Kitschqueen_1

I am not sure how you can say a mixture of A's & B's is not brilliant, it is all relative to the young person and I would say well done to her! Like you say she has the potential to improve these grades further still over the next few months. You say she is not intending to audition this year for dance courses so what are her long term goals? Surely that should determine the balance between her dance and academic studies and how much she spends on each :-) . Dancing can be such a relief from the academic pressures that are put on young people these days. My dd is doing her AS levels this year and is still torn between a career in contemporary dance or a French degree!! We and her CAT course tutors are looking at opportunities for her to audition and study dance in a French speaking country!!! Allows her to pursue her two passions! Good luck to your dd and every other yp taking exams this year :-)

On the plus side I did glimpse a topless Jonathan Ollivier rehearsing Swan Lake when they went to talk to Matthew Bourne!! :-D

I am Yorkshire based and actually saw the original promo material from channel 4 inviting people to audition for this tv programme. I do not remember the emphasis being so size biased but more about people who loved ballet and for whatever reasons never had the opportunity to pursue their dance dreams. I did actually consider auditioning (for about 30 seconds) but couldn't risk my dd never speaking to me again!! :-D. Interesting how size has become the main focus even in the titling of the programme. In the main I did enjoy it, but agree that there was too much focus on food and the reinforcement of some of the stereotypes associated with ballet.

Got our tickets for 5th April at The Lowry :-)

Mussels, cockles, whelks, oysters (especially with champagne!). I love them all. :-) I do find individual choices & preferences to food interesting, I for one can't stand belly pork as I have childhood memories of my mother serving it coated in breadcrumbs & I remember it being fatty & unpalatable. It has now become quite 'trendy' & I wonder if I chose it in a good restaurant whether it would change my opinion. Everyone's views are valid and there is some great research regarding cultural attitudes to what foods are deemed to be acceptable to eat.

My 16 year old dd refused to get out of her pyjamas today but did join us for Christmas lunch. I just look at my wonderful 27 year old daughter and know that they all come through it eventually :-)

You are in for a treat! I have also seen the original cast dance it on tv many times but I was not prepared for how powerful it is when seen live. How exciting for your dd to meet Adam Cooper, he was the original Lead Swan but for me now Johnathon Olivier will be forever etched into my memory! <3

That's brilliant news and what a gorgeous pic :-) x

Thought so!! :-) I was sat above you on the first row of the circle. I have just booked tickets to see it again in Bradford.

Well having just returned from the Lowry, I totally agree with everything nottsballetlover said. I was totally blown away by what I watched tonight. We also saw The Swan/Stranger danced by Jonathon Ollivier and The Prince by Simon Williams and the interaction between the two of them especially in Act 4 was mesmerising and incredibly moving. Tonight The Queen was danced by Michela Meazza, The girlfriend was Anjali Mehra and The Private Secretary, Jack Jones. It was great to see Glenn Graham dance this eve as I have watched him many times with Phoenix Dance. I could happily go and watch this cast again, everyone danced their parts to perfection and the characterisation was upheld throughout. A standing ovation in Salford tonight too, maybe it was for the very pleasurable sight of Jonathon Ollivier in leather trousers in Act 3!!! I would have missed my train for him nottsballetlover hehe :-) Sorry agree with you too Janet, think we were posting at same time. We're you sat on front row of stalls this eve?

Fabulous review nottsballetlover, I'm even more excited now to see it at The Lowry next weekend :-)

Brilliant idea S&P. I was thinking exactly the same myself but don't have the technical know how! :-)

How anyone manages to keep their voice healthy performing night after night astounds me! Guess its the same as a ballerina's feet, they are the tools of the trade and have to be looked after. Definitely preferred Elphaba's voice but loved Glinda's characterisation :-)

My beloved parents definitely qualify as twirlys and have always been avid ballet and theatre goers . Due to my dd attending a contemporary CAT scheme they have been exposed to contemporary dance and are now converts! (Though do tend to cope better with Matthew Bourne than Michael Clarke! :-D)

Dd and I loved Glinda (toss, toss :-D) but it was Elphaba who stole the show for us last night. In fact I had a bit of a "moment" during Defying Gravity at the end of the first Act. It was so special that the second act was a bit of an anti-climax in comparison. I agree with your hubby it's probably not my favourite show but it was well worth the money and I will never watch The Wizard of Oz in the same way again! :-) Sorry mods we have gone way off topic!!

After quite dramatic body changes during puberty my dd realised that a classical ballet training was out of reach and is now pursuing a career in contemporary dance. However after watching Wicked last night I think she now wishes she'd considered MT. Absolutely fabulous!! :-)

Without a doubt!! Like wagon wheels and curly wurlys :- D

How old is your dd Moomin and what time is her class? I have a great recipe for a one pot chicken dish that I have used on dance nights that is nutritious, delicious and not too heavy. It can be cooked earlier or in a slow cooker, transferred to a thermos food flask to take to dancing, or can be microwaved or is ready if slow cooked when you get in. Of course it depends what time you get home. My Dd is now nearly 17 and gets herself to her CAT scheme from 6th form during the week, she will take a bean salad and some fruit with her and I have a light hot meal ready for her when she gets in. She often has a couple of hours of homework to do before bed so has time to digest it!! I appreciate it would be more tricky with little ones but even when younger my dd never seemed to have trouble sleeping after a late dance finish and late meal!! :-D

What would we do without you afab? Our expert in France, thank-you :-) x

Best wishes to you and your poorly DS. Children and young people are always more resilient than adults so I am sure he is doing better than you are!! Positive thoughts to you both xx

Love this thread, but at the end of the day we raise our children to be independent adults and the problem lies with us if we cannot let them go and fulfil that potential. Maybe when they are young and at vocational school parents are placed in this situation earlier than most and it's far more stressful, but at 15/16 it is the developmental norm for them to assert their independence and no longer need their mums to the same extent. Loved your post T4 B bout ur dd at Kings Cross. I spent the bank holiday w/end rescuing my dd & her friends from a washed out weekend at Leedsfest. Mud.......I've never seen anything like it and I'm still cleaning it out of my car now!! However negotiating London the following w/end to see Selena Gomez was no problem for her. At 16, she was much more comfortable in a city environment than a muddy field in Leeds. Our dc's have amazing skills and resources that we should embrace and celebrate rather than mourn the fact they no longer need us :-)

Well I've just come home from watching 4 amazing dancers from Retina Dance Company " chucking themselves about and rolling around on the floor" albeit with the most fantastic technique :-D. The more contemporary I watch the more I absolutely love it even if I don't always understand it!

Glad she enjoyed it T4B :-) I have no insights to offer on the different types of contemporary dance despite dd being on a CAT scheme. Two years on I am still none the wiser! :-D Your question did remind me though of when dd & I went to watch Phoenix Dance and had a class of GCSE dance students sat behind us. They struggled to engage with it in the first half, giggling and whispering all the way through. Then there was a piece where the gorgeous Josh Wille removed his shirt during a duet and complete silence ensued. At the end there was a pause and then a collective "how fit is he?". It did make me smile and I agreed wholeheartedly! :-D. Interestingly they then engaged fully with the remaining performances.

Genius!! :-)

I wish I lived nearer to London! I remember first seeing Michael Clarke and his dancers in 1985 when the company was newly formed and I was pregnant with my eldest daughter. I am very excited to be seeing the company again next month at The Lowry and I notice that Charles Atlas and Stevie Stewart (ex BodyMap) are still very much involved. :-)