We were told they were put into the ballet class that was suitable for their level across year 7, 8 & 9. Is that not the case? Or is that just for the RAD classes?

This is all great to hear. DS had an audition at the Hammond today and we got a very positive feeling from the school. I got the feeling that they will nurture children in their strongest/preferred style while giving a balanced overall dance education.

Good luck to everyone attending Hammond auditions today 🙂

Thanks Margarite, he's auditioning for year 8. So far he's reached finals for Year 7 at Elmhurst and then this year was a straight no from Prelims at Elmhurst. But we keep trying...

Thanks everyone 😊

Hi Does anyone have any experience/advice regarding the dance and vocal solos? Is it better to go simple and demonstrate performance or be more technical? DS has been invited to audition for the Hammond having been recognised at the boys day for having real potential for full time vocational training but having only auditioned (unsuccessfully) for Elmhurst, the audition day at Hammond seems far more on depth and we're not really sure what to expect. Thanks in advance.

Hi DS reached finals for Elmhurst Yr 7 last year, he auditioned again this year for Yr 8 but didn't reach finals. He attended the Hammond boys' day last week and we received an email inviting him to audition as the vocational staff confirmed he showed real potential for full time vocational training. Obviously the wording of the email has really cheered DS up but I'm sure they probably send such emails out to a lot of the boys. He was also unsuccessful for a YBSS scholarship this year so has had his fair share of knocks. We know it's a tough industry and I am in awe of his resilience and passion, but it's such a young age to deal with this. Fingers crossed this time is his time. How do you help your dcs cope with rejection?

My son is 11. He is very lucky to be in a class of 6 boys. He has a normal mixed ballet class plus a boys only ballet class each week. There are 2 older boys and several younger boys in his dance school - I think in total there's about 16 boys from littlies to older students. He is also a BBO scholar and attends their Junior Male Ballet scheme in Manchester once a month. We have the Intermezzo boys dance belt age 12 - it's a thong back style but he now feels odd dancing without it. He's going to Elmhurst summer school tomorrow to experience that after making finals but not getting a year 7 place. Eta - I think his tap shoes are capezio. Black leather lace up. It would never have occurred to me they were girls.

Thanks everyone. We will look at York Scholars next year. Realistically Manchester is too far away for a weekly lesson but we'll revisit it all next year. In the meantime we've just heard he's got a place at Elmhurst summer school so he's got that and his Scholars classes to look forward to

We were just looking at options really as the scholars class is only once a month, and the residentials are twice a year. I think we are lucky with our dance school, but other than that I have little experience of the ballet world. It 'appeared' at DS Elmhurst audition that many if not all were associates. We didn't know about JA until auditions for yr6 so with so few places available that was a no. We haven't auditioned for MA because London is too far, so are looking closer to home. We just want to be doing the right thing by DS. It's a mine field, and while DS has always loved dancing, his thoughts on this being a potential career have only come about over the last year or so.

Hi, We're very lucky in his set-up that he has 5 other boys in his class, does a boys only ballet class and attends a boys scholars class once a month plus residentials that cover a wider range of styles. He also does jazz and tap which would clash with the associates class. So just putting him into the scheme would take him away from what he is already doing and unless it is an amazing scheme with exemplary teaching I'm not sure this would be the correct move for DS if that makes sense.