DancingDays

We got a no from The Hammond. The letter came through this morning so very quick. DD is home is home today as have to leave early for Elmhurst's audition tomorrow. She's taken it surprisingly well. I feel it's a front though.

How do I keep her from giving up after one no when she has another audition tomorrow?

Sorry to hear this - I hope your DD doesn't let it get her down and do keep trying....just look at Straceydor's DD - our children have to be resilient in this ballet world!  Good luck at Elmhurst tomorrow!

There's quite a few if I remember rightly.  My DD was a mouse in Act One and a Reed Pipe in Act Two (lovely tutus and dancing en pointe).  Then there's the Arabians, Chinese (I think) and a couple of others....it's a lovely production.

There is insurance to cover school fees if circumstances change drastically downwards during a school year, so that wouldn't be an issue.  

 

The entitlement would surely be re-assessed each year anyway (since people's income can go up as well as down), so every year the students would be allocated a recalculated figure out of the pot based on family income, and the remaining amount left would then go to new entrants.

 

As things stand at present, someone with a higher family income is allocated a place (and they pay the additional fees which they can afford) and the balance of the MDS money goes nowhere. This means that others on lower incomes are unable to afford a place at all.

 

People earning (say) £150k a year are going to be able to economise and pay for an unfunded place if they need to. A family with earnings of under £30k stands no chance at all. 

Yes, the insurance would pay the current year but not subsequent years.  The MDS stays with the pupil through the school (unless they no longer fit the criteria). In my mind this protects and enables the potential of the child which I think it the intention of the MDS purpose.

For example, if there is a £30k maximum MDS,  Child A is offered it and family income means parental contribution of £10k / government contribution of £20k.  If the school then gives the other £10k to Child B and then Child A's family income drops so they now need a £25k assistance, where will that come from?  Insurance pays the rest of first year but what about year 2?  Does the school up Child A to £25k (as first child awarded) which now means Child B can't afford it....or does Child A suffer?

Compound that with the fact that the schools would have the added burden of trying keep track of more than one family per fund and it would lead to a mess in no time...

I don't see it as a workable solution.  For school bursaries then a pot of money budgeted for by the school can be split however many ways it allows for, but the MDS is different I think.

I thought some of you might be interested to learn about the history of the MDS so here's a link to some archives:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20040116235613/http://dfes.gov.uk/mds/history.shtml

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20040116235613/http://dfes.gov.uk/mds/index.shtml

I think the key paragraph to remember is this:

"Access to Excellence"

"The aim of the scheme is to help identify, and assist, children with exceptional potential, regardless of their personal circumstances, to benefit from world-class specialist training as part of a broad and balanced education, which will enable them, if they choose, to proceed towards self-sustaining careers in music and dance." - Music and Dance Scheme Advisory Group's Report 2000/01

I think an earlier poster mentioned that the full monetary value of an MDS award should be split if a family doesn't need all the money because of their income scale.  If that principle were followed what would happen to the child if suddenly the family circumstances changed?  At the moment the child is guaranteed their place irrespective of what the family earns - they pay more or less according to their income.  If the surplus money was given to another child, then the first child may end up having to leave the school should their family income suffer a downward turn.  

Also, with regard to the income that the school receives, the school receives exactly the same income - the fees per student remain the same it's just that a proportion of it comes from the government and the remainder from the family - but the amount received by the school is exactly the same.  

Our own experience of the being blessed with an MDS is that our DD was offered a place at Hammond & Tring and MDS funding auditions for both.  After much discussion, we didn't do the funding audition at the Hammond although they did subsequently ring and offer a bursary place anyway which was very difficult to turn down especially when DD didn't get an MDS for Tring.  However, DD felt that Tring was the right place for her and we sent her there on a full fee paying basis in September 2014.  This was not easy for us and I think (as has been mentioned many times on this forum) people should not underestimate the sacrifices that take place in order to find the money for the fees no matter what the income level.  We all have different sets of circumstances to allow for and just because you earn more money doesn't necessarily mean your disposable income is greater.  

DD re-auditioned for an MDS in Spring 2015 and was successful, which was actually a huge relief as my self-employment income was about to disappear entirely and this was the income that gave us the ability to pay for the fees in the first place.

Our relief now at knowing that our DD's vocational study is secure whatever happens to our family income is immeasurable.  This year my income is restored and our parental contribution will increase significantly again but who knows what is around the corner?  This is the true blessing of the MDS - it assures the dancer's educational irrespective of family circumstance as long as the dancer maintains that potential to have a career in classical dance.  It has to remain an award given to the most suitable at the point of audition.  We know even that isn't perfect - what if a dancer has an off day? what if a dancer doesn't cope well in audition environments?....but given the subjective nature or dance it is as fair as it can be and for me I it's a scheme that I am personally hugely grateful for. 

I know that should DD's facility or ability not continue to meet the criteria, then we may not retain the MDS but again that falls into the wealth of "what ifs" that surround this beautiful art of ballet.  
 

Hopefully, this will help those just setting out to know that even if your DC doesn't get an Award this time around, they may be the right child next time round.  Again, (we've heard this before on the forum) children develop at different rates and some will only show their true potential later than their peers.  The main thing is to be realistic with your children but allow them to chase their dream the best way you can within your own personal set of circumstances and not worry about what others have or haven't got.

Edited for font blips  

Happy New Year to you Sim and to all the moderators and posters - BalletcoForum is such a valuable site and we do appreciate how much time and effort goes into running, contributing and moderating the site for us all to enjoy so a huge thank you from me.

Wishing everyone a very healthy, happy and ballet beautiful 2016!

Jill Tookey, National Youth Ballet, also awarded a CBE for services to dance and young people. Richly deserved.

Such sad news. Sending our condolences to friends and family x

What a stressful time you must all have had.  It just goes to show that nothing is certain and every step our children take on this vocational path is uncertain and holds risk.  All power to your son and you you for taking a leap of faith again and continuing on the journey!  Wishing him every success at the Vaganova and wow for the achievement in and of itself!  x

Brilliant news! Congratulations to your DD!

My take was that it was simply a variation on an "every cloud has a silver lining" comment.

Taxi, this was my interpretation too and I don't think you should expend anymore energy on this as we all understood the context of your comment within the thread. X

Exciting times to hear about the first crop of yes' news for the coming year!  Congratulations everyone

It's only half an hour from Milton Keynes if you wanted to do some Christmas shopping ?

Good luck to everyone on the audition trail this year x

I am sorry Harwel I did tell you I was in a grumpy cynical mood when I posted! I am not questioning your integrity but as a tax accountant you would be aware that paye income is as stated whereas there can be element of manipulation for those running their own business.

 

I suppose the point I was attempting to make before offending you was that in an ideal world it would be nice if training was offered to those based on their ability but sadly we do not live in that world! I agree Anna C it is a struggle regardless of who or what you are unless you happen to have won the lottery...here's hoping! I take off my hat to those of you who follow this route and allow their DC to pursue their dreams.

 

I will go back to the sidelines and remember not to post late on a Friday night having had too much wine following a day with my nagging Dd asking me why she can't go to a vocational school!!

Wow!  And yet even in your apology you continue to suggest that the "self-employed" manipulate their income!!  I am another extremely hard working parent who took the decision to give up self-employment for the security of employed income to ensure my DD's school fees can be paid and I completely resent both your posts.

Anna C, I wholeheartedly endorse your comment that posts relating to income often make others cross....

Sleep123 - No-one has the super-natural power to know another person's circumstances, financial or otherwise and to make sweeping generalisations with regard to "it would be nice if training was offered to those based on their ability" once again makes me mad enough to post!  The insinuation that children who can pay are not talented is not acceptable!  

My DD has done NYB for the last 2 seasons.  She saw someone wearing a Rugby Shirt and loved it!  Do you still have them because I know she'd love them?

Hi, Kilburn School in Wellingborough has a good reputation - my DD often competed against their dancers at All England Festivals before she started at Vocational school and they regularly had dancers reaching Finals so technique is strong across all genres.  One of their teaching faculty is an RAD examiner as well so knows her stuff (she has been to my DD's old local dance school in Rugby to coach the dancers before RAD exams too)  Website:  http://www.kilburnschoolofdancing.co.uk/

There is also Mayhew School of Dance.  Their website is:  http://mayhewschoolofdance.co.uk/home/2604009 Another good all round school with regular All England success.

From Northampton you would also have good access to Birmingham to make use of the RAD Associate classes held at Elmhurst or BRBs studios at the Hippodrome.  There's also Graham Fletcher in Market Harborough (a little bit of a trek but doable from Northampton)  His school is Dance Activate  http://www.danceactivate.co.uk/ andhe does a monthly associate class in Leicester http://www.danceactivate.co.uk/associates/.  He has good audition success rates.

Of course, it would also put you close enough to make use of Dr Dance's Associate programme - MIDAS. don't have a website as such but their details are:  http://midas-dance.org.uk/and they are on facebook too.

I don't know of any dedicated "ballet" schools - but there are quite a few options that you can look at

Hope this helps x

My DD only auditioned for dance Harwel and did the drama solo in addition to the ones you mention....but like you say the audition pack gives all the info 

Yes, even the dance course candidates are encouraged to do an instrumental solo or a drama or singing solo if they want to...but there's no obligation or expectation for them to if they don't feel comfortable with it.  Some children literally just do their dance solo.  My DD did a little drama piece although she does still take piano lessons...I think it just gives the audition panel a chance to see more of the children which is good.

A couple of years ago now for us but Tring's audition day consists of:

Ballet Class

Modern Class

1 min or 1.5 min solo piece

Optional Drama solo/instrument solo/singing solo

followed by academic tests

It sounds like a heavy day but it isn't - my DD loved all her audition days.  

There's usually at least one a month from the end of October through January from memory I think.  Good luck!

Congratulations Joemill - very exciting news!

We were in your position this time last year with the same anxieties and worries....BUT.....one year on and I can safely say that my DD has absolutely thrived!  She's loves school and has made such a great group of friends that we are left with no doubt that we made the right decision in letting her go off to boarding school so young!

Try to hold onto the excitement of what's to come and not the worry xx

There are 2 new children joining my DD's year at school this coming September (going into year 8).  There was also one girl who left DD's school at the end of year 7 a couple of weeks ago....so there is always the possibility of places and it's definitely worth auditioning again  

Thought some of you might like to know that Tring are holding a Ballet Intensive Weekend in October this year.  Booking doesn't open until August but good to have a heads up as I expect it will be booked up quickly.  Here's the link:

http://www.tringpark.com/associated-courses/ballet-intensive-weekend

There's lots of other upcoming courses on the website too so worth checking out.

It was a lovely show - the Young Dancer's Show a couple of weeks ago was excellent and seeing the whole dance school perform on the Waterside stage was wonderful.  Some serious talent was showcased with such a varied programme too.  

I've been dropping in and out of this thread keeping up with all your news posts (and non-news but very entertaining posts) and just wanted to say a huge well done to all the yes's and commiserations to the no's - at the risk of repeating what has become somewhat of a BalletCo slogan "it's not a no full stop but rather a no not yet" 

Also, for all those on waiting lists - good luck....as we all know now, places do become available

Hope you all enjoy your tipple of choice tonight now and relax....the waiting is the worst and now it's over....yippee!!