mimi'smom

Thank you all so much for the really useful advice - lots of avenues for us to explore! Angela xx

Thank you so much Just Ballet I'll go and see if I can pick up some Anhydrol forte for her tomorrow and give that a try. My gut reaction is my GP won't take it seriously so over the counter stuff will be a great place to start. Thanks too for the kind offer of pming you with any more questions xx

Thanks Ribbons - will definately look into both of those suggestions! Fortunately at 11 she isn't self conscious about it at all and we do have a routine here at home of showering her feet down after dancing - just hope she remembers to do it when I'm not there reminding her! Thanks again x

Thanks Anjuli think I was probably searching too narrowly for ballet socks. She currently wears canvas ballet shoes for the school's prevocational programme so hopefully she will be able to continue to wear them in September. Primrose it does seem to be just her feet that sweat so profusely and always have, even when she was quite young. Does anyone know of any products that may help?

Ok DD will probably disown me for posting this but has anyone got any top tips to help with the problem of sweaty feet? Even after a 30 min lesson dancing in bare feet they are literally dripping and after an hour's ballet class in socks and ballet shoes - well, she leaves wet footmarks like she has just stepped out of the shower!! The awful nylon ballet socks don't help but I have searched in vain for pink cotton ballet socks. She is starting at Elmhurst in September and they have to have ballet socks as opposed to tights for the first term at least. I dread to think what a whole morning of dance will result in! Any ideas gratefully received (by me, dance teacher and dance classmates!!)

Nothing here for year 7 except for an email with the date of induction.

Just wanted to say a big GOOD LUCK to all dds and dss auditioning for the Elmhurst PVP tomorrow - if it's your first time at Elmhurst you are in for a treat! Smile, have fun and let us know how you get on!

My dd does this exercise after warm up at her Elmhurst PVP exercise class so assuming it's perfectly safe (the split one I mean)

Congrats to those receiving those exciting yes letters and good luck to those still waiting for letters and to audition. My dds 3 years as an Elmhurst associate (PVP) is soon going to come to an end but she has had a wonderful time, made some special friends (as have I) and has been taught by fantastic teachers in an amazing environment. It is a fantastic scheme!

No direct experience of this but have heard good things about the following programme: http://www.cecchetti...thern/index.php based in Warrington. Angela Oops just realised my geography might be questionable here! (70ish miles) but do know people who travel that far (and further) for good associate opportunities so will leave on!

Certainly audition photos for my dd till now (associates, summer school, year 7) have all specified bare feet (and so by association bare legs? Wouldn't have thought of wearing footless ones...) except for one specific Hammond photo that required ballet shoes. (Remember haivng to retake that one as we'd done them all bare-footed!)

Fabulous news Kiwimum! Your determination to make your daughter's dream come true will have given hope to many. Looking forward to hearing via the forum about her new adventure! Angela xx

Got it now! xx

So sorry C4D link still not working for me

Hi C4D can't get link to work - could just be me though, I'll try again later. Wishing you lots of luck Angela x

Well done to you Fiz - I am sure you will find great joy in returning to dance (are you like me and dance away in the kitchen when you think no-one is looking?) Let us know how it goes and have fun! Angela x

Dancerbabe82 Have sent you a pm. Angela x

Just browsing the Elmhurst website and found the following info re dvd auditions for overseas students for year 7. Might give some insight into what they do in the audition class. http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/DVD-Year-7.html

They just stood in turnout according to dd! Doesn't sound very technical really! The only'hands on' bit were the feet and spine x

Hi there In both the Hammond and Elmhurst physio, they paid lots of attention to the feet and the flexibility of these, standing and rising on one foot, holding demi plie position (to assess achillies), spine checks, assessing their turnout, and (at Hammond) watching them walk! Most difficult thing dd said they were asked to do in ballet class (at Elmhurst final) was turns from the corner using spotting (she describes them as heel toe/ turning skips combinations not sure of their correct terms!!) single pirouettes (in parallel only at Elmhurst) and arabesques. No jetes at all, few sautes, good range of basic exercises at the barre - tendu, grande battement, round de jambe etc. xx

Have liked and shared. I admire you being so proactive to help all of your children achieve their dreams. Fingers crossed xx

An age appropriate song is definately the best bet and I would think something musical theatre - something they can sing with clear diction and comfortably within their range. x

Hi toomuchtalent DD at a sleepover tonight - I'll quiz her and post tomorrow! x

Hammond definately state that vocal solos cannot be performed to a backing track. I have heard of children just singing happy birthday (without sheet music!!) for this part of the audition. My elder non-dancing daughter does have singing lessons and she has some audition solo books that have both a backing CD (to practise to) and the corresponding sheet music. You should be able to get these from your local library. As for the purpose of the vocal solo I really don't know other than Hammond has a very strong musical tradition and they encourage choir membership across all the courses. Elmhurst seem to have a strong musical orientation too (MDS funding covers music tuition which can include vocal) x

Are you talking about auditions for year 7? The auditions vary from school to school. We only have direct experience of Elmhurst and Hammond but I think RBS auditions are like Elmhurst and Tring are like Hammond (but sure someone with wider experience will correct if I'm wrong) Elmhurst: both prelim and final auditions take the form of a fairly basic ballet class. At final auditions the children also have a physio exam and sit a non-verbal reasoning test. Hammond prelim: ballet class plus a more contemporary/jazz movement type class. Solo dance performance of 1min 30 secs (in dance style of own choice) and solo song (the later, they assure, has no bearing on final outcome) Physio and non-verbal reasoning assessments also carried out during preliminary auditions.Solo dance music had to be taken on a cd and sheet music for the solo song. DD did not do funding audition at Hammond so can't adivse on the format of this although do know there was another ballet class and I think a musical theatre worskhop??? Sure others will be able to fill gaps! Good luck x