Whiteduvet

OP-apologies for rather derailing your thread. I’ve been thinking about it though and I think whether a child who never made JA’s can get into WL depends on why s/he wasn’t accepted. If s/he had a bad day at the audition, or had an issue which has resolved itself by the time of the WL audition (or if the panel simply made a mistake) then yes, the child has a chance. But if the child didn’t get into JA’s because of something which hasn’t since changed (either because it’s something intrinsic to that child which will never change, or because it’s something they have yet to grow out of), then the child doesn’t have a chance. So if the child’s body proportions aren’t ‘right’ for the RBS, for example, that won’t have changed. Obviously though you don’t know why the place wasn’t forthcoming for JA’s.... In respect of the other debate, the whole thing seems like a lose-lose situation at times to be honest. RBS offers ‘better’ rewards but the chances of those going to someone joining in year 7 are tiny and the possible negative effects on a child as they move through the system are not to be ignored. Elmhurst (and other schools) may be better, more supportive, environments, but the rewards at the end seem less (if we define rewards as a spot in a top company). It feels like a game of Russian roulette, to be honest, where the house almost always wins. Guess it shows how much the child really has to love ballet above and beyond anything else.

The other threads have discussed the role of sponsored international students and competition winners taking places. I don’t know anything directly about that so don’t want to comment, but yes, I think money may play a part.

Yes that’s true but if a school can’t get the dancers it chooses and trains for five years into its upper school then something isn’t right. If that happened in an academic school there’d be an uproar!

There are a few threads already on this if you search. The stats are not good: the system doesn’t seem to work for some reason for the vast majority.

The issue of how long year 7 pupils get to stay at WL is a whole other issue...

Thanks all.

Bump (if I'm allowed!). Anyone know this?

RBS website says that many WL pupils were JA‘s. But clearly not all (although this statement will include children who join in later years, not just yr7, who may be more likely to be international students and thus not JA’s). So worth a try!

Does anyone know anything about the destinations of dancers at Tring at 16? Do most go onto their own dance course? Is it possible to move from there to eg the RBS Upper School? Am liking the look of Tring: just don't know much about the standard of its dance training. Thanks.

Thanks.

Spamcat where are you? Manchester isn’t starting until 26th I think (hope!)...!

Some great advice. I’d also add that I personally feel that ballet is the least forgiving of all dance styles: if you’re not excellent I think you look more amateurish than when you’re not excellent in other types of dancing. That may just be because I know more about ballet than other types of dance, but it might also be worth trying other types of dance and seeing if one of those fits.

The fact is though that the majority of children will never be ‘good’ enough and so it is sensible to be realistic. Is there another school locally with a good reputation where you could go for a trial class? We organised a one-off private lesson for our daughter with a well known teacher who had no financial motivation to tell us what we wanted to hear. Otherwise if you’re thinking about proper training, then in year 6 there are plenty of audition opportunities where you could get an idea of where she stands compared to her peers.

Thanks! Are assessments annual?

Hi. My daughter started at BB yesterday and really loved the class. I was wondering when/how/if BB provide feedback and advice (eg on specific points to work on): does anyone know? Thanks!

It would be from age 11. Good to hear that the standard is high. Is that the case also for girls? How long ago were you there? She has no German though so probably not possible. Might you have any idea where we could find a good private teacher instead? Or is there a German equivalent to this forum?!

We’re going to be living in Munich, which is why I’ve been looking into it. So DD would be able to attend as a day student. Just trying to get an idea of the standard.

My daughter is entering year 6 and her email said just to order the uniform and not to worry if it hasn’t arrived in time: any normal ballet gear will be fine.

No there are no times yet. The email said the timetable would be released soon.

They won’t be spending that long. If they don’t see what they like within the first few minutes they won’t watch any further.

Anyone have any idea what time the year 6 Manchester classes are? Thanks

Very interested in this discussion. Has something new been claimed (if I’m allowed to ask that...?)?

Just had a yes for year 6 for DD. Well done to everyone else who got in and sorry to all those who didn’t make it this time x

You too! Don’t think there are many yr 6 newbies so great to find another! X

Oh how lovely. Where is she starting? My DD is starting year 6 in Manchester.