balletboy8

Does anyone have any thoughts whether pupils have more or less chance of WL if they apply for Y9 vs Y7?

On 28/11/2019 at 15:33, valentina said:

Do you mean for RBS upper school? Boys or girls? Don’t have a clue re the boys but for girls, as far as I know, only one SA2 student was accepted ( she was a student at another vocational) compared with 5 from WL.

Thank you

Hi All

how do SA2 students fair vs White Lodge students in auditions for vocational at Covent Gardens?

Thanks

My DS is flexible in front splits and box splits - by hard work. He has never been totally down on his froggy so we also had concerns. He did an insight day before we applied for him to audition and on that day he was encouraged to 'sign up' and more importantly for us - he thoroughly enjoyed the day and was asking to have a go. His dance school is serious about encouraging boys and so they make little fuss about uniform etc  so we were not sure he would respond to more formal pedagogy but was blown away by how good the teachers were.

All round good experience!

15 minutes ago, SissonneDoublee said:

Definitely normal. They had a few visits throughout the year. May be the physio in to have a look. DD was set exercises to help close the gap between her potential and working turnout.

Thank you 😊

Hi All

we have someone from WL visiting for an assessment at the next JA session - is this normal and if so, does anyone know what they are looking at?

Thanks

On 14/09/2019 at 19:42, Lara Eschler said:

My ds had a great time. The London boys had an email to audition for the sleeping beauty earlier this week.  Unfortunately, due to the time commitment and days off school my ds won’t be able to audition for it , so feeling a bit deflated. Anyone else in the same position?

Hi

my son also had the email and he is at Eastleigh. I think all the JA boys received it.  The commitment is huge and not possible for us in Southampton, I'm in a new job and so many clashes for my DS. I also felt bad not being able to enable this opportunity  but I console myself with the fact that it really is not possible and there will be other chances. Last year there were RBS auditions for Mayflower Southampton which would have been more doable.

That's good to know. Many thanks to you both.

On 09/09/2019 at 11:45, Waverley said:

To be honest the thing with gymnastics - to do it at a high level anyway - is that they have to be absolutely focused on that and not much else by 7/8 ish, which is crazy I know but it just seems to be the way it is. DD has two friends who now train over 20 hours a week in gym (at 8 years old). DD isn't on that track at all. 

 

So it's a conversation we've been having on and off for a few years now, without trying to put ideas in her head. If i'm totally honest with myself I would prefer her to focus on dance (for various reasons) but we've been trying to let her decide so that it's on her own terms. I'd be delighted if she would quit gym today but she's just not quite there yet...!

I share your pain. Until a few weeks ago DS  (* years old) did  18 hours of gymnastics - he competed in the foundation age British Championships in Liverpool this summer and came away with two golds. He did, Modern Tap, Contemporary, Street and Ballet. He has always said ballet is his first love and is so proud to start this weekend as a JA. As much as he loves ballet he likes gym and has of course got a few people interested in his development which flatters him. When I speak to him about it (daily) he still wants to do ballet. The JA lesson clashes with both gymnastics and dance so he has recently had to drop Street and one of his gymnastics sessions. His dance school have also changed days so further clashes mean dropping Modern/Tap. 

Additionally, his Dance School have just announced that they are not doing exams anymore and so if he wishes to continue these then he will have to do private lessons. They tell me that Top Ballet schools are nearly all by audition and so he won't need his grades - but this is not what I see when I go onto their websites? I'm so disappointed with dance school that I now feel I have to find another and the only one that will do his level at a time he can do is many miles away.

It's all getting difficult so I do hope he chooses soon - he tells me that he has chosen ballet but wants me to try and keep gym going for a while as he is being considered for the GBR team.

Who knows what the future holds!

21 hours ago, Sarahitaly said:

Hi, JA Boys parents, l read a couple of weeks ago about the uniform, but can't remeber what you all recommended, do we buy to size or smaller or bigger?  thanks in advance x

Hi Sarahitaly

I can't recall all the good advice through the thread but I have fanally managed to get all the stuff for my DS - age 8. DS is exactly average height and average weight for his age (red book curve). He is narrow waist, hip and slightly long legged (not massively) and a little broad shouldered.

I bought the boys leotard his stats suggests is Size 1 so bought this - he could not even come close to getting it on - ordered a size 2 which does fit snugly (so sizes are smaller than you would think. I would prefer a bigger size but the next size up is for 11 years olds. 

I bought the size 1 (7-8?) shorts as he is marrow - snug but good fit.

I bought 8-9 tracksuit top which fits nicely as a casual fit (which we like).

Trousers sourced from amazon are not an exact match but as a man I obviously can't tell 😊- I read from others that this does not matter at all.

White leather shoes he already had and had bought them elsewhere.

He now looks magnificent and danced for hours in his new kit after trying them all on!!

Hope this helps

Hi All - my DS will be JA1 (Y4) at Eastleigh. Are there any others on the blog that has their DC attending this class?

11 hours ago, PutYourBooteesOn said:

We were SWL last year and were told by DDs teacher that those offers come in via phonecall rather than email. It was the case for friends we know too. So one time Sylvia from RBS had to ring me about an insight day, she opened with “I’m really sorry this isn’t The Phonecall, but...” 

That must have been such a 'heart in mouth' moment 😊

9 hours ago, Nicky73 said:

Hi everyone, my DS has just got a place at RBS London associates 12-2.15pm... anyone else in that class? 

Congratulations - well done 😊

2 hours ago, rudolph23 said:

It's when they're MA's they mainly only offer London...

Thank you for clarifying - much appreciated 😊

5 minutes ago, ExBallerina said:

Ah ok, I think there were a few boys around you , we were group 4 too number 102 . I wonder how many boys were successful from our group.....my son just loved being with a big group of boys  

It did seem odd (in a nice way) having other boys around. DS is always the only one in ballet. I am completely new to all this and so the following could be totally wrong but I seem to recall someone saying that they like the boys to all go to London when they get to y6 (or it might be MA). 😊

3 minutes ago, ExBallerina said:

DS was but I put London as first choice and Eastleigh as 2nd and he got given London. Which was your little boy ? I was the pregnant mum and we were in the side area of the waiting room opposite the doors to the studio, my son has short blonde hair . Xx 

He was group 4, number 97 and we were sitting right by the entrance doors to the studio. One of my hands does not work well and so another parent had to help put his number on, he has short cropped brown hair 😊

Morning All

it's hard for my little brain to keep track of who has got in or on SWL for which centre. Who has been lucky on this occasion for Eastleigh Y4?

7 hours ago, Catlynn said:

 

Hi Sally-Anne, 

I have no idea why she wasn’t successful. She has the feet, always has, so it might be her turnout and/or flexibility isn’t where it should be ...I really have no clue. 🤷‍♀️ She wants to give it another go but I’m really not sure if it’s worth it. Her teacher feels there is no reason why she shouldn’t audition again. It might be she just doesn’t fit their type.  At the moment, she will just focus on learning her new festival pieces (ballet solo, ballet duet and lyrical trio) and her Grade 4 RAD class.

When my DS did an Insight day the teacher said that she had not been successful as a JA on her any of her attempts but got into WL and then danced for RBS - I don't know any more details but clearly always hope for the future 😊

11 minutes ago, Loueeze said:

We got swl 

Well done and fingers crossed for you 🤞

40 minutes ago, Balletgirl80 said:

We heard, its a no for my DD, I kind of expected it tho, she was London 4 group 3.  Fingers crossed to those still waiting to hear 

Sorry to hear that 🙁

39 minutes ago, Waverley said:

Well 45 pages later and over two months since I started this thread... we have a yes!

 

Second choice centre but it’s totally fine and actually that centre is closer to us so it probably works out better to be honest.

 

A huge well done to everyone - how amazing of them all to throw themselves in to these things and go for it. Hope those with a Not Yet bounce back quickly - I’m sure they will.

Wow, great news and thanks for starting the thread 😊

49 minutes ago, Balletmum2Many said:

Oh so sorry! We all know that the chances of getting in are incredibly slim yet it's still disappointing when we hear! 

 

We just heard as I was typing this - my son got SWL. xxx

Fingers crossed for a place 🤞

55 minutes ago, Winging it said:

We just have and unfortunately it’s a no! Expected but still disappointing 😏

Sorry for your bad news 🙁

23 minutes ago, Dancedevil said:

We got SWL for London 1 group 3 so Year 6.  I’m guessing the chances of anyone dropping out are pretty slim?

You never know, fingers crossed 🤞

1 hour ago, Mum of unicorn dancer said:

SWL for us too. Day 2 Group 4

Fingers crossed for you 🤞