Astrid

On 12/09/2023 at 09:31, Neverdancedjustamum said:

Bearing in mind, this is probably not isolated to vocational boarding schools. I also know of concerns in local dance schools. Perhaps not so much the body shaming but definitely the verbal jibes and what can be constituted as bullying. And just like those DCs, often the child would be scared to tell anyone about it (and often the parents too), feeling they have no choice. I’ve witnessed parents who know full well that this happens in the schools but opt to keep their child in there as they feel they have no choice or because the teacher is brilliant. I’m sure a child can make it without being abused but it is a tricky one to manoeuvre. 

Agree with this entirely.

I have for sale the following:

Degas 9501 Ciel Opera (blue) Age 14a in Lycra £30 inc postage 

Degas 9501 Corail Age 14a in meryl

soft £30 inc postage 

Degas 9501 Cobalt (sort of jade green) Age 14a in Lycra £30 inc postage 

Degas 9501 Eglantine Age 14a in Lycra (Note: this isn’t lined although this has never been an issue for us) £20 inc postage 

If anyone wants photos I can send on

10 hours ago, kimsballet said:

I hope everyone's children have been enjoying their experiences so far and had fun!

 

I just wondered if anyone knew why they take so few children for the Associate programme in each place?- it's seems like around a handful at most/ one class worth? I understand there needs to be exclusivity to it, but it seems for a JA level especially there could easily be several classes a day or something on a Saturday (different teachers maybe) as it's all being paid for by each child that goes? (So not as if they are losing money at each class or anything I don't imagine?- in fact surely it is a great way of making money to fund other things higher up the chain!) It just got me wondering that's all- maybe it is the exclusivity and they only want a handful of kids to go through it in each place. Interesting though, especially as there is evidently so much interest around the UK!

in our centre, there was a year 4/5 class, a year 6 class girls, and then a boys class, plus the mids classes (2 classes), and each one is over 2 hours, there is only time/studio space/teacher availability for one class per age group. They keep them small so that they can be offered individual corrections I guess. I think they might have offered around 8 year 6 girls places the year my DD got in (although this was the year after covid when they hadn’t taken many the year before). 

The selection criteria is pretty specific (physical attributes, technique, that certain ‘something’ etc). It took my DD 2 attempts to get a place. Children realise their potential at different ages so absolutely just keep trying if you don’t get in (if they want to that is)! 

I think the likelihood is most children offered year 7 places will have done an associate scheme at some point simply because it’s popular way of doing more ballet.
However Elmhurst definitely do not prioritise their associates for places at the school. And while most children who get into white lodge will have been a JA there are always examples most years of children who weren’t getting places.  
 

The best thing you can do if you are aiming for a vocational place is to find a really good teacher with experience of training for auditions. And not worry about what everyone else is doing, stick to what works for you. Associate schemes are brilliant but not the be all and end all. 

We did both in Bham. DD loved both of them.
DD used to say she did more actual dancing at an Elmhurst, I think there is more focus on technical detail at JAs possibly (which is no bad thing). She did a jazz class at Elmhurst in year 4, which stopped after covid but that was great fun. Elmhurst also let them be in the show in year 6, which was wonderful for her. 

One thing I would say is in terms of communication, RBS wins hands down. I’d also say in 3 years at Elmhurst we never got to speak to the teachers directly, nor did we get any feedback. I think we supposed to get reports but we never did. We would often get last minute emails from Elmhurst, with RBS they were always in advance, with clear instruction. While my DD very much felt part of Elmhurst as a young dancer, I didn’t feel that connection with them as a parent.

At JAs we had regular phone calls and we were able to email our teacher. Our JA teacher was also wonderful at helping and advising us through some difficult decisions and took time out of her personal time to do so. I felt like we were treated more an individuals rather than as one of a class. This was our centre though, and very much our experience.  I know others might be different.
As I said DD loved both classes. Elmhurst introduced us to associates and started her off on the path she went down, we will always be grateful for that but during our time on the audition circuit I was extremely grateful for our JA teachers experience and input.

4 hours ago, Neverdancedjustamum said:

Now that we are a few years away from that time, I can understand how it’s easy to say to people not to let things affect them.  However, I also remember how, during that time, it’s such a stressful, manic time - emotions are running high, stress levels are probably off the scale, parents are worried about how their DCs are feeling both physically and emotionally, it’s such a surreal moment. Even the little things can affect parents and their DCs and whilst it’s easy to remind yourself to do just your thing and not worry about anything or anyone else, in practice this is extremely hard.  For example, I remember there were years when DCs already offered their first choice school (and accepted!) would still attend finals for other schools. This is fine if these other schools have a waitlist, not so much if they don’t, especially since there’s always the handful of kids who are going for a full sweep of the vocational schools regardless of whether they’ve already received an offer from their top choice. I can just imagine how other parents feel at that very moment, how it seems very unfair. I can therefore sympathise with what the poster said about feeling put off by parents who are vocal about their dislike for a certain school and yet they’re at the audition. It does not make sense. 

agree with this massively!!

1 hour ago, AllAboutTheJourney said:

That sounds like a much better system - the way they did it last year with the cut after Day 1 sounded brutal. Didn't affect us personally as DC didn't apply there but I know how hard it was for some others and if you had to travel any distance/stay overnight then it was massively unhelpful. Good to hear that it sounds like they've taken the feedback on board. 

Yes agree - we didn’t feed back ourselves, but know a fair few people that did. It wasn’t nice, extremely nerve wracking sitting watching the emails, not knowing if another night in the hotel was needed and it didn’t help matters that the WL results came out the evening before and so there was already a lot of emotion amongst all the little DCs. I’m glad to hear they have changed it this year. Hopefully will be a much nicer experience for them all 💛My DD enjoyed it and had a lovely time with her friends but got into the car at the end of it and burst into tears, two days of not knowing what was coming next was a lot for her (and me!! 😬😂).

Also with regards to number I feel like maybe there was about 40 at finals in different groups and then after the first day they cut it down to about 25? Which in my opinion was the most brutal part and completely wrong for such young children having to go through that. We had to wait and get an email at the end of the first day which came around 5. The second day again they were split into groups (two groups I think)

Again someone might correct me on numbers! Good luck xxxx 

Last year for year 7 semis we auditioned on Tuesday and found out on the Friday afternoon. So about three days?
For  finals I think it took longer - from what I remember about ten days? Someone else with better memory might be able to confirm that. I think the finals were on a tue/wed and were two days and we found out the following Friday.

x

This is now sold 

Sea green Repetto leotard with skirt 

age 14

looks like this 

https://www.repetto.com/uk/thin-straps-tunic-blue-d063n-312-uk.html

message me for photos as can’t work out how to upload! Really pretty colour 

£25 inc postage 

Size 2 

camisole style 

never been worn (new without tags)

£10 (plus £2.75 postage)

Really gorgeous ombré pink practice tutu, was £115 new, selling for £65 plus postage (which I reckon would be about £10). 
 

Wore it once for a photo shoot..
 

My daughter wore this last year when she was age 10 and when she was approx 142/143cm tall and she had the following measurements 

Waist 22 inch or 56cm 
Hips 26 inch or 66.04cm 
Girth 44inch or 111cm 

it still fits now and she is age 11 about 148cm (we are moving house and I’m having a dance clear our hence the sale)! 
 

message me for photos 

xx

We have never used any professional ones, just from teacher…but I have to say I think they always look lovely when we have seen our friends. I guess it also makes it a special thing to do as part of the process if you can afford it. 

Out of interest, when you say it isn’t about the photo, do you mean, whether the photo is professional or not or the actual photos themselves.
As if the application isn’t about the photos then what is it about? Just was interested in that suggestion….

Degas in eglantine now sold 

Claudia Dean in green and cloud sold

degas in Iris sold 

Having a clear out of age 12 leotards! 
 

I have the following for sale (my DD wore all of these in year 5/6 age 10/11. Particularly good for auditions/photos! Most wore a couple of times..message me for photos as I can’t work it out on here: 

Degas 9502 age 12 in Menthol Lycra (this is a sort of turquoise minty green) £30 inc postage 

Degas 9502  age 12 in Meryl soft fabric Eglantine (a sort of jewel deep burgundy red) £30 inc postage 

Degas 9502 age 12 in Iris Lycra (a really lovely purple/blue) £30 inc postage 

Degas 9502 age 12 in Ciel Opera Lycra (cornflower blue) £25 inc postage 

Degas 9501 Rose Lycra (baby pink) age 12 - £10 (NOTE: this has a hole in the side where she ripped the label 🙄 BUT could work still for photos easily or cover with a skirt..)

Claudia Dean Child XL Aurora in Ruby red (deep red) old style without heart on back £15 inc postage 

Claudia Dean Child XL Aurora in Apple Green (old style without heart on back, have also cut label out) £15 inc postage 

Claudia Dean Child XL Aurora in Cloud (new style with heart on back) £20 inc postage 

xxxx

I don’t know if it’s useful but I enquired about what the times might be in case we could squeeze it in and they said the SA class would likely be the last class which would finish at 8pm. If that is any help @Neverdancedjustamum

ps received our leotard today. It’s lovely!!

Hello, sorry for late reply - have got two, one brand new she never wore and one which was second hand she also

never wore (she preferred the smaller size) - if you just pay postage you can have both? She has finished now so someone may as well have use of them! xx

I have got an age 11-12 leotard if you need that? The blue one yes?

x

39 minutes ago, AllAboutTheJourney said:

Hmm I haven’t had an email - is this from RBS? Or the uniform stockist? Maybe the boys aren’t changing. 

It came from the newsletter address not the associates address. it was from the royal ballet school news. it said we would be sent an email with a link to the uniform shop early next week. but maybe JAs haven’t had it yet? We are now mids..🤔

1 hour ago, Neverdancedjustamum said:

Yes! Much excitement in our house because of that email too. I’m still not sure what the new MA uniform looks like, I think the one on the photo will be for either SA or AA. Still no word on timings of the online class. I’m also worried we can’t do either. I guess the tracksuit will stay the same? Although my DD tends not to wear it anymore especially when the weather is hot.

I wonder if there was an option for those who can’t do it, like a recording or something. Probably not, as guess they need a teacher to be present, but would seem such a shame to miss them as they do sound really good. I wonder if it’s worth an ask.🤔 

On 20/06/2022 at 13:15, Neverdancedjustamum said:

We haven’t had anything through yet. I just checked my junk folder too just in case. We have been waiting for that link with bated breath but also for the timings of the new online body conditioning classes. It’s very hard to commit to them and pay when I don’t know the times (I think it’s non-refundable too if you later find out that your DC can’t attend the classes).

we just had an email about new associate uniform 😃 I’m always psyched by a new bit of kit 🙈 I also wish we could know the times of the online classes (although sadly don’t think we can do either)..

On 18/06/2022 at 21:44, Neverdancedjustamum said:

We are all very excited to see what the new uniform looks like.

I was just wondering has anyone had the email with the link to the new mids leo yet? In the info they sent out they said a link would be sent out once you send the forms back. Wondering if I had missed it? Xx

On 01/06/2022 at 20:02, Waverley said:

I’m sure I remember us both posting on the JA thread when they were in y4 - so glad your DD got a place! 
 

So many kids join in y5 or y6, honestly if you don’t get the news you want this year then try again 🙂 

 Thank you @Waverley! ☺️X