The red shoes

5 minutes ago, Dancermom said:

Do you think we could hear about MAs before Easter? Will they need to know who accepts for the school first before offering MAs do you think? Xx

My ds associate teacher said realistically looking at May to find out about MA’s . There is a lot of shuffling around with accepting or rejecting places etc first 

2 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

Thank you so much! So I got the dates wrong  so the results would have been yesterday if same as last year? It would probably be later this year then with people who could not attend, etc. I thought of not telling him but he has access to social media, etc. We are very prepared for a no, but would prefer it after Elmhurst too. xx 

Ahhh ok... thankfully I’ve managed to escape getting ds a phone but turning 11 in August and promised him one 🙈.  I think they will hold off this week as they all know when the other schools auditions are ... I’m hoping not to hear. Like you we’ve prepared ds for a no and I have been quite frank about it just so he isn’t too disappointed xx 

1 minute ago, Dancermom said:

Hi, there’s another thread on here, someone asking about what happens if you can’t make the audition, so maybe some information on that, last I read they said they’d be contacted after Easter I think but then everyone that goes to the audition should have heard by then so... 🤷‍♀️

I connected on that thread on Sunday to see if the person in question had heard anything but no resins was yet 

3 minutes 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).

It was actually the audition on the Saturday 29th Feb and they found out Tuesday 3rd March!!!! 
I don’t want it before Elmhurst audition ( unless in the unlikely event it’s good news of course). I just won’t tell ds if it’s bad news before Elmhurst. 
Happy birthday to your ds for tomorrow xx

1 minute ago, Weloveballet said:

A question from the boys groups when you did the lateral flow tests and put the results into the website did the text come through straight away/ soon after? 

It came through within 5 minutes or so xx 

Best of luck to all the girls auditioning tomorrow xxxx 

6 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

He did say his shin was manipulated while laying face down. Maybe he did not realize there was a gadget?  All your dss seem much better at recounting the event.  

 

Haha maybe that’s because I interrogated him all the way home 😆😆

7 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

Our group just did frogs on back but that was in the actual audition along with splits etc . 
 

physio was two rooms. First Lady ( who was in an awful hurry according to my ds though they were the last group so probs desperate to get home) looked at him in different positions eg plié in 1st, tendus to the side. Facing front in parallel etc etc and she made notes. Then he went through to next room where he was pulled about in the bed and yes, that strange contraption was put around his shin/ calf too to see degrees of turnout. 
 

Then in audition the first thing they did was see them do all the positions again!! Which made me think were they ruling out who to not bother looking at for the rest of the ballet class 🤷🏼‍♀️

1 minute ago, Lara Eschler said:

I am a bit concerned he did not have it. Also some boys went into 2 separate physio rooms? I think your ds was in the same group, did they just do frogs on their back? Or maybe my ds was not concentrating and missed the exercise entirely?

 

Our group just did frogs on back but that was in the actual audition along with splits etc . 
 

physio was two rooms. First Lady ( who was in an awful hurry according to my ds though they were the last group so probs desperate to get home) looked at him in different positions eg plié in 1st, tendus to the side. Facing front in parallel etc etc and she made notes. Then he went through to next room where he was pulled about in the bed and yes, that strange contraption was put around his shin/ calf too to see degrees of turnout. 
 

Then in audition the first thing they did was see them do all the positions again!! Which made me think were they ruining out who to not bother looking at for the rest of the ballet class 🤷🏼‍♀️

6 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

Yes, my ds has natural flat static turn out (always had) but needs to learn out to use it and gain functional turn-out. The pike stretch, which you see so many dancers do effortlessly is the hardest thing for him  due to tight hamstrings and he needs to stretch regularly to achieve it. If he has a sudden growth spurt, he  loses the pike stretch temporarily until he stretches again. The middle splits were easier for him to achieve than the right and left splits. 

Yes my ds is exactly opposite ... hamstrings are good but middle splits isn’t near flat yet.. a work in progress lol 

5 minutes ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

It’s anyone’s guess really. My DS isn’t hypermobile at all so we’ve really worked so hard on flexibility over the last two years of JAs. We are in a strange position where our local school and our other associates see no real benefit in encouraging getting into splits or focusing on stretching for turnout because that should come naturally with strength from the ballet training, and absolutely no to ever doing oversplits (which I’ve heard all of this echoed by dance physios) and they don’t put girls on pointe until fully developed and with strong foot and ankle muscles (so age 14-15) to JAs where it seems flexibility is just as important, if not more than technique and dance ability and seems to be a big part of what WL are looking for (not that you have to be flat in turnout or splits, but they’ll want them there soon).
In our local school if you are hypermobile they encourage strengthening those areas. They don’t see it as good or bad. 

 

Ive noticed DS turn out is nowhere near as ‘good’ as most his age at this level though he has good hip joint mobility (after warning up) and is always knees over toes. If he tries to replicate his peers, he can’t hold it or return to it easily after moving so his dancing looks messy, however his grand battements for example, are held well in his turnout. Our main teacher says this is where he should be and it’ll come in time with strength. His other teacher says encourage turnout. 🤷‍♀️ There are definitely opposing opinions about it so I guess that’s why there will be so much variation in what schools are looking for. 
 

It certainly seems like a fine line to balance. From what I’ve heard, some level of hypermobility might actually be beneficial for acceptance at this stage.
 

I don’t know about others but DS said they didn’t warm up properly before stretching, and they were stood outdoors just before (I don’t know if this is because he’s probably needs and is used to more of a warm up than most though due to not having any hypermobility). 

Flexibility and hyper mobility are two different things. 
My ds is hyper mobile BUT he was never flexible until 2 years ago when he worked his little socks off to get all 3 splits and improve on his turnout. 
So they aren’t related to each other in that way.

Totally agree oversplits is not needed and can cause harm and many top schools view this too. 
Ive taught children who have natural flat turnout ... but put them in the centre and watch them do and adage or allegro and there is zero sign of that turnout as they aren’t using the correct muscles to maintain it! Frustrating as ds does not have flat turn out but he works super hard to improve and maintain what he has. 
 

The physio is on potential... Can they train this body... ?will it be prone to injury etc . Is there are good range in hip motion there..? Are their feet good ?

I told Ds to dazzle & dance his heart out in the audition so if his physio wasn’t perfect they may weigh up if it’s worth taking the risk on him... or not ! 
But it’s not just on turnout.. if that was the case why do a90 minute class and include flexibility stretches etc. 
They are looking also at passion in the eyes, drive, a hunger to dance. The ability to pick up the exercises quickly . Musicality & artistry. They need to tick as many boxes as possible xx 

1 minute ago, Dancermom said:

I’m sure the physio is very important, I would think there’s a range that they need to come in for potential turnout and also measurements of limbs etc. But if it was just turnout that mattered surely they’d have had to do the frog and other similar exercises in the audition video. I definitely think it’s potential they look for. 

Yes you are right.. it’s the potential of turnout / range in motion which is important and actually bring able to do flat frog does not necessarily mean a child has flat turnout. I teach many children who have worked very hard to achieve frog .. but this is using a whole load of muscles on their legs to get those knees down... this does not mean they have full range in their hip by any means just that they have worked on the strength in their inner thighs, glutes etc to squeeze those knees down. 

3 minutes ago, Lara Eschler said:

I am wondering about the physio check. It was hard to get much info out of DS but I understand they checked for hypermobility of the wrists, elbows, etc. Would being hypermobile in those joints raise a red flag for them? My ds is hypermobile in some joints with tight hamstrings, glutes though if he stretches regularly he can achieve a satisfactory range and has flexible hips with natural turnout. Does anyone have more info of what features are definitely considered an issue in terms of suitability for training especially for boys?  

In terms of Elmhurst, I also feel they might prefer a stronger more developed built for boys even for year 7?

My ds is hyper mobile too in nearly all joints. It has its advantages and disadvantages. I don’t think it would “ stop” them from being successful but the schools need to be aware as loose ligaments are more prone to injury if the surrounding muscles etc haven’t got the sufficient strength.  My ds can bend his thumb all the way back to touch his wrist 🙈🤢. 
With turnout they look for the potential so not necessarily where they are at now. Depends on how deep set the joint is in the hip socket. If too deep then minimal turnout . The physio check has been my biggest worry all along for ds.. not his “dance ability “or “technique “as it were , rather has he got all the right equipment!!! 
Not sure about Elmhurst.. but have heard they say there is practically nothing on the physio check that would stop them taking a child they really wanted 🤷🏼‍♀️ . Again two different schools with two different aims/views . Xx 

I remember reading on here last year I think that there is a certain “type“ of personality WL & Elmhurst pick ..... eg one likes one type and the other a different type of personality. Anyone else heard this? I know WL is all about image so I would imagine that’s what the interview was for and maybe the questions at the end of audition . Watching how they interact with the other children whilst waiting around etc 

On 04/03/2021 at 07:20, BalletPapa said:

Apparently they will let us know what is happening but whatever it is it will not happen until after Easter

Have you heard anymore @BalletPapa? My ds was told at his Audition on Friday the results would be within two weeks x 

1 hour ago, BbcBoy said:

So am I right in thinking if no scholarship offered then it’s still not means tested and that it’s full fees? 
 

or is it all children in final MDA audition could get offered something? Thanks

No, the MDS funding audition is for means tested funded places and not scholarships. They only give out 3 in year7 from what I have been told and then a few to the rest of the school. If you don’t get a funded places you need to fund the fees yourself 😳 A reason why we opted out of Tring and just went for RBS and Elmhurst x

On 08/02/2021 at 13:10, Mrs Tea said:

The website said four weeks after application deadline (3rd March) so I think it will be around the 31st March...hopefully x

 

The website now says results out mid March xx 

Just now, BalletBliss said:

Thanks, Lara!

Would someone please also confirm: was it just the class and physio, nothing else (e.g. writing a short essay about themselves, etc.)?  Thx  

Just class and physio though our group had the physio first which  was a shame as they weren’t warmed up when being manipulated in all directions lol. 
Ds said the panel asked them a few questions each at the end. 
Also ds group didn’t do improv as they ran out of time!! Didn’t even have time for a reverence lol xx it was late though 6:30 pm x 

Just now, Raquelle said:

Hi everyone. How far before the audition did they send the health form? We are leaving Wales Monday afternoon and will be in hotels till Friday when she has the rbs audition so won't have chance to print the form off unless they send it Monday morning.is it the sort of form you can fill in online? Or do you have to print off and give in? I have emailed the audition team but they didn't get back to me x 

Im

sure hotel reception can print it off for you if you email it to their email address whilst there? Xx 

17 hours ago, Lara Eschler said:

My ds was in the 1:30 group and yes going to the Elmhurst audition next week (9am arrival).

My ds said he saw your ds and waved at him ☺️. He is looking forward to seeing him properly on Thursday xxx 

2 minutes ago, PetitJeté said:

Can I just ask for those who’ve been now, what happened about the Covid test result? Did you give a print out, or just show the email on your phone?

I gave her a print out which she kept but another parent showed the text message on her phone and she was fine with that too xx 

Just now, Bunny said:

There is a boy in my sons JA class who made finals who couldn’t attend in person x

Ah have they made arrangements to see him over zoom then? I would imagine that would be fine pretty quickly . Though what about the physio check? X 

5 minutes ago, Bunny said:

I know the email said results within two weeks but I wonder if they will be held up a bit while they assess the boys who perhaps couldn’t attend in person? Last year the boys attended finals on the Friday and had their results on the Monday I believe! Now that’s a quick turn around! x

How do you know there were boys who couldn’t attend in person? X 

8 minutes ago, Raquelle said:

Do we have to provide pins? My dd would probably stab herself so I hope they help! 

My ds stabbed his thumb and it bled 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Failed at the first hurdle lol 

3 minutes ago, BalletBoyMum1 said:

He was in at 1.30. I'm not sure what group it was? 

 

I love how supportive they were as I had heard some horror stories of how competitive it can be. He came out beaming, which is always a good sign that he is relaxed and happy. 

 

Are any of your boys doing Elmhurst next week? Xx

Ah my ds was in the last group.. number 23 out of 24. 
I thought there were more boys and n the finals but looks like it was 4 groups of 6 today.

Yes we are at Elmhurst Thursday 9am 😴😴😴😴