Balletdoodah

13 minutes ago, Boyballetdancer said:

My son got a yes too and he’s over the moon , he’s been offered a day place and have no idea where he’s going to stay ? It’s for upper school any suggestions?

Plenty of choice from Smart Russell Square Hostel (Bloomsbury) to Travelodge Drury Lane 

7 hours ago, Birdy said:

That describes nearly every company-affiliated school. RBS, ENB, John Cranko, DNB, ABT, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet…the list goes on. However, they mainly recruit for summer programs and possibly full-time training. The company I am thinking of (in the US, but which I won’t name) stocks most of their second company with competition winners.

Not sure how there is any hypocrisy in this:  getting noticed by a company-affiliated school is a goal for many young dancers. Competitions are an additional opportunity outside of direct audition. 

Students at those schools already have 'the prize' 😉 

First: the position will no doubt be openly advertised for and I have no knowledge/connections/axe to grind)

Someone with a CV like Lisa Pavane would seem to me to have much to offer: https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/people/lisa-pavane/

(If she were interested or available. ABS are seeking a new Artistic Director: https://danceeurope.net/auditions/)

Regardless, let's wish the departing RBS AD success in his next engagements. 

11 hours ago, Henry said:

£42 for a 90 minute group class...

 

Those poor kids, those poor parents.  How can they justify that price???

Reasoning another way: it's about the same as an hour of studio time in the UK, so one could consider that students are getting tremendously valuable time with Melissa/Yasmine almost gratis

yWhite Lodge (Years 7 to 11)
Artistic curriculum
The Royal Ballet School has its own System of Training which is fully documented and which is applied by the students throughout their time at the School. Please see separate policy document.
Artistic classes take place each day (approximately 2 blocks of 2 hours each) including Saturday mornings (approximately 2 hours). In general all Saturday classes end at lunchtime but there may be exceptions during performance periods. Under normal circumstances Year 7 students would not expect to have Saturday classes for the first half of the Autumn Term.
Academic curriculum
The school day is divided into 9 x 40 minute lessons, Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 4.00pm. Each Year group will take academic lessons for 6 of those lessons per day (a total of 30 lessons per week).

Year 7 & 8
Art, Drama, English*, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Science, Studies in Religion

Year 9

Art, Drama (LAMDA), English*, French (FCE), Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Science

5 hours ago, sunrise81 said:

Since fees have to be paid at end of March I wonder if some waitlist places will appear after then? Would like to apply for other things if she doesn't get a place at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rather than let fate decide via the waitlist and if it’s affordable perhaps consider  going for this… https://www.festivalballet.org/international-summer-intensive-2023/

Much better chance to be seen.

59 minutes ago, OnTheMove said:

They used to ask if you are auditioning for the school in the summer intensive application. But they didn’t this year. Maybe if they really like a child they will ask them to audition/offer them a place. But I don’t know much about it. 

Thank you. I meant for the RBS, it looks like there are still more auditions for 2023 entry , theyre not on the RBS site, but the link I posted has promise of places at school… so I wondered if they take also fromSI into the school.

Hi all. Does the SI offer an opportunity to audition, like some other schools abroad? LA offers this for instance https://www.festivalballet.org/international-summer-intensive-2023/

Indeed…great documentary.

Weve feel like been living it for the last 3 years.

@kerfuffle

of course, for the post-16 group, their focus is companies. 

I know everyone knows, but I’ll reiterate, theres much more to getting into any company than ‘only standard’…. preparation must meet opportunity

10 hours ago, FionaE said:

@Thelittleswansyou asked about why there are no candidates from the UK this year.  My guess is that’s because anyone decent enough is already at a vocational school.  Of course there may have been candidates who applied and didn’t make it through.
 

I asked Christopher Powney a similar question on the zoom interview hosted by the London Ballet Circle@LBC last week.

 

He had three parts to his response:

 

Firstly he said the PdL was originally designed to gather students from lesser schools to gain access to companies and premier schools like RBS.  And of course this is still its main purpose.

 

Secondly, the RBS and other top professional schools … Paris, Amsterdam, many German ones, San Francisco, ABT, Canada, see it as a recruitment opportunity.  And those schools tend not to send candidates either. 

 

Thirdly, on a practical note he said he would not be able to choose candidates to send and therefore would have to offer the opportunity to all 30 students in all 3 years at the upper school and that would be impossible to coach with the staff they have!!!
 

I thought the last excuse was a cop opt.  Of course he and the staff could choose to enter a few across the whole school if they wanted to.  They do selection anyway for soloist roles in annual performances.  Of course, there is then added pressure on those selected students to perform well …what if they didn’t make the finals or win any prizes?  That would not reflect well on the school. 
 

In fact Diana Vishneva talked about that in an interview today.  She is deputy head of the jury this year and was the first candidate to represent the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg.  She talked about the expectation and pressure of performing back then, in order not to let her teachers or school down. (She won).

Without controversy,  Mr Powney’s statements look fair amd rational, from any schools perspective.

Faculty attend many other comps beside PdL/YAGP. It seems to me that they are looking to find talent wherever they can find it…and this may shock some - but out of a genuine love for the future of the art form - passing on the traditions and knowledge to the next generation - and in the best interest of their school.  These things don’t appear incompatible to me, whether in UK, USA,  EU …

Turning PdL etc  into a ‘battle ofthe schools’ would no doubt make for enticing  viewing…. but i think benefits little either school or dancers - whether at big name school or not.  

What would a school have to gain, apart from odious meaningless comparisons of trophy counts? These schools missions are to serve their students by preparing them for companies - and Ive yet to encounter one in UK or EU or further that doesnt have this goal.

For those not already in a company feeding school, competitions are the best way to be seen.  Students in the schools face their own challenges with internal assessments, without the burden of an external competiton - on student and teacher.

For the young dancer, competition preparation has its own demands that may detract from a students general and technical progress.  Performance experience is important, prizes are lovely (but always have to be budgeted for), however before 16 it is all only about potential anyway…. very few of those that ‘make it’, make it onto to a ballet career 

Enjoying the thread though, thank you all.  Back to PdL discussions !

Home page working, course page 404 page error 

17 minutes ago, MAK said:

 

I thought I read this morning that the week by week booking was for the Private Group Classes - but after an hour of trying and one successful logon only to find that just the teacher training webinars had a "book now" button and then that crashed me out I am taking a break

A very  welcome correction, thank you 😉 

Is anyone aware if the intensive will be organised, like the on-site intensives, on a weekly basis? (we have a junior DD)

I expected their site wouldn;t cope with the demand tbh.I do wish them a more successful delivery of the intensive.

1 minute ago, BalletBear said:

I must of dreamt it😂 

I had it in my head that you booked for week 1 today and then week 2 next week and so on... 

Sorry! xx

If I recall correctly the weekly booking was for the Studio Masterclass

I;d check on the page, but .. 🙂

Congratulations to all who have offers so far. Best of luck to girls tomorrow and friday. Our DD nervous and excited...  and we’re not unaffected by it either... as ballet newbies, we see now what others mean that it takes over everything ( in a good way)

1 hour ago, Ballet Dad said:

Hi all and thanks for the feedback.

 

Yes, White Lodge was definitely ticked (MA was left unticked).

 

I had assumed, what with the results seeming to come out in dribs and drabs, that the clear yes and clear no candidates were getting responses first, whilst the audition team decided on those in the middle.

 

I think I'll follow your lead DreamChaser. Who did you speak to? Do you have a number or email address?

 

Thanks again for all.the feedback.

auditions@royalballetschool.org.uk

6 hours ago, Crazylife said:

Yes you collect Thursday and return them Friday. 

That helps with planning the logistics 🚘 - thank you 😊 

2 hours ago, Crazylife said:

Good luck to all those with finals and to those who have a not yet, there are many paths to follow your dream, so please don’t give up. 

Yes, best of luck to all and definitely never give up on yourselves children 🙂

2 hours ago, valentina said:

The interview is very informal ( more of a chat)

about favourite academic subjects or how they think they would cope with boarding etc. The academic test is just to see if there are any glaring difficulties. It is a formality and doesn’t have any outcome on the end result.

Thats so helpful thank you. It makes sense that the interview would be focused on pastoral issues - we have had similar conversations between us since DD decided to apply. 

2 hours ago, Crazylife said:

Two years ago there were just over 60 girls taken to finals - but I think there were less last year. They’re split into 2/3 groups and timetabled over the first day and second morning for dancing audition, physio checks, academic test and interview. Parents are then asked to return on the second lunchtime and some children will have finished and are ready to go home - these are either a definite yes or no. Those who are not released are seen again for a second dance audition as they want to check them again. All will leave without knowing the outcome (even those who are not kept back) and they will email the answer after a few days. They look to take 12/13 girls from finals as they will more than likely have 2/3 places for internationals seen elsewhere. 
This was our experience and may have changed, but I hope it helps.
Good luck to all those with finals and to those who have a not yet, there are many paths to follow your dream, so please don’t give up. 

Thank you so very much - that gives a much clearer idea for us... especially knowing that some are released early but that doesn’t mean No. I can imagine some children could interpret that wrongly even if they’re informed it doesnt mean now by RBS.

It will be really helpful for DD’s understanding of the process & will help her self-evaluate & manage her own expectations.during and after.

Best to you

13 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

Hello Balletdoodah and welcome to the Forum!

Thank you. Glad we found you (frantic search for info these days)

12 minutes ago, Newbiedancemum said:

DD never got RBS associates, and auditioning for this year for year 7 places has had no's from elmhurst and tring then we got the email to say she has made white lodge finals! Shocked is an understatement! Wishing everyone the very best of luck 🍀 

Congratulations! Our DD also got callback... so while overjoyed we’re also keeping hopes & dreams in check 🙂

Any of you lovely people here have an idea on how many girls are in the WL final audition. Any general advice would be most welcome - we’re new to the world of ballet (although its taken over much of life of course).

Best of luck to all who progressed and also to those who are on another path.