Drdee

26 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said:

 

 

And for ten years before the current director, the director and her associate director were women.  Swings and roundabouts and the best person for the job.

 

The current director's number 2 and 3 (in seniority) are female. 

This is a thorny issue. I would look at roles and salaries. I am not sure how transparent this is in the ballet world.  

2 hours ago, TSR101 said:

 

ENB seems to be in chaos at the moment. She's only just joined, and was their attempt to replace Alina!. 

I think the pandemic has meant many of us have been doing a lot of soul searching. Not sure chaos can be construed from someone leaving somewhere after only a short while. I have no insider knowledge but I know of colleagues doing brave and rash things as a result of the global situation.

Just now, Drdee said:

I had wanted to mention this earlier but didn’t have the full details. Thanks for sharing. She also completed a PhD. No mean feat on top of everything!!

Sorry I realise you were asking a question.

2 hours ago, Ian Macmillan said:

Amongst all the suggestions for a new AD at ENB, is there anyone who has done something similar to what Ms Rojo did whilst still with the RB - ie go and find experience with an AD elsewhere, as she did for about 6 weeks with Karen Kain at National Ballet of Canada?  

I had wanted to mention this earlier but didn’t have the full details. Thanks for sharing. She also completed a PhD. No mean feat on top of everything!!

It’s interesting Leanne Benjamin’s name hasn’t come up. She may be keen to put her hat in the ring!

1 minute ago, Kendie76 said:

Aww thank you. My daughter is 17 but still young for her age if that makes sense. I would say her strengths are dancing but she does need more work in her MT. She auditioned for urdang but wasn’t successful and just waiting on LSC. She has Wilkes,performers,bird,trinity Laban and addict. She has been a dancer since she was 3 and she has RAD ballet exams also. 

I think she needs to keep being positive that she will offered a place or places. Onwards and upwards as they say. I know it’s tough. My daughter still hasn’t forgiven me for opening her offer from Laines. Fingers crossed.

37 minutes ago, Kendie76 said:

You know I’m so glad I joined this forum!! Honestly daughter is super positive but open minded aswell. Her philosophy is ‘what will be will be’. LSC isn’t a definite no but the audition process is a little confusing. Thank you so much for all your advice. She still has a few other options bless her. So it’s probably more me worrying than her haha. Thanks again xx

@Kendie76 I will say it is much more competitive for girls (or should we say young ladies). I am not sure what your DD’s current training is and what her focus is and her age. My DD went to MT training at 18 (Urdang) and was training at a local stage school for 7 yrs and academic studies to A levels. What is her current training? I think a Foundation course is worth considering. How many more auditions? Which ones? Happy to talk via DM if helpful

4 hours ago, Gowiththeflo said:

🙈Yes- DD’s first 3 were over 8 days…… & throw in overnight stays the night before too.  I defo think charts helped, with train /hotel details etc too…… helped husband work out what was going on too!! 🤣

 

hairpinseverywhere where’s her favourite? What’s her background/strengths?? 
 

My Dd is definitely a dancer first,(ballet/contemporary/jazz/tap/theatrecraft, rather than street/hip hop/commercial etc) singer/actor second. I feel Bird/Laine ( obvs funding issues🙈) might suit her style more than Urdang, but that’s what we really want to find out……. 

I think that Urdang has this name of being ‘commercial’ but I don’t know why. I think it may depend if you do the diploma or the degree. My daughter is a strong dancer (ballet, contemporary, modern,tap, Classical Greek) but wanted to improve her singing and acting.  She is loving her time at Urdang and is doing all dance genres. She likes the academic side as well. She wanted to be in the thick of it in London and gets to see performances every week. I would focus on what your daughter’s ambition is and what you can afford. She wanted a degree and Urdang is accredited with University of Birmingham. I have no idea about recall chances sorry. 

I don’t know anything about NAPM but I’m happy to

provide advice on MT courses as my younger DD is in her second year at Urdang and we are familiar with a range of courses.

This is great news. I was told that there was only 1 British born BAME girl who graduated from a ballet vocational school last year. Ballet Black picked her up. More needs to be done. I see pointe shoes will be paid for that’s great!

5 hours ago, alison said:

Welcome to the forum, Drdee.

Thanks Alison for the welcome. 

12 hours ago, Emmabclarke said:

I'm reading these comments and I don't recognise these experiences. I realise each family's experience is different and every child's ballet journey is different.

 

However:

 

My experience of RBS and my child's experience bear *no resemblance* to these accounts.

 

If I didn't have total faith in the pastoral care my child has received, I'd have taken my child out of the school.

 

If I didn't have total faith in the school's ability to help my child become a grounded, rounded, happy, well-educated young person I'd have taken my child out of the school.

 

If I didn't have total faith in the school's ability to help and support my child when difficulties, illnesses and injuries arise, I'd have taken my child out of the school.

 

If I didn't have total faith that the school would listen to any concerns and react positively and quickly, I'd have taken my child out of the school.

 

I wouldn't have let my child stay in an environment where I didn't believe my child's best interests were being served.

 

I will make no further comment because honestly, this is everything I want to say.

 

 

 

 

Emma

Thank you for sharing your experience. Whilst my daughter did not study at a lower school I could echo every single point you have said here in relationship to the three positive years my daughter had at the ballet school in the West of Scotland that was reported on by ITV and then closed. I was ignorant to a lot of what went on but also I did not have a good understanding of the breadth of what safeguarding actually entails.  I do not think there is enough education around this let alone productive discussion. It really is complex and complicated.

For those of you who want to join in the conversation please have a look at the work 'Saferdance Working Group' are doing.  This came out of the events from last year and RAD leading the way. Whilst specifically focussed on dance in out of hours settings, it is where dance educators, dance examining bodies and government organisations, dance parents, dance students and safeguarding experts are working collaboratively.  Have a look here:  https://www.dsswg.org.uk/resources. It is an ongoing learning experience for all of us and of course an under researched area. 

Denise