Milzmam

Good luck to everyone doing MDS audition at Hammond this week.  Although my dd not auditioning this year I remember the feelings from last year and I know this is often more stressful for us parents than it is for our children who just want to dance somewhere they love!  Fingers crossed for you all xx

Hi All,

A long time since this thread has been active but does anyone have any recent info on the 6th form at DanceBox studios?  Looking at all options for dd for next year

Thanks

21 hours ago, MrsR said:

We are Scotland too and I don’t know where to get either so hoping they don’t spring that on us later. 
If anyone has any recommendations for hotels nearby that would be great. 

Premier Inn Central South East only 5 mins away and also has a Sainsburys over the road so easy to get some porridge pots etc that you can make in room if they are not currently serving breakfast.

Good Luck to all for MDS audition x

On 25/02/2021 at 14:51, Jewel said:

 

Hammond is different to Tring and Arts Ed for Musical Theatre in that it is the full 3 year Trinity Diploma (the same level the dancers at Tring study).  You study two A levels alongside that.  

Do they go straight from GCSE to Level 6 Trinity Diploma?  Is that not a big jump from GCSE to almost degree level, especially if studying for A Level alongside??  It is all so confusing, there seems to be so many courses out there for 16 years olds which vary from place to place and also vary in cost!  Is it better to do BTEC Extended diploma and then onto degree or try to go straight onto Trinity Diploma?? My brain hurts thinking about it all and so pleased we have started looking early.  Thank you in advance for any information xx

14 minutes ago, Dancing Kitty said:

Funding policies for 6th Form state it is a DaDA however I am sure someone on here in the past have said that their DC got an MDS.  Hopefully recipients can confirm either way.

Thanks 

42 minutes ago, Jewel said:

 
They definitely have more funded places for seniors than lower school. Still not enough to go around but it’s around 20 odd per year in seniors (it varies year to year but I think we were told there were 23 Dada’s offered in my daughters year. )

Can they get MDS at 16 or only Dada? 

44 minutes ago, Anna C said:

@Milzmam, have you looked at Tring Park’s 6th form? They’ve always had a good academic record and they do a 2 year Musical Theatre course as well as A Levels.  https://www.tringpark.com/curriculum/vocational-curriculum/musical-theatre-course

 

@Wimdancer, London Studio Centre runs associates up to the age of 18:  https://www.londonstudiocentre.org/courses/lsc-associates

 

Thanks, yes we have looked at Tring and I think she is hopefully going to attend a couple of the holiday courses to see what she thinks of it before she needs to apply later this year.

44 minutes ago, Jewel said:

 

Roughly about half to two thirds of the students on the Hammond Musical Theatre course have DaDa funding so the fees are dependent on family income.  Off the top of my head our fees were about £1,000 per term plus accommodation which was paid direct to her landlady.

 

My daughter stayed with  a landlady in her first two years then moved out into private, shared accommodation in her third year but as of last year Hammond moved all of their boarding accommodation and Seniors (Upper School) now have the option of Hammond exclusive self catering in the same building as Lower School.  I'm not sure what the current accommodation charge is, but I would imagine it is lower as it is self catering rather than full board.

 

At Arts Ed they have just one scholarship per year for Musical Theatre.  They also have an academic scholarship which be taken by anyone on either the dance, MT or music courses. I'm not entirely sure what the value of this scholarship is.

Thanks, that is really useful.  It is such a hard decision for them at such a young age but she is determined to go away for 6th form.  She was offered year 10 place at Hammond for this academic year but due to funding and covid she didnt go, Hammond is definately her first choice for 6th form but I want her to audition at other places aswell so she can get a good feel for different places but as she wants to do ALevels aswell we are limited.

11 hours ago, Jewel said:

 
There is Arts Ed 6th Form but when we looked at it, it was very expensive (no Dada as it’s  not the Trinity Diploma). My child ended up at Hammond. 

I thought the fees for 6th form at ArtEd were pretty much the same as 6th form at Hammond?  Also is there boarding at Hammond for 6th form and are the fees the same as lower school boarding?  Sorry for all the questions just looking at all the options

14 hours ago, tutugirl said:

I recommend Renaissance Arts.

My DS trained there , and having never danced previously , walked straight into employment upon his graduation.

If it’s good ballet training you’re after - Martin Howland is a fantastic teacher .

Could not agree more, my dd attends Renaissance Scholars and the training is very good. She loves her ballet classes with Mr Howland

55 minutes ago, Wimdancer said:

Hi, I know this is quite an old thread but quite relevant and I would be grateful for advice. My DD is in Year 10, and was focused on applying for Upper schools later this year.  However, last year she had an injury which set her training back and time is therefore not on her side.  This, and her body maturing over this period, has made her reassess her options, and she is now strongly considering going the MT route.  She loves performing and in addition to dancing is a strong singer and actress too (Grade 7 Distinction MT singing & Lamda) but going the MT route is a whole new world for us.  Reading the thread, above it sounds like unlike ballet, most applications to MT colleges are at 18, so I was wondering in the interim what are the best options?  I see there are some vocational schools e.g. Hammond, Tring, ArtsEd but are there MT associate programmes or similar if she were to stay at her academic school for A levels?  I see lots of things like Stagecoach which aren't ability based, or holiday opportunities e.g. NYMT / BYMT, but nothing similar to the ballet school associate programmes - maybe I'm looking at the wrong places!  Any advice would be much appreciated!  Thanks so much!

Thanks for opening up the thread again. My dd also in year 10 and looking at applying for upper school for next year, her preference being musical theatre.  She has done Denman Associates, Razzamataz, Performers Elite and summer schools at Hammond.  She currently attends Renaissance Scholars, which isnt musical theatre very much ballet and Jazz but absolutely loves it.  We made decision to stick to dance associates, alongside her dance school and then attend private singing lessons and she also attends LAMDA classes with her dance school to gain the best overall musical theatre training.  We are looking at places for upper school where she can do dance/musical theatre and also ALevels so I think we are limited to Tring and Hammond but if anyone knows of any others I would be grateful for the information.  I would also be interested in any other places that offer boarding for 16 year olds as the thought of her living on her own at 16 scares me!!    

18 minutes ago, Flower said:

Ah yes I remember now. Yes dd wanted to try again. I’m remembering the stress - she is obviously remembering the fun of staying in a hotel and having a nice extra ballet lessons 😂

Good luck to her and you as I definitely think it's more stressful for us parents than it is for the kids! Xx

1 minute ago, Flower said:

Hi Milzman 👋

nice to see you again. Are you trying for yr 8 places?

Hi, no my dd was offered year 10 at Hammond last year but due to funding and covid we didn't take up place. Having a year off the stress this year, haha, and then trying again for upper school for Sept 2022 entry. Are you trying again this year? Xx

Good luck to all applying to lower school this year, I found the forum very supportive last year when we were going through the process

24 minutes ago, Flower said:

Good call probably. My dd hates zoom dance. Just couldn’t get on with it so I wouldn’t want to pay in full and then have it all go online. We just revert to Plan B then Milzmam and go with the lottery win. 

A lottery win would be good, haha as now need to save for next 2 years as don't want to go through all this again for upper school xx

6 minutes ago, Flower said:

Are you one of the lucky ones?

No unfortunately. We had enough funding raised for first year but for a number of reasons, including the current uncertainty with covid, decided to wait until upper school xx

Good luck to all those starting at The Hammond tomorrow xx

On 12/08/2020 at 09:32, Flower said:

Oh wow! So you are going? How exciting!

We are about 3/4 there with funding so still not 100% going but keeping our fingers crossed xx

9 hours ago, Miss Tutu said:

oh really , have Hammond been in  touch with you ? How exciting 

Yes, had email about boarding preferences and details of new boarding houses 

I see there are new boarding houses for Hammond this year xx

50 minutes ago, rowan said:

 I know of someone who was funded by their council - Hammersmith and Fulham, I think - for a lower school place. It was for Arts Ed, Chiswick, so not one of the main schools and no government funding, I think. This was quite a few years ago. There was only one piece of funding available - and it wasn’t just for dance - maybe it was for any type of specialist education - so there was stiff competition and stringent eligibility criteria. I don’t know if funding was available for just that school or if such a scheme still exists. Nor do I know if it was fully funded or topped up with other bursaries etc. 

Thanks x

1 minute ago, Sally-Anne said:

Not sure what you mean by this? But Marylebone school for Girls has dance places available by audition, there may be other schools that offer dance options as well. This is a regular state funded school with a dance program though, not a full time dance training. 

Hi @Sally-Anne I mean any local authorities that have either paid or contributed towards fees for lower school entry. My dd has been offered place with no MDS or bursary and our local authority have said if I can find details of any Las that have funded people they will see what they might be able to do for her 

Hi everyone, has anyone heard of any local authorities that have funded lower school places? If so which ones? Thanks

8 hours ago, Flower said:

I *love* your eternal hope Milzmam. If I do win the lottery we’ll fund your place too 😘

Haha thanks xx

I can't see any MDS awards been handed back this year now, assume they would have already been handed back unless someone's circumstances have changed. Still keeping our fingers crossed for some miracle funding though xx