TwoDancers

25 minutes ago, Weloveballet said:

Ah ok thanks, that makes sense. I’m sure someone earlier had confirmed they were fine aslong as you registered and got the text? But it’s just proving to be very confusing! 

Royal have told me that it’s fine to use one of the lateral flow tests from school as long as you can report the results and get confirmation back (eg it must have a barcode that is reported)

58 minutes ago, jenesaisquoi said:

Has anyone heard about yr 10 places yet? My students for year 7, 9 and 12 have, so we’re wondering if they’ve not been sent yet or if we should chase? 

Think Fourth Form Dance should be the next lot of results out - hopefully !!

1 minute ago, MissEmily said:

@TwoDancersthat’s wonderful to hear that your children have enjoyed their associate classes. 
 

I do think they could have made a fresh audition video for this year and reduced the audition fee or, even better, held Zoom auditions as other programmes have done. If my pupils are desperate to apply, then I will, of course, support them, but many families look to me for advice and I cannot in good faith recommend the process as it is at the moment. 

We have heard of lots of bad experiences with zoom auditions - you are completely reliant on zoom working on the day and your internet not playing up - so much stress and worry involved in that situation if something goes wrong. At least with a video you can film it when you feel happy and comfortable.

There is no easy  answer to any of this, but blaming the Associate providers seems a bit harsh in my opinion given that they are doing a great job and still providing a great experience for the children in these scary, sad times. 
My children quite enjoyed making their videos and like looking back on what they did.
I do agree the cost is high for auditioning, especially if there isn’t clarity about how many spaces are available, but I’m guessing the panel still spend the same amount of time assessing as they would in person????? 

33 minutes ago, MissEmily said:

As a teacher, I have been so deeply disappointed by the RBS JA’s response  to Covid that I am suggesting my pupils apply to different associate programmes this year. It is so frustrating for last year’s auditionees that these videos have been publicly shared, and I find it shockingly unprofessional that such a world-renowned organisation is simply reusing last year’s videos this year! The instructions clearly say that students may not watch the videos in advance or practise but now that anyone in the world can see them, how likely is it that that will happen?! I stuck to this rule to the letter with my pupil last year, when of course she would have performed better if she’d known what was coming. Also, I could not recommend to my pupils’ families spending £55 on a second-hand audition video and no feedback.
 

Other departments of the RBS have done an amazing job of adapting to Covid; the online summer programme was second-to-none, for

example. I don’t know why the JA programme seems to be floundering so badly.

It’s pretty much the standard audition that they run in live auditions too so I’m not sure what you expect them to do - lots of people will be reapplying so already know the video format; you can’t expect them to change their audition process completely surely ?  I’m sure people would moan if they did that too.
 

I don’t think they have had any choice with their Associate Programmes - the centres that they use dictate when and how the can use the facilities and numbers in the groups have had to be changed.  My experience of other Associate Schemes is exactly the same over the last 6 months - the groups have been split; the classes have been shortened etc. Even so my DC have still loved their Associate classes, whether that be for the few live sessions that they managed or for the online provision.

It would be a shame to discourage your students based on this ongoing rubbish situation (which is out of everybody’s hands) given that if they were offered a place, they would have a wonderful time.

2 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

We also had the 4th of January. It is going to be the longest wait for everything. Though, will Tring just go by the video even for funding? 

Last year, Tring offered full time places from the first audition (which was a whole day thing including academic assessments) but invited candidates that they wanted to consider for funding to another, separate audition which was held in March I think. Not sure if it will work the same this year though ...

We used Imovies to put the video together, then sent the movie toOneDrive and just pasted the link from OneDrive on either the application form or email.  

1 hour ago, busydanceparent said:

We have made so many mistakes but it’s too late to change now...for Royal we did it in tights instead of bare legs and we have got to redo the photos (because the picture is of bare legs so that’s what we did - but then noticed in the writing it asks for socks and ballet shoes!!), we forgot to film from the side for plies for Tring (and didn’t do both sides)....but I’m just thinking to send them as they are. We also can’t seem to upload our video on one drive for Tring at all - tried so many times. I’m going to have to email to ask if there is an alternative way to send. Just a nightmare...X

The only way we could upload was by dragging the video file into their OneDrive folder. When we pressed the upload button, nothing happened.

Yep still available x

2 hours ago, ponklemum said:

I did the one side only. I’ve just realised, I did it at an angle and not side on (in between front and side on). 

I didn’t even see the part about filming it side on until I put the clips together, so ours is filmed from the front !! 

1 hour ago, ponklemum said:

I need some advice please. I clicked on the audition link and I’ve uploaded the video. Does this mean it’s automatically submitted now or do I need to do something else? X

I think it’s all sorted! If you close the OneDrive window and then log back in, your video file should be there. I’m assuming that they get a notification when someone uploads a file?!!’

Royal Blue leotard SOLD

2 x Claudia Dean leotards from the Signature collection. Size Child XL.   Both in excellent condition.

1 x Royal Blue £30 plus £3P&P

1 x Navy Blue £30 plus £3 P&P

Meryl soft Degas 9501 in size 14A. Front lined.  Indigo (blue) colour. Excellent condition. 

£30 plus £3 P&P

4 minutes ago, busydanceparent said:

Thank you both that is very helpful. I thought we had to use only YouTube or Vimeo? Did you check with Elmhurst or just assume it’s fine to do it another way? Thank you! X

I emailed and asked and got a reply that they would be happy to accept a OneDrive link x

2 hours ago, Zonzin said:

Hello. Hope everyone had a lovely xmas break. Has anyone else left it till the last minute like us?  I have found it impossible to find the time to clear a space and set aside a couple of days to film!  Also applying for Elmnurst and Tring Park as well as RBS, so quite a lot of filming to be done in the next couple of days!  Any tips greatly appreciated

 

 

Lots of the exercises are the same for all of the schools so we just printed out the requirements for each and ticked off as we went through then put all the clips together in iMovies x

8 minutes ago, busydanceparent said:

Hi, I hope everyone’s video auditions are going well. We have come across a problem and wondered whether anyone else had. We uploaded to YouTube and have had a warning straight away about copyright because of the music we used for the free movement! We are obviously now concerned that the video could be potentially deleted or silenced! We’re thinking to just send it with fingers crossed and put a note in to inform Elmhurst in case there is a problem... Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks x

Hi

we had this problem too so we used OneDrive to create a link instead and emailed that across. Didn’t want to risk a fine on top of all these audition fees!!!

I read it as running alongside the Spring Intensive, not as instead of (although as things currently are, I am fairly sure it will end up that way!)...

They have changed it for this year and are screening from photographs first. You will be told after the closing date on 11th Dec if you’ve been invited to audition....... seems a bit unreasonable to charge £40 though when all they might do is look at 4 photos.....

48 minutes ago, MrsMoo2 said:

Incidentally my friend went to White Lodge Upper school in the 90’s and is a social worker now. She’d got in at year 11 entry and stayed for two years to leave and return home following a period of drug abuse and mental illness. These institutions are quick to boast their successes but don’t forget not all the stories end as happily. xx

I’m pretty sure the same could be said for any school!

I emailed to ask about the socks and this is the reply I got:-

Hi ....., 

Ballet socks would be preferred.

Thanks, 

....

Tring CBA, from my experience, seem to have three letters. The “yes” one; the “not yet one”, and a very nicely worded “no” one (which can later turn into a not yet or a yes!). We had a “not yet” the first time round, followed by a “yes” at the next round of auditions, so the not yet really is a not yet.

The groups At CBA have had to be made smaller so there will be so few spaces available this time round.

Dont be disheartened, it’s definitely worth trying again and it’s a brilliant Associates scheme ☺️

I have a 9502 in 12a. It’s in ciel  opera colour in Lycra. £25 plus postage.

Can I have the darker pink one please x

Silky also do a ballet sock which is made of the same material as ballet tights. They’re brilliant and we’ve never had to use sock glue with them as they seem to just stay put!

If this doesn’t sell, I am interested 😊