The red shoes

11 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

No covid test for ELmhurst!!!

Whoop whoop 🙌🏼 

1 minute ago, Lara Eschler said:

Apologies, I did not mean that they should not be selective but I think the amount and quality of training children had this year is more variable than previous years, perhaps. Maybe this year they might give a couple  more children the benefit of the doubt and see how they can thrive with their training ( I was just suggesting 15 of each would still be better than 12). The reality, from what I understand, is that they do assess out more so than other schools anyway and the lucky children who get an offer is only for a year at the time.

Assuming my ds is able to attend ( as still not sure the covid tests logistics will work), it will be his first time back in a studio in ages with the pressure of being in an audition class, that joy and love of dancing they look for might not necessarily show. 

@WhiteduvetI totally agree about finding the right fit for your child in terms of schools. The audition process also works for both ways.

I have these worries too about this audition being the first time in a studio. But they are all on a level playing field at least . 
From what I heard RBS gave all current year 7 another year as they felt it unfair to assess when they’ve been in lockdown etc... always a silver lining! 😉

1 minute ago, Dancermom said:

I really don’t imagine that’s their way of thinking. They take the selection process very seriously as we know, the school and associates are extremely and notoriously difficult to be accepted into. I’m certain they are hopeful that everyone they choose will  succeed but obviously mistakes are made in any area of life xx 

Totally agree !! Xx 

Just now, Farawaydancer said:

Depends on why you think your children are there I guess. With both of mine they’ve gone to their schools because it was the right school experience for them, and it’s allowed them to pursue something that they love to a level that wouldn’t have been possible if they’d stayed at home. For us it has never been about turning them into professional dancers, it was a way of keeping that option open to them if that was the career they wished to go for. Don’t lose sight of the fact that it is ‘just school’, not a life or death decision. 

Yes and I agree with that too. I was just referring to the other comment about assessing out. If one  clearly thinks that badly of school it makes me ask the question, why be on this thread about auditions for said school 🤷🏼‍♀️😊

Just now, Whiteduvet said:

I’m not against assessing out. I’m against taking children with the attitude “we’re not sure but hey, we can always get rid of them”. 

I get that, but that’s an assumption unless you’ve heard this from their own mouths. I think assessments is a good thing. Keeps them on their toes, striving to improve. 

7 minutes ago, Whiteduvet said:

Any school which acted on that basis does not deserve my child or my money...

Or you could have a school  continue to take your money for 5 years... giving false hope perhaps? There is definitely two sides to it 😊 More dancers graduate from these schools without a contract or job than do 

6 minutes ago, Dance.Mum said:

They take around 14 girls and 14 boys into Year 7, although it can vary slightly.  

I think it was 12 of each last year but I could be wrong... or maybe that was Elmhurst ? 🧐

Just now, Lara Eschler said:

So do you think more boys are attending finals this year like 45 instead of 30 or so?

Possibly or it could just be two sessions for the boys so 28 in total .... as they are just doing it on one day the most there could be would be 42 

1 minute ago, Lara Eschler said:

Is the physio assessment in a group or are they seen individually?

Individually but that would take about an hour as roughly 10 minutes each so that would be happening whilst other 7 are dancing .

1 minute ago, ponklemum said:

Do you think there’ll be more than 2 sessions or still a morning and afternoon session? X

Depends on how long the audition is. I would guess if only 7 dancing at a time 60 minutes would be adequate for the audition whilst the other 7 see the physio then swap so that’s at least 2 hours for 14. So say starting at 9:30 till 11:30 then clean & lunch 13:00 - 15:00 for next 14 students 30 minutes clean then 15:30-17:30 for another 14 perhaps???

13 minutes ago, Dancermom said:

Hmm so do we think that means there’s 14 in each of the half day sessions and they go in in 2 groups, or just 7, and the 14 is the crossover of groups? Am I overthinking? 🤣 if there was only 7 per half day that’s considerably less than expected, but then the over seas candidates are coming separately arnt they.  X 

I would guess it means 7 dancing, 7 physio check then swap. Then leave and then next 14 in xxx 

1 minute ago, Amme76 said:

Very rarely post on here but thought I let you know there are maximum of 7 girls in each audition class 

For WL finals? Oooooo ... how do you know that? Don’t suppose you know about boys? Xx 

Lol, I hope the stress of all this doesn’t make me ill then no one can take him anyway!!!!! 🙈🙈🙈

2 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

It is different,

Lol 😆 

Just now, Lara Eschler said:

Maybe they are interviewed  by a different person. I assume they are interviewed individually?   

I’m going to send you our meeting code via insta message... just to check it’s not the same lol 

3 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

LOL same on the 5th

Why have we been given the same time??? 

Just now, Lara Eschler said:

10:20 00AM ?

Ours is 10:20 on the Friday lol 

2 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

The number no longer works, you get through the upper answer phone and I was sort of expecting them to give more info today. The cost of a pcr test with rapid guaranteed results is 249 with the certificate. I think not just meant to be for us, doubt Spring intensive will work for us either.  

Lara, do you know any nurse friends or teachers or anyone who has these tests at home? They could send you one and then all you need to do is register the result on the government website. Our local area doesn’t do LFT for under 16 but said he could come for a normal test two days before . She said the results are taking 24-36 hours to come back but it’s still a risk ☹️

Wondering what WL will do regarding those travelling for audition. According to road map you can’t travel out of your area till 29th March... plus no overnight stays till May it looks like. I expect we will get an updated email this week but wouldn’t be surprised if dates are moved.

Just now, Raquelle said:

We had a phone call after Christmas from The JA teacher asking about my DD and about whether we would apply and what her personality was like, how much dancing she did etc....other year 6 had the same phone call so I presume they provide some further information perhaps? X 

My ds has been a JA for 3 years.. this phone call is routine. It’s the teacher getting to know their students which is nice . I don’t think they are compiling a form but will stand to be corrected 😊

1 minute ago, Bunny said:

Mark Annear has visited our JA centre at least once, it might actually have been twice, last academic year, so has definitely seen some of the children who have got through to finals already.

He definitely hasn’t visited Birmingham and we have quite a few through ... 

5 minutes ago, balletboy8 said:

I know of one boy JA who sadly did not make it to finals this time round 🤨

That’s a shame 😞 which centre was he from do you know ? 

Just now, Whiteduvet said:

Interesting. Seems a bit of a waste of a source of useful information about some of the candidates: work ethic etc. 

Oh I agree!! I wish there was more input from there JA teachers 

3 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

I am just curious but do we think all JAs who applied have been invited to finals? It is hard to speculate how many have been invited to finals just from this forum, but does anyone know of any JAs who have not? I think 30 boys went to finals last year and 15 joined? There are still holding just one day for the boys final though they said they need to have small groups due to Covid?  

I think it will be 15 in each group audition as this is what we need to stick to as teachers for a dance class bubble for children so I think they’ve probably taken through about 30 again ( maybe less).

i think last year they took 12 boys and 12 girls .

i know of 2 JA’s from Birmingham who didn’t get through to finals - both girls 

4 minutes ago, Whiteduvet said:

I think this too. If they don’t know after seeing a child in JA’s then you wonder what an on-site audition will tell them. Presumably JA teachers have been contacted for feedback and that plus video must give a lot of information. 
 

Although having said that, I do wonder why they (seem to have) taken so many through to finals this year. Surely JA feedback could have narrowed it down more...

The WL audition panel have never seen this kids until their videos. It’s the WL faculty who sit on the panel and do the interviews. From speaking to many who’ve worked at WL and other teachers who have had students there and in the company, JA teachers have little to no input in the decision making. 
The faculty will know from watching the videos who they have their eye on for sure