BalletBoysDad

I can’t recommend Tring CBA enough. I can only speak for the boys, but from what I’ve seen on zoom, it’s very kind, inspiring, focused and when it’s in the studios, it’s a beautiful environment.

We struggled with space last year. My DS was in a very tight space; ‘adequate’ but a touch restrictive. It didn’t have any impact on the outcome though. Even with summer intensives, we had ‘home photos’ rather than glossy studio or tutor-guided photos. I think our two positive experiences are that the RBS see what they need to see, and it doesn’t need to be glossy or polished at this young age.

That’s really interesting. Thank you both for the explanations, this is all an education to me so much appreciated. My DS can almost do flat box splits, specifically with the exercises recently given at Elmhurst YD. He didn’t have them before but I guess he didn’t have the exercises or knowledge of how to access flat box splits (though he can only do them at the end of class when he is very warmed up, which I’m sure is the safest time to attempt them). His front and back splits aren’t great though by comparison. He has some signs of hyper mobility, but not all. Hyper mobile fingers, but when he touches his hands flat on the floor, his legs are straight, but don’t bend forwards above the knee. No idea what all of this means.

I’d be very interested to know that too. I recently asked a tutor about my DS’s ability in the splits. They felt that the centre splits are adequate as a measure of potential (at least for boys) as they had students successful for WL who’s front and back splits were ‘ok’ but far from perfect.

We nearly didn’t apply as we thought we wouldn’t be able to provide good photos. We can only have zoom classes in our living room but it’s too dark for photos. So we had to do it ourselves, without any guidance, in the kitchen where it’s brighter. It’s just restored my faith that at this moment in time, they can see past ‘rough round the edges’ photos that aren’t done in a studio.

I just dug out the application submission auto reply email. It said Week 1 (10 and 11 years, boys) Monday July 19th

@The_Red_Shoes @Lara Eschler We are week 1 too, I just had to re-check the application.

A fellow Birmingham JA. My DS and you’re DS briefly ‘danced together’ on zoom when Elmhurst YD has Y5 and Y6 together. I’m sure it’ll be a really fun week.

Congratulations! A great outcome for perseverance! Do any previous participants or applicants know how many students they take per week? I see its limited to residential-only at this point in time, but that might open up to non-residential places should restriction lifting allow... So I wonder if they offer as many spaces as dorm beds? Or if restrictions limit that number further...

Congratulations 🥳

Yes, its a real shame. My DS couldn't apply for spring as too young, and only just scraped the age limit for summer. Its a genuine shame for those with August birthdays.

Congratulations 🥳

Congratulations to your DS. I often felt being at the younger end of the academic year was some disadvantage, but as he matures and has growth spurts I can see it all even out a bit more over time, and he looks less of the baby amongst his year group.

That's so kind, thank you. Our photos were really poor quality, the best we could do in the home and through tutor guidance on zoom. I'm just glad they saw past that, as we couldn't do anything 'professional' under lockdown. I'm sure that goes for many people.

I applied for a few summer programmes for my son (all international expect RBS), and had a very mixed bag of 'yes' and 'no'. I might be wrong, but maybe people don't share their 'no's as much as their yesses. I will certainly admit that I tend to discuss 'successes' more than rejections. Though we treat 'no/not yet' positively in our home.

A yes for my DD, who is 9 and just scrapes the minimum age requirement of turning 10 in time for the summer intensive. Amazed he got it, genuinely didn't expect it. Well done to every applicant regardless of outcome.

With some London RBS JA's now running on a Sunday rather than a Saturday, and the return to studios after Easter for both associate schemes, I think there might be some students who have currently managed to do JA's and Tring remotely, but will be forced to choose between the two for the remainder of the year. I might very well be wrong, but the move out of lockdown and the gradual easing of social distancing might mean a slightly bigger intake this summer term. Who knows

The first class back after Easter is Sunday 25th April. So maybe those accepted start then? I was always a touch cynical about video auditions etc, but I think its safe to say the Tring CBA boys tutor (if he's involved in the selection) has an incredibly fine eye for precision via zoom. I'm sure they will see what they need to see via video for potential. Good luck! I do hate these long waits. I was never blessed with the virtue of patience.

So out of interest, are Tring CBA making their decision purely from the video applications? And do you know when you might expect to receive a result?

That's the sad by product of lockdown, as he was making friends quite easily in this group. With a 15/20 min break in the studio class, they managed to develop friendships. Then we went onto zoom, which makes it harder for the children to 'mix'. I like the fact that there is a broad spread of ages at CBA, so all the boys are at different levels and stages in their personal development. Removes all that competitive vibe, which is quite refreshing. Gives the younger boys something to aim for rather than compete against.

I imagine a lot of it has to do with time table and locality/practicality etc. Our only local graded class (since we moved) falls on the same day as an associate programme, so being either/or, the decision was kind of made for us. He does a non-syllabus class with the same school as the graded class, but his teacher said the content overlaps along the way. Our journey to Tring CBA is 2 hours each direction, but being fortnightly it doesn't feel like a chore. Definitely worth it though. Lovely tutor, lovely studios. From what I've seen on zoom, the class is very calm and focused, and there's no sense of competitiveness amongst the boys. Its very much about self-improvement. Its also not a carbon-copy of some of the others, very much its own programme. My son enjoys it which is the main thing.

You’re right, it’s all very varied. Some kids take graded exams, and some (like my DS) don’t do them at all. My son stopped doing RAD graded classes when we left London. He’s been dancing 3 years, pretty much a year of that on zoom. At RAD in Battersea, they wait until the entire class is ready to do grade I, so that took over a year. Then he started grade 2 and lockdown happened, and they didn’t continue it online. Then we relocated and the local graded classes clashed with his associate programmes and weekly classes and I thought it would be overkill. Our local classes do do grades, and submit children as and when ready, rather than waiting for a while group to be ready. So you can meet a 9 year old who is anywhere from grade 1 to 4. My understanding of what I’ve seen on zoom is that RBS, Tring CBA and Elmhurst YD are all focused on doing core things extremely well. Mastering the basics so to say. I don’t see them doing long character dances etc. I see those feature in local classes, but that all came to a stop when we went onto zoom. So apologies for my long waffle, but I think it’s fair to say grades can be a mixed bag, and it’s probably not part of their consideration as some don’t do them at all. Class content might average/hover around RAD grade 3, but at this stage they’ll only be looking for aptitude and potential. They’ll probably be looking for good bodily proportions, potential for flexibility, basic musicality and good natural turnout.

That’s the same age as my son, who will turn 10 in July. When he auditioned (in person), I’m led to believe it was all age-appropriate content. He doesn’t give much away. Will they make a decision purely off the video? My gut feeling is that there will be more places available this time round as (hopefully) social distancing comes to a gradual end and they can accommodate more children in the studios. Tring CBA is a lovely programme and the tutor is exceptionally kind and motivating. From a boys perspective I think it’s as good as RBS JA’s and Elmhurst YD’s. Good luck to your son, no one has anything to lose in applying!

The boys group is rather small, and I think social distancing kept it small last September term too when learning started live in the studio before going back into zoom. A couple of the boys might very well start Y7 vocational school too, so that might open up a couple more places. May I ask what age your DS is? The younger boys are all is a mixed group from ages 8-14 though not sure if that might change.

Just reading what you said about ‘over stretching’ ... my DS participates in Tring CBA so I can only speak for the boys, but the boys tutor also thoroughly discourages any kind of ‘over stretching’, or any methods or equipment/devices that produce this kind of forced flexibility. Hearing the classes on zoom, I get the impression he thinks flexibility for the sake of flexibility is pointless if you don’t know how to use it to grow as a dancer, and I can’t stress how disparagingly he considers them. Separately, I think the age spread of the boys is more varied than the girls. My sons class consists of (I think) an 8 year old, a 9 year old, 2 x 10 year old, an 11 year old and a 13 year old. His tutor does an excellent job of allowing them to grow and develop at their own pace within the group. I remember on the day of audition, there were several boys of different ages in his group, so I find it unlikely they were all expected to do the same, just to try their best within their own skills set.