DancingDays

Thanks C4D - Still on our way...not to much longer now though :-)

DD did great today, she got a call out with Honours for her Irish National - very proud DM x 

Hi, you were right first time Linmm - DD was competing today at All England Finals so I picked her up at lunchtime and we caught the 12.58 down to London. DD did great - got a call out with Honours so it was all worth it  

We're now back on the train to York and DD will be back for class in the morning  Long day for a 10 year old x

My DD has her National section ( tomorrow late afternoon.  Very excited!

Good luck to all the dancers x

Thanks Afab and Fiz

I'm staying overnight tonight and tomorrow night in a hotel right next to train station in York and we're going to jump on the train to get down to London tomorrow - thought it would be way too stressful to try and drive down xx  

York was crazy busy today - not only were the Races on but there was a football match as well apparently so everywhere was just teaming with people.  Didn't manage to find Betty's tea room either...maybe on Friday I'll come a little earlier before the presentation to try and find it. 

Well my DD is all settled in - we had a relaxed drive up to York in time for a bite to eat before arriving a little after 2.00 pm to register.  DD is sharing a room with another lovely forum member's DD (lovely to meet you Amber21)

Apparently the girls had pasta for dinner and have watched a film this evening - I've just had an update via text from her!

So all's good - now I just have to pick her up after morning class tomorrow, get her down to London for A.E. Finals and back up again ready for start of class Monday morning....then I can relax 

Sorry for your loss of a dear friend LinMM.

I'm in fretting mode here getting DD's last minutes bits of packing done ready for Saturday...first time away for her and she won't know anyone there but I'm sure she'll love it

Ahhh...luckily the skin is healing nicely and not broken now - it was very effective at removing the sticky plaster marks around the heels as well.  

The only time I can remember using it before was when I had my ears pierced about 30 years ago! Ha Ha!

I bought some Surgical Spirit about a year ago because someone told me it was good for helping dancer's feet when they start pointe work.  It went in the cupboard and I forgot all about it.  Then on Saturday, my DD was learning a new tap solo and wore her tap shoes with no tights for an hour!!!  Yep, you guessed it - 2 great big blisters, one on each heel  !  

The absolute worst timing as she's got her Irish National on Sunday at All England Finals and goes up to York on Saturday for a week's dancing!  

Luckily, they're healing quite nicely but seeing this thread made me go get the Surgical Spirit out of the cupboard and rub DD's feet with it especially the heels! 

So thanks Cote du Rhone for starting the thread and to spannerandpony and pas de quatre for the confirmation 

Oh and apologies for all the smilies - got a bit carried away!

Aww...that's brilliant news Fusster - congratulations to your DD 

I'll have some time to kill on Saturday afternoon / Sunday morning so I'll definitely have to try and find Betty's as you're all recommending it.

Looking forward to hearing updates from all of you with DC up there this week.  My DD is there next Saturday for week 2 and is very excited 

Ooh, that's good amber21 - will PM you 

I know my DD wasn't involved in these auditions (her time starts ready for September 2014 intake!) but I've been reading with interest and following the journeys so I'm sad for you and your DC Tinker

With so many lovely dancing children and so few places, I know I'm already scared by the possible rejection that my DD could face next year, but "without the possibility of failure there can be no hope of success" - that's the motto I will probably be repeating over and over again in the coming months 

I hope your DC quickly recovers from this "no - not now" (a phrase I've learnt from all the lovely forum members  )

Hi SBallerina, my DD is 10 and this will be her first summer school so hope she enjoys it

My DD is doing week 2 of YBSS this year and I wondered if anyone could give me the wisdom of their experience there??

I didn't get a specific time with my my email - just arrival between 2 and 4 on the Saturday - but the website says "according to your booking".  So I'm not sure if we just turn up any time between 2 and 4 or whether I should have had a more specific window within that?

Also, if anyone has any idea of how the days are formatted I would be grateful.  My DD has to leave at lunchtime on the Sunday to travel down for All England Finals that afternoon and then I'm taking her back up that night to finish the rest of the week from Monday.  Is there a standard time for lunch breaks - I'm checking into train times at the moment and it would be good if I could time picking her up with a natural break rather than interrupt a session?

Obviously, any other useful titbits of information would be gratefully appreciated   

We only met at the end of the day when A.F.T.R. took the initiative and just asked me if I was a forum member 

We had a nice chat whilst watching the last class - both our DDs were in Group D.

I think we should have a little pin badge or something because I know I get a little shy so don't naturally just introduce myself and I was really glad that a couple of people actually started talking to me, including Along for the ride...

It was lovely to meet you "along for the ride mum"

It was a fantastic day - DD really enjoyed her classes and we really enjoyed the sunshine - although I have one very sore sunburnt shoulder this evening!  We had planned to watch the show but also decided that it was too long a day to stay on.

I think DD will sleep well tonight !

Taking my DD to see it on Saturday - can't wait 

Hi Katymac - my DD is going, she been allocated to Mars Group D.  She's 10 and although one other girl from her Dance School is going, she's 15 and in a different group altogether.

How old is your DD?

My daughter got a no letter on Saturday. I thought I ought to write a post to try and redress the balance as reading this forum you could easily get the impression that the yes letters are the norm.

To all those out there with a no I can empathise. We had a lovely day out for the audition and I am really pleased that she did it and that she enjoyed it so much. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. A positive experience despite the no letter!

Thanks Balletsister.  My DD also go a no letter.  It's very disappointing but we're very much treating it as a motivator to work a little bit harder ready for next year.

It's difficult to know what the panels are looking for especially without feedback to know what areas need work, but my DD had two assessment classes at the weekend, one with Graham Fletcher for his Associate Programme and one with an RAD instructor in readiness for her Grade 4 exam later this month. Both made similar recommendations on things to work on in terms of posture and who knows....those little areas could be why she didn't get through.  So, at least we have things to work on and an idea of where improvement can be made before trying again next year.

In the meantime, we have All England Finals to look forward to and DD has now been offered a place with Graham Fletcher on his Ballet Associate programme starting next term Onwards and upwards!

Love this post Snape!! Congratulations to your DD      

Well done to your DD Loulabelle - that's a great achievement as our panel at the Midlands Final were very strict on the ballet sections so if yours were too then she must have done a fab job   

Very tough competition up in Sedgeley for the Midlands Regional Final too.  No one in my DD's B Ballet section got through to finals and only the first place in the B Character section went through.  

My DD got Distinction with Special Commendation for Ballet, Character, Modern & S & D but today she got 1st place and Honours for her National so she's off to Finals!  First time doing All England Comp so very excited  

Wise words and things for us parents to think about too, as well as the students