Lusodancer

Hello Buddy and all other contributors here, As a mother of a DD now in vocational school I have had to attend many showcases and shows for years, some that only a parent could watch, but we have taken ours to see professional performances from a young age... usually the smaller touring Russian companies locally until we began to travel further . We live in Portugal so the Companhia Nacional de Bailado is the leading classical/ contemporary company based in Lisbon and Quorum Ballet( Lisbon), Olga Roriz( Lisbon), Paulo Ribeiro( Viseu) are some of the contemporary companies. We have also watched the live screened Royal Ballet and Opera performances, with an hour's journey to the nearest cinema in the network and back , but what a joy. My DD though spends hours scouring the net , when not dancing, to find all sorts of films and performances, the rare , the obscure, to learn and absorb everything. and would be able to hold her own in a discussion with you I suspect, Buddy. If she has watched one Dom Quixote , she has watched 15-20 versions and can spot all the differences. She is very analytical of all things Russian and can wax lyrical on the relative merits of one dancer against another, Marinsky vs Bolshoi, Vaganova vs Bolshoi, Cuban vs Russian ,and the RB against the Russian theatre . I wouldn't mind but when she does it in the first interval of Dom Quixote screened from the Royal Opera House in a cinema in a less than 'sotte voce' , she may be knowledgeable and be able to substantiate her opinions, but it rather takes the edge off the occasion for all those round us. My musician daughter was rather better company at La Traviata. Anyway my DD has tickets for Manon with Osipova, Hallberg, Calvert, Vassilev and Hirano so I will wait with baited breathe for her verdict. As she is now studying in England, she will be able to attend so much more, BRB, ENB, RB and Mathhew Bourne to name a few, but with her friends now entering companies all over Europe from Perm to Marseilles and Madrid, I wonder where we will watch her.

I was relatively lucky that my DD received her early vocational training paid for by an ministry of education scheme in the EU nation where we live. So I paid nothing for the equivalent of a 'White Lodge' start in professional training . I did have to pay for lodgings, but that was a fraction of the UK equivalent. The course ran for 8 years from year 5 (UK 6) to year 12 (like 13), Vaganova Grade 8, with a split between lower level and upper at the end of year 9, Vaganova grade 5,. It was at this stage aged 15 we opted to look to the vocational schools of the UK but Russian methodology was the deciding factor for my classical ballet DD. so although she did auditions at RB it was only for the experience and to set her level in her mind. She could have stayed or moved, but a highly pertinent line of questioning at an audition interview attracted her to new mentors with a fresh outlook rather than maintaining the safe status quo. So now we are paying fees but out of London, so considerably less than some courses. I consider that we have been fortunate up to now. So Balletbean and Pupsmum I too was lucky not to get distracted by unnecessary auditions and would heartily recommend the honest conversation route with DC's about what can or cannot be afforded. My DD is financially aware and has just declined to have her room painted in her absence on the grounds that it will cost at least ' a pair of pointe shoes' if not two. We are also saving our student finance options for a degree course later, not necessarily a dance degree but an academic course that compliments other acquired skills and qualifications. Probably post company work if initial auditions to companies are sucessful. So to return to the orginal theme, Hoglett, if dance for teaching without MT is the aim , and not company contracts, then possibly continuing in academic studies to A level would allow access into a funded course later .And research the list above for course structure. There are many useful suggestions here. So many knowledgeable people with experiences to share. I am so glad we have this forum.

My DD is like yours, not a lover of MT or singing. To paraphrase BJ she would rather be 'dead in a ditch' than take a job that requires singing. She loves ballet and is good, but she is also strong in contemporary and technical jazz. However her teachers schedule a unit of singing classes as a back up and suggested that each student in their vocational school , which is principally aimed at producing company dancers not MT, apply themselves to finding that one song that they could produce for audition if absolutely necessary. So my DD has not yet quit in that regard...still searching and experimenting for HER song, but others in her group have really found a hidden talent they never knew they had. Luckily for these students, the full time three year vocational course , 16+ is aimed at strengthening ballet technique and artistry(Russian methodology), contemporary, technical Jazz, Commercial, Character, and stage craft.. to produce artists fit for company audition, plus an ancillary teaching ARBTA diploma . So it is a broad palette of skills acquired. The students get backstage experience, participation in international competitions and professional/semi-professional performances , intensives, but above all else a personalised teaching program designed to address corrections and development. The name of the school is Kings International Ballet Academy if you would like to visit. It is in the Midlands in a calm village close to good transport links. It is affordable in comparison to prices that I have seen from comparable establishments in London. The students live with host families or share private rented accommodation for a fraction of London prices. They grow up fast and independent. My DD does her academic studies of A levels evenings and weekends with the private tutoring service and to return to the theme says she will fall back on Psychology or teaching not singing to pay the bills. She was always a strong dancer but has made great progress there and is happy. What can I say. It is worth contacting them for their Open Day. They are attracting interest from various groups of pupils outside the original model and seem able to adapt the programme to accommodate. I hope this helps.

I agree with Valentina. It is not a race to pick up exams it is development slowly and methodically that pays off in the end. Being trained to pass exams has no bearing on stage prescence for a professional in the long run. It may give him time to do cross training for whole body strength, speed and flexibility so necessary to the lads or join in outside masterclasses. Invest in fees for holiday intensives, national or international, or tickets to the RB or ENB ,not exam fees. Let him see the bigger picture.

ReadyforCoffee - I am new on this board and found your thread because I am looking for a place for my daughter to train come January, or next fall. She is 16 and now in a pre-professional conservatory program and also doing highschool online (just switched over). I am curious what you ended up choosing. Hi Soltova, Are you specifically looking at London ? If your daughter is in home education under the High School system of the US, then you would have other independent institutions outside of London offering vocational training courses with a variety of different methodologies, goals and qualifications for considerably less than London prices . My daughter is currently in one in the Midlands and it costs me much less than is quoted above. She does full time vocational training , principally aiming at ballet as a career and does home tutoring in academic subjects. I pay lodgings with a local family as she is 16 now (but started at 15), but some of her colleagues are already living independently sharing accommodation.MY DD has been in a specialist vocational school since age 11 and has swapped a baccalaureate style European education with dance included at Junior High level for the High School, British A levels, but she is bilingual so has coped with the transition. What are the long term aims/goals/ strengths of your DC? Ballet; contemporary; jazz/ showdance/ musical theatre? Because different institutions have mixed teaching but different outputs into the professional arena. So it is important to analyse the the potential to meet the aim before exploring the professional courses available.

And nobody in the global outrage particularly Stateside, has made any comment how it is perfectly acceptable in the USA to arm your child with automatic weapons to shoot up their class mates, such that the grip of the NRA over politics and 'constitutional' mindset is never effectively politically challenged , whilst mainstream media sneers at 'arming' your child with better physical, aesthetic and social qualities . Shocking really.

Can you imagine how many 'princesses' would be queuing up to dance pas-de-deux with a real prince!

I had the luck to go to two schools that apart from having high academic expectations also taught us domestic science including sewing, so I have tried to pass these skills onto my youngest two daughters. The older girl did not have any instruction but went on to study Fashion Design at UWE, so if it is hand- dyed drapped silk with lots of trappings, Alexander Mc Queen style or St. Laurent Paris catwalk stuff, she's your girl, except she is now in management on Bond Street and spend more time on the Eurostar to head office managing stock and events than designing. Unfortunately that hasn't helped with pointe shoes. practice skirts or tutu decorating..... that's all me and now the DD, whose eye for design and machine skills are improving all the time. We made four practice skirts just this week. Three for her and one for sale. We have ten more to do in our 'factory' line plus two tutus, and three neo- classical and contemporary outfits to finish in the next two weeks. We won't be putting Just Ballet out of business any time soon. It is more for learning and having Mum and DD time together. Plus we have a good source of lovely printed fabrics. I did manage to find online a very old paper pattern for tutus of all lengths, and when I get enough time I plan to get it out. Until then I buy a plain new one and decorate. I started when I was helping out our local school and find it satisfying. I need a proper manikin now that I can set to my DD's measurements so that when she is a 1000 miles away I can carry on working, or I only have the holidays to plan the next costumes. So for those starting out, your skills and speed will improve but best of all don't get caught doing it all....Pass the skills on.

Well Peanut 68 my DD has had experience of a number of schools, and other experiences and four years in one vocational school and now another, so I am beginning to understand more of the belief systems, ethical practices and aesthetic criteria that sometimes dominate in some institutions over dancer development. Some are healthy for those who fit in, some are unhealthy environments if you are not built of the desired mould for whatever reason. So my advice is to see for your self and your DC and never rely upon secondhand information, useful though some tips can be. Short courses and summer schools give a feel and my DD is now much more opinionated and knowledgeable about tutors, technique, class preparation, suitability of repertoire applied so I have to listen to her discerning voice. She knows better than I do what it feels like from the inside.

My DD this year won three scholarships through competitions for various summer schools all in Italy as it happens.Because of the late finish of schools in the UK compared to most European school years, she was unable to attend the two of them, but did go to one with other members of her vocational school. Longiano in Danza, inland from Rimini (airport Bologna and a train ride and then another transfer laid on by the organisers). The youngsters, mostly Italian, were put up in a hotel with meals and pool in shared rooms. There were none of the chaperoning issues of minors as the organizers and hotel were working in close partnership to make sure the whole event is a success for this little town. There was a full and exciting program of classes with a high calibre of teachers.(Vadim Muntgirov did 2018) and this year the director of La Scala and many of his students were there. The youngsters enjoyed themselves in this wonderful little town, authentic pizzas and home made Italian ice creams galore, fireworks and concerts at night and a gala at the end with invited guests, seniors peforming and a Grande desfile by the rest. The other course in Italy of which I am acquainted is the Verona Intensive with Luca Tozzi and colleagues. Further to this course, I can recommend two courses in Lisbon, firstly the Intensives from the Escola de Dança de Conservatorio Nacional. These happen at Christmas, Easter and the summer. Guests and staff teachers giving classes, but no gala performance at the end.The ballet is mainly Vaganova. Maybe parents get to see the last class of the week . Obviously Lisbon is great for a tourist break and for family to sight see whilst the DC learns, but for unaccompanied there is a student residence, where my daughter spent four years living and they can sometimes absorb visitors for courses if requested. The second course in Lisbon is run by an association Cursos de Dança Associação , currently using Jazzy Studios. there is a one or two week course. Those on the two week course get to perform at the end performance in the Museum de Oriente.The tutors are Vaganova trained and many are Russian. The former director of the EDCN gives teacher training alongside the other classes and runs regular teacher training through the year. My DD has done two of these courses , because of the extra performance experience. Unfortunately those students in many vocational schools may have some excellent teaching and obtain super technical skill, but too often artistic development falls well behind their colleagues in pastime schools who are competing and participating in festivals, eisteddfords, competitions, conventions and termly performances .( Or is it just me that thinks that? I volunteer in many competitions, national and international, and what I see there and what I have seen in vocational schools can be two different scales of skill. One comes super clean but cold, and the other exceedingly good but so much brighter and natural.) Anyway back onto course abroad.... the internationally acclaimed school of Annarella Sanchez in Leiria,Portugal runs courses and accepts visiting students 52 weeks a year. Local families can be found to look after children. The parents of the school can fund their own DC international competition entries all over the world by playing host to your DC for a few weeks. You can be assured they will be fed, watered, and dance till they drop into bed, happily grande jeteying through their dreams. they do 6 weeks through the summer and at least two galas, where your DC can dance alongside world class children of their own age.My DD has attended twice. The teaching is Cuban, predominantly, with many prominent guests visitors. Other dance schools in Portugal also do summer schools... CDA in Faro( Vaganova), DNA in Coimbra(RAD), Richard D'Alton( Cuban/ American) did his summer school this year in Paredes, Conservatório de Vale de Sousa .Entr'artes in Braga and many more , Aveiro Dance Festival,is a week of mixed activities and Companhia de Paulo Ribeiro run a contemporary lab. The competition in Portugal of which I am part of the organizing committee has organised scholarships for various other countries and we are waiting for feedback from those who went, Canada, France, Croatia, Italy, Finland, and we are constantly trying to raise other opportunities, sometimes for holiday courses , other times audition opportunities, other times student exchange experiences. Some are more accessible than others for parents to support the other costs, but we try to provide a range of prizes for ages, and class specific, ballet , contemprorary, jazz or musical theatre etc. That way we can spread a little happiness a little further and the DC learns a little more from other people, from travel, makes friends and contacts in far off places and it builds overall confidence. Friends have really enjoyed course in Brussels and of course there is Amsterdam .There are many more in Spain, and of course Russia, Estonia and Prague. So I would heartily recommend looking at foreign courses.

Yes that's true, but as the parent was asking for the long run with her DS at Dec 2018 still only in year 8, now going into year 9 this September, the family have a few years to try a few school near by as an associate, open days or holiday intensives to find the right environment. But the suggestions for a strong supportive classical training for young men are so different from the routes into general dance theatre colleges that any advice should be welcome from those who have information of experience of vocational programs. We know that committed boy dancers are needed in greater numbers than feeder schools can recruit and retain, therefore it is essential that parents and teachers are given the right help to maintain that interest and to give special attention to specific training, so whilst girls are on pointe work, boys are working on cross-training for flexibility and strength. So as much work not less than female students. I have seen many different routes to success and know of several very strong programs for young men, but mostly in Portugal, and hence I am interested in reading feeds like this in this forum .

Hello there, I am new to this site so I am just reading through some of the material and came across your post. I notice you are looking for schools in the East Midlands, but I can recommend the West Midlands, Kings International Ballet Academy, Barwell near Hinckley. Transport links are good in that area, so it would be worth a visit. It is a new vocational school with a pre-vocational Saturday associate program . They accept full time students from 16 plus, ie after GCSE's preferably, but they have accepted some students younger than this who continue academic studies with their ancillary tutoring service. I would arrange to visit for one of their open days or arrange to attend the Saturday associate program lessons. My DD has completed the first year full time course after 4 years in another vocational school abroad , and is very content with the teaching, and happy she moved there.

Hello Guest, I wish you well in all the deliberations for your son. I would be happy to answer any questions re Kings International. My daughter( 15) has been in a vocational ballet school abroad since the age of 10 and opted to accept a place at Kings International instead of continuing into the upper school program at her old school. Her ' year 11' break actually fell at year 9 in our country , hence she could move early. She has had the chance to experience several high intensive programs in world class schools, has attended workshops in the Russian , Cuban, English and now Italian teaching methods. She has been very happy with the course structure and professional level. She has respect for the teaching staff and has improved greatly. It is a small school but aims at individual attention for its pupils. The area is calm and the students, national and international have been able to settle in very well. It is relatively economic for us parents as much as any specialist course is! I know that Kings has a scholarship for boys so it is worth exploring, They would be open to you arranging a visit I am sure. Hope this helps,

I can recommend Kings International Summer School in Rugby 4th August to 10th August. The children sleep in individual rooms in the very dorms of the Rugby School (think Tom Brown's Schooldays) with meals taken in the refectory and evening entertainment and activities, games, quizzes etc. so supervision is excellent . There is a non-residential option if outside accommodation suits others.The course is all on the campus of this beautiful school and there is a showcase of the work and choreographies in the Macready Theatre on the last afternoon for the parents and family members. The teachers are the directors of the school and members of the faculty and invited guests. It is open to national and international students, of which there were several last year. Last years show included contemporary repertory work, La Bayadere excerpts, jazz, commercial. All good standard and my daughter danced her first pas-de deux in public. It brought a tear to my eye.... and her grandma who had never seen her dance. My dd returns this year. Can find details on the school site or Facebook page, but happy to give contacts if interested or any other details.

One of the directors still teaches at Midland and had substantial experience abroad before returning to the UK. The rest of the team are hardworking professionals with a variety of posts in a number of well respected institutions, so the depth and breadth of teaching is wide and keen. Teaching is very much geared to the individual requirements of the pupils basedon their previous level. Results are profound and fast. The atmosphere is happy and constructive and the pupils are happy, but the vocational schedule is not for the faint-hearted .It is good practice for a professional career. The external examiners were impressed with the first exam results. The pre-vocational Saturday students shared the stage with the full-timers and worked in unison in several set pieces in the end of year show. It was a happy and well balanced performance and strong technical performances were produced with artistic flare and great progress was evident in some since I last saw some pupils dance last summer on the intensive in Rugby and in competition in the autumn.Others I had never seen before so I could not comment on progress but their parents were pleased.

Please see my comments below. If you have any questions , please feel free to ask. My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed the vocational course and has taught the pre-vocational classes as teaching practice for the diploma. The show used all pupils together as one unit for a number of dances, classical repertoire and jazz and singing ,with other solo, duet and trio and group work. It was a lovely mix. My daughter who has six years of professional ballet school behind her is really happy with her progress, the teaching, the range of the disciplines which is broader than her old school and yet still leaning to strong classical ballet teaching, and the general atmosphere. My daughter though of English roots has never lived in England but this area is calm, friendly and close-knit. so she feels safe and integrated into the community. She is astute and knowledgeable having worked with many strong internationally recognized teachers and have attended classes with Prix de Lausanne competitors, Varna and other world class competition winners, so when she tells us that she is happy with the level and her output, we are happy. She and 4 more of the school are currently in Italy at Longiano in Dance, a very intensive high level summer school and they compete internationally. This December the school will be supporting a semi-professional performance of the Nutcracker in Brecon. So the challenges are varied. She had completed the GCSE stage in our country last year so we moved her after that stage. She was the youngest to start at 15 years old. She is studying A levels with the private tutoring service recommended by the school and this is going well. One to one tuition ...excellent. She lives with a host family because of her age and us being abroad. It was the most sensible solution and has worked really well. Other are sharing flats in Barwell or East Shilton. Buses are frequent and other transport links are excellent, including flights for us. If you have any specific questions I would be happy to answer them

Hello to everyone who has shown interest in Kings International Ballet Academy. My daughter was one of the first year vocational intake . She had previously been a vocational pupil in a recognized national school abroad, and had left home at aged 10 for her studies so by the time she turned up at Kings she was well used to being independent and self motivated. The motivation for moving from one entity to the other was that the original one undervalued so many of her qualities and failed to provide performance opportunities to their pupils. However the directors of Kings saw immediately her potential and multiple strengths that would be advantages in the working world of dance, when she presented for audition. They had no doubts about her future. Have we regretted the move? No we have not. Our leap of faith has been rewarded with a strong technical course with individual attention to each of the pupils artistic development independent of their previous experience. So our daughter who was already technically strong is now more confident in projecting this and expressing herself in dance . The core of the course of lead by a strong team of professionals and externally and internally assessed regularly. The diploma includes the preparation for a professional company career with additional teaching qualifications in the Russian methodology so the students are obliged to do some teaching sessions on Saturdays for the Pre-vocational students. It makes for better students, when they actually have to explain to others. Our daughter studies the academic portion with a private tutor. Others have opted to just do the diploma, other have already completed academic studies. They are mixed ages with one aim. A future in dance and that's what counts. It is extremely physical but close to the real deal regarding company life. Our daughter is so much happier. The group is close and united in their goal. They have formed little groups and rent rooms nearby and one estate agent has now arranged a bigger house. Rents are cheaper than other areas of the country, and living cost manageable. Rail, road and airports links are good with low cost carriers. Just seen the end of year show in which all pupils worked with each other. So lovely to see my daughter smile in the sheer delight of dancing, something I never saw in the old establishment . So glad we chose Kings.