BalletBoysDad

Thanks for the kind and realistic advice! Mine is a July boy. I remember when they all lined up in number and age order for the Y4 audition, he was last but one in the line up and looked equally tiny. He got SWL but I wasn’t at all surprised he didn’t get in, he told me a week later he slipped over. Im always curious about the Royal Ballet, but I’m always careful to tell my son (and myself) that it’s not the be all and end all. It would be comparable to saying Oxford is the only university and path to academic success... ‘Enjoy the scenery’ is nice advice, thank you

Thank you, that’s really appreciated. That’s roughly how the auditions team explained it, but I’d never heard anyone else say (so it left me with a nagging doubt

Thank you. I do seem to remember asking the Royal Ballet politely what’s the point in applying to centres where in theory there’s not even a place if all year 4s rise to year 5, and all year 5s rise to year 6. I think they said they expand each group by several (or a few) places per year. But I’ve never heard anyone validate that claim. I would presume if you don’t get in at year 4, the odds are more than stacked against you?

Thanks for your kind reply, it’s really appreciated to hear all this. I’ve heard overwhelmingly positive things about BBA, so I’m thrilled he has this opportunity. I was talking to his ENB teacher today who had been teaching some BBA classes via Zoom and she said she was really impressed with how much talent and potential her BBA students have, so that was great to hear, But I’m always really interested to hear about boys CBA experience. Clearly, we’re taking nothing for granted, any audition and application is challenging. But it’s Interesting to have knowledge of other people’s experience if he were successful at audition, as with the auditions being 5th September they’ll require very swift decisions if it was a ‘yes’. You’ve just mentioned a really interesting point: class sizes. May I ask, do you know how many boys tend to be in a CBA class? Is it comparable to a JA class? Given that there are the boys who start in Y4, and ‘rise’ through the years, I’ve always (cynically) presumed that there are very few spaces for Y5 and Y6 applicants, although I wouldn’t know how each year group ‘expands’ to accommodate a few new applicants. If he were successful at audition, I personally agree two programmes in one day would be too much. But because we’re moving, I don’t yet know what local classes will be available in our soon to be new home town. One of the classes we shall be leaving in London is a boys-only class at Central School of Ballet. My son makes a lot of progress in that class, so I really value hearing other people’s experiences of boys programmes. Thanks again!

Thank you very much, kind words and good advice is always appreciated

Really appreciated, thank you!!!

My son got a yes for BBA London, Y5, but as mentioned we were lucky to already have a video. His video was very simple, and only around 6 or 7 minutes which did initially make me worried. There were a couple of hesitant moments, but my feeling (and feedback from his ENB teacher) is that they’re looking for a combination or present skills but more importantly potential, so it sounds very kind and fair as a process.

I did read about that one too. I think it runs on alternate Sundays to the CBA programme. It’s sounds really interesting programme, but it would mean dancing every Sunday.

Yes we’re on the same path I don’t really over think or over analyse the RBS JA’s anymore. I remember my sons first audition. They were lined up with numbers in age order. He was the 23rd youngest out of 24 boys. He told me they did everything in rows, oldest in the front row, middle in the middle and youngest at the back (that’s how he interpreted it). He was so small by comparison but he’s grown so much in a year, physically, but also in dedication and confidence. He enjoys so much other ballet I don’t like him to think of it as the be all and end all, though they’re all clearly selective and competitive. Have you applied to BBA by video? We were lucky as, pre lockdown we had already made a video for a summer programme. I would have found making a video in lockdown a touch stressful! So this is our first year of applying for multiple associate classes, so it feels very new.

Thank you so much, that’s really valuable info! My son currently has a boys at Central School of Ballet on a Friday, he loves it and then boys all have a great rapport with their teacher. Sadly, that’s one of the classes that we’re going to have to leave when we move. I didn’t realise that Tring CBA boys train separately. That’s really interesting. Of course, we’re taking nothing for granted and are thrilled to have the place with BBA. But it’s great to hear about the specific boys aspect at Tring, thank you! Do you mind me asking if your DS started as a RBS JA at the same time as Tring? We missed out on JAs last year as my son had what sounded a dreadful audition, lost his nerve, slipped over, and made it onto SWL. But it’s amazing how much they grow and develop in a year.

We’re moving to Lichfield in Staffordshire. It’s handy for us as Birmingham is only half an hour away. With that in mind, we applied to RB JA’s in Birmingham and Elmhurst Young Dancers. If we don’t have any success with those, I shall continue to take him to his Saturday class in London at ENB Juniors as it’s the highlight of his week. The Tring and BBA applications are to find something for every other Sunday, as our move will mean my DS has fewer weekday classes, so it kind of balances things out. I didn’t know there was a BBA stoke option at the time of applying, but we have lived in London 4 years so my son will enjoy coming here frequently after we move. Do you mind me asking what year your DS is applying for? Last year, we only applied for RB JA’s and my son was a very young 7 on the day he auditioned. He was given a SWL place that never turned into anything, but I think it’s motivated him to really try his best this year. But waiting until September for Tring auditions and possibly later for Elmhurst and RB JA’s feels ages away!

Thanks for your kind words, and the info is really appreciated. Yes, I completely agree, a live audition gives you a feeling for a place, something that digital auditions leave you researching and guessing. I’ve heard nothing but good things about BBA and Tring sounds much the same. The audition for Tring will be live, as they’re planning to hold them on 5th September, with term starting on the 13th. I presume this will be the same day BBA starts. Dare I ask, (with huge respect to both programmes) your DD that did both, would she have had a preference if she had only been able to do one? I’m sure anything will be a huge commitment, but at the moment (well, pre lockdown) it was amazing how much time we spent out the house. We had a few too many classes where there wasn’t quite enough time to go home first, so we spent vast amounts of time in Pret waiting for classes to start. Even if it’s an epic journey, I imagine (Or hoping) that we will be using our time more economically.

I totally agree. We’ve tried a few classes in London that on paper look and sound excellent, but they didn’t work for my son. There was a particular class that started out well, but over time the teaching style started to become borderline aggressive, towards very young children. Then they wanted to do shows and it was impossible to keep up with the schedule. It’s impact was hugely negative. I could see immediately how the joy drained from his face when leaving class. Likewise, I can always see how happy he is when he leaves his ENB class on a high. We’ve had to trial (and leave) a few classes to arrive at the selection were at. So we are definitely now focusing on quality over quantity, and finding time for other activities, including plenty of rest (parents included!

Thank you. I don’t take any offence at all. I think it’s good to be gently challenged, as it helps you reaffirm in your own mind the reasons for doing what your doing (or planning). it anything, our life in London is very much dictated by a few too many classes, and I see the associate classes as an excellent opportunity to do slightly fewer classes but for longer periods of time, rather than almost daily classes that require a sprint across town, and several hours out for just an hours class. Like you say, I agree it has knock on consequences for the family and children’s rest time.

Hello @Peanut68 I’ve thought about that myself. Originally I was thinking if you were in the situation where you could do both, which one would you choose. I wasn’t specifically thinking about it in terms of doing two in one day. But I’ve had some interesting experiences in the past that have challenged my view. My son loves ballet, and that’s always been the primary driver of what we do. Unfortunately he doesn’t have a particularly happy school life, so Ballet is an opportunity to be around like minded children and is definitely a ‘happy place’ for him. Over the last 2-3 years we’ve swapped some classes he didn’t like and replaced them with others. He found himself doing 5 classes a week, which we through the was too many, but he loved doing them all and would have done 7 if he could. When we move to the midlands, I don’t think he will be doing so many weekday ballet classes, and I’m genuinely hoping he develops more school friendships. But maybe it’s plausible to do two associate classes in one day, if he wanted to do it. Especially as they’re ‘one week on-one week off’. I guess it depends on how demanding and tiring they are as I imagine it’s counterproductive if it’s physically too much.

Thank you @Mum of unicorn dancer for so much information, it’s really appreciated. I didn’t know a huge amount about BBA until Miss Rebecca Peters at ENB Juniors encouraged us to think about applying. I think she may have participated in some of their online lockdown classes. Personally I think she’s a wonderful teacher, so I trust her recommendation implicitly. She is also incredibly kind, and speaks about BBA as being kind, focused and nurturing which I know my son would really benefit from. Do you think it’s fair to say that both BBA and Tring CBA are relatively comparable programmes? Does your DD find the content similar or one more challenging than the other? Thanks again!

I’m very interested to know the class times between the two programmes too, and I’m at pains to say hypothetically, if it would be possible to do both on the same day. My son dances with ENB juniors and his tutor speaks extremely positively about BBA. He also dances with Zoe Epstein who is his tutor at Central School of Ballet. I believe she is the London BBA tutor for the younger dancers too. For life reasons, we’re about to move to the midlands, so all the classes and programmes that were on our doorstep are now going to involve much more planning and journey logistics. It’s frustrating to see that a number of Sunday programmes clash. Clearly, the chances of being accepted for all are slim, but it’s difficult to juggle so much uncertainty, especially when each programme seems to have their own expertise and benefit.

Thank you so much for the info, it’s really appreciated. Great to know that both programmes have a ‘nurturing’ aspect, as this is something my son really values and needs at this age. (I appreciate things may become more strict as time goes by, but he’s receptive to a kind fostering environment). He’s 9 in July so will be joining Y5. The dates published online for BBA London and Tring CBA both appear to clash at this moment in time, running on the same Sundays. So (extremely hypothetically) there’s the possibility of having to choose between the two.

Hello, please excuse me if a same or similar thread exists. I’m just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or knowledge on comparisons between Tring CBA and Ballet Boost, if indeed it’s fair to make a comparison. This would be for my DS who is applying for Y5. He’s been accepted for BBA London via video audition which is excellent news. However, Tring CBA audition is now on early September. I believe they both run on the same days. It feels like a very long time to wait for a Tring CBA audition, which is entirely understandable. But if there was success with Tring, it’s incredibly short notice to make a decision. Of course, there is no guarantee of success at audition for Tring CBA, it’s purely hypothetical. I’m just wondering how other people might have thought about a similar situation where a place is available now, but there’s a long wait to audition for something that runs on the same dates.

My DS had a place on the Joffrey Academy Summer Intensive in Chicago. However, they have cancelled the full schedule of summer intensives. I think Illinois was amongst the worst infected states (at the start of the outbreak). They are offering a digital offering, but with time difference between the USA and UK, it’s not possible to engage fully.

None for us either, on the SWL for a Y4 place, London, boy

That’s how I understand it too.... it seems totally dependent if those who accept places actually turn up. It’s easy to think no one would give up a place, and probably the realities are slim, but I’m just using my sons SWL place as confidence that applying next year won’t be totally pointless given the statistics. It all seems a lottery though. 😫

Great to know, thank you 🙏

Thanks for taking the time to give such detailed info 😀

That’s really good to know, we already know that if nothing comes from the SWL my DS will try again next year. It would be unhelpful to apply if (as I thought) chances were vastly worse than the already slim chances for Y4. So all your insights have been really helpful in knowing that it’s not a totally hopeless exercise. 👍🙏