balletboy8

We had the same problem trying to pay for Spring Intensive - circle of doom! Glad to hear that it will be sorted. My understanding is that the residential places offered are secure so long as they can run. The on-line course runs alongside (a bit odd though as I didn't hear anything about opportunities to apply for an on-line course at all) - wondering if it is really 'back-up' - happy to be corrected?

My DS applied with a friend who didn't make it and was planning to be a day pupil due to his age (10 years) and so now nervous about not knowing anyone and it being residential. If it goes ahead and any other DS feels the same then please PM me if you would like to do introductions?

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas 🙂

On 06/12/2020 at 11:35, Confuddled said:

Can anyone recommend some books about ballet? Dd has the ballet encyclopaedia, but she’s looking for some more - particularly anything about famous current or recent dancers. Could anyone recommend some? She’s reading at an adult level, but she’s 12, autobiographies that are too graphic wouldn’t be suitable.

My DS won't thank me for saying but he is really enjoying The Royal Ballet School DIARIES - by Alexandra Moss - there are about 6 books in the series. He is also able to read at an adult level perhaps not yet able to read with that level of comprehension - he is 10 so not sure if they are too young for your DD. However, I also enjoyed reading them and I'm quite a lot older 😁

On 16/11/2020 at 14:32, BalletBoyMumma said:

Congrats to those who’ve got places. Well done! 

 

Another waiting list place here (boy, current yr6 JA). Same as this year for summer (which didn’t go ahead). 
 

DS is feeling rather deflated lately, he thinks it’s him because he really struggles to train at home so his usual confident, happy self has turned quite sad and always questioning whether he can even do what is required - we are trying to keep his spirits up and remind him it’s really not and that everyone is in the same boat with a hit to their training at the moment. Stressful times indeed.

When we had our answer back - they mentioned that they might be able to offer day places if Covid-restrictions etc change so apart from those who don't take up a place, there may also be more on offer. I also suspect that more than usual will not take up places - when we applied, we had day placement in mind so had to think again when only residential was offered. We had to think about additional cost (quite a lot) and that our DS is only 10 and not been away more than a night before. His excitement made our minds up for us but it was indeed a big decision. Fingers crossed for you!

4 hours ago, TwirlyWhirly said:

 Congratulations @balletboy8! That is great news 🙂.  We also said we're applying for Y7 WL so I wonder if that is a relevant factor? 

This is my DS's third year of applying for RBS things, with last year's summer intensive that didn't happen and previous SWLs and other things that didn't pan out with the disappointments that followed...so sympathise with the responses here about tough decisions about whether to reapply with all the costs involved. We decided to keep trying and keep hoping - because it is what he wants to do. It's a powerful motivation which I guess drives us all to make the sacrifices and go through the stress for our DCs. Hoping that there are yeses in the dance world around the corner for all on this forum. ❤️

Thanks TwirlyWhirly (cool name by the way), congratulations to your DS too - well done for continuing to apply - perseverance is such a needed quality to follow dreams 😀 

7 minutes ago, Fairydust said:

@balletboy8

how wonderful 😊

that is really good to hear. I constantly worry that the photos need to be taken professionally.

my DD is also year 5 and JA from year 4, I took the photos myself with a little advice from her local dance teacher, she got wait list which we are happy with for her first application 

I’m sure your DS will love it, what a fantastic opportunity 

 

Thank you Fairydust - we have to loosen the reins sometime 😀

On 12/11/2020 at 07:38, SJBallet said:

@Whiteduvet I’ve considered the following:

 

*photos

*children that don’t require funding so more  money for RBS

*children that do a reasonable amount of dancing so could cope with the days

*those that have indicated they want full time training 

*I can’t decide whether being a current JA is a positive or not. 
 

I’m sure there’s more but I can’t think what they are just now, these are just from the questions on the application. 
 

But even after thinking about all of the above I still think it’s a lottery 😁. 

Hi there

I have just started to follow this link and share the idea that selection has to be based on things we might never really know but in response to the areas of thought that you have posted and I share:

We heard yesterday that our DS has been offered a place on the Spring Intensive, the salient formation is:

He is Y5 in school - age 10

He is a JA - since Y4

The photos were traumatic - wore JA uniform - you state in application whether they are a JA or not anyway, but done on mobile phone, in the house, by me (know nothing of ballet)

We have requested funding support

He does 5 hours of dance (because he is a JA) and 6 hours of Gymnastics

He definitely wants to do WL fulltime in Y7

We were not thinking residential because of his age  but due to Covid the course is now only residential - DS was so excited that he wants to do it anyway

Sorry if I have gone on too much.

3 hours ago, BillyElliot1 said:

Hi everyone- hope you are all well. Does anyone at Eastleigh know which day the JA1 class will be in Jan? Is it still on Saturday or has it changed to Sunday? Many thanks x

I'm not involved in any planning so the following is what I know but may not be the whole story.. Currently lessons are Saturday morning but some parents have been asked whether they would mind changing their times to the afternoon. I think this is so that there can be an additional class to enable social distancing when new pupils join but this is just my thoughts. I was not approached for this and so assume my DS morning lesson continues as is 😀

1 hour ago, Bobbins said:

Is this for group 3? we would love to know of another so my dd can make a friend before going, haven’t heard of anyone else yet x

It is group 3 but the parent who shared this info didn't tell me who they are - they were girls from their DD school. My DS is Y5 at Eastleigh.

1 hour ago, Spamcat said:

Oh wow, a year 5 yes!!! That is a first! There are some year 5 places after all, there is hope yr 5s! 😃

I was told by a parent today that she knows of Y5's that have been offered places in my DS JA class - so Y5s are getting in!

2 minutes ago, Millicent said:

Wow that is small! So a normal class is around 15 then. That sounds about right. 

 

I've just received dates for my DD to start in London in Jan. Will let you all know how many are in the class when we get there! 

I've not been to any other JA centre so don't know if that is a typical number or if it is just the size that the Eastleigh studio can do

2 minutes ago, Millicent said:

So how many are in the class now? 

Six

1 minute ago, Balletbow said:

I’ve heard that it’s a small class - I’ve told her not to get her hopes up for getting in! 

If they are filling spaces left by the Y6 moving up then there are 9 spaces. I asked my DC if anything has been said about others joining them and he says nothing at all has been mentioned.

7 hours ago, Balletbow said:

Mine got SWL for Eastleigh 

I have absolutely no inside info and so this probably won't help but my DC is a Y5 JA at Eastleigh - the class is currently small. If they only brought in Y4 then there would be a lot of them!

10 hours ago, Ellie said:

The Prix de Lausanne list of Partner Schools is a good start. https://www.prixdelausanne.org/community/partners/#tab3

Thank you!

On 13/09/2018 at 17:22, Ellie said:

Of course (Horses for courses) I just thought that it was important for the parents of dancing Dc's to know that, if suitable, there exist quite a few excellent options beyond the Uk which may be worth looking into. X

Just wondering what European schools you have in mind as this sounds interesting - we will never be able to afford these fees even with bursaries - we would move country for the right school?

I now this post is a few years old but here's hoping!

Thanks SJBallet - since posting, I have also noticed that on RBS site that they give a list and times. Best wishes

This is completely ignorant of me but how do you know what content to put in a video audition?  Thanks

Good luck with the Home Tuition today. My DS is excited about being taught by me today - little does he know! There is of course ballet on his timetable - my turn to learn something 😀

On 11/02/2020 at 13:58, DanceMum83 said:

Just got an email no for us 

Sorry, chin up & keep dancing!

On 13/11/2019 at 21:30, BellaF said:

I’ve booked my daughter on the London day though will be applying for the Birmingham centre for a year 5 place. 

 

First year of auditioning for us! I have my reservations about her facility (not flat in froggy) and she’s not the typical RBS build with quite muscly legs (though skinny everywhere else). But more than one teacher has suggested she tries and I suppose you have to be in it to win it 😀

 

Will try for Elmhurst too and maybe Tring CBA which is a little further away. 

Sorry forget to say.... DS is also a gymnast and so very muscular (for a Y4) and he is also not flat on his froggy but did get in. It might be of interest, that after about 10 weeks of being a JA many of the pupils saw a physiotherapist for areas of development and DS was looked at for his turnout - the feedback was that he has the potential for full turnout (not limited by structure) but limited by his muscular build or more accurately by the other sports pulling that area tight. He just has to work harder on this area and was given additional exercises to do so.

Hope that helps 😊

On 13/11/2019 at 21:30, BellaF said:

I’ve booked my daughter on the London day though will be applying for the Birmingham centre for a year 5 place. 

 

First year of auditioning for us! I have my reservations about her facility (not flat in froggy) and she’s not the typical RBS build with quite muscly legs (though skinny everywhere else). But more than one teacher has suggested she tries and I suppose you have to be in it to win it 😀

 

Will try for Elmhurst too and maybe Tring CBA which is a little further away. 

My DS did an Insight Day at Birmingham last year. I know so little about dancing but he had asked to audition for JAs and I was worried that he didn't really know what he would be signing up for or if he was anywhere near good enough. So he did the Insight to gauge potential and whether he would like it or not. The lesson was as described above, he absolutely loved it and the teacher. He came away determined to audition. I has little sense that teachers were looking at potential and if I had not taken DS up to say thank you and farewell at the end then I would have had no feedback (and wasn't looking for any). Upon saying our thanks, the teacher did comment on how well he had done (perhaps just politeness).  He did audition and is now a Y4 JA and absolutely loving it.

Just enjoy the Insight - it is exactly that, an insight!

On 24/01/2020 at 19:30, DancingWellies said:

And the whims of the artistic director. If the candidate has sparkle (undefinable) they may have a chance. Don't forget students from other vocational schools often audition for the year 8 to 11 places, some of them get in lots don't. WL is not easy to get into.

DS is very shy so sparkle is a concern- thank you for your thoughts 😊

On 24/01/2020 at 17:16, richieN said:

 

Year 7 has the whole year of places available, so the odds are greater of being successful. The finals themselves are over 2 days due to the large volume of finalists.

 

Years 8, 9, 10 & 11 auditions happen over one day. There are very few finalists, only a few places available each year, and the school has to think very carefully about making sure they have dancers who have solid technique and can keep up with the rest of their year group.
 

However, there are so many other intangibles that can affect your success - rate of growth, how early you started dancing, how experienced you are at auditions, etc etc etc... So I guess what I am saying is - it's up to the applicant as much as it is the conditions of the audition.

Thank you, so much to consider. I'm told DS has the talent but possibly not yet the maturity- it's not for this year anyway so time will tell 😊

On 21/01/2020 at 08:56, Millicent said:

Thank you so much for the replies. On balance I've decided just to submit the photos as they are. I'm very much of the mind that if they want her, they want her and a slightly more pointed toe or better turnout in the photos isn't going to affect that. Katia05 thank you so much for sharing that email it was really helpful and reassuring. 

I took my DS pics on my mobile, with little clue about the positions other than the sketches provided and he got in as a JA so I'm sure they are only used as aids in discussion!

Thank you - makes sense 😊