Pups_mum

I think it depends what you mean by "important". Exams are clearly not important when it comes to getting into vocational school or pursuing a career as a performer. But of course the vast majority of children who take dance classes are not going to do that and for them, doing exams can be a way of demonstrating their attainment to the "outside world". In the UK, there is a national framework for qualifications which enables Universities, potential employers etc to compare qualifications. As well as academic qualifications, other things including music and dance exams fit into the framework, and the higher exams awarded by some dance organisations (including the RAD) attract "points" that can count towards University entrance requirements. It depends exactly what course you are applying for as to how much bearing this type of qualification will have - having a distinction at Intermediate Ballet isn't likely to do you much good getting in for Medicine if you've only got a D for Alevel Chemistry for instance - but they can be helpful and even for unrelated courses they demonstrate a degree of determination and hard work as well as showing that a student has more than academic achievements to show. The other value of exams is if a student wants to become a teacher. Most of the dance organisations will expect students to have attained a certain level themselves before they can commence teacher training. I think you have to have passed Intermediate as a minimum requirement to train as an RAD teacher. And some children do just like doing the exams. My DD has always enjoyed her exam work, likes the structure of moving through a specified programme of learning and gets a lot of satisfaction from achieving each level. That's not to say that she doesn't enjoy free work and other types of class as well of course - it doesn't have to be one or the other. From what I understand, it is much commoner in the US for teachers not to follow a specific syllabus or be affiliated to a particular dance organisation than it is in the UK so I imagine your DD would be in the majority in attending a school that does not do exams.I wouldn't particularly worry about it. If she is enjoying herself and getting good quality teaching that's what really matters. If you return to the UK at some point she can always do exams if she wants then. When my DD's teacher gets new pupils who have danced elsewhere she always watches them a few times before deciding for herself which grade/class is appropriate for them, regardless of how long they have been dancing or what exams they have done. I imagine most teachers would do this too, so if you do come back to the UK your daughter would be put into a class suitable to the level she was at then and the lack of exams wouldn't affect that.

Ahh...I would call the concave side the curved side...

Hmm. I've just been up to look at some of DD's costumes but unfortunately all sequined costumes seem to be in her bedroom, not the wardrobe on the landing where they should be, and she's asleep. But I think they are usually put on with the curved surface facing outwards, though in reality, I wouldn't worry as I doubt the difference will be that noticeable on stage.

My DD doesn't want to dance professionally. Or so she says. When asked she will reel off a list of extremely sensible reasons why not, and everyone nods and comments on how mature and realistic she is. Particularly my husband who doesn't see dance or even dance teaching as a "proper" job. The only problem is, the more I hear her, the more familiar her words sound. They sound exactly like something I would say, and whilst I do think I'm right....well, it's not my life is it? Most of her friends are a little older than her (she's in yr10) and quite a lot are currently auditioning for 6th form or post 18 courses. Some already have places or invites to finals and whilst I know DD doesn't have the ideal ballet body she is a good all rounder and probably on a par with most of her friends who are going on to study dance full time. It's left me wondering whether I have been too negative with her. Of course there's a world of difference between getting accepted onto a course, even at a very good school, and actually earning a decent living as a dancer and I still think the advice I've given her is sound. But, I do wonder if in my efforts to not be a "pushy mum" I've gone too far the other way and it's suddenly hit me that if she does want to give it a go, she's only got another couple of years to make her mind up. I am torn. I don't really want her to be a dancer, yet I can't see her being happy without dancing in her life and I would hate her not to try just because she knows that her Dad and I aren't keen. Any thoughts anyone?

Aww, that is sad. I think the mums who have children away at school are very brave - I don't think I could do it. I bet your DS has had a whale of a time celebrating with his friends at school though. It's not long to half term now, why don't you have an "official birthday" for him when he gets home? He can be like the Queen and have 2 birthdays a year - what child wouldn't like that!

I can see where you are coming from, and some adjudicators can be overly picky, especially to younger children, most of whom have very little say in what they are wearing or their choreography. But, national dances at festivals are meant to be theatrical presentations of traditional dances, and wearing the correct style of clothing, and particularly the right footwear does help the dancer understand the nature of the dance and therefore should enhance the quality. For instance, if you are doing one of the Russian dances that would traditionally be done in hard soled boots but are wearing suede soled character shoes you won't get the right "heavy" feel to the footwork and wearing the traditional slippers in some types of greek dances really enhances the footwork too. Some of the Balkan states have traditional costumes which are very heavy and that contributes to the dancers carrying themselves and moving very differently to say mexican dancers dancing barefoot in lighter dresses etc etc My DD's teacher expects her to do some of her own research when she's learning a new national dance. Learning something about the costume, culture and even climate of the country that they are representing does help dancers really "get into" their dance and perform it better I think. It's true that some people do spend ridiculous amounts of money on festival costumes but they don't have to be outrageously expensive, and there are quite a few traditional dances that are done barefoot.

I'm sorry to read of your and your daughter's disappointment Discouraged, but I don't think she has fallen at the first hurdle. It sounds like she has been highly successful so far - obviously the RBS and other people can see a lot in her. How many RBS SAs are there? Not many I don't think. Your DD is in quite an exclusive group there. Rather than her having fallen at the first hurdle, it sounds to me like this is the first hurdle she has fallen at. That's not a nice thing, but you have to keep it in perspective. This is one school that have said "no" in the context of a lot of other "yesses" that she has had so far. This sort of thing is not confined to the ballet world.I remember the shock I felt when I opened the letter after my first University interview and it was a rejection. As I had been told repeatedly through my school career that I was the brightest child my teachers had ever taught, and had received outstanding marks in everything I'd ever done, this was a bolt from the blue to me, my parents and my teachers. Yes, I knew I was applying for a highly competitive course, but I never seriously considered the possibility that I wouldn't get in. Why would I have done? I was 17 years old and nobody had ever rejected me before or even hinted that it could happen. But I knew that I really wanted to do that course, not just to go to that University so I picked myself up, dusted myself off and headed off to the next interview. And it happened again. I still don't know why. Like the ballet schools, universities (at least then) had a strict "no feedback" policy. But I kept going, and third time was lucky. Then I went to University and had to realise that whilst I was undoubtedly academically talented I was now in a completely new arena, and so was everyone else. My 4 A grades and 2 special papers at A level were now "not bad" but certainly not exceptional, and I had to get used to that. For a child that has so far done very well in their chosen field, the transition into higher training in that field can be bumpy. But if it is really what they want to do, they have to come to terms with it I'm afraid. From what I have seen, the performing arts is a particularly tough direction to choose. A lot of decisions are subjective, as they have to be given the nature of the field really. If your DD continues along this path there will unfortunately be more rejections to come, and she will have to get used to it. One of my friend's daughters is a professional dancer (not classical ballet but I don't imagine it's that much different) and she tells me that she will sometimes arrive at auditions and be dismissed without even dancing a step, because she doesn't "look right". I asked her once if this made her angry. What a waste of time, and surely they could have seen what she looks like from her photos? But she just shrugged her shoulders and told me that that's just the way it is. Sometimes it's your day, sometimes it's not. Nobody likes rejection, and you are entitled to be upset, but unfortunately it is part of life, and especially the particular life that your daughter has chosen. But she obviously has great potential. She would not have achieved all that she has if she didn't. Let her have a few days feeling sorry for herself then encourage her to get her shoes back on and carry on. With a bit of luck you will be back in a few months telling us that she has a place at another school and is ecstatic.

X raying a wrist can't tell you what someone's final height is going to be, but it gives you some idea of how much more growing they have got to do. A "bone age" can be determined from looking at what stage of ossification the various bones in the hand are. If your bone age is less than your chronological age then you are likely to carry on growing for longer than average, and vice versa. I suppose they used that to try and guage how near to "the finished product" each child was, physically speaking. It's a very inexact science though, as are the calculations from parental height - at best they give a vague idea, especially if the parents are very different in size from each other.

Ooh that's good Sheila. I have previously ordered from Russia but the delivery times are very unpredictable.

Oh I'm jealous. DD has never done that one but I've always wanted her to. Maybe we'll get lucky next year. Have a lovely time, and hope your DD gets whatever part she is hoping for.

I would discuss it with the existing teacher first, just as a courtesy but from what you've said I think it would be a bit unreasonable of them to object. If you are taking only modern classes at one school and only ballet and tap at the other, I don't think there is any real conflict. I could see that if you were taking the same style and/or grade in two different places simultaneously and the teachers approached things differently then it could be confusing for the student and frustrating for both teachers, but that doesn't sound to be the case here. Hope you get it sorted out amicably.

Good luck to everyone - which production is it?

I'm interested in this topic too. Until very recently I'd never thought anything much about my DD's feet, mainly because they are virtually carbon copies of my own, and mine are the only pair of feet I've ever taken much notice of so i assumed they were normal. But a few months ago a festival adjudicator commented that DD had a tendency to go a fraction too far over en pointe particularly on her right foot and said it was to do with her "fabulous high arches." I didn't really understand that, but reading Anjuli's post above it's a bit clearer now, though many people have also commented on DD having extremely strong feet in the past so I'm still a bit confused. Anyway, it did make me look at her feet a bit more closely, and I noticed that, like myself, if she ever wears higher heeled shoes her foot doesn't sit on the curve of the shoe, there is always daylight between the shoe and her foot, apart from the heels and balls of her feet. Mine are the same - I very rarely wear court shoes because I always felt that I was balanced on them rather than having my feet in them if you know what i mean, and the curve of my foot is above the side of the shoe unless they have very high sides. I tend to wear trainers when I'm at home, and kids shoes, like Skechers "Mary Jane" type shoes for work, as these do seem to be a good fit. I also over pronate badly, though DD is much better (presumably thanks to ballet). DD wears similar shoes for school, though she's just got a pair of brogues this term, and to be honest she rarely wears shoes at home as she's usually either at dancing or in bed! Do the foot experts on the forum think these are suitable shoes for this foot type or should I be looking at something different?

My DD wears Grishko canvas split soles which are really nice, if a little pricey and difficult to source! You certainly can wash them, and there is a risk of shrinkage, but if you put them on when they are damp then they stretch back up and are a very nice fit as they mould to the foot. Uncomfortable as it is, sleeping in the damp shoes appears to have the best effect! Fortunately for her, my DD is blessed with having a mother whose feet are almost exactly the same shape and size as her own, so she has previously been relieved of this discomfort. The things we do for love...... (Though she is getting bigger than me now so I won't be able to help for much longer - ha!)

Thank you - I'll pass the info on.

Varies from place to place, and on how far you are away from the rehearsal venue of course. Most of the rehearsals are at weekends or in school holidays, but there are occasional ones that are after school. Obviously if you leave close by you can do your full school day and then go along, but if like us, you have a couple of hours drive to get there then you have to miss half a day's school. Performances are sometimes on school days too. I have always found Miss Lewis very helpful with this kind of thing. If you phone or email she will probably give you the rehearsal dates if they have been finalised already.

I know the info is probably on here somewhere, but please humour me and tell me again (I'm in bed with a rotten cold and feeling very sorry for myself) Can someone tell me when the Leeds JA classes are? A friend of mine from that area is thinking of letting her DD audition for a year 5 place for next year, but would like to know the times etc beforehand so that she knows if it would be do-able if she's lucky enough to be offered a place. Thanks!

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. I shall pass them on to DD and her teacher and let you know what the outcome is. She's nearly 15 so some of the ideas might be a bit young for her ( I should have said, sorry) though I think the tooth fairy could be done by an older girl as a comedy piece and quite like that idea. I think DD is leaning towards a pirates of the carribean theme though, and there is certainly some excellent music in the films isn't there?We'll have to see what her teacher thinks.

Thanks for the ideas - keep them coming please. He made it for someone else, but lets just say he didn't check the design brief carefully enough! It's a very nice treasure chest....just not what was actually needed, so now DD and I are trying to think of some way to put his hours of hard work to good use!

Yes, I know this is a weird question, but can anyone think of either a character solo for a girl or a boy/girl character duet that would require a piratey treasure chest thing as a prop? Obviously it's more usual to put the dance before the prop, but on this occasion I really need to find a use for a rather splendid treasure chest that my husband has kind of accidentally made....it's a long story.....any suggestions gratefully received!!

My DD really likes Miss Lewis. She's quite a formidable lady when you first meet her but DD found her very kind and fair . Miss Lewis was the main teacher for one of the groups my DD was in and she was a bit scared of her initially but by the end she absolutely loved her and she learned a great deal from her. All the EYB staff are great though. I'm sure you will have a good time.

Don't worry too much. Obviously Miss Lewis and the other staff would like every dancer there for every rehearsal and they do get understandably narky if there is a lot of absenteeism, but they are reasonable people and will understand that you can't miss school exams. Mostly rehearsals that are on school days start late afternoon/early evening anyway - the rehearsals generally are in a school and obviously they can't run whilst the school is full of its own pupils. If you are reasonably local that shouldn't be an issue.If you live somewhere where the school holidays are different to the area where the rehearsals and performances are going to be it can be a bit tricky, but there are usually ways round things. Miss Lewis gets annoyed if people over commit themselves/their child and come with a long list of reasons why they have to miss EYB rehearsals or arrive late because they are simultaneously involved in multiple other projects. This I can understand. There is a huge amount of work to be done in a very short time at EYB and it's very disruptive to the other dancers if someone is missing a lot. But she is perfectly understanding about unavoidable absences or lateness. One day my DD was late because we were travelling a long distance, there was serious flooding and many roads were closed. I rang her to apologise and she couldn't have been nicer, even though it was the day of the parent's showing. She was more concerned about me and DD driving in the awful weather than she was about disruption to the performance. Good luck with the audition. My DD can't make any of this year's productions and we are missing it terribly. EYB is brilliant.

DD is studying The Crucible for her GCSE english lit and I'd really like to take her to see a performance as I don't think you can really get the true sense of a play til you've seen it performed. (They've watched a DVD at school but that's not the same is it?) I was wondering if anyone knew of any theatre where this is currently being performed or is coming up later in the year. We're in the north of England but would be prepared to travel to see a good production. (Good excuse for a weekend away!) I've tried an internet search but not come up with anything current so thought I would ask here as I know a lot of people are interested in the performing arts in general, not only ballet. Thanks in advance for any info.

Not such a major thing, but big for us -my 9year old son did his grade 1 piano examin December and we've now heard that he got a distinction. It's a really big achievement for him because unlike my other children he is very shy and lacking in self confidence. I did wonder if he would even manage to go into the exam room so I am extremely proud of him. Only potential hitch is that I know from previous experience that exam success is usually followed by an invitation to participate in a concert that a group of local music teachers put on every year.That could be asking a bit too much of him.But I'll cross that bridge when we come to it and in the meanwhile I'm enjoying the warm glow of proud motherhood!

My DD's teacher tends to offer later starters some private lessons before they join a class, so that they are not totally lost in their first lesson. She usually tries to start them in a class where the other children are not a huge amount younger, and carries on with private lessons along side until they are comfortable in the class. Might be worth seeing if your DD can find a teacher who would be willing to do something similar?