Sugarplummum

Thanks guys, you're all right, i need to speak up really! Legseleven- haha I know i was gobsmacked when she said that 😲 The school she's at atm say that exams MUST be taken to move onto the next grade....but i shall ask her if working on both grades will be an option. Well ive just got off the phone with the other ballet teacher and she is so lovely 😊 I explained the friend situation and what her current teacher has said, and she has offered to let dd take class with her for extra tuition, but she wouldn't be classed as a student of the school ( she would still officially be a student of her current school) and wouldn't take the RAD exams, but move up through the grades on her own assessment. BUT it still has to be agreed by her current teacher, and she is happy to have a chat with her teacher regarding any concerns. The new teacher said she could understand if her school was in the same village, but it isnt, it's a 20 minute drive away! Im super happy at this prospect, dd still gets to have class with her "friends " but also gets extra tuition with a great school without having to take exams (so no clashing with dates etc ). But I've still got to ask for permission 😠 I might just say that she IS going to this other REPUTABLE school, on the basis of increasing her tuition hours which you can't offer currently!.... What do you think?

She started dancing in July 2015, took her pre primary in April 2016, and took her primary in November 2017. I am worried she's behind as there's some girls her age that took their grade 1 in January, however these girls have been coming since they were 4. Obviously before she mentioned to me she wanted to get serious with her ballet, i wasn't really fazed about what level she was studying at, but now coming to realise that she probably is a grade behind hence the panic of trying to increase hours etc. Yes it really grates on me when she's out of the class, and I think to myself what am I paying for? Hadn't thought of it that way pictures 🤔

Thanks guys 😊 YRosered- so is it ok/ normal for serious students to study more than one syllabus? Drdance- you are absolutely right, I suppose sometimes you have to put loyalty aside and make sacrifices! When i asked her if i could send dd to another school alongside her classes (that wasn't ISTD or clashed with timings etc) her response was: not really because they might not be as good as me at teaching technique and she'll pick up bad habits 😲 So would I be Within my rights to still send her to another class even if current teacher didn't agree?

Hi Cara, She's studying ISTD currently, so I'm not sure where ISTD grade 1 falls in RAD equivalent? However I have a bit of a long story about this subject... When my dd told me she preferred ballet to the other styles of dance she was doing, it got me questioning wether she is getting the best training/ studying the best syllabus etc. Now I like the school she's at , the teacher herself is experienced, however I have a few issues: It's only a 45 minute class and alot of the time the teacher is out of the classroom speaking to parents, paying her room hire etc, leaving her senior students (who offer to help her with younger years) taking the class. Most of the students are dancing recreationaly and there's alot of messing about going on which dd gets drawn into, naturally. Lastly, looking at the history of the school there isn't many achievements, i.e. students that go onto vocational. Infact I think only a handful over 32 years teaching 😕 So ive been researching local ballet schools to move her, and found one that has fantastic achievements as regards RBS, Elmhurst, northern ballet etc. And it's RAD syllabus. I contacted the school, and she is booked up. However after hearing about my dd situation, she offered for her to attend a couple of classes to see what dd thought. We went, dd was very nervous, not knowing anyone and I felt so sorry for her 😔. I managed to peak through the glass in the door and I was very impressed with what I saw. No messing about, kids were there to learn ballet and respected the teacher! And was taught by the teacher for the full hour. Now watching the RAD exercises, they seem alot more performance based (correct me if I'm wrong) which Will play to dd weaknesses and benefit her imho! And although she had not a clue about the exercises/style/music etc. I thought she handled it extremely well and gave it her best under the circumstances and I was incredibly proud of her 🤗 After the class the teacher came to speak to me explaining that dd was very brave and she would be happy to have her. Dd loved the class, and we went to another the following day (the school have 2 grade 1 classes a week, another bonus). After the second class it came to decision time. Dd loves the classes but doesn't want to leave her 'friends ' at the other school, the teacher said she was happy for her to attend both classes and dd was super excited at the prospect of this, but her current dance teacher said no, and also it would mean dd would be learning 2 different syllabus, with the issue of exam dates/show dates clashing etc. So im left in a pickle as i want her to go to the New class but she wants to stay with her friends (showing her age) , and it's a fine line because I don't want to force her and upset her.....what would you do? That's when I went back to her current teacher (didn't tell her she had been to see another school 😉) to explain that dd wants to take ballet seriously, and she's suggested EYB, private lessons with her (fortune) and a SS etc. To be honest I don't think her teacher knows what to do with her! And I'm left pulling my hair out 😣 Oh and just to throw another spanner in the works, if I did manage to move dd to another school, I would still have to see her old dance teacher every week as I work at the centre she hires 🙈 Told you it was a long story 🤣

Oh thanks ti62, good to know 😁

I've been trying to contact them with no luck?😣 X

Thank you, lovely advice 😊 Suppose it won't harm to try 😉 I'll email them x

Thanks guys, feeling alot less apprehensive about it now, and I suppose she has to start somewhere can't keep wrapping her up in cotton wool. Even if it is a no, it sounds like the audition experience itself was invaluable 😊 I've told her she'llprobably come across stuff she hasn't done before but give it your best shot...with a smile 😁 Going to browse the EYB tag now Thank you 🤗

Hi can anyone give me a heads up? My daughter has developed a love of ballet, shes been dancing for nearly 3 years and managed to achieve a distinction in both her pre primary and primary exams. For her to be able to gain more experience her teacher suggested she should audition for EYB (they are performing on our doorstep). Ive put the application in, but so nervous for her as this is the first time shes done anything like this 😣 Could anyone let me know their experience with them, what sort of things do they get them to do in the audition (dd is currently working on grade 1 atm so is still imature in that sense), do you know straight away if you have been successful? Tia xx

Thanks picturesinthefirelight, they would be ideal as not far from me 😊

It's too late to apply for northern and rbs, so mabey next year 😉 I've had a nosey at syb, but the audition date for it clashes with one of the EYB rehearsal dates so as I've already paid for EYB audition, would have to wait for results to see if she could apply for syb I'll check those other 3 bluebird, thanks x

Thanks Balletmum55 I'll have a look at their fb page 😊 Unfortunately the application date deadline has passed for northern ballet 😣 X

Yes could probably do it in about 1.5 hours so not too bad, I'll have a look, thank you 😁

Yes very similar story 😊 The insight days sound interesting, I'll have to keep a look out for them, thanks! Congratulations on your NYB call back, that's fantastic 🤗 Yes so many boxes to tick, feel very much like a small fish in a big ocean! But you're right, i suppose you never know unless you put yourself out there. We are going to try EYB for sure (but im very nervous for her), and a summer school , if she's successful at any of these then im sure we will find out wether she has/developes a passion for it and can build from there. Im going to have a browse on the associate tag Anna put on and see what's out there. 🤞 your call back is successful 😊

Thank you Anna and Ms Sunshine 😊 We are based in Nottingham, I can see RBS has a Birmingham class whichis only an hour away but would assume she's not likely to get in RBS? Are there any particular ones that are easier going and within a 2 hour drive of Nottingham?

Hello, This is my first post so I apologise if im posting in the wrong section 😕 My 9yr old daughter has been doing dance for the last 3 years (ballet, tap and modern). But she has a fondness for ballet and keeps telling me she wants to be a ballerina when she is older, and as much as im taking that comment with a pinch of salt 😉...obviously if it's what she's passionate about then i want to encourage that. I have no dance background so I don't know if she's got what they look for as regards ballet, however she has managed to achieve a distinction in both her pre primary and primary exams (but think these might be easier than grades?) And currently working on grade 1. Sorry im babbling... So my issue is, the dance school she is at only do one 45 min class for her grade per week, and I want her to do more. The teacher wont let her go to another school alongside (understandable) , unless it's an associate class! Ive googled it and it comes up with RBS 😲....i don't think we are quite at that level yet, so my question is, are there any other associate classes which would better suit her level, or have you got any advice as regards other ways to bump up the number of hours of ballet she does without upsetting her teacher? Her teacher has told us to audition for EYB and get her in a summer school (was looking at OPES) so im in the process of sorting that atm. Any advice much appreciated for a mum totally out of her depth 🙈