Sunflower

Can you accept the residential and remain on the waiting list for the company? i cannot imagine everyone has been waitlisted and there surely will be movement after the deadline for the first instalment.

@Mum of unicorn dancer I was concerned about that aspect too. My daughter didn’t apply last year and therefore we didn’t think she stood a chance, and so ticked for either intensive or company. But actually she has been offered a senior company place this year. If she’d been offered the intensive place though instead, we’d have gratefully accepted. The opportunities look amazing.

@Pier I can only suggest the one I posted just above; if they cannot help, hopefully they will signpost who can.

I’ve had an abrupt email from an anonymous person at New Medlock to say “all” NBS accommodation is booked and my only option is to booked my then just 16 year old into a shared 18+ flat with students from other Universities. Urm, no. That won’t be happening 🙈 it seems really a bit strange that NBS won’t/don’t have a more formal agreement with one of the private halls. This is my youngest child so I’m very used to Uni and private accommodation 🤷🏻‍♀️

@BarbaraH I know of a few who are used to doing language courses, which are just a few weeks normally. I’d personally suggest you approach StudyLinks. I have no personal connection to them other than I have used them professionally in the past. They are family run, Yorkshire based, and really flexible: https://studylinks.co.uk

@BarbaraH and @Pier There are UK Guardianship services by the way, which would be a lot cheaper than a parent staying in the UK for one or two weeks. But I understand wanting to stay, especially if it’s the first intensive they’ve done or they are a little younger.

My daughter is also on the “short wait list”. Fingers crossed for both of them 🤞🏻 Is anyone happy to say which vocational schools will or will not allow it? DD is undecided with her choices for vocational schools next year, while still awaiting a further final.

My own 15 year old is currently on the Easter intensive and will be doing a week in the summer too (sadly not either of your weeks). My elder daughter dropped her off instead of me, dragged her suitcase for her to her bedroom, and then abandoned her 🙈 Apparently (according to my elder daughter at least!), the parents who stayed for the talk were mostly younger student parents. I think you’d be fine to fly back that evening 😁

A different waitlist question. DD has been waitlisted. I’m not surprised as she I would be the youngest in the 16-19 age range. We applied for the full five weeks, boarding option. Is she likely to only be considered for this on the waitlist, or would she potentially be offered the two or three week options, with or without boarding?

On our open day though the other month, all the first years who are 16 are in friendship house so I don’t really know 🤷🏻‍♀️ Do you think it has changed just this year? It could easily change back again. i am pondering if Tring might be easier, just because it’s a boarding school 😁

Hello 👋🏻 My daughter is also through to the finals, and the same age (or will be at this summer!) The halls nearby apparently have a floor/set of flats for the 16 year olds due to safeguarding. They shouldn’t be with 18 year olds. But I refuse to really think about it or plan until we know for sure about a place. Having gone through this with older ones and Uni, I am firmly in the what wlll be will be with accommodation. I don’t know what the chances are on the finals? 🤷🏻‍♀️ is your DD doing any other auditions?

I am massively regretting not getting pro photos done for DD. I feel I’ve been sucked into this whole “no professional photos are needed” rhetoric, when actually a good photographer really knows what and how to take photos so much better than me with an old iphone! Be good to know if anyone (especially older girls) has been accepted with home done photos when they are up against so many others? 🤷🏻‍♀️

My girl is very happy too 😁🩰 We are also new to YBS and keen to hear any info from experienced ones if there is a demonstration at the end of the week on the Easter intensive?

Happy New Year! I wish I’d found this forum years ago 😊 This is a wonderful, informative, lively space and I am grateful to all involved for the time and energy it takes to run and moderate it. With best wishes for a peaceful and joyful year ahead.

We heard back from ENBS today with a date in mid February for the next round 🙌🏻 DD very happy. I am mostly relieved that my video filming and editing skills did not let her down 😁 Fingers crossed for everyone 🤞🏻

Thank you @Swanwings @WhereToNow and @margarite I am finding it all somewhat of a minefield 😆 And dates have snuck up on me. That is such useful information, thank you. DD can stick with her jazzy solo and not need to panic about a ballet one. Good luck to everyone currently applying as we wait to see 🤞🏻 And I hope we both hear back soon from ENBS @WhereToNow

@La sylphide that is very helpful, thank you 😁 I have a question about solos for the final rounds. I’ll pop it here as it makes the most sense to keep all 2024 audition chat in one place, but I can repost in a separate post if nobody sees this. SOLOS: What is required for ENBS, Tring, NBS, Central and RCS ? DD has great jazzy solo she can do that’s 1.45 minutes in length. She can do that for Rambert (who we know have said they DON’T want a rep ballet piece) and also Tring. We spoke to a teacher from Tring recently and they advised a non ballet solo that moves around the floor would be fine. If NBS also need a solo, that would do too. Presumably, Central and ENBS would want a ballet solo though? If so, what? 🤷🏻‍♀️ For someone who has never done a competition or a festival, it’s so hard. Would an old ballet solo from a graded or vocational exam do? Perhaps with adjustments? Or is that definitely a no no? What are the general (or specific) rules regarding length of solo, dress code (same leotard as the ballet class or can they change?), music, etc. Any advice from the last few years would be really valuable in getting organised in advance so they don’t all come at once if DD is lucky enough to get through to any of these 🤞🏻

I had the same experience as Peanut for the Fontyn, and I did actually subscribe. i didn’t continue after the trial period as the buffering was just annoying. I’m currently subscribed to the ROH stream, but I really don’t get my money’s worth on that either.

More family members now wish to go…

@WhereToNow the deadline for ENBS was actually yesterday, not today. So I really hope you got yours in 🤞🏻 From what I can work out, it’s fairly soon to be contacted, but I am baffled by the website and the table of dates. It reads as if it’s just the video audition and then a final, but I keep reading about prelims, even though they are not listed or mentioned 🤷🏻‍♀️ Am I reading the table wrong?

@La sylphide did you hear back about the academic reference for RSC? I am also unsure what is best for that.

A young (or indeed old!) adult can do A Levels later if they wish 😁 They are not a compulsory part of life and I personally know lots of people who went onto do an academic degree without A Levels anyway; it’s what foundation years are designed for. We are in fact very unusual in the UK for testing our teens academically at both 16 and 18. It’s very bizarre compared to other countries. I think all you can do is help enable them on their path, and encourage a life-long love of learning that doesn’t just stop when compulsory education ends. And hopefully they will have the confidence to change course if they want or need to. Thank you to everyone who has commented about NBS; it’s in the mix for my own DD. Weirdly, her reservations are the other way around as she would prefer a more classical ballet focus. I did in fact ask at the parent talk at their open day if they had plans to change the name of NBS seeing as most of their cohort do the jazz route, but they said no, the ballet name was important and the basis of all other dance. Thank you @mum5678 - we were struggling with the application process!

DD has the Gaynor Minden heel grips and they are marvellous. Really worth keeping an eye out for when they are next in stock, or maybe try eBay? They have made a real difference to her pointe shoes.

I love the sustainable nature of Imperfect Pointes. I’ve just ordered another pack of two for my daughter. They feel really soft too, which is excellent. I’m persuaded to try the So Danca ones mentioned just above too, especially if they perfectly match the SD16 canvas shoes… but I haven’t ever seen them for sale anywhere so it requires some googling 😁 The cheap Amazon ones (these are also sold in a Boyes shop, if you are near one of those) are good for a single or double use only IMO. So sustainability wise, they are awful really.

If your child is based at Rambert, there’s Ham House (National Trust), which is a very pleasant walk along the river. There’s also Marble Hill (English Heritage, but free) and Orleans House Gallery, just over the river which involves a fun £2 ferry trip. When my daughter was at Central School of Ballet, I either visited the Tate Modern and Tate Britain, with the river boat between them, or walked to Borough Market mentioned above (the mushroom risotto is miles better than the strawberries and chocolate imo), or I went the the theatre for matinees on day tickets.