Millicent

I'm so glad I didn't have any vimeo or YouTube intel for my DD's audition as I would have been over analysing just like you lot are 😆 Seriously, I don't think you can read anything into how much/how long the videos are viewed as some might be a yes or no straight away, and others take longer to decide, whether it is an eventual yes or no. So none of it will really tell you anything. Easy for me to say, I know! My DD got a yes for Y4 London but when I view her videos I can see a lot of places where she could have performed better/made mistakes so you just never know...

Thank you so much, we it was Yasmine Naghdi that I meant. Am off to Google her 🙂 I agree that the panning out of the camera was frustrating at times, I would just say to my DD, look at that...And then it would pan out and you couldn't see much. Very much enjoyed it anyway.

I really enjoyed watching RBS company class. Does anyone know who the lady is who wore the long-sleeved green leotard with a lighter green skirt? They're all amazing dancers but she caught my eye time and time again. I would love to know who she is.

Hello, my DD is starting in London as Y4 in Jan. I'm just doing the uniform order and it says you can order ballet shoes through them or from a local stockist. Does that mean that my DD can wear any kind of leather ballet shoes? She has very wide feet and we have a nightmare finding shoes that fit her. The ones that suit her are Starlight split sole with cross elastics. Will these be acceptable? It doesn't say anywhere that they need to be full sole/single elastic. Thanks!

It looks like where the selected candidates confirm their entry and pay more fees. Only 9 applied from the UK. South Korea did well, they have 18 students selected!

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!

So how many are in the class now?

Well done for asking a difficult question! I have to say I'm surprised that they actually acknowledged that there are fewer places than usual this year. Or did you mean that there are fewer spaces in Y5? If it gives you any comfort I really doubt that any email you send will reflect on your DS. They won't have that in mind when they view the videos. On a positive note, I hope that today's news about the Oxford vaccine might mean that we can get back to "normal" within the next 12 months and have in person auditions. My DD did two JA insight days and loved them so much. I really hope that they might be able to run them again in the near future. It made up for not having an in-person audition.

I know two Y5s on SWL this year who were both a no last year. And three Y4s on SWL this year. All dancers that consistently (boringly so!) win at festivals and get very high marks in exams. It seems that it is even harder than normal to get in this year. As I've said before, I'm looking forward to RBS publishing their figures to see if there really were fewer places this year, or if perhaps we just don't have proportionate representation on this forum 🙂

Was part 2 the plies, tendus and jumps? Would seem pretty key if so!

I wonder if at some point we will find out if fewer places are available this year. I understand that the figures are usually posted in the RBS annual report, but don't know when that comes out.

What tier would you be travelling to/from?

I don't think anyone really knows the answer to this. Although the obvious would be slim build, long legs, flexible, good turnout etc. My DD got in for Y4 and she is really tall, wouldn't look out of place in Y6, and the other girl I know who got in is tiny, very petite. They don't look anything alike next to each other.

How is it different at Elmhurst. Sorry am new to all of this.

Do they get more money from international students? I know universities do.

This might be a naive question but I wonder how many dancers who get assessed out of RBS then go to a mainstream academic school with ballet as a serious hobby, and how many go to other vocational schools and continue with dance as a career.

There are three separate sections to watch and so three separate videos to record on your phone. I think the longest was maybe 12 minutes? But I started filming as soon as I pressed play on the YouTube video so the first phone video has my daughter standing patiently listening for probably 3/4 minutes at the beginning. My honest advice would be not to stress about it too much. Hard I know! I kept rewatching my DD's videos on my phone after we'd submitted them and noticing all of the bits where she made mistakes/could have done better and getting stressed about how she didn't show herself at her best. But in the end none of that mattered and she got a place.

Just wondering what you mean by this? Is it that a lot get assessed out early?

Yes group 1, London.

I know someone who never got into JAs but did get into WL. And her friend, who was a JA since Y4, didn't get into WL.

Thank you everyone. It was just a very short email saying "we would like to offer (name) a place on the Associates programme in London, for entry in January 2020". Must be a typo and they meant Jan 2021! I have emailed to confirm we will accept the place so hopefully there will be more information about days/times soon.

Got a yes for my DD. Still in shock! The email was about an hour ago so they may be doing them all at the same/similar times. Sorry for the no's, but as I kept telling my DD it will soon be time to apply for next year already!

Ooh that's exciting. I wonder if we will even hear by the end of the week or if it will be next week at this rate?

I think some group 2 have said that their videos have been watched already. I bet RBS has had loads of emails/calls from worried parents with the time it is taking for group 1 applicants! Glad this forum is keeping me (relatively) sane.

Group 2 is Dundee/Newcastle/ Leeds/ Manchester so very unlikely anyone with London as a first choice would have any of those as second choice!