HowMuch!

I’m having the same thoughts myself! Although in our favour, we live 15mins from Leeds city centre and I work flexible term time only hours. BUT, that could all change over the next year or two. Can I ask what the prospects are for a ballet dancer who DOESN’T go to either CAT or vocational school? Is it possible to get anywhere doing just local classes and associates? I’m severely lacking in any knowledge of how this all works!

Thank you, i’m keeping an eye on the dates coming out. Do they need to be 10 in time for 1st September for CAT? Or would she be able to audition as a 9 year old who would turn 10 in the November? Although i’m not sure how ‘emotionally ready’ she’d be for that commitment in a years time? I realise I could just phone them to ask! 😉

I’ve definitely got the help of this forum to thank for helping me to realise the reality of CAT! A few weeks ago I had done the research and read about the hours, read about it being the alternative to vocational school BUT in my head it was still more like associates. So, a big thank you! It feels better to feel more knowledgeable and i’m definitely better equipped now to support my daughter should she wish to take this step.

We live in Leeds so it would be this that we’d look at. They have their open day in January so we’ll go and see what she thinks of it. That sounds like a good test of stamina! 😁 Thanks for the info. There’s so much to take in and learn! Xxx

What does a typical week doing CAT at Northern Ballet look like?

This is really useful and insightful information. I would doubt my daughter would suit vocational school so it’s good to hear about the different paths and other destinations away from ballet that others have taken. She LOVES ballet but also does street dance, drama, musical theatre, piano and guitar classes. Equally she’s very academic and I could see her pursuing entirely different goals. She’s still only 8, going into year 4 in September. I guess we should grab some more ballet experiences whilst she’s still young but remain open to other pathways as and when they open. Xxx

Thanks for these replies, it’s really useful to learn from your experiences! My daughter seems to have an amazing attitude to it all and takes it all as it comes. She has quite broad interests and i’m sure if ballet doesn’t work out then she’ll move on happily. Luckily we’re in the suburbs of Leeds so Northern Ballet is on our doorstep for any future success at associates or CAT. If anything, i’m struggling the most with reigning in my leotard buying excitement! 😂

Thank you! I’ll measure her up and have a look with her later and see what she likes.

Good tip, thank you!

Would any of you lovely people be able to recommend leotard brands and sizes for me? I’m expecting this to be a bit of a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question but ideally i’d like to buy online rather than traipsing into the city to try loads on. My daughter is 8 (almost 9) but small for her age (usually age below in clothes). She’s petite but leotards are often too short in the body so we either end up with a baggy bum and straps, or looking lovely in the body but constantly going up her bum! 😬 She’s starting an associates class in September (there’s no fixed uniform) and i’d like her to have a second leotard as her RAD one is pale blue and prone to grubbiness! The one she’s got now is second hand and without a label so i’m at a loss which brand it is. Thanks in advance! Xxx

I did wonder about this. It’s good to know, although i’m still not sure what I think about vocational school, i’m not sure she’d want to board. She’ll be going into Yr4 in September so we’ve got plenty of time yet for JAs, CATs and thinking about what she could do.

Thank you, that’s really useful to know. We’re very near Leeds so it would be ideal as vocational school sounds like a unknown world to us at the moment. It looks like she’ll audition for JAs and maybe CATs in the next round and we’ll take it from there. 😁

Thank you so much for all the replies. I’m from a music background so have very little knowledge of all the opportunities for ballet! Can I ask if anyone knows the structure of the CAT programme at Northern Ballet Leeds? Is it during the week, weekends or both? And does it mean dropping her regular class or is it alongside like JA? I’ve looked on the website but can’t find the information i’m looking for. There’s so much out there I wasn’t aware of before! 😁

Thanks for your reply. I imagine the pushy parent in me will be difficult to tame at times! 😁 We’ve discussed the competitive side of ballet extensively with her and we’re trying to focus on the enjoyment of the experiences she might get rather than simply focusing on where it might lead. That’s good to know about JA classes, the extra classes she’s doing in September have a similar format so at least she’ll get a taste of what the next step could be. I guess this this is the start and we’ll take one step at a time and see where it takes her. Thank you so much for all the advice and information. Xxx

Thank you for your replies. It sounds like it would be worth having a go at getting into JA next year. The additional classes she’s starting in September will give her a taste of what JA would be like so I imagine by Christmas she’ll be more knowledge about her decisions. We're very keen on making the journey an experience in itself so that she takes as much from it as possible regardless of success. She’s been very realistic about it all so far, she even has ideas of what she wants to be ‘after ballet’! Thanks again for the replies, it’s really helped me feel content that i’m opening the doors for her whilst not being a pushy parent! xxx

Hi there, With encouragement from her teacher, my 8 year old has settled on her dream to be a ballet dancer. I’m hoping to get some advice about how to provide her with the best opportunities and pathways to reach her dream. I’m very aware of how competitive ballet is so i’m keen to make the journey as enjoyable as possible for her. She’s currently in a Grade 2 class for a hour a week and will be taking an additional associates-type class from September (not JA). I think i’m struggling to know whether to get her to audition for JA next round, or to see how the additional classes go and wait until she’s a bit older to audition for associates? She’s desperate to get into the CAT programme so would a JA class make this more likely? Thanks for any advice xx