The red shoes

Darrion Sellman is astonishing for his young age… he is one to watch!!

Thank you 🙏

It’s not. It’s actually called “ Foundation programme”

Read my other comments… I’m not defending them at all. I’m just trying to be a bit more balanced.. try it! It’s good for the soul. With that I bid you a good day 😊

😂

Perhaps their reports were outstanding but they physically had changed. RBS cannot put that on an assessment report as a reason to assess out

I DO NOT have an idealised view.. for the love of his where are you getting this from? I’m all about balance.. something that is clearly lacking. A very nasty undertone in this thread and yes “ bashing” is happening. You are VERY personal in your comments… assuming things of my life? What had that got to do with assessing out? My parents couldn’t have given two hoots if I danced or not. Yes he is nearly 12 and yes he knows exactly what could happen.. really.. do you think all the parents don’t dis ids this with our children regularly? Do you think we all sit there with rose tinted glasses on worshiping the school !?? 😂 how far from the truth. The only thing that keeps us sending them back term after term is their desire and passion to be there…and yes , they actually love being there!! Shock horror!!

Yes a large number of his students have been taught else where… and? He doesn’t hide this fact.., it’s all over social media every day at the minute where they have trained. Same is starting to happen at Elmhurst. I wonder if I’m a couple of years time we will see all the “ Elmhurst bashing “ too?

Again very condescending! Do you not think I know all this? Having taught for 23 years I know about training and the “ sleepover” as you put it doesn’t seem like a “ Sleepover” to an 11 year old. Lol if I asked him or any of the year 7’s if they felt their first year was just one giant “sleepover “ they’d look at me like I was mad!!! Far from that.., one huge daily rollercoaster of emotions.. not easy one bit . But making them incredibly resilient in the process

This has hit the nail on the head. And yes some comments have been Quite personal verging on offensive which is totally unnecessary. Everyone has their own circumstances as you say and each child is different. Some will thrive in certain environments whilst others won’t. We just have to go with what we think is right at the time, like with any decision in life. Thank you for commenting

And just to reiterate never once have I tried to “ Propagate” the idea that RB is the best in the world as no, they are not ( in my opinion) …. Please prove me wrong. You’ve clearly followed all my comments closely …

Dear me, you sound VERY bitter. I’ve never once said it’s the be all and end all!! And actually his dream is NOT to be in the RB company.., he wishes to dance with Matthew Bourne one day. He knows he is getting the best training in the Uk … and he knows it could end . We’ve talked about what he would do and where to go from there. I am trying to give a balanced view of a VERY one sided thread where everyone is determined to bash RBS.. for reasons only they truly know. Body type I was referring to girls mainly …. You sound very let down and very angry ..

Whilst I agree the parent has the overriding decision when their child is a mere 11 years old I laid it all out on the table to my DS. I told him in no uncertain terms he could have guaranteed 5 years at another ballet school or 3 years at WL and potentially no more. He did t even need to think .. he wanted to take the risk and good on him . He understands about all the “ uncertainties “ and still went with this choice . Despite my reservations.

Yes but you need to to look at why a large percentage don’t make it to upper school… is it really the training? Or could it possibly be that perhaps they just don’t fit the RB mould anymore ( whatever that may be at the time)? This is not to say they won’t go on to another highly successful ballet school eg ENB and have a wonderful career… there are many reasons why few get taken through to upper school and indeed sometimes it is actually the students choice to go elsewhere.. yes this happens. Physique is a huge part and when you enter year 7 no one really knows how your body is going to change through puberty, it’s a wait and see. Year 9 comes and unfortunately bodies have changed and may not be suitable for their ideal look for RB. The students may be highly accomplished in technique and artistry receiving excellent reports/ awards etc but the school cannot say they haven’t taken a child through ti the next stage because their chest has got to big or hips are a bit too wide or for boys they aren’t “ growing” enough - they aren’t allowed to mention this. So you can see why it’s so heartbreaking when the dancers get assessed out and not told why . RBS do take on a large number of international students and yes it irks me but Elmhurst are also doing this now with their upper school so not just RBS. Currently on Social media they are celebrating their past graduates. No surprising very few started at White lodge. Most were brought in at upper school from abroad.. but they declare this and do not pretend they have trained them from a young age .

As this thread is on “ Assessing out” I just wanted to say that at the highly emotional and impressionable age of 13 my highly respected ballet teacher whom I adored with all my heart , told my my mother and I that I would never be a Classical Ballet Dancer due to the shape of my legs ( I was knock kneed and also deep set hips so not huge amounts of natural turnout facility). I cried for a week.. I was heartbroken 💔. My life was ruined as I knew it. However , she was right and yes I needed to hear it and yes she did me a favour as I didn’t try and pursue a journey which would delay the inevitable. I am now a ballet teacher and ballet will always be my first love but I’m so glad she told me sooner rather than later. So “ assessing out” is happening everywhere , just in different forms and not so highly broadcast and publicised as WL . Everything happens for a reason… we need to believe this and trust the process

And it’s what your DS wants more than anything … we need to give them that chance if they really want … I’ve been with WL for nearly a year and my eyes were opened before the start. I knew what to expect.. the rollercoaster .. the flavour of the month one week then not the next.. thr competitiveness encouraged by the teachers and the “ questionable”teaching methods at times… my views on the school have not changed . My DS loves his life there ( on the whole) despite many ups and downs.. and my feelings don’t come into play. As long as he is still passionate and in it for the right reasons then I’m happy to support his journey. Child comes first and all that. I’m sure your DS will have a wonderful journey there.

I wasn’t comparing my ds in year 7 to a girl in y9… I was merely disagreeing with a poster who said they don’t push them enough at WL and that it’s “ easy”… I was stating he sweats buckets every day .. and so do his pals .. I saw evidence of this in watching week too. and yes we all know there is more to life than the Royal ballet school… the artistic director has actually uttered those words himself ,.. fact! So not sure what your comment means?

Just out of curiosity… have you had a child attend the school?

And RBS are very clear by telling new parents that if their child is assessed out in year 9 it definitely doesn’t mean and end to career in ballet ! I’ve listened to this being said in a meeting . It means they just aren’t right for their pathway anymore for whatever reason.. physique, strength , artistry etc. They also never suggest their way is the only way either. I think you’ll find Paris Opera and Vaganova have their own system of assessing out and is far harsh.. we just don’t hear about it on this forum. Did you know that when you audition for Paris Opera ballet they stick the results to the front of their gate for the whole world to see??? Hmmmm that stoops low in my eyes… far lower than RBS

My year 7 DS and his fellow class chums sweat buckets in their morning ballet classes at WL… they work their butts so , so I’m afraid I have to disagree with you.

Totally agree with you!!

It was such a shame …. The very cute little year 7 bees got 9 seconds 😞. I was shouting at the tv for them to zoom in. All that hard work and effort with rehearsals etc. The dancers themselves had a fabulous time and that is something they get to cherish forever… just a shame about the lack of footage 😔. Managed to zoom in for Diversity though …..

They always make it so relaxed for them and such a positive experience! I don’t suppose you know how long they said till you will hear? I have an awful feeling it will be when all the auditions are over which will be end of May into June 😝

My student is auditioning tomorrow for year 4 place at 2pm !

Congratulations to your DD!! My DS also has been accepted for Week 3!!! He’s very happy 😃