Yes that all seems very true.
It started off with an ad asking for dancers with some paid positions but on applying by video she was offered trainee which do all company class and performances but, for that you have to pay. All my intuition says not to take it but my daughter all she has ever wanted and done since the age of 4 is dance and perform and nothing paid for has come up. Even a couple of her fellow dancers at her London Ballet school travelled abroad to audition, which they understood was for a paid job and they got offered a years contract as a 'trainee' which they are charged for. I suppose they are getting company experience. A lot of the jobs ask for experience.
Other than this for new dancers their is further training at new post graduate one year courses, for example at Cymru Ballet, pre professional programme (daughter offered this also) they take company class and perform too but have to pay for the course. As the programme does not give a qualification higher than the Dance and Performance Degree already held it is not funded by student finance but has to be self funded. I do feel these courses are taking advantage of young dancers and pumping more money into the dance education industry, but what are new professional dancers to do when jobs are scarce to come by. They will want something to keep them dancing.
My only hope is that this Etoile Ballet Theatre would lead to a company place as they say most of their company dancers are from the trainee programme but I'm doubtful that for most this becomes a reality. Still don't know what to do but I've told my daughter not to sign the contract as once signed she is liable to pay whether or not she goes as no cancellation clause.
As I'm writing this I'm more and more sceptible about the whole thing.
