DancingDays

That's lovely - congratulations to your DD Frangapani

Aw - sorry to hear that PdC. As you know, my DD got no for Elmhurst in the first auditions, but has since had offers for Tring and The Hammond so tell her to keep the faith! Good luck for Sunday - will keep fingers and "pointed" toes crossed for her xx

Hi, yes - the children need to do a 1 minute dance solo of their choice plus they can do an optional drama / music piece. Tring don't do prelims - it's one audition, after which you receive 1 of 4 possible letters - one that says "unfortunately no offer of place"; one that says "on hold until all auditionees have been seen"; one that says "yes but not possible to offer funding" and final one that says "yes and would like to invite you to funding audition". Hope his helps - my DD said the audition was good - they did ballet class first, then Modern class, followed by a stretch session and then their solos. After that, the optional solos were done before the academic tests. It's about a 5 hour process for lower school and parents get a tour after the children are taken off for the auditions.

What a great post balletmadmom - I didn't realise there were any boarding facilities at YDA which is why we hadn't even put it on the radar for our DD but on the strength of your recommendation, we definitely would have. Good luck for your DD with Finals

Heaps of luck for him

Congratulations to your DDs Katymac and Dancing 2013! Fingers crossed for funding for you x

Good luck everyone auditioning tomorrow x

Lovely news Katymac - well done to your DD

Well, you know we love your tutus Sheila! For those who didn't know, my avatar is my DD wearing the tutu that Sheila made her for Christmas The latest one is another gorgeous creation!

Good luck everyone auditioning at Elmhurst tomorrow (well actually today now!)

Good luck to everyone auditioning at Tring tomorrow

That's such bad timing for you and your DD! Sending best wishes that she recovers quickly and makes it to her auditions feeling strong and ready to wow them x

We also cannot speak highly enough of MTB. DD is really enjoying being a cast member and the teaching the dancers are receiving is excellent. We're already a little sad that we know DD can't carry on next season with Snow White because she'll be taking up a place at vocational school. It is a commitment but it's very worthwhile and the dancers get to work with great teachers in great studios. If anyone is considering it, we would definitely say go for it

Scratch that Dr Dance - you've just covered it off We were typing at the same time

Hi Dr Dance, you might want to check out the other thread - just under MIDAS - people are enquiring about auditions on that thread too - I think you've got a link to that now as well haven't you? x

I'm not sure if it's the same Sunday each month but I know they had classes today - there is a facebook page which is kept very up to date as well as the web site. I haven't seen audition details for it yet I don't think. Dr Dance who is active on here runs it so she'll be able to give you better info next time she logs on - or you could send an private message to her through here?

Hi - I checked and they haven't finalised dates yet for MTB Summer School (which isn't residential btw Cornish Princess) but they'll let us know as soon as they confirm them. Not sure about MIDAS this year but Dr Dance will be the one to keep us up to speed on that one (again it's not residential though).

I'm at MTB today with DD so I'll ask if they have dates for this year's Summer School when I pick her up :-)

Happy New Year to you all! PS: I finally added an picture - do you recognize it Sheila? The beautiful tutu you made for DD definitely deserves to be showed off to the rest of the lovely Balletcoers

and Gillian Lynne too Good day for dance!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our household to all of yours! Presents wrapped, work finished, children happy....that must mean it's time for some Champagne this Christmas Eve

I can understand it from the schools perspective that they don't want to reserve lots of places for people who then go elsewhere ultimately as this undoubtedly creates administrative hassles for them if nothing else, but I think there is a fine line between deterring that and charging excessively for the privilege....ho hum.... I must also say that the conversations I have had with them have been very helpful (even if they didn't give me the answers I'd hoped for) x spanner, I don't recall anything about deposits / registrations amounts on the audition application forms...but then again there's so much else to worry about at that stage that I could have missed it? x

Afab, you have just completely summed up our dilemma - I would hate not to secure the place and then subsequently get no funding, no place offered at WL and end up having missed the boat on a boarding place.... I spoke with DH about it a lot last night and we think we will pay the deposit and trust that we are doing everything we can to make the right decision for DD

Yep, that might have applied last year theodore because I rang them on the strength of one of your posts about your experience last year, but they confirmed on the phone that they've changed it this year and do stipulate that it is non-refundable.

Yours is definitely a cautionary tale Pictures which is one of the reasons why we've decided that I'm sitting on my hands until at least the New Year! I've sent back the funding audition acceptance form today and will just enjoy Christmas now before deciding on what to do in the New Year DD loves Tring so at the moment it's top of her list anyway xx