Spamcat

Has anyone heard whether Easter courses are going ahead after yesterday's announcement? My DD is booked in at Tring.

20 hours ago, Waverley said:

Oh my gosh is anyone else traumatised by this whole process already?! 😂 I don’t envy those of you doing this for the second time!

 
To be fair the filming itself was fine - it was rearranging the whole living room to have space to do it and also taking the various pictures.. usually our teacher would do that and send me the best ones - now I have 100s of DS standing at various angles to wade through! 

3rd time for us! 🤪🤪🙈

15 hours ago, RachH said:

It is in term time, and the sessions will be 6-10pm as they are New York time. We’re planning on my daughter having a lie-in and going into school late while she’s doing it, our school have previously been pretty flexible so hoping that will be ok! The other dates clashed with the summer school in Tring that we’ve already signed up to - really hope that goes ahead!

Wow that sounds amazing, but tiring! The summer one clashes with English youth ballet which my DD has just accepted a place on but I don't think we would apply for the term time one. We have booked the Tring Easter school and have everything crossed it will go ahead 🤞🤞🤞😬

Hi @SarahG1881 I remember you from last time too! Same here @In at the deep end 🙈

2 hours ago, PurplePirouette said:

I think August, but lots of people from the UK seem to be going for June so I don’t really know what to do! I’m going to leave it a bit longer to submit the forms then have longer to decide! X

I'd never heard of this. Is this in the term time in June? Will people keep kids off school?

@rudolph23 and @In at the deep end I was wondering the same. 🤔 Yes probably far too optimistic but you never know! 😆

56 minutes ago, In at the deep end said:

Hi! Birmingham as well (even though we live near Bristol!) My daughter is also a YD in yr4. I think I remember your DD is yr5?? We're looking forward to being back in the studio! Good luck to you too 🍀Xx

Yes that is right she is yr5, end of August baby so youngest in her year! Xx

Does anyone know if they take many yr 6s or are they only filling places from yr 5s that drop out?

15 hours ago, In at the deep end said:

Hello again @Spamcat! I remember you from last year 😉 My DD is also trying again for JA this year, I'm not looking forward to the roller coaster ride again 😬 She was SWL last year, but we turned down the JEP classes. I just hope they don't hold that against her! 

Hello 👋 I remember you too! Good luck for this year. Which area are you applying to? I cant remember. We are Birmingham. My DD is an Elmhurst young dancer. Xx

I mean she watched her own videos back, not the RBS ones.

Can't believe I'm back here for a third year of JA audition turmoil! 🙈😭

DD trying AGAIN for yr6 this time. We really have zero hope so not taking it too seriously this time.

She did the virtual insight day today and I only just discovered that the video auditions have to be sent in with the application this year. It says not to watch the video or practice (which we absolutely didn't last time) but it is the exact same video as last year and my DD remembers it very clearly having watched her videos back many times and going over what she could improve on, so it may be hard for it not to look rehearsed! 😬

Thank you @TwirlyWhirly and everyone else for all of the information. I haven't ever seen anybody write anything other than what a fantastic experience it is. I have a feeling it will become addictive yes! @WrapsnBows

@Raquelle Thank you. Sounds amazing we can't wait. Covid permitting though I guess so everything crossed 🤞🤞🤞

5 minutes ago, Raquelle said:

Hi Spamcat. My dd just got into Cardiff too! She is 10 so may end up being in the same dances! She did the last eyb in Cardiff which was swanlake and had the most incredible experience! She is so excited to do it again x 

Congratulations to your DD! So exciting.

Mine turns 10 a week after the show so they might be in the same group. I wonder how many of each age they take? Were there lots her age last time or are they mostly older? x

Thank you both, reading all these posts we are even more delighted that she has this opportunity. She is desperate to be on stage, only done one stage show before with her local ballet school in a small local theatre (she was Gretel in Hansel and Gretel and loved every minute) but to be on a stage like this will be her dream come true. 🤩❤

Thankfully this one is all in the summer holidays so no school or other commitments to clash.

Anyone else doing the Cardiff one?

@SJBallet thank you. 😊 It sounds like an amazing experience, she is so excited.

Yes I am used to spending hours hanging around waiting for her! Actually after being stuck in the house for weeks on end the thought of killing time in Cardiff centre all day sounds wonderful!

My DD has never done EYB before but she has just got a place in Cinderella in Hollywood in Cardiff this August and I was wondering what to expect/what sort of part she might get and came across this thread which was interesting to read. My DD will be nearly 10 at time of show but she is on the smaller side.

@TinyNEDancer did your show get postponed in the end or have you done it?

Thanks for all of your advice everyone. I knew being an August born would always disadvantage my DD but I never thought something this blatantly unfair would happen. Really if August born children are too young to apply for things throughout the whole process they should be allowed to audition for y7 the following year surely?

I did receive a reply when I (politely) explained how I felt and they said it is because they feel nine is too young to do residential and get the most from the training but I don't buy that as they are talking about the difference of 4 weeks in age!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone I've found some alternative options for her now. She will definitely be kept busy in the summer! Hope your DD finds something too @Waverley xx

44 minutes ago, BellaF said:

@spamcat agree it seems very unfair to August born children who will be auditioning alongside current year 5s who are eligible. As I understand, there are other programmes, whilst not as prestigious, offer really good training ahead of audition (or any other) year.

 

DD will be at Malvern this summer (covid dependant 🤞).

Thanks, I'll see what else I can find. I don't really know about any others apart from the Tring dance course, but was hoping for a ballet intensive. Xx

8 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

My DS loved the Tring residentials and was exceptionally allowed to board at 8 the first time  as we could not commute. I thought last year RBS allowed August born children to apply for Summer Intensives but not Spring, though I might be wrong. 

@balletboy8 I am sure your ds will be fine but feel free to get in touch closer to the time (assuming all goes ahead) and our dss can make contact before the course (my ds is year6 though). 

Yes they did allow it last year, it has always gone by age on 31st August in the past, they have just changed the rules but I cannot imagine why they would do this knowing it would be so unfair to August born children.

@BellaF I would have thought it would be good for children like my DD who aren't JAs to get a chance to be seen but I'm sure it would be good training for anyone.

I know it is highly unlikely she would get a place anyway, I just feel that she should have the same opportunities as her year group.

@balletboy8 thank you. She would absolutely love to do residential! She has done a short residential before and loved it, she is very independent. Also we have booked the Tring Easter residential and I'm really hoping this can go ahead after the lockdown 🤞🤞🤞

3 hours ago, Waverley said:

Oh no - that’s the same situation for us too then, DD had always planned to apply this year but she is also 10 at the start of August 😢 Pretty frustrating as it means children born in that one month only don’t have the chance to try at the end of Year 5...

I really do feel like is just so incredibly unfair. I am really quite upset about it. Lots of my daughter's yr5 Elmhurst friends are applying, all of which she will be up against at vocational auditions which start this autumn and this is such a valuable opportunity for some excellent training and to be 'seen' before these auditions. As @balletboy8 said they must take equal opportunities seriously and this is definitely not equal.

August born are already at a huge disadvantage being up against older kids.

I feel like I want to write and ask them to reconsider for all of these reasons but I'm worried they might be annoyed by that and give my DD a bad name. Not sure what to do. 😭

I emailed to ask and just received this:

'Thank you for your email, we have recently made a change to this age requirement and students must be 10 by the start of their chosen course. I will ensure this is changed ASAP on our website.'

I feel like this is so unfair on August born children! My DD will be the only one of her yr5 friends who cannot apply. 😭

Ok thank you both. I will continue with application and see how far I get. It looked like it was 31st (as on by school year) but the application form clearly said '10 by first day of course' which was a bit confusing.

Thanks x

Hi, does anyone know whether late August born children are allowed to apply for the RBS London Summer Intensive?

My yr5 daughter will still be 9 (turns 10 end of August). It says in the information page that children must be 10 'by 31st August' which she will be, but in the application form it says they must be 10 'at the start of the chosen course' which she will not be? 🤔🤔🤔

@BellaF thank you and huge congratulations to your DD! Xx