Lara Eschler

44 minutes ago, balletboy8 said:

Haven't checked dates for conflicts yet, although JS teacher's will understand fully. Now the worry is how to get a PCR test over the Eater bank holiday's in time for April 6th registration???? 😗

They will offer a replacement zoom class for the missed JA, very happy with that. A private PCR should still return the results within 72 hours? Hopefully as now every household with a child has access to lateral flow tests they might accept them. Where are you planning to take the PCR if asymptomatic?, I thought only private ones would be available?  

Hi Everyone, from yesterday email it looks like the Spring Intensive will happen which is great. Does anyone else have a conflict with the JA class on the 11th? Thanks 

4 hours ago, SissonneDoublee said:

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests 
free test kits available to any household with school-aged children

OMG, this is amazing news. Thank you ever so much for sharing this. 

30 minutes ago, Raquelle said:

Hello. We are probably going to have to source a covid test either from Chester after hammond audition or from somewhere near Richmond the day before/of royal ballet audition. Just wondered if anyone lived local to these places and had managed to source a suitable test? Didn't think about the fact that I might not be near my home x 

Hi, I am not local but had found a place in Richmond with lateral flow tests. Their email is support@c19testing.co.uk 

Just now, Mrs Tea said:

we are 18th at 12.30 x

oh ok so at least two audition groups for boys. 

23 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

I wonder if all the boys are this time and they are splitting them into two groups. One in class and one in physio then swap? Two groups of 12 or 15?? Here I go again!! 🤣🤣

It seems like we all have the email saying  the actual ballet class is at 9:30 and then physio? Is the 18th the only boys day for year 7? Is it usually 30 boys at finals? I know last year boys already had white lodge results so  a couple of boys might have decided not to attend the final.

3 hours ago, Raquelle said:

Thank you! Does anyone know how many boys/girls made it to finals this year? From this forum seems like not many? X 

I wonder that too. 

1 minute ago, The red shoes said:

Actually arrival is 9am so they will be in together 😁

oh Ok same xx

Just now, The red shoes said:

We have 9:30. I’m thinking the travel lodge the night before ! 

Yes, was just about to look at hotels. We have 9:30 for the start of the class but 9am arrival. Is that you have? xx

Good afternoon, 

we have 9am on the 18th for the Elmhurst audition for ds. Anyone else at that time? 

Just now, Reggi said:

No not yet....do you know if WL actually take year 7 students that havnt been a JA xx

Yes, they do. x

30 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

 Did all 11 of London boys get finals? 

I don't know if they all applied but I think they would have all made finals if my ds did. 

34 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

I think they’ve time it that way so one group auditioning as other waits around for physio check then the ones who’ve had the check leave as the audition class finishes to have physio check and next group arrives for class? 

Yes, it makes sense. 

2 hours ago, The red shoes said:

I don’t really know them to ask. We moved from 24 sessions to 32 in September and then went into lockdown not long after that so haven’t t really got to know the mums but there is only 1 other boy who does the 32 sessions and I think maybe 2 in the 24 sessions . I’m sure there will be more ... just doing my usual panic as to why no one else on here has that time 🤣🤣🤣

I don't know about our centre either but I think there are 11 boys. So do the 3 audition groups somewhat overlap in time?

25 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

Im still yet to find anyone in the 3:40 group on the12th .... starting to think we have been given the wrong time 🙈🙈🙈🙈

Do you know when the other boys are from your ds centre? 

1 minute ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

 

I'm so pleased my ds is it the same group as yours. He is not competitive at all, just loves dancing. So now a bit worried about what he's going to be like if everyone around him is stretching etc.

 

His dance school is so friendly, there's only about 20 dancers and one other, older, boy who made him feel at ease from the minute that he started there.

 

Maybe I'm too naive, but I just want him to go, have a fun afternoon dancing, enjoy himself and see what happens.

Your ds is soo lovely! I wish mine was a bit more driven, he likes ballet but sometimes can lose focus. But yes, so glad he will see your ds friendly face and meet others from all over.  They are too young to be too stressed abut it in my opinion. It is a big experience but won't define the rest of their lives either. And they have done so well already reaching finals. 

I think parents not being allowed in might actually help as we are probably more nervous than they are. 

6 hours ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

Hi, this is my first post.

 

My ds has finals for both White Lodge and Elmhurst. He isn't a JA or the equivalent at Elmhurst. He's been dancing for just over 2 years and his teacher suggested applying to MA's, so we submitted an application for the school too. I don't come from a dancing background, so have no clue about this. They suggested applying to Elmhurst too, as we might regret it in years to come if he wasn't given the opportunity. He also has a place on the Royal Ballet Spring Intensive but isn't applying for the summer one as he didn't want to miss his last week of Primary School and we are hopefully on holiday for the second week.

 

My post was mainly to say not everyone with a final audition is a JA or even known to the schools at all. He really is a novice compared to others it seems - did I read that there is only about 28 boys at finals?!

 

We have to arrive on Friday 12th at 1.30 to 2 and collect at 5.20pm. I'm hoping there is a Costa or similar open to grab a drink and cake. We're driving and it looks like a 2 hour journey, first long journey in our electric car, so may be looking for a charging point nearby too. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough for a walk around the park.

 

Good luck to everyone's children - it is so exciting for them all to have got this far.

HI, My ds is also in the same group and will be auditioning for Elmhurst too. 

My ds is very fidgety so I think a rubix cube might help. 

Anyone bringing electronics? Or would it be frowned upon? 

I hope they do get to interact a bit as especially for boys it is always  great  to meet other boys who do ballet.  

7 minutes ago, stardust1 said:

No correlation at all.   The girls were non the wiser when they left at the end of the day whether they’d got in or not.  They did recall a small group of 14/15 to have a second look at that was made up from girls across the groups but I believe only 1 or 2 from this got a place.  They’ve done this over recent years but I guess it won’t be happening this year.  
Most places are awarded after the main class so they definitely know what they are and aren’t looking for.

What did the 'second look' consist of? Another class or more physio stuff? xx

12 minutes ago, stardust1 said:

At the girls final last year there were 3 groups of around 25 each over the two days.  There was no obvious logic to the groupings, it appeared to be random and definitely not based on age, home location or JA centre.  

Do you know if there was any correlation between group and result? Were more taken from one group? Or did they take 5 from each? Or completely random?  

5 hours ago, The red shoes said:

Unfortunately not, but they do a waiting list too. Some they offer MA’s to will decline and go to Elmhurst so that may free up some space too. It’s such a shame they are such small classes compared to junior associates 

Would a full-time student at ELmhurst be allowed to do Royal Ballet School MAs? I know at YDA some pupils are London MAs, though it is a very different school, was wondering if some MAs are at full-time vocational schools...

30 minutes ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

No idea at the moment. It certainly feels like an age ago that we started the process. 😅

 

They will also have the mids places to announce from the same audition (aside from those who applied for mids only I believe) and that’ll come after WL results so we’re in for the long haul. I believe usually different schools results are all announced quite closely but this year, well... 🤷‍♀️😩 

On the email it says Final results for White Lodge within 2 weeks...Don't about mid associates. 

1 hour ago, BalletBoysDad said:

Reading this with fascination.... Boys at finals do at least have that assurance that they’re ‘very close’ to a successful outcome (if that’s the correct choice of words?) given that there are maybe 16 places on offer? They’ll have done exceptionally well to have come this far! 
 

I wonder if all boys who got through to finals did come through the JA route? 

From the zoom meeting the artistic director said it is usually 12 girls and 12 boys but could take 15 or the absolute maximum would be 16 but they prefer to take fewer. Not all are JAs at finals, but I think around 90% at White lodge were JAs,  for boys sometimes you hear of someone who had hardly done any ballet before but got a place, maybe from a gymnastics background. There are also children applying from abroad but given the young age, I think it is relatively few for year 7.

2 minutes ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

Ours are in the same.   

They might be grouped by JA centre

6 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

Just got date and time for my ds ... 3:40 on 12th 🤢😬. You take proof with you of test . 

My ds has to arrive between 1:30-2pm and finishes at 5:20. When does your ds finish? xx

3 hours ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

Thank you Cotes du rhone. 

I think the decision will be made for DS as we’ve heavily limited ourselves anyway (and he’s fine with that).
The testing is proving a major a barrier too and with WL knowing about the postcode lottery on LFTs and not allowing affordable/reasonable alternatives, there’s a high chance we might not even make it there. 

I am really still hoping that a solution for everyone is found regarding the covid test.