Sunflower

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.

I absolutely loved the sharing of work yesterday at Rambert 😁 It’s been a really successful week for my teen; she’s been pushed out of her comfort zone, with the contemporary especially. The teachers were all amazing, as were the musicians. Plus Citi, who does all the emailing is just outstanding. My tips for anyone else in future years would be to send knee pads if they are not used to contemporary. I don’t know if it’s as brutal on the knees in the junior week, but my teen was so thankful she had knee pads for the senior! And also, there’s a trick to locking the lockers. You have to have your own padlock as well. It is such a friendly, happy school in a peaceful spot. Apart from one rainy day, the students could all eat outside at lunchtime. I was super impressed at everything I saw, and while my teen possibly would want a course that’s more ballet centred for full time training, I could see her being really, really happy if she ended up at Rambert.

It’s a tricky one @Elbows I don’t know what I’d do with a commute that’s on the cusp like yours. Doable, but anything can happen on the motorway 🙈, versus the extra expense of a hotel. Ditto the premier inn suggestion though by @Anna C And at least YOU can pop back home in the day if you need to. There’s loads of parking around and about though, with restrictions just between 10 and 12 Monday-Friday 😁

Thank you. Yes, since posting I did get a more detailed schedule and information emailed that’s been very helpful, and teen is so much looking forward to it next week.

Any hints and tips for Rambert senior intensive first week (age 15-19) and/or Central School (age 14-16) first week would be extremely welcome as I plan for these next two weeks in London. We are staying within walking distance of each, switching accommodation on the Sunday. Advice from old hands welcome 😁

@Blossom I feel we ought to be the advice group for the ROH 😁

Thank you @Blossom that is really fascinating as I’d not understood that aspect of editing at all from the screen. I naively thought it would be in instant job! @oncnp is that the David Bintley version? If so that is what I am going to try and find when I get home later 🙌🏻 Thank you!

Yes please @Neverdancedjustamum I would love this for for daughter. I shall PM you.

😆 @TYR I shall keep that in mind now!

Me too for Rambert, but she’s still on the wait list… Tring is sadly too far. DD went to their senior dance day in half term, and it required an overnight the night before. Thank you so much for your help x

Someone else in person mentioned this to me, but I don’t know much about it. I shall look at them, but they will be a good drive. Thank you 😁

Thank you @Mummy twinkle toes. I was struggling to find much still open. I shall go and look at ABA, but I think most associates schemes finish at year 11, so we’re a bit late to the party 😁

I’ve already accepted BTUK, so it would be both of just that, if BB don’t choose her 😁

Thank you @Anna C from the look of it, ballet boost don’t do contemporary, but BTUK definitely are doing for this coming year. I don’t know if that changes your mind at all? But fingers crossed she can do both if BB would like her. She’s doing Central and Northern summer school, and is waitlisted for Rambert. It was a struggle to find anything that late, but they all do contemporary too for the intensives so that will at least give her an intro.

Thank you @Pixiewoo That is an excellent point, if she doesn’t recover enough in the next week 😁

Thank you @shygirlsmum I am so very glad I posted it was Hull (although I’m sure all the teachers are great) as the reviews have really been brilliant. DD really wants to do ballet boost so fingers crossed 🤞

Thank you @taxi4ballet that is very reassuring. A very apt username too!

Thank you @WhatsThePointe That’s very reassuring 😁 Of course, she may not be offered BB, but it’s good to know it’s not unreasonable to do two if she is!

That’s not a problem @Pas de Quatre DD is home educated and is aiming for 5 or 6 GCSEs. She’ll be looking for vocational courses in the next couple of years, and she already has one conditional offer for 2024, but I want her to stay with her current dance school for two years ideally and look to move away to a vocational school at 17+… But she wants to stay very open minded. Basically, she needs to see how summer intensives and then associates works this year.

I messaged the ROH yesterday as I am super keen to see Cinderella. I missed it in the cinemas and despite (annoyingly) being advertised still over Facebook, I can’t now see it live either. They replied to say they “couldn’t say” when or if it would be shown.

Thank you so much @Neverdancedjustamum that is so reassuring, albeit slightly terrifying that girls are doing so much. I worry a bit that DD is terribly behind after illness although she was at the senior dance day at Tring the other week and met girls she’d been at Elmburst summer school two years ago, which was reassuring for her. She’s missed the chance though of so many things for next year as she didn’t want to jinx her recovery by applying for anything too early, and her photos probably wouldn’t have been be strong enough before the end of April when she did them. I’ve just had a chat to her and I am going to leave contacting BB until next week. Fingers crossed 😁

Wow. Thank you, @Tiaramum I had hardly dared hope for actual recommendations of BB. It’s very much appreciated to hear such great things about them and their teacher, as our dance school have never sent anyone to them before. I don’t mind about the travel and time commitment myself. I am just so thrilled that DD is back doing what she loves that I’d bend over backwards to make things happen for her this next year. My instinct is to be honest and to say a version of the above to BB, as I am not inclined to play games and say she’s ill or something on any clashes. Thank you again.