Kitschqueen_1

As a mum of two daughters aged 27 and 16, both have experienced this type of behaviour from their peers at some point when growing up and not just within the dance world. My experience is that as parents we often want to jump in and rescue them when in fact one of the most important lessons we can teach them is how to resolve conflict and develop resiliance. Many a time I have gone in all guns blazing, tackling the other girls' parents and meanwhile the girls themselves have made up and are the best of friends again!!! It does seem to be a part of female development and my friends who have sons have not had the same issues. Of course systematic bullying is a different thing all together that does need the adults to take control. As ever there has been some great advice on here and I hope things get resolved for your dd Clara. Balletbun, your dd's experience sounds very different. Children and young people as they enter puberty and adolescence take risks, experiment, they desperately want to fit in with peers ,can be easily led and sometimes make the wrong choices where mistakes are made. They are still learning and developing and I find it hard to understand why anyone would think it would be different for those children and young people in vocational schools. Okay, they are talented, driven and focused but they are still children and young people who are going through normal developmental stages. I hope your dd, with your support can overcome this setback and continue to pursue her dreams.

Hi Klaris, my dd & ur dd would make quite an impact in a line up as my dd is 10" taller!:-)

Good luck to your dd Clara. I know it is the full day auditions at my Dd's CAT in Leeds tomorrow so good luck to anyone doing these too ;-).

Or maybe not!!!! Just had a look myself and can't see ages mentioned anywhere.......sorry :-)

If you go on their website, I am sure you will be able to get that information there :-)

My DD auditioned for this in Glasgow two years ago. She had also auditioned for Northern Ballet Academy and York Scholars in the same year and I know she did find the Aspiring Professionals audition the most challenging of the three (though no further information was forthcoming!). She was offered a place but then in a complete curve ball chose a contemporary CAT place despite never having a contemporary lesson in her life! I know she sometimes regrets not taking up the place but at the time I could not commit financially to both schemes. Her friend who audtioned at the same time did take up the place, thoroughly enjoyed it and is now studying with Ballet West in Oban full time.

I think people either love Baz Luhrman's work or hate it. I adored Strictly Ballroom and Romeo and Juliet but Moulin Rouge gave me motion sickness!! I know the critics have panned Great Gatsby but I think I will probably go and enjoy the spectacle for what it is.....fabulous costumes, choreography and kitsch ness but more style over substance. Will I need my travel sickness pills Aileen?! :-D

My dd was in this position a couple of years ago when she had successfully auditioned for two ballet associate programmes and then was accepted onto a contemporary CAT scheme. After much deliberation she chose the CAT so we had to turn down the other 2 programmes. I wrote to both to explain and didn't get a response from either but one did keep the deposit I had paid. I often wonder if it would affect the outcome if she ever applied for one of their summer schools but like Spanner says I am sure this is a common occurrence. At the end of the day we all do what we think is best for our dc's. :-)

At my dd's dance school we pay a nominal fee to participate in any shows and this covers the cost of costumes but the school does have the facilities to store them and they tend to be altered and re-cycled each year! My two nieces however attend a dance school in quite an affluent area and my brother has to pay a fortune (over £100 each) for their show costumes which they get to keep afterwards. However, I have seen the dance catalogue that these costumes are purchased from and they cost no-where near what this teacher is charging parents. It obviously generates additional income for the the school but I personally think it is very unfair!

Totally agree. One of the reasons my dd didn't audition for NYDC this year is that one of the performances clashed with her prom. She has sacrificed so much over the years for her dancing but she has been planning her prom for 18 months!! :-)

I don't think it is a waste to abandon a course half way through if it is a means to an end for your dd. She obviously does have potential so can audition again for Central at 17 and 18 as well as other full time dance courses at 18 should she wish. Good luck for Rambert and even if it is a no this year it doesn't mean it is a no forever. You only have to read other threads on here to hear of dd's who have continued to audition and be successful. I don't know which CAT scheme your dd attends but at my dd's they offer very robust advice regarding full time training and also a foundation course for which they can audition to study full time for 12 months prior to auditioning for 3 year vocational courses. There seems to be a lot of posts recently where talented dd's are having major wobbles with self-confidence and I hope your dd can get over her disappointments and appreciate what she has achieved this year, (especially with her ill health), build on this and go forward. Best wishes to you all and keep positive :-) x

What brilliant news! :-) We never truly know how resiliant we are until we are tested. May her improvement and recovery continue!

I'm really sorry to hear your dd is going through such a hard time at the moment. There is nothing more heartbreaking as a parent to see your child really unhappy and feeling powerless to help. There has been some fabulous advice on here already (as ever) and as others have said the teenage years can be particularly difficult; it is the norm for 64% of them to be experiencing 2 or more symptoms of depression at any one time. For the majority of them it is transient and your daughter is one of the lucky ones who has the love and support from you and her family as a huge protective factor. Keep the lines of communication open and hopefully your dd will have the resilience to return to her usual self quickly. I have also sent you a PM.

Thanks every-one :-)

Have started a new thread for this as the other thread went way off topic! :-) I have seen a couple of reviews in our national press that indicates that this is now showing in the UK. Has anyone managed to see it yet? I'm guessing it will be on restricted release but we have several excellent independent cinemas near where I live and I can't see it listed at any of them :-(

Sorry Picturesinthefirelight just noticed that it is MT your dd is interested in. Many of my dd's friends are going down this route, and have stayed at home at local dance schools and CAT schemes, doing GCSE's and have auditioned for Btec courses at specialist 6th forms. They intend to audition for full time places at 18. There are many different journeys into full time training, you have not made a mistake. :-) x

We all make decisions based on the information we have at the time..... Sometimes these are the right ones, sometimes not. This is not the end of the line for your dd, in fact it is the start of her journey. She can apply for vocational school next year and there are many dc's on here who have made positive choices to start their full time journey at 16 and gone on to have a classical career. Don't waste your energy on regret, move on and take one step at a time. :-)

There you are Mods, a little money making scheme to keep the site running. I'd buy one :-)

Thigh gap craze is something that unfortunately my 16 year old dd is obsessed with achieving. It's where there is a gap between the upper, inner thighs ie they don't touch. The Victoria Secret fashion shows have a lot to answer for!!

No, I wasn't commenting on your post directly Spax. It does seem to be a theme that develops occasionally on the forum. Just my own personal opinion, not intended to offend or upset! :-)

And why is contemporary dance seen as "less worthy" somehow than ballet? I would have thought that in the current employment climate schools such as Central and Rambert are producing more rounded dancers and equipping them with the skills to really compete in the job market post training.

I've signed too, arrogant *******!

Lol....my other half definitely shows signs of "lunacy" when it's the full moon!! Katymac, your dd is growing up and it is normal and healthy for her to want to spend time with friends.

Fantastic news Julie, many congrats to her, you must be so proud (as well as happy!) :-)

Hi Klaris, just wanted to wish your dd good luck for her first residency next week. I'm sure she will have an amazing time, high on her success of getting a place at Rambert. :-)