Friends

Have you looked on you tube? Just put ballet stretching into the search box.

Sorry to hear your dd is unwell. When my dd was in hospital we started to do jigsaws together. We still have the photos of all the ones we managed to complete.

Is it worth it?

I'm a fan of Compeed products. You can put the plasters on a raw blister and you wouldn't know you had one! They act like a second skin.

Anyone read The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme to help you achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness by Dr Steve Peters? He is the British Cycling Team's resident psychiatrist.

Thanks for that information Elliepops. I've just had a quick look and they look great but I think I was looking for something for perhaps the 16-25 years old.

Just wondering if there is an equivalent to the EYB for adults? This would enable those that didn't make it to vocational schools to continue to perform.

I'm not sure how many places on offer but I overheard there were 107 girls auditioning that day. That probably didn't include the WL girls.

Interesting! It's amazing how much information you can gather via this forum. Please keep fuelling my knowledge.

Many thanks for all of your support. Interesting day having coffee with fellow mums and discussing all options. DD did her best so we shall see.

Thank you for the continued support. It's 6.30am and all is calm at the moment. I wonder how long this will continue? Fingers crossed.

We're just preparing for our early start tomorrow for the RBS auditions.

The good thing about football is that you can still earn a decent living at semi-professional level.

Aileen, We would never punch the judge, it was my husband's sense of humour

Just logged on today after visiting my daughter to discover that I am considered "scary". This did make me smile and laugh. I've never considered myself scary perhaps assertive? I like to make informed decisions so make every effort to gather as much information first. Do you really think my dd applied to these 6th form schools before having any advice from her teachers? On having achieved her RAD Advanced 1 last summer with a distinction we were called to a meeting with her teacher to discuss her future. We have a very good respectful relationship with her teachers. They are the experts so am I wrong to doubt their opinion? I am not one of those pushy mums. I do consider some dance competitions a waste of time and MONEY! My dd took part in her one and only dance festival some 8 years ago and it cost me a total of £320 for 4 minutes performance time. Is it value for money? This would buy me 3 full performances of a ballet with the EYB plus rehearsals and lessons. I know which one I would choose. The EYB gives a much better feeling of being part of a company and friendships thrive. The festivals made me experience negative feelings that didn't make me feel good. As a result of this I would only let my dd take part in competitions that involved the competitors being on a level playing field. The comment on waste of time refers to the sacrifices she has made to pursue this dream. Her 2nd love is hockey and has played at county level but had to stop this as it was considered she should dedicate as much time as possible to her ballet lessons. If it wasn't considered a possibility of her obtaining a 6th form place then I wouldn't have invested in the extra lessons and workshops. All of the decisions for my dd's future are calculated. So far she has 320 UCAS tariff points from her dance exams so not bad for a 15 year old.

Perhaps with all of the discussion about the DADA awards I think there is an alternative to vocational school. There are going to be a lot of talented students out there unable to fulfil their dream due to funding. The cost towards accommodation could be used towards funding the ballet tuition. If there are a number of these students within a certain area lessons could be arranged to share these tuition costs. These students could probably study a couple of A levels of their choice as well. It would involve a lot of organising but with the right training I feel it can be achieved especially if there are a number to share the costs. It sounds like I'm starting a new school for those who didn't make it due to funding??!!

My point about self serving relates to the vocational schools record at obtaining placements for their students at the end of year 11 and year 3 at 6th form. Can anyone give me the % of students achieving places within the 6th form of RBS and Elmhurst having gone through their respective systems since year 7 please?

Dear Vonrothbart, I can assure you that we do not put our daughter on a pedestal! Far from it. I don't expect her to get offered any places but those around us imply she is good enough. My surprise was that she could't get through the first round. My daughter has dedicated much of her spare time to ballet and all I want is someone to say you are wasting your time if this is the case. We all get sucked into this world which is self serving.

French pleats tend to be worn by girls from 16+ and they look fantastic but how they are achieved is a miracle unless hair is of a shorter length!

Try starting with the ponytail first. Once that is mastered the bun will follow. My daughter's problem and mine is trying to do the french pleat!

I do understand that a dancer needs corrections but they also need some encouragement. One of my dd's teachers used the approach of teaching her with "Tender Loving Care" which she thrived on. I never did ballet and I'm very proud of my dd being committed to such an art , because I would have given up years ago. A negative should go hand in hand with a positive! I just think that the teachers had to put up with the corrections so that method of teaching is passed down.

Does anyone know the typical daily schedule for a 6th form ballet student? I need to know what type of training they undergo please.

Yes my dd does have outstanding auditions but I'm just exploring possibilties. I have researched the Harid Conservatory aswell. I like to explore all avenues and I was intrigued to get some thought on his option.

I have been thinking ahead if there is an alternative to vocational 6th form schools? Could my dd continue her A levels with some flexibility from her school to allow her to find some form of training to match up with that offered by the vocational schools? I feel she needs at least 25 hours a week of training. The cost of going to these schools is substantial so could that money go towards private training? With more personalised training would the student be able to compete with those that have had vocational training from a younger age? I have always wondered could my dd enter the company audition circuit in year 3 and compete without having been to a vocational school but has continued the training privately to a similar standard?

Can I just say thank you very much to everyone who has replied to this thread. I'm touched by the support of so many strangers! Thank you to Lildancer for your PM it was much appreciated! Everyone has a story to tell. We can cope with rejection but I don't understand the opinion. You spend hours and money persuing a passion that your dd has and I feel that if it is a waste of time then those in a position should be HONEST enough to tell us so. This whole world baffles me! It is as if no respect is given to the dancer or parent who is making these sacrifices to support their child. Fortunately I'm in a position to financially support our dd but I've heard so many stories of people remorgaging their house or working all hours for their child. I RESENT this if my dd is just not good enough. We need to be told before we are sucked into this world. Another example is my dd auditioned for a part in the forthcoming school show which she didn't get but no-one had the courtesy to email her to let her know. She just assumed she didn't get it when the other girls started posting their success on Facebook. I'm not sure that this is a world that I want my dd to enter because it is definitely the dancer that is taken advantage of. I have to plan my life in order for my dd to attend all lessons and rehearsals. It would be great if this could happen in the dance world. (ps I know I come across as bitter and twisted but I'm just frustrated at the whole process) These kids have enough to contend with of the pressures of GCSE's let alone this on top!