mimi'smom

My understanding is that 12 girls and 12 boys are offered year 7 places at WL - as always I am happy to be corrected!! Other schools seem to have more flexibility with their numbers (though not all places at the other schools will be funded through MDS) Good luck to all dcs attending final auditions over the next few weeks

Have a look at this thread Spax and good luck to your ds http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/3005-informal-interviews/

My non dd sings and uses the audition books that come with a cd - you can usually borrow these from the library. Obviously as the CD recording is in the same key as the music in the book, she can practice with the cd and be confident that it will be the same on audition day with the accompaniment. I haven't come across that particular song in the books that we have so might take a bit of searching or a change of song! Good luck!

Do you have any private lessons with your dance teacher? That was when we did our audition photographs, so we were paying for her time (but not directly for the photos if that makes sense!)

There may have been a few missing last year who accepted RBS places and therefore did not attend. This year I believe Elmhurst finals are before RBS so you may have a 'full house'! Hope your dds have a fantastic day at Elmhurst!

Thank you Jaylou for setting up this petition - am busy linking it to all my friends as we speak!

Can I make another suggestion? I have always found contributors on here to be articulate and knowledgeable and so I was wondering if someone might be willing to write a template letter so that anyone who wishes could print it off and send to their own local MP - apologies moderators if this is not an appropriate suggestion. I was just thinking that lots of people might support the idea but maybe wouldn't get round to writing their own letter (or wouldn't know quite how to phrase it) Just a thought...

Like many of you my heart sank when I looked at the new scales and feel somewhat trapped - we have to maintain our current income in order to afford our MDS contribution (DD is only year 7) but when it comes to 6th form we will very likely be faced with full fees! I despair! She has only just begun her journey and I feel there is a very very strong likelihood that we will not be in a position to let her see it through to the end (at least at her current school) Is anyone on the forum able/willing to set up an e-petition on the direct gov website? I agree we should all be writing to our MPs - which I will do once I've calmed down!!!!

Evie ring the houseparent and explain - I know they will let you speak to him as we have had to do this on a couple of occasions! xx

Oh Evie! Sending virtual hugs of sympathy to you - it is so hard when they are away. The big things like birthdays the little things like tucking them in each night - there's no mistaking the big hole they leave. Hope he has had a wonderful day and that you get a good long chat with him tonight xxx

Hi Loulabelle Long limbs and are short torso are very desirable so I am led to believe! My dd has long limbs too but I'm not sure about her torso - never really looked at it in comparison to others but must make a mental note to myself to do so! Am also just about to send you a pm. Angela x

Hi Loulabelle She is 5 ft 2 in and was 12 in September. She was always one of the tallest in her JA and PVP class and has had a number of growth spurts since September! She is also physically developed in other ways so 'mature' as well as tall maybe would be the best way to describe her physique! She was just average height in her class at school though!

Interesting Loulabelle it's all relative isn't it. The tallest year 7 at WL is a friend of my dd and she is a good few inches smaller than my dd. On her first day the WL staff thought she was a year 8 as she was 'so tall'! It will be interesting to see how the very varied heights in my dds year 7 class at Elmhurst balance out over the coming years!

With regard to predicted height I do not see how knowing the parents' heights gives anything other than a crude guess. My husband is 6 ft 2 I am 5 ft 2 - we have 2 daughters who should theoretically end up at 5 ft 5 but our eldest non dd is (and always has been) more of her fathers' build and is 5 ft 7 (and fully grown I hope!) but my youngest dd is (and always has been) more like my build. And it isn't just height is it? How can they predict limb length, proportions, head size, waist length and all the other physical characteristics that seem to be significant and equally as pre determined as height? My daughter was physically quite mature when she auditioned for year 7 last year (and I posted my paranoia about her being so tall at the time!!) To me that was an advantage in some respects as I think it is easier to see the adult physique/proportions she is going to have (I may be wrong...) Having had a couple of growth spurts recently she is the tallest girl in her year but I dare say by year 9 height wise they will all have evened out! I am sure that someone with direct experience of WL will know better than me and I am happy to be corrected but I have it on good authority that this year's year 7 at RBS are quite petite in height and build. But as many have said - you can only work with the body you have been given and there is nothing to be gained from worrying about things that you cannot change! (Easier said than done I know!) Good luck to all auditioning at the moment - it is so interesting following your journeys. Angela x

Audition dates on this link Pointytoes... http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk/audition_dates.php?s=2 Angela x

A very kind mom with a daughter (then in year 7) told me about iron on transfer labels (which are also available on ebay) which have been fantastic for socks tights underwear etc! Here's the link to the site I used: http://www.easy2name.com/iron-on.htm edited to add link

Tutoo2much I agree it is tricky to find!! Rooting around and doing a bit of deducting I think they might be based in Leicester - but don't quote me on that!! Angela

Thought some of you with older dcs (14- 17) might be interested to know that ballet theatre UK are setting up an associate scheme and summer school. Details are on their website with application forms pending. (not sure if the links below will work....) http://www.ballettheatreuk.com/associate-programme.php http://www.ballettheatreuk.com/summer-school.php Just so you know I have no association with the company but have enjoyed their performances at our little local theatre greatly and I know people are often looking for new associate courses and summer schools so thought I would post although my own dd is too young! Angela

Welcome to the forum and good luck to your dd for her audition! Just be aware that preliminary auditions are only about an hour and a half long so there may be a number of slots that day - your dds audition may be at a different time therefore to someone else on the forum. Hope you both enjoy the day!

Hi there Tippy_Toes Please tell your dc not to worry - it is all about the dance potential (as seen in the dance class which takes place in the school theatre for finals and the related physio). There is no interview at Elmhurst and the academic tests are along the lines of standard grammar school entrance exams and have no bearing on the outcome of a place being offered. You can buy practise packs for the type of academic tests sat at Elmhurst if that will help allay fears or you can find some free samples online. Not sure if they did the full range of tests (ie verbal non verbal English and ,maths) - I will ask DD when she calls tonight. Good luck for finals - hope you can both relax and enjoy the day as Elmhurst is a really lovely welcoming school.xx

Hi lil - thanks for asking, she is having the most amazing time! Loving every minute even though the long days were a bit of a shock to the system - a bit of a cliche I know but she is living the dream! xx

Here is the link but it is only active for one more hour (ie until 6pm on the 24th November) Feature is about 23 minutes in. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nyp71 (Hope links works - haven't posted one on here before....)

Loved the letters written by children underneath too!

Hope this is the right place to post this, but whilst in Birmingham today I noticed this upcoming event at Waterstone's Burlington Arcade on Thursday 22nd November - entrance by ticket available from the store, £5 I think - details on the Waterstone's website. Angela

Balletjack Yes finals take the whole day with registration from 8:45. The candidates are split into 2 groups. For dd last year final session was a tour of the boarding houses at 3:45. Parents just drop off and register and return in time for the tour. The other group's timetable was different - I do recall they had the boarding house tour before the end of the day but not sure of their exact times - sorry. But in answer to your question I would recommend a hotel the night before and a train for your return after 6 - just in case!