BalletBoyMum1

1 minute ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

I think your son was just as good as everyone in the room. DS told me everyone was amazing (he was beaming when he told me this!)
And 3 lessons a week isn’t too few, that’s what DS usually does too, two group classes and one 30 min private (we’ve only increased it slightly in lockdown due to general activity levels being so low - I didn’t want DS to become lazy, or addicted to his video games...which we haven’t actually been able to avoid 🙄🤦‍♀️). 
 

It’s so good your DS is buzzing! Mine has a real spring in his step too and is dancing about just really happy. It’s really motivated him. I really want him to live in that moment a bit longer. 😁✨✨✨ 

 

....but I’d also like to know. (Painful!) 

Haha, yes I've had to add restrictions now on my boys computers as they were both getting to the point of being obsessed. Since I've limited their time they've both been drawing lots and doing craft bits (with all their little sister's materials, much to her disgust).

During the big lockdown last year though, the computer was such a big help to alleviate boredom and to connect with their friends. This time they've been going to school throughout so still seeing some friends and using their brains.

Just now, Dancermom said:

I think they are different to us, personally I think they only think about it when we mention it, I don’t think they’d stress like us x 

Completely agree with this. I teach at a secondary school and only a couple I teach get stressed about stuff. The majority just go about life without a care in the world

4 minutes ago, Dancermom said:

I totally agree, I’m looking forward to the summer holidays when all the results will be out and we can relax until the madness starts up again! X

I'm praying the restrictions lift and we can go on our caravan holiday to France this year as it was cancelled last summer.

It is madness, it's all consuming. I feel like we've been thrown into another world!

1 minute ago, The red shoes said:

Who knows what they are looking for 🤷🏼‍♀️ I really wouldn’t worry. In the past ,children have been accepted without even doing much ballet before but more gymnastics. They had the right attributes / equipment etc . It really is a guessing game. 
Also they take 14 boys maxim. They don’t have to fill up the spaces and won’t. If they only like 6 or7 boys they will only take that amount . 
I’ll be very glad when this is all over to be honest, it’s consuming me!!!  Xx

I'll be glad when it's over too. I can't concentrate on my research project I'm supposed to be doing today and I've still got a lesson to plan for tomorrow but my head is all over the place. Luckily it doesn't appear to be bothering my son in the same way. I think this is worse that waiting for news for anything I've ever done for myself 😂

I'm at home today and not in school so I'll see his school teacher at the gate this afternoon and see if he's been different in class at all, but at home he seems his usual self. 

Wow, I've just read all of your replies and am now certain my ds will get a no. 

I don't have a clue whether his turnout is good or his hamstrings are tight etc. He does his 3 lessons a week, does a few stretches most days, can't get into any splits, but is a lot closer to it since starting with a different dance school last March (and doing more lessons with his teacher). I honestly feel completely clueless. He only originally did the video for an MA space but his teacher said about ticking the box for the school and sending one to Elmhurst too. In his head he would love to dance every day and be with other boys (and girls) of his age who also love ballet. But he won't be too upset if he doesn't get a place as he never thought he would even get an audition. 

I've not seen him dance officially since before he joined his new dance school, so don't really know what he's like. Obviously I watched his audition videos snd he's definitely improved a lot since the last time we were allowed to have a viewing week, but I don't know what I'm looking for, so just don't have a clue!!!

Your boys all sound so amazing, confident and so good at ballet. I don't know how they will choose only 14 of them!

I've not asked about the audition since Friday evening. He spouted out loads on the way home. Mentioned one of 2 bits over the weekend that I hadn't heard first time, when he was telling my Mum what it was like. He's still grinning every now and then and when I ask why he says he is just thinking about the school! He had his private lesson on zoom last night and came out of the lounge after buzzing - his teacher obviously knows what he's talking about, so they had a little catch up and talked technical stuff!

I'm just hoping we don't have to wait the full 2 weeks. This is worse than waiting for my exam results last year!!!

14 minutes ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

I’m sure she will have the most wonderful time. Smile lots, befriend others and dance like you love it. DS said the chaperone was really lovely too. I just asked him for any advice and he says don’t worry, it’s way more fun than you think it will be - if he could do it all again, he would. And best of luck. ❤️

My son said the chaperones were really lovely too. It seems it was all very relaxed x

2 minutes ago, Dancermom said:

Thanks for all the info! Oh gosh I wonder what questions they’ll be asked at the end. I thought they’d got over that with the zoom interview 🤦‍♀️🤣

My son said they asked why they started dancing and what they like doing in their spare time xx

17 hours ago, The red shoes said:

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 😴😴😴😴

15 hours ago, Lara Eschler said:

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

We are 9am too. See you both there!

We are staying overnight the night before as it's too far to drive that early. I'll take a bath bomb so he can have a relaxing bubble bath in the hotel before bed. 

Just now, The red shoes said:

Which group was your ds in? My ds said how lovely the boys were in his group too. So supportive and encouraging, all wishing each other luck etc. ❤️

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

My ds was telling me all about the other boys, they got onto discussing Harry potter at one point! 

He loved just being there and loves the school but is very aware that he was nowhere near as good as the other boys. He's only been dancing for 2 years so this was all a bit of a shock getting to finals.

He couldn't stop talking about everything and just when I'd thought he'd finished and we started listening to our book again, he paused it and told me something else he remembered 😂 And he was asleep within 5 minutes of getting into bed tonight after the journey home.

Thank you to the other boys in his group for making the day special - hopefully they'll all get a space as my son said how fab they were! 

I really wanted to say hello too while waiting in the queue as this is all new to me aswell as my son xx

Wow 3 days of girls! Good luck to all of them.

Has anyone heard what is happening for the children not able to attend in person?

And good luck to everyone's little boys who are auditioning today. When are the girls? Next week?

My son went in at 1.30, so I'm just sitting in some random carpark killing time!

All the boys waiting in the line seemed happy and excited. I can't wait to find out what it was like as he has never done an audition before.

We also have 9am on 18th for my ds. I've just booked a Premier Inn Birmingham South Hall Green as it has parking. Looks like it is about 20 minutes away.

Restaurant is closed so I'm going to take some cereal, milk, fruit and croissants etc with us and have a continental breakfast in our room!

2 hours ago, BalletBoyMumma said:

DS will chat to any and everyone, even the staff. I think he goes there TO make friends and doesn’t get the concept of how competitive it all is just yet (thankfully for him). 😅

He came out of JA auditions telling me about the friends he’d made - their names, where they travelled from, their interests. 😂 He was so super relaxed at that one though. 

I'm so pleased my ds is it the same group as yours. He is not competitive at all, just loves dancing. So now a bit worried about what he's going to be like if everyone around him is stretching etc.

His dance school is so friendly, there's only about 20 dancers and one other, older, boy who made him feel at ease from the minute that he started there.

Maybe I'm too naive, but I just want him to go, have a fun afternoon dancing, enjoy himself and see what happens.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I thought similar in regards to activities - book, cards, board game, drawing book, rubiks cube. Lets hope they get to play together and get to know each other.

I'll be finding a spot in the park, if nice, to either do some marking from the first week back at school or read a book in peace and quiet for a few hours. It's a shame it is still lockdown or we could have all met each other and had a chat.

My son is excited but also a bit apprehensive as this is the first time he is doing anything like this. I've just said to be yourself and enjoy the lesson, then they will see your happiness shine through. I'm just hoping he does as his fake smile looks like he's in pain (you know the one, the school photo smile!) 😂

We're quite relaxed about it all as we hadn't really considered he would get this far. 

Hi, this is my first post.

My ds has finals for both White Lodge and Elmhurst. He isn't a JA or the equivalent at Elmhurst. He's been dancing for just over 2 years and his teacher suggested applying to MA's, so we submitted an application for the school too. I don't come from a dancing background, so have no clue about this. They suggested applying to Elmhurst too, as we might regret it in years to come if he wasn't given the opportunity. He also has a place on the Royal Ballet Spring Intensive but isn't applying for the summer one as he didn't want to miss his last week of Primary School and we are hopefully on holiday for the second week.

My post was mainly to say not everyone with a final audition is a JA or even known to the schools at all. He really is a novice compared to others it seems - did I read that there is only about 28 boys at finals?!

We have to arrive on Friday 12th at 1.30 to 2 and collect at 5.20pm. I'm hoping there is a Costa or similar open to grab a drink and cake. We're driving and it looks like a 2 hour journey, first long journey in our electric car, so may be looking for a charging point nearby too. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough for a walk around the park.

Good luck to everyone's children - it is so exciting for them all to have got this far.