Kitschqueen_1

Good luck to you Fiz, I'm sure you will enjoy every minute. I have been doing an adult tap class for fitness and fun for a number of years; Andy Garcia I aint but my a**e and thighs aren't bad for a 50 year old! . I echo what others have said, when I am in that studio I can think of nothing else other than the next step so for that 45 minutes it totally clears my head of all the worries I usually carry round. Have fun

Have also sent you a PM

Don't the Royal Ballet run the Primary Steps scheme where they go into primary schools sourcing talent? I'm sure those children aren't in brand new leotards and shoes, school PE kits at best. Good luck to everyone trying

This makes perfect sense to me as vitamin D is essential for bone health eg rickets was directly linked to vitamin D deficiency. Will they send pupils with low levels on a holiday to sunnier climes?

I agree with discreet monitoring but I think as mother's we also need to look at the messages we give our children about food and dieting. I know that in the past I have been guilty of constantly grumbling about my weight, going on fad diets for quick short term weight loss prior to holiday's, big nights out etc before falling back into previous bad habits and grumbling all over again. I am now consciously trying not to do this following a minor scare with my DD at the beginning of last year. Instead I role model healthy eating and moderate exercise but I do sometimes feel I am fighting a losing battle when she is constantly being bombarded by messages in the media that skinny=successful, never mind the pressure she receives from other sources.

I think there is a huge difference between anorexia nervosa which is a psychiatric condition that requires long term specialist intervention, and "eating disorders" that can be prevalent amongst pubescent and teenage girls (and boys). My daughter is at a highly academic grammar school and even within her peer group there is pressure to become involved in "competitive" dieting and over exercising in order to be the thinnest. None of her peers are dancers so pressures to be thin and distorted body image are not confined to the ballet/dance community. It's not to say that developing an abnormal relationship with food for whatever reason won't escalate into a diagnosible disorder, but anorexia nervosa is far more complex than just stopping eating.

Gosh.... laser treatment sounds expensive but i guess it pays for itself in the longer term

I guess by using progesterone only contraception devices, or taking the combined pilll without a break as eventually menstruation stops altogether. Even worse if you're a lap dancer!

I know Northern School of Contemporary Dance CAT will source satellite classes but I am unsure about Northern Ballet CAT

Interesting debate!! I went to watch Nederlands Dans Theater 2 last week (amazing! ) and did wonder this to myself as I watched one of the female dancers in very tight nude shorts being lifted into compromising positions. I decided that only a full Hollywood would have been sufficient! I know my 15 year old DD spends hours in the bathroom shaving her armpits and is very self-conscious about 5 o'clock shadow.

Hi, have sent you a pm

Hi my daughter is in her first year at Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and I would say it is definately worth the money. They all have a physiotherapy assessment, tutorial and an individual training plan compiled at the beginning of the academic year with their targets for the year. We also got a report at the end of the first term with additional areas to work on. She studies with them for 8 hours per week, 3 hours of contemporary technique, 3 hours of creative and 2 hours of complimentary study eg ballet and pilates. On top of this there has been an intensive weekend, a week of alternative dance styles and this week it is choreography week where she is in working with Errol White on her end of year performance. There is another intensive week in the summer. There are numerous opportunities to perform in community projects. She has had 4 trips to the theatre to watch Retina dance, Rambert, Phoenix Dance and Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (amazing!! ), all included in the fees. They all went to Move It in London for the weekend (but I did have to pay extra for this.) The group of young people she is with (and the older students) are amazing and the teachers push them to their limits but also value them and and they are encouraged to be the best they can be. They are trained in injury prevention and supported with nutrition and diet. As it is a pre-vocational course they are fully prepared as they progress through the scheme for applying and auditioning for full time training. I get a part MDS and still have to contribute a significant amount to the scheme but I personally feel it is worth every penny!

My daughter does an hour and a half pilates a week as part of her CAT scheme. She really enjoys it and has noticed a big difference in her core strength :-)

Does anyone attend a full time place at LSCD or know anyone who does?

Leeds has Harvey Nicholls!!!! What more do you want? their coffee is amazing.

Northern Ballet Academy is based at Northern Ballet's headquarters at Quarry Hill in Leeds. They have an associate scheme for 10-16 year olds and are also the only ballet CAT in the country. Northern Ballet School is based in Manchester and is a post 16 full time vocational dance college offering dance degrees/ diplomas. In the first year all students study a variety of dance styles then in year 2 they separate choosing either a purely classical strand or musical theatre. This is my understanding and experience but I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong

I know my daughter's CAT will source local satellite classes for one of the weekly sessions for those who live very far away. One of the boys in her year travels 2 1/2 hours each way to attend! It's an hour each way for us so not too bad.

Hi, the CAT schemes are fabulous. My daughter is in her first year at Northern School of Contemporary Dance and loves every minute of it. This was actually a plan B for us too and then she chose it above 2 ballet associate schemes she'd successfully auditioned for!! Go figure

Fingers crossed for you Lil

Hi LB, could i ask, did you need to dance a solo for your Rambert audition?

Commiserations Lil .

What a fantastic position to be in. Well done you I'm sure you will make the right decision for you.

I have no direct experience, but one of my DD's friends has done it for the last few years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think she will be there again this year as she has been offered a full time 6th form place on their classical course for September.

Thank you for posting this. I had tickets to go on Sat eve but couldn't attend due to a family crisis. I'm looking forward to seeing his version of Sleeping Beauty at the Lowery in November.

We managed to get Paul Hamlyn tickets to watch The Nutcracker at the ROH last December via the Sun newspaper! We paid £9 for fabulous 2nd row circle stall seats. The notification to register interest appeared in the Sun around the middle of November, keep your eyes peeled everybody! :-)