SplitSoul

I have just seen this Canadian company do period tights and leotards. My daughter is not yet grappling with this, but thought it might be of interest to older girls and women who dance: https://www.knixteen.ca/products/leakproof-tights-teens Specially the tights, as the leo obviously needs to be uniform in most circumstances. Have not seen a UK equivalent.

I agree that music is just as competitive, and for some instruments (piano, violin) possibly even more so. A dancers career is so much shorter. A musician can go on for decades, and it can be an impossibly long wait for a "dead man's shoes" position. There is also not the clear career progression you have from corps de ballet through the principal. So you can end up being 5th desk, second violins for life and never be a soloist. In fact, most soloists don't grow up through a professional orchestra, they start life as soloists!

She is certainly a very talented dancer. I do hope she is genuinely OK and not dancing with injuries which will ultimately affect her day to day mobility for the rest of her life. I agree the pairing of a child with a man is totally off. I know all ballet is make believe and you have to suspend reality (like Odette is not a real swan), but this is a step too far. A man with a girl is too far removed from any reality I wish to consider. I can't plug the gap. There are some Kitri videos of Lada on YouTube at a very young age, which also feel off to me. The role of a seductress should just not be performed by a child.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=wloq2FeUFdM&feature=shares How about this 6 year old?!?!?!

Thanks everyone! Some interesting posts here. I will continue scouring the Internet for it.

I think trigger warnings/age recommendations can be valuable in certain circumstances. I was glad I saw a content warning before booking tickets to Mayerling (not a ballet I know) for my then 8 year old daughter. On the other hand, art, literature, music, dance etc can be a fantastic way of helping to process and understand the world. For an orphaned person (say) to see that their situation is not unique, but that it crops up in stories all the time can be very powerful for a child. Often the orphan "wins" in the end. It shows the orphaned person that they are not alone with their problem. While it might trigger one orphan, it may very well help another. Censorship is absolutely not appropriate.

Has anyone seen the 1983 film about Anna Pavlova? It doesn't seem to be for sale anywhere. Are there any other films that involve biographical information about this amazing woman?

Midland Theatre Ballet have a 3 day workshop in Central Bham. Where in the country are you looking for?

11 to 14 April in Malvern x

I have just signed up for my 9 yo daughter to go as a day participant. She was a bit worried about boarding and I ertainly wasn't ready for her to be away from home that long. Anyone else with a young one going? She will hopefully have done RAD Gr 3 by April, so wondering how that fits with the standard there?

I was underwhelmed by Swan Lake. There were some excellent individuals in the cast (one or two corps de ballet, the Jester), but overall it was under-rehearsed and mediocre talent. The orchestra was far too small and made some howlers, plus had overall tuning and ensemble issues. It was cheap enough, we enjoyed an evening out, but it really did not rival BRB. Also, the Symphony Hall is an among venue, but the audience felt very small, as mist of the seats were empty. A smaller theatre would have been packed out and a much better environment.

Will be seeing Swan Lake in Bham tomorrow, curious to see what they are like!

Wonderful!

My daughter's dance school uses them, not sure what's going on with the email and phone, but they do definitely exist. Our orders come to the dance school and can take for ever to arrive, but I understand that is to do with supplier issues.

The Hippodrome virtual queue is highly irritating. You get put in thr queue just to access your account, even if not booking tickets! I have tried at different times of day and night, and always ended up in the queue. Really puts you off just having a quick check on what's available.

Just back from Coppelia tonight. i am no connoisseur, but utterly enjoyed every second of it. Wonderful set, beautiful music and such amazing dancers (Miki Mizutani and Mathew's Dingman). A definite must-see! The thing that I hate is the traffic in Birmingham. It took 1.5 hours for an 8 mile trip in, we arrived with literally 1 second to spare. Almost 50 mins back, with drunks stepping in front of cars, gridlock traffic. Its awful and so stressful!!

Not aware of anything, but following with interest. EYB have their dates up for next year, is there nothing suitable?

My DD did her first EYB earlier this summer. She is 8. It was an utterly fantastic experience. I would have at least 2 leos, one in the wash and one on. We had the heatwave to contend with, so was washing each day. Same with tights. Not allowed socks. Lots of girls have a skirt but its not essential. It's a long and intense day, plenty of snacks needed. They are so well looked after and learn a huge amount. I can't recommend it highly enough.

https://www.justballet.co.uk/ They seem to have some. Was actually looking for something else and just saw they had them and remembered this thread.

My DD is loving every minute! She is a songbird/Cinderella's attendant. How about yours? Looks like we are the only two on here.

I know what you mean @Ballet_dancer2020. I see it more like falling off a bike. Best thing to do is get straight back on it!

Yay, my DD is so excited!! There is some kind of briefing at 15.45 today. I have so many questions! Just hoping we get through the Friday traffic OK, coming from Solihull way. See you later!

My DD got into EYB and got a straight no for JAs. Luckily, the EYB result came out first, so it softened the JA result. Go for it, I would say!

Hello! I am not a dancer, but 180cm and shoe size 40. I don't think I have small feet at all. I think your shoe size is average to large for your height. I know many people taller than you with smaller feet. In shoe shops, you don't get much past 42 for women, and lots have size 36 or 37. So you are perfectly in the middle if not slightly above.

@Ballet_dancer2020 we had floods of tears, and just incredulous cries of "but I really wanted to get in". She has gained a little perspective in the last hour or so, but the disappointment is huge. It's so hard when you are 8, next year seems way too far off. She knew the odds were against her and understands that, but she just couldn't believe they didn't understand how much she wanted it.