Millicent

It just says C on the label. I bought it a few years ago so I think they had different sizings then. I would say it would fit an average age 8 to 10, possibly a larger age 7.

Excuse my ignorance but what is different about Gaynor Mindens that means some people disapprove of them?

Ah OK, thanks.

Just out of interest, when do the WL final results usually come out?

That's interesting. Perhaps the audition team made the decisions before the finals and then the administration team did all the emailing while the finals were going on.

I think WL finals are end of this week aren't they? I was wondering if they would get the SI results out before then. But who knows? Maybe they'll get the WL results out of the way first. Could drive ourselves mad trying to guess!

Used but in excellent condition. Size on the label is C, which would fit a child aged 8 to 10. £40 including postage.

Anyone think we'll hear this week?

I agree. I tell my daughter that when she's on stage is the time that she should feel like she's showing off, it's kind of part of performance quality. It's always excruciating to watch a nervous or worried performance. But I think that concept of showing off is very different than posting achievements and flattering photos of yourself on social media. I'm not sure there's any upside to that.

Interesting discussion. It would be registered to me and only on my phone so I would have conplete control over it so I would assume that the U13 rule wouldn't apply to that? I think generally my concern is over the motivation for posting things. Ideally it would be to share uplifting things with others but I suspect would end up being just an official way to show off! So photos of her looking amazing doing dance, or some great artwork or various achievements. I wonder what message this gives her as usually in life we try to make sure our kids don't show off! Especially as she is talented, flexible and has good feet so it really does feel like showing her off! On the other hand I suspect that one day she will have her own social media accounts and perhaps having a parent account first would help to teach her how to stay safe and make her think about why she is posting things I.e. is she chasing validation and likes? I think ultimately I am coming down on the side of not making her an account. I'm not convinced any positives outweigh the negatives.

I am very torn on this topic. I have never been a fan of social media and am strict with screen access for my children. However, my daughter's friends all now have Instagram accounts, which I follow and will occasionally show my daughter the odd picture etc. I am wondering if there is actually any benefit to having an Instagram account for her. I have some lovely pictures of her dancing but I keep asking myself what my motivation would be in sharing them. Is it anything other than showing off? 🤔 I never post on Instagram myself but perhaps hypocritically enjoy looking through other people's photos! My daughter would love it and would enjoy posting pictures of things like her artwork or our pets as well as dance things. I guess I'm just trying to think through the implications and whether it would be more healthy in the long run just to stay clear of it as long as I can. She's in Y5 at school and it would only be on my phone, not hers. Just wondering if other parents have the same dilemma or am I being old-fashioned?!

Add a spoon of cocoa or cacao and it's even more delicious! Also iron, magnesium and vitamins in the cacao.

There's not much traffic on the other thread. I'd love to discuss it here! I've been watching it all day while doing housework. Love hearing the coaches comments, the boys' contemporary coach is quite a character. I didn't catch his name while cleaning the bathrooms! I have my eye on a few of girls. Trying to keep up with their numberings but selfishly wish they would wear the same leotards every day as that is how I remember them! I think so far Sumin Lee no. 310 has caught my eye the most. Also 323 Garcia Vazquez.

I think festivals and competitions are great and very valuable if you look at them as a learning experience and performance opportunity. If you expect them to validate a dancer's talent or feelings then they are likely always going to disappoint. I've seen lots of what I would call poor decisions by adjudicators. Most of it is personal preference and sometimes the best dancer doesn't win, or even place. That's the life of a dancer. It's not an objective sport. If you're going to give up ballet because you don't win enough medals then I suspect the dance world is not for you. I teach my DD that festivals are a chance to learn. Sometimes she's made a mistake - like the time her perfectionism meant that adjusting her turnout mid arabesque meant that she had a big wobble and didn't place - and although she was only 9 at the time she took it in good humour and now knows not to adjust her position mid-pose! It cost her a trophy but I would argue that the lesson she learnt is much more valuable than adding a trophy to her shelf. If you go to festivals looking for validation of talent then you are going to be disappointed. If you go looking on it as a learning experience - whether that's performance experience, technique tips, or even just the realisation that dance appreciation is both subjective and sometimes "unfair" - then you will reap the benefits.

I will just be relieved if it's no longer white. Not only from a washing/staining point of view but with girls approaching approaching puberty, developing breasts amd possibly starting periods, white isn't a very kind choice!

ISTD has much fewer set exercises than RAD and, in the exam, the examiner puts together enchainements that the candidates have to perform straight away. This means pupils have to know all of the ballet terms very well, it challenges them more and, I feel, prepares them better for learning solos, doing auditions etc. I agree that doing endless set exercises in every lesson for a year or more with the end goal of an exam is not ideal. But for the recreational once a week dancers, if you're going to work towards an exam there isn't much time for free work if all the exam exercises are set.

I'm not an expert, just a dance mum, but perhaps if you try doing it seated e.g. on the floor with legs straight out in front of you that will stabilise your pelvis and allow just the top half of your back to move. Or on a Swiss ball to practise the pelvic stability needed. If you are hypermobile the chances are this is an issue of muscle strength/alignment rather than flexibility of the upper back. Bridges could also help you learn to articulate your spine properly and strengthen glutes and pelvic stability.

Yes, either technique class or coaching class might work? Or technique training? Or Technique focus?

That's good to hear. It's so hard not to compare with others isn't it? Especially as some of these countries train their young dancers so intensively at a young age. But if you look at e.g. what RBS does with their JAs it's very very simple. You would think that if there was evidence that more intensive training at a younger age is better in the long run then that's what the reputatable schools in the UK would be doing, but they're not.

Thanks for this link, very interesting and good to have some solid facts to be able to share with my friend.

Thank you everyone, this has confirmed my concerns and I will share them with my friend. I'm not 100% sure it's a blanket policy to put all of their 9yos en pointe but my friend watched a class of 9yos and they were all starting pointe work. All in Year 5 at school.

Are you saying that's OK to do at age 10/11 if they're ready?

But in Year 6 they will only be 10/11? It worries me that if the dance school is doing this, what other bad practices they might have.

My DD's dance school starts girls en pointe around the age of 12, 11 at the very earliest if they are really strong. I've always understood that starting earlier than this risks damage to their feet and joints. My friend's DD (who doesn't live locally to me) wants to join a new dance school as she doesn't feel she's being stretched enough at her current one. The one that has been recommended to her is an "elite" school that requires auditions to get in. She's had an audition and been offered a place but my friend has just found out that they put all their girls on pointe at 9yo. I'm not sure if I should say anything to my friend as she's not that knowledgeable about ballet and I don't want her DD to be harmed. On the other hand, perhaps this is now accepted practice in "elite" schools and I don't want to risk saying anything unless this is a big red flag? So just wondering if it's still considered a big no no to go on pointe so early? I know that other countries such as Russia, China and the US often show very young dancers en pointe. Is there any advantage to doing it so young?

At the moment London classes are on Sundays but before covid they were on Saturdays.