BalletBoyMumma

3 minutes ago, BalletBliss said:

So great to hear of such positive experiences boys just had.  Wishing them all every success!!

It's been mentioned that a permit would be required to enter the park.  Is it for all, even those coming on foot, or just for those arriving by car? 

The permit is just for cars but I think everyone is sent one just incase. Will you be coming via taxi or walking? (it is a very long walk but certainly doable if the weather is good, just give yourselves plenty of time). If taxi, it might be worth printing one. I think they let you in at the gate (at WL) if they can see the permit in the windscreen. Though otherwise you just pop out and press the buzzer to be let in. I think it’s more if the road is restricted to access only, which sometimes happens. Or if you need to enter after park hours to pick up your DC. 
 

No academic assessments this time (to our relief).  Just audition and physio. 

2 hours ago, Bunny said:

I know the email said results within two weeks but I wonder if they will be held up a bit while they assess the boys who perhaps couldn’t attend in person? Last year the boys attended finals on the Friday and had their results on the Monday I believe! Now that’s a quick turn around! x

Gosh! Really???? I don’t think I want to know that quickly. DS is still riding high on how much he enjoyed the day. 😅 I don’t want to break his little heart yet (he really fell in love with the place despite going in with zero expectation of getting in 😬). 

And the car park toilets by the cafe (couldn’t tell you which but sounds like the ones others are describing too) weren’t too bad. 

4 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

In Richmond we used the toilets at Wholefoods, the Costa across from the Waitrose in SHeen let us used the toilet also.  

I agree on that. If getting changed the toilets in Wholefoods in town are definitely the cleanest/most spacious but you’d have to park somewhere nearby and walk there. We initially stopped at the Sainsbury’s for the loo but they were so dirty DS changed in the car in the WL car park instead.

I mean, they are all lovely of course, I was just so relieved when DS came out beaming and saying everyone in the group were friendly and they had lots of fun. It certainly made the day worthwhile. 

It’s good to hear the other sessions were like that too. It must make a huge difference to their confidence if they are happy. 

35 minutes ago, BbcBoy said:

Aw we were the 1.30pm slot, hope it went well for him? My DS really enjoyed it, said there was 6 in his group. 🤞

My DS was in that group too.  I think there are 4 of us (inc you) on here whose DS were in that session. They were a lovely group of boys. 

10 hours ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

My ds was telling me all about the other boys, they got onto discussing Harry potter at one point! 

 

He loved just being there and loves the school but is very aware that he was nowhere near as good as the other boys. He's only been dancing for 2 years so this was all a bit of a shock getting to finals.

 

He couldn't stop talking about everything and just when I'd thought he'd finished and we started listening to our book again, he paused it and told me something else he remembered 😂 And he was asleep within 5 minutes of getting into bed tonight after the journey home.

 

Thank you to the other boys in his group for making the day special - hopefully they'll all get a space as my son said how fab they were! 

 

I really wanted to say hello too while waiting in the queue as this is all new to me aswell as my son xx

Oh that is so lovely to hear! My DS was in that group too and said everyone was really talented. Some nerves but they all got on very well and had quite a few laughs and jokes to try and ease each other’s worries and everyone was encouraging toward each other. 

I bet your DS was excellent. It must have been very daunting going in to such a major audition as his first, especially where the other boys already knew each other and were in their JA uniforms. And please don’t let him think the others are better, my DS often worries that too - remind him RBS picked him to go through to finals because he’s just as good as everyone he was in the room with and he must have something special to have made it this far (they all do). And they are looking for potential over perfection so we can never guess who they’ll pick. 
My DS said it wasn’t as dancey as he’d hoped (that’s more of his strength rather than technique or neatness) but he had the most amazing day anyway and gave it everything so is very proud of himself. 

Good luck to those in auditions this morning. You know what to expect now so hopefully less nerve-wrecking this time round. Smile, smile, smile, and show the panel how much you love dancing. Will be thinking of you all! 🤞⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
 

Just now, TwirlyWhirly said:

Thanks for that! No, we were second group (just a very long journey home - hence have heard every detail about the day including the paintings on the walls, what they chatted about while waiting to see the physio...!)😂

Oh that is just lovely!

We heard about the paintings too. 😅 I wanted to hear more about the actual audition but nope, we got to hear more about King George II. 🤣

I hope it was a smooth journey. The weather hasn’t been too kind today. 
 

7 minutes ago, TwirlyWhirly said:

Just back from an exciting day at White Lodge! My DS said everyone was so lovely, and the other DSs in his group were so friendly and encouraging to each other..he hopes they all get in! He also said they were videoing the class (presumably to review later)? Good luck to all the girls for their auditions next week!

Ooh that’s interesting. My DS didn’t say anything about videos (but getting info out of him is almost impossible so not surprised there). Was your DS the last group of the day?

Glad your DS had a wonderful time in a lovely group! 🥰

6 hours ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

My son went in at 1.30, so I'm just sitting in some random carpark killing time!

 

All the boys waiting in the line seemed happy and excited. I can't wait to find out what it was like as he has never done an audition before.

The masks and distancing really make socialising so strange - I wanted to say hi but such a difficult situation in the socially distanced queue. 

The wait was painfully long with nowhere open other than for take away coffees. I hope your DS enjoyed the day and felt welcomed. White Lodge finals is a huge deal for a first audition (and any, but especially WOW for a first). Well done! 👏👏👏 

2 hours ago, PetitJeté said:

Eek, hope it went well! It’s a long time to kill isn’t it! Not sure what we’re going to do, hoping for decent weather next week so we can maybe go for a walk! 

If the weather is good, the park’s car parks are donation only so not crazy expensive (or busy) - go and spy some deer, we saw so many today. Such a lovely park with some lovely walks and beautiful views. Fingers crossed for better weather for you all. 

Good luck to the girls next week! DS said it wasn’t as difficult as he’d expected and everyone is so friendly. He had the most amazing day! I hope the other boys did too. No look around apparently though. 

We are done now (I’m so very relieved - I’m definitely not cut out for the stress of auditions!) Good luck to everyone auditioning elsewhere tomorrow and later during the week. You are all fabulous! Go and be the stars that you are. ✨⭐️💫

Good luck boys! 🥰 Enjoy yourselves. 
 

I think the first group have gone in. We are on our way there  (very excited little boy here. 🥳 And one stressed mum constantly double and triple checking everything incase we’ve forgotten a ballet shoe or something. 😬🤞😆) 

20 hours ago, Reggi said:

Does anyone know why the Royal Ballet school do interviews?! 
Not sure what they are looking for in the interview but my child was super nervous and didn’t over talk...she answered all the questions asked lovely but didn’t go over the top...

Are they likely to disqualify a child through this interview? 

I doubt it, Reggi - the interviewer we had said at the beginning that this doesn’t have any bearing on the outcome, they’d just like to find out a little about DS, his family and his likes/dislikes. I guess, in normal times, this would be a chance to make sure they hear from the child themselves that they do love to dance, what they like/dislike in terms of academics and hobbies, and maybe make sure it’s not the parents forcing it (it happens unfortunately). 
Most of the children will have been very nervous. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.  
Someone who auditioned last year told us that the DCs were asked to write a short story (again, told it had no bearing on the outcome but just wanting to get to know the child), so maybe it’s been easier on them this year with just a friendly interview. Fingers crossed.  

Yes, we had the man (I didn’t catch his name though). 
 

Aww, at least it’s done now. And that’s really good that your DS is more relaxed about the dancing than the interview - that’s the important bit and they know how to do that. The interview was a bit unknown. 

Pretty sure my DS was a bit nervous too but he suppresses it with humour. That often makes me nervous because I worry he won’t focus - but he always does (I should know this by now; I think he just likes to age me 😳😅).
Thank you to everyone who posted yesterday to say the interviews were friendly, and nothing to worry about - that helped so much! 🥰

52 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

I was hiding in the kitchen and could hear the head of academics talking to ds. He was making notes too... longest 10 minutes of my life !!! 

Same. I was sat nervously on the other side of the living room door (I leapt out of the room as quickly as possible when the meeting started 😆). 
The interviewer led the conversation very well, I’m glad actually because DS didn’t have the chance to tell them all the embarrassing things he was teasing us beforehand that he might just tell them. 🤦‍♀️😳 😅😂 

DS said the interviewer was really nice. And yes, encouraging a very positive mindset for auditions. 👏 

Lovely relaxed interview. Nothing to worry about at all (for anyone still waiting to do theirs)  

I stayed away but could hear the conversation from the next room. 

Well done everyone.

Good luck to those with interviews today! (We do too, eek! DS is relaxed about it but I’m the nervous one 😰) 

Did others wear uniform? 

Just to confirm, the LFD tests can now be ordered online (or collected from local distribution points) and the results they give are email and text (test takes 30 mins to develop, our text came through in minutes once barcode etc was submitted online - knowing NHS number is helpful). These can be ordered/collected in advance and done on the go for anyone who’ll likely be travelling then.  No need to pay for expensive tests. 

That’s heartbreaking. 😞 Treating dancers, especially young dancers, like that shouldn’t be tolerated or accepted at all. 

DS will chat to any and everyone, even the staff. I think he goes there TO make friends and doesn’t get the concept of how competitive it all is just yet (thankfully for him). 😅

He came out of JA auditions telling me about the friends he’d made - their names, where they travelled from, their interests. 😂 He was so super relaxed at that one though. 

My youngest DD did the same at her (other) associates class and was really sad not to see some of the girls again. My eldest (teenager) has done some bits and pieces and said it can feel rather daunting with everyone sizing each other up - they definitely mingle less as they get older. She’s super shy though so won’t approach anyone to say hi. My younger two are much bolder and will still attempt saying hi at least.  

Hi, and welcome. :) (and congrats to your DS) 

My DS will be in that group too.  He said he’s bringing his top trumps along and a normal deck of cards incase they are allowed to play/chat with everyone while waiting between sessions. Hopefully they’ll be allowed and it might ease their nerves. :) 

There are a few park cafés and plenty of coffee shops in town which is a 10-15 minute drive away. There is a large Sainsbury’s not too far a drive away too and I’d assume they’d have charging points (might be worth a Google). 
 

39 minutes ago, BalletBoysDad said:

Do you have a guesstimate of when you might get results? Should that tie in roughly with results from those who may have applied to Elmhurst too? Feels like a long wait given Tring and Hammond etc feel like they were announced an age ago. 

No idea at the moment. It certainly feels like an age ago that we started the process. 😅

They will also have the mids places to announce from the same audition (aside from those who applied for mids only I believe) and that’ll come after WL results so we’re in for the long haul. I believe usually different schools results are all announced quite closely but this year, well... 🤷‍♀️😩 

100% agree on resilience - I couldn’t have gone through all this at their age (or now even). They are fabulous! 

Yes, 16 was discussed in this thread  ...but it’s probably unlikely unfortunately. We can always hope. 
 

You can. They have day students too but they’ll be within those numbers. 
 

10 minutes ago, Raquelle said:

Friday 19th at 3.45...feel a bit sick!! A friend from the same centre on a different date so goodness knows how they have grouped them....

It could be height. Or if there are more than 7 girls who got through from the same centre. Or anything really. 

At least we can get excited now. It’ll be good fun!