Whiteduvet

Is it a letter or email? 

Pretty sure every year group after this one will be told when complaining about any part of the audition process “well, at least you’re not applying during a lockdown”...😬

No nobody. And all views on the same day. Could mean anything really: will be interesting to see after results! 

How many views have you had? We had a few but everyone else seems to only have had one...? 

On 10/01/2021 at 13:40, Crazylifecrazykids said:

From my understanding.... which is limited as I'm new to all this haha. There's the preliminary round then from there, funding finals  but I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be able to correct me if I'm wrong xx

Ah. So that’s the funding date? That would make sense x

Does anyone know why there are two ‘audition’ sessions for the junior dance course listed on the website? One begins tomorrow, one isn’t until feb/March. Does that mean results will be delayed until then? Or are there two rounds of auditions..?

Don’t worry. It the technology doesn’t work then they contact you. They don’t just cross you out!! Happened with our JA audition this summer. 

Ha!! Think your Dad may have missed the boat slightly...;) 

DD was watched all the way through I think if I’ve read it right (not sure how YouTube really works!) 

We used YouTube and it was viewed last week!

33 minutes ago, meadowblythe said:

 

I suspect the teachers can spot artistry, and whatever else they are looking for, in ways we non dance parents don't know.   

 

When I took musical DD for a look around a school and an "informal instrumental session," the teacher came back and said that by the third note he knew what he needed to know.  

 

Associates can be a double edged sword - DS' JA teacher, after seeing his first round audition, commented she regretted some of her earlier  feedback to RBS - she had seen a different side to him when he took class with someone else.

 

 

Gosh how galling. I hope it didn’t make a difference in the end.

Interesting to hear that JA do feed back: I have always wondered.  

@farawaydancer Could you expand on the personality type question? 

Interested to see responses to this. 
 

From what I can gather

- RBS is HUGELY about body shape. Also potential, musicality and coordination. 
- Tring and Elmhurst require the appropriate body shape but aren’t as picky as RBS. I would assume they also want potential, musicality and coordination...!

- I’ve also heard that Tring like a bit of personality...

None of them require extensive training for year 7: less can often be more since there are then fewer bad habits to unravel!! It’s mainly a question of potential which makes it tricky to accurately gauge the likelihood of success unless

you know what you’re looking for. 

@HopelessMummyIt’s such a tricky one. I do wonder sometimes at the trend on this forum to label all no’s as ‘not yets’. Yes sometimes they are but at some point a no is a no and will remain a no. The difficulty is knowing which is which. 
 

I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on intensive results particularly this year. The different arms of RBS do seem to operate quite independently of each other so results in one area don’t necessarily tally up. Plus there are many odd circumstances this year which seem to make it a tricky one on which to base conclusions. 
 

That being said if this no is the latest in a string of no’s from RBS then maybe the truth has to be faced that RBS isn’t the right school. This doesn’t mean there is no future in classical ballet: other schools are available which may suit children more!! 

DD’s whole JA class appear to be on the SWL....

Someone on the audition panel board should write a book and reveal all. Would be fascinating!!  

Does anyone have any idea how they select? Surely photos alone doesn’t narrow it down enough? Is it children they don’t have in eg associate classes so they can watch them for longer? Or children they already know so they can get more training? It seems like a total lottery: I’ve heard of children not getting in and getting a spot at WL a few months later (and vice versa!). 

Thank you!!

RBS seem to prefer full sole for JA’s since it makes the foot work harder than splits: that’s what our JA teacher says anyway. If you can manage it (post lockdown) good idea to get them properly fitted so they show off the foot as much as possible. 

My daughter is desperate for a music/jewellery box for Christmas which plays the sugar plum fairy music. 
 

I can find some but they’re not great: quite little girly and princessy. Which isn’t her at all. 
 

Does anyone know where I might find one? There are some nice ones which play Swan Lake but she’s not keen!! 

It seems like most people get through to the video stage. So they’re deciding on full time spots based on one video? That seems really high stakes for everyone!

But places are offered based on the videos, no? Just not funding. Or have I misunderstood?

Dropping in from the year 6 JA group. RBS know exactly what they are looking for and can spot very quickly if a child has it or not. If a child doesn’t, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have no potential as a classical dancer, just that they don’t fit the precise mould RBS is looking for. Children fit in (and out) of the mould as they grow (hence why some children have to leave RBS after some training) so it’s always worth retrying if no ‘yes’ this time. 
 

And I’m very much of the belief that if the RBS want to accommodate a child, then they will find a way: they won’t let them go. So that email response makes sense to me. 

I agree. This course is not some covert, unattainable opportunity... it’s a chance available to everyone and thus not comparable to secret private lessons. 
 

WL is a business. They need to rent our space for money presumably (don’t they also do weddings??). 
 

All of the dance world is hugely unfair if you think about it: who can pay for lessons, costumes, have parents willing and able to ferry them around everywhere, take photos for auditions etc. Children turn down places at VS every year because there isn’t funding, whilst other children can attend because their family is wealthier. That’s not fair but it’s life. The dream of making it on pure talent alone is naive.

This course sounds great!

22 minutes ago, Farawaydancer said:

My dd loved it too and would have chosen it over her current school if she had been awarded the funding for it. The numbers auditioning seem to be comparable to the other schools. The same kids tend to turn up everywhere. 

Ha yes-they should just have one audition for everything rather than making everyone slog around everywhere...!!

Congratulations!! How many get through the Tring screening? For year 7? My daughter really likes the look of the school.