Ballerina_girl

37 minutes ago, Pas de Quatre said:

Define the North! And how far back do you want to go? Hull has produced some first class dancers via RBS over the years. 

As mentioned several times on the thread it is in relation to this years intake only. 

6 hours ago, Cheshiredancemum said:

 

My DD too! X

That’s really good. Well done to your DD you are the first and only girl I’ve heard of getting a place from the north. 

I think looking now from my experience as a newbie, with my dd gaining a place at the final this year but being very inexperienced in terms of no associates training, zoom coaching etc and me not really knowing that this coaching world even all existed I think it’s safe to say I was quite naive, and I wish I had known this before the audition to be better prepared for knowing what they wanted.  I think it’s really helpful for others to know this going ahead. I’ve had another look on Instagram right now and there’s children on there that have gained places that are being coached by several expert coaches. I think in my head I had the Billy Elliot scenario of them finding a raw imperfect talent that took their eye. I really don’t think this is the case. These dancers look fabulous polished dancers. Maybe this year they did not want to take the risk or chance and played it abit safer knowing we could be back in lockdown. That being said my opinion of the experience being one to remember and a special one does not change. 

11 minutes ago, Balletmummy18 said:

I think the OP makes a very good point and certainly in my experience of my dd doing the audition rounds for JA/ voc school 5 long years ago there was already certain pool of teachers, associate programmes  etc in London which seemed to confer an ‘advantage’ . we have all seen that explode with Covid and zoom / social media opportunities so that over training ‘becomes the norm for children. 

 

Having money for privates, summer intensives etc certainly helps/ confers advantage  whilst at voc school too!!
 

But the OP asks is still about potential and is it still worth applying for Year 7 without all this- absolutely.. every year at WL a ( albeit) few  children gain places with a few hours of training a week ..& . funny enough my dd achieved her JA place in yr 6 and WL place when ,in a vain attempt to get off the rollercoaster,we cut down her hours to 2 hours a week....so give it a go ... just be prepared if this dream comes true as it shockingly did for us...

absolutely if someone said to try all over again we would do it in a heartbeat it’s been a fantastic experience for her 

11 minutes ago, Momapalooza said:

I feel the same. I do have my theories too and while they are just that and are my own personal opinion, they might get misunderstood. What we have stated I believe is quite obvious even if someone simply check the tags of certain schools. I am not exaggerating when I say that I once saw the same child being posted by no less than 4 different teachers within the same week for various classes. It will only be a matter of time before some children would have so much more means and access to training that they will see familiar faces in auditions! Nothing wrong with this of course but I always think it’s the perception that counts, in terms of fairness. 

Absolutely - 100 percent agree. Unfortunately for children that don’t have the means/access to this I think they have unfortunately been at a disadvantage this year. I felt in my head that the royal ballet might have been looking for a rough diamond/ diamond in the rough so to speak. And unfortunately I don’t think this theory was correct, at least not for this year.  

14 minutes ago, Momapalooza said:

This is what I meant too. And yes, same number. 9/12 places (single gender group) I would say is quite skewed region-wise although as others might say perhaps this is coincidence. However this is the same gender group who appear to have quite a lot of training this year. To be fair, I don’t refer just to their own posts although some are very much active posters.  They get posted by various teachers and schools too. And I’m not generalising, just an observation of THIS year’s audition group.  I believe other year groups are more of a mix. And come Year 10 even more so once more internationals enter the mix.  

Sadly, I do think this is going to get more “normalised”. One wouldn’t have to be on social media a lot to see that there is an influx of accounts of kids (parent monitored or otherwise), not yet audition age but already doing a whole lot more than kids their age years ago. The move of a lot of things to online delivery has made the world a much smaller place. Zoom has made it possible for a kid to have 2, 3, 4 lessons a day from the confort of their own homes during lockdown. We’ve seen young kids proudly say on social media that it’s been a busy day with 5 hours of training. Or that they’ve just finished a masterclass, associates, Pilates and then another workshop. It’s easier to contact industry professionals, teachers who wouldn’t normally do private lessons online, company dancers, company teachers. This to me is far from what it used to be years ago. but we’ve heard this before a million times in recent months -  It’s unprecedented times and everyone is trying to make it work, make a living and those who can, take the opportunity to maximise options if they can. My worry is that at some point the lines will get so blurred that panel members and teachers in auditions might have taught auditionees in the past as the world is now so connected virtually and otherwise. Although I know everyone will be consummate professionals and will be acting in separate, professional capacities, I wonder what perception this will give if some kids are familiar with key audition personnel. 

i get you completely and I couldn’t agree more. I think your post was a very good observation and one I had made myself. I have theories as to why I believe a certain area of the country have had access to more training than others but I will keep them to myself as already I feel the point I was making is being misinterpreted. It is a fact that from dance school posts on Instagram/ Facebook with a simple search of royal ballet school you can see quite clearly there is 9 of one gender group from the south. So discussing what has happened in other years is irrelevant. Times are changing over the last year and certain people can access more training more easily via zoom and extra classes and certain people can’t.  I think you made a great point. 

5 minutes ago, oncnp said:

Reece Clarke, First Soloist for the RB, is even further north - Scotland. 

Again I think the point being missed is that OP was in relation to this year and  whether things had started to change. It’s what my reply was in relation to also. This years intake only. And again apologies if this was not clear. But it’s what I thought the topic was regarding 

3 minutes ago, valentina said:

 
The above post is proof then, of how social media can be so misleading! And how interpretation of social media is so misleading! 
I can tell you from experience there are pupils at White Lodge from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester ( many) and Yorkshire. It seems very odd that posters could come to a conclusion about the locations of students from social media alone.

i can’t edit it because I’ve already edited the spelling and can’t edit again. But it was in relation to this years intake only, apologies if that was not clear and I caused confusion but as I say that’s what the original post topic was in relation too. I have seen about 9 posts on social media all of same gender group that are all from the south so I think it was a fair observation and it was interesting how someone else had picked up on that too. Apparently there was 12 places this year so it’s a fair statement to say the majority are from the south 

1 minute ago, valentina said:

 
The above post is proof then, of how social media can be so misleading! And how interpretation of social media is so misleading! 
I can tell you from experience there are pupils at White Lodge from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester ( many) and Yorkshire. It seems very odd that posters could come to a conclusion about the locations of students from social media alone.

the reply was in reference to this years intake only. That is what the original post topic was in relation to but I will edit it to clarify that. 

3 minutes ago, The red shoes said:

I think this is due to the boys only JA class in London. 6 boys were accepted from there. My ds is a Birmingham JA and has a place and I know of one from Newcastle who also has a place 

Ok, that makes sense, it does seem to be the case for the girls also though. Probably just coincidence this year 

Yes was also just referencing to this year that has just been accepted, not other years. that I haven’t heard of many from the north, so far just heard of 1 now, but generally of the many posts I’ve seen they are all from the south 

54 minutes ago, TwirlyWhirly said:

My DS did!

thats good then! Well done to your DS. Your the first I’ve heard of from the north. As the topic is going off social media impressions it’s just from what I’ve seen on social media and I did expect there would be some 

Interestingly I have yet to see or hear of a child from the north of the UK get a place at WL hopefully I am wrong and there is a few out there but from social media this doesn’t appear to be the case. I’m sure it’s just coincidence as I know there was a lot from the north at the finals 

1 minute ago, Momapalooza said:

I am so pleased your DD still had a great experience and at the end of the day, that's what counts.  I think I would let DC audition, but emphasise it is for experience and to have a fun day.  I am also aware though that this is so easy to say, but the truth is, a no is a no and a child will take it as just that.  That moment they get a no email/letter, no matter how we and themselves talk them into it being just an experience, be realistic, it's only a no for now, it's good for you it will teach you resilience/grit/determination - bottom line is it is a no and I doubt a 10/11 year old at that very moment can think of beyond that time.  As a parent, I know this is good for them, life lessons and all that but I know for sure that my heart will break a little for that DC especially when I know I am unable to provide the same level of training etc most others have.

 

I also agree with you about what you saw on Instagram.  I am aware that people of course post the good things, but going on this there would have been way less kids who got in who were not visible and whose training may not have been as intense.  Off the top of my head, we have seen at least 10 of those offered on various forms of social media, and from multiple sources.  When I say 10, I mean just one of the genders (not both).  I think I read on another thread that this school intended to offer maybe just a dozen places.  

 

Your DD has done so well Weloveballet!  very well done to you and her especially when you mentioned her training and not being an associate of any company.  I do think associates schemes vary.  For some, I think it doesn't matter even if it was attached to a school.  For some, the stats suggest that overwhelmingly their intakes are from their own associates scheme.  I do wonder if this deters those who aren't their associates from trying.  As an adult with questionable grit and determination, I think it does me.  But I am old and not really resilient enough. Kids would probably gladly try anyway, even year after year.  I think I am too realistic and look too much at the cold hard numbers.

thank you so much, it really was a great experience and we would do it all again! It’s a lovely place to dance and it’s an amazing audition to work towards. We met lovely mums and my DD met lovely kids there at the audition. Overall it was a really positive experience but as you say a no is still a no and is still upsetting to read despite going in with low expectations. I would 110 percent go for it and wish your DC lots of luck and all the best with it. People will have different experiences in each year I’m sure. You can only do your best and you never know if you don’t try 😀

1 hour ago, Momapalooza said:

Sorry, this is my fault for maybe using the wrong phrase, I didn't mean to make it sound sinister.  I do apologise.  In reality it was more like a casual conversation that was along the lines of "oh, I think so and so will get in to X school, also so and so..."  It is true though that it is quite worrying how some kids are very active on social media at such a young age although I suspect for some of them, the posters are the parent/s.  The flipside to this is that I find it very freaky when a parent posts on a child's account but uses the first person voice, like they are the child actually writing the caption or comment.

speaking in the first person on a child’s account from the parent is fairly common and I think for a good reason. If a child wants a public blog/ journey Instagram (which a lot do nowadays) it is much safer for the parent to run the account.  Speaking as though your the child is just re instating that the account is the child’s journey not theirs. Also if Instagram suspects a child is speaking they will delete. Again for good reason. It is nice to document the journey 

Thanks for posting this. You said exactly what I was thinking. My DD was at the white lodge final, she has not been an associate of any company just regular training at her dance school. It was quite clear from when you see coaches on Instagram posting of the success of getting several through that my daughter never really stood a chance, she’s not a ‘finished product’ so to speak. Although she still made that place in the final despite not being a JA or intense associate training and it was a great experience, going off our experience this time I would say they are looking for a more polished dancer and I would be aware of this when applying. That being said it has all been a great experience non the less and I would still give it a go. But that raw talent of an unpolished mouldable child like for example the  Billy Elliot style story just doesn’t seem true to life unfortunately. In our case and our experience anyway. But obviously this is just my opinion from a newbie to it all here 

2 hours ago, Ballet Dreams said:

The Extended Young Dancers programme, which is for children in year 7 and above I believe is only run from Elmhurst Ballet School itself.  Which is so far from where we live a 6 hour round trip.  There are no other centres for this age group.  My DD is a Young Dancer in year 6 it’s a brilliant scheme I have been so impressed and the progress she has made since joining is phenomenal.  She absolutely loves it.  I don’t think applications have opened yet. 

Thank you 😀 great to hear 

Hi, would love some more information on this when are the audition dates/ entry dates? What’s the usual entry requirements? Where are the centres? (We are near to Manchester)  What days do they run? My DD got to the final for white lodge but wasn’t successful in gaining a place so looking at other options for her whilst waiting to hear back about RBS MA. She is not an associate anywhere currently.  Any info appreciated. Thanks 

Does anyone know with the Mid associates places whether they will be based on the original video audition or the white lodge audition or will they factor both in? Is it the same people that decide for both? I’m assuming that’s why they filmed them? I sadly have told my DD I don’t think a MA place is likely based on the fact she didn’t have the physio checks others mentioned. I just didn’t want her to get her hopes up as yesterday was awful for her. She felt that the audition had gone really well and she’d had a compliment from the artistic director too. But it seems clear they had decided no on her before the physio   

52 minutes ago, Cheshiredancemum said:

We have received a Yes for White Lodge for my DD. X

Congratulations! 

15 minutes ago, Glissé said:

That’s ok, it is important to share both perspectives. In this moment in time reading that no letter may feel like a heartbreak for families and dc but actually may be at your dd’s advantage in the long run. and I agree it’s so easy to be blinkered. Dd hated  boarding was very homesick just wasn’t for her. If I’ve helped at least one family today that’s all that matters. 

Thank you so much 

7 minutes ago, Dancermom said:

Sorry to all the no’s 😢 my DD had a no also, she seems ok, I’m just glad we know now. Now the wait for the mid associates commences x 

Yes I’m glad we know sooner than later. Lots of girl nos on here sounds like an incredibly high standard as they said on the email. They are all superstars to get to the final. And again a big well done to all the yes’s 

2 minutes ago, Returnofthejedi said:

Ah same news in our house..... Sadly a no for my DD and waitlist for summer intensive 😭 now the wait for Mids results which should be after Easter. Trying to remain hopeful 🤞🤞

We are a no also. Sending a hug. Know how you are feeling 

3 minutes ago, Dd_dance said:

@PetitJeté it’s a no for my dd too. Lots of tears from her even though I had tried to prepare her for a no. 
 The email did state the year 7 girls this year were of an exceptionally high standard, so that is a little comforting. Hope your DD is ok xx 

sadly my DD is a no also. Sending a hug. It’s not a nice email to read, wasn’t expecting it today either 

8 minutes ago, PetitJeté said:

Sadly it’s a no for my dd. She’s absolutely gutted. She has a place on the summer school, but I think that’ll be a bit hard now. Well done to everyone for the yeses, such a tough process. 

it’s a no for my DD also.she’s gutted also. Sending a hug.