The red shoes

1 minute ago, PetitJeté said:

Yes my dd mentioned being asked things like if she could bend her fingers back, which I presume links to hyper mobility? (which I don’t think she has?!). Good point about limited contact re: Covid. I’m going to forget about it now anyway, I trust they know what they’re doing!!

 It’s not a negative to be hyper mobile, in fact it’s quite favourable but they need to be aware as loose ligaments can be prone to injury . 

1 minute ago, Weloveballet said:

they do get cross don’t they! I got a lot out of my DD about the audition but when it came to the physio she didn’t have much to say she says they checked her toe, her pinky finger??? But no one ‘gently handled her’ as mentioned in the letter although it did say ‘May’ maybe because of Covid they are limiting as much as possible and only checking areas of concern? If so I think fingers and toes were priority in ours as that’s what she mentioned! I’ve no idea how much they can tell about the body from watching them dance. I will no doubt start over analysing! 

Pinky and toes is all in the hypermobility check. If they have hyper extended elbows/ knees. If they can bend their thumb to reach their wrist etc. These are standard checks at all ballet school auditions. 

4 minutes ago, Motomum said:

Without MDS, yes places are then full fee paying.

Not sure about scholarships, I haven’t heard that anyone has been awarded one.

Scholarships can vary, full, partial, just for certain aspects of the training.

A MDS place means that all costs are fully covered for the child.

Is it all costs?? I thought mds meant it was means tested like Royal & Elmhurst.... 

5 minutes ago, Mum of unicorn dancer said:

Tring results are out. Dd got a MDS reserve list. We just dropped her to WL finals. So waiting game starts....

Was that by email or post? Wonder if we will hear WL boys today... Well Done to your Dd for reserve list!!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Just now, PetitJeté said:

In one of the emails, it mentioned if there are barriers at the gate, to drive round them and show the pass. Not sure if the instructions are different on a weekday vs weekend. Will report on here when we go tomorrow, although we’re not due to arrive until lunchtime. 

Yes we went last Friday... sheen gate entrance. It looks like you can’t go through but you can go past the barriers.. just keep going straight but drive slowly as walkers and cyclists have right of way 🙈

13 minutes ago, Bunny said:

These last two emails from RBS have made me jump! I think Monday now it’s after 5pm but suppose you never really know! x

Yes hear attacks galore here!! 

6 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

So it would be a total of 17?

My friend has a dd in year 7 , ah said in year 9 ( I think 🤔) there are only 7 or 8 boys. They only took that amount that year. So again, will only take who they want and not to fill numbers for sake if it. 
But only 17 auditioning is quite promising 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

1 hour ago, Lara Eschler said:

May I ask how many boys were in the second group today? Anyway, I like they were given the souvenir bag, nice little detail. 

I liked this too! I feel at the minute my “ head” says one place but my “ heart” says another 😫. But he may get neither so ... 🧐🤣

37 minutes ago, Dancer20 said:

Does anybody know if there were any year 8 boys auditioning with the year 7 boys today?

My ds said all in the morning group looked his age x

3 minutes ago, Bunny said:

My DS really loved this morning too   While I was waiting for him to have his physio check I asked the lady who came out when we would hear. She said they’re doing sixth form auditions at the end of next week and it will be ten working days from there so looks like a bit of a wait! Hope all the DS's had a great time!

That’s a long time and surprising as they’ve always come back within 10 days of audition. They all (schools) want to outdo each other and get in first . I’m hopeful we will hear by first part of Easter holidays 

Just now, Lara Eschler said:

Oh Ok makes sense, do you know how many places there are? 

I think it’s 12-14 similar to White Lodge .... fingers crossed 🤞🏻 

3 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

My ds loved it today. I am a bit confused, was there only one boys group of 11? How many do they take? 

There was an afternoon group too. Xx 

Just now, Lara Eschler said:

We are first week too.  Congratulations!

Ds will be so pleased!!!! Well Done!!! 

8 minutes ago, BalletBoysDad said:

A fellow Birmingham JA. My DS and you’re DS briefly ‘danced together’ on zoom when Elmhurst YD has Y5 and Y6 together. I’m sure it’ll be a really fun week.

Which week is your ds doing? We are the first week 😁

17 minutes ago, BalletBoysDad said:

Congratulations 🥳 

Thank you and to your ds 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

A yes for my ds!! Found out on the way back from his Elmhurst Final this morning! X

4 minutes ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

We are in the Premier Inn too. Both had showers, now listening to a bit more of our audio book, snuggled up together. His eyes keep drooping!!! Xx

My ds is just excited to share a bed with me 🤣🤣🤣 He always begs to get in my bed at home 🏠 to no avail so he is loving life lol xx 

1 hour ago, TwirlyWhirly said:

Finally in Birmingham ready for Elmhurst tomorrow! Does anyone know is it just y7 boys tomorrow or a mix of DCs/ year groups? Good luck in any case and presumably see some of you tomorrow (We're 9am start...) 😁

We are there tomorrow... 9 am!! In the premier inn now. Trying to get him calm to sleep 🤣🤣

Just now, PetitJeté said:

Just with regard to MA places, there are very few, our JA teacher (London) told us that there may be only 5 places available for year 7 girls, as apparently it’s a class of year 7 and 8, so it depends on the balance and who moves up to make space. I was shocked it was so few! Almost harder to get into than WL! (sort of!)

Yes this is very true. They literally have 2 or 3 available for our Birmingham centre xx 

17 hours ago, Raquelle said:

12 in her group. No tour of the school sadly. Lovely audition and they all came out smiling x  

Did they do any improv in the audition? X 

Just now, Dancermom said:

I’m not sure but I think around 70/80 would be the usual amount at the finals? I’m sure someone will know! X

Ds JA teacher said the original list they got sent out was 120 girls which then got cut again to just under 80 xx 

The JA teachers knew who was through to finals before we did! 

1 minute ago, Raquelle said:

Guys can I just check. I got given some lateral flow tests (thanks so much @balletdreams)....I've just done the first test...it was negative...self reported it on gov website and got a text saying I had a negative test...can I just confirm this is all I am supposed to do. I self reported it as being negative but how do they know it is actually negative?! I've taken a photo as proof...?! Do I need to bring the test along as well? X 

This is why they aren’t worth the paper they’re  written On unfortunately. It’s all based on trust 😒xx 

6 hours ago, Lara Eschler said:

Good morning everyone, 

Looking at last year dates, it seems like the boys got the results 5 days after the audition, so this would be tomorrow. Does anyone know more about dates for boys who could not attend in person or people abroad? 

I actually really would prefer not to get results tomorrow (as it is ds birthday and right before Elmhurst, lol).

You were right .. they had their audition on the Thursday and got their result on the Tuesday!!! I just asked a mum of a current year 7 boy.... could be tomorrow or Thursday!!!! She said it came at 5pm too xx 

2 minutes ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

Wow, I've just read all of your replies and am now certain my ds will get a no. 

 

I don't have a clue whether his turnout is good or his hamstrings are tight etc. He does his 3 lessons a week, does a few stretches most days, can't get into any splits, but is a lot closer to it since starting with a different dance school last March (and doing more lessons with his teacher). I honestly feel completely clueless. He only originally did the video for an MA space but his teacher said about ticking the box for the school and sending one to Elmhurst too. In his head he would love to dance every day and be with other boys (and girls) of his age who also love ballet. But he won't be too upset if he doesn't get a place as he never thought he would even get an audition. 

 

I've not seen him dance officially since before he joined his new dance school, so don't really know what he's like. Obviously I watched his audition videos snd he's definitely improved a lot since the last time we were allowed to have a viewing week, but I don't know what I'm looking for, so just don't have a clue!!!

 

Your boys all sound so amazing, confident and so good at ballet. I don't know how they will choose only 14 of them!

 

I've not asked about the audition since Friday evening. He spouted out loads on the way home. Mentioned one of 2 bits over the weekend that I hadn't heard first time, when he was telling my Mum what it was like. He's still grinning every now and then and when I ask why he says he is just thinking about the school! He had his private lesson on zoom last night and came out of the lounge after buzzing - his teacher obviously knows what he's talking about, so they had a little catch up and talked technical stuff!

 

I'm just hoping we don't have to wait the full 2 weeks. This is worse than waiting for my exam results last year!!!

Who knows what they are looking for 🤷🏼‍♀️ I really wouldn’t worry. In the past ,children have been accepted without even doing much ballet before but more gymnastics. They had the right attributes / equipment etc . It really is a guessing game. 
Also they take 14 boys maxim. They don’t have to fill up the spaces and won’t. If they only like 6 or7 boys they will only take that amount . 
I’ll be very glad when this is all over to be honest, it’s consuming me!!!  Xx

Elmhurst have their extended dancers course which is like MA equivalent. Not sure if their applications are open yet.. should be this month xx