Gingerbread

Does anyone have any new information about the future of the forum please?

Is this the first time your DD has auditioned and been unsuccessful? It's probably hardest the first time. How old is she? I'm sure she will have loads of chances to try again. The other children you mention - are they friends of hers? In which case that might be hard for her. However, this sort of experience has made my own DD both realistic and determined. I do hope your DD is able to take the positives out of the experience of auditioning, once she has got over the disappointments. edited to say: well perhaps the first no is not actually the hardest of them all - but it's one of the hardest I'm sure.

yes I would pay a subscription fee as long as it's not too much. Sadly I don't have any spare time for moderating etc. I can't really see any news anywhere about future plans. What happened after that committe meeting?

Hi Katy Could you try calling her teacher for a chat, at a time when she is less busy with class changeover etc. You struck a chord with me - seeing how some of the academics dont come easily to your DD but she loves to dance - sounds just like my DD (who is older and is 13yrs now). Definitely encourage her whilst she's enjoying it - that's not being pushy. Pushiness is when you make them do something they don't want to. To a certain extent grades are related to age - but don't get too hung up on grades they are a guideline only, and I know that the RB don't need children to be at a certain grade in order to audition, they are looking for potential. What area of the country are you? There are probably lots of other associates schemes around too. Good luck! There are lots of other more knowledgeable people than myself on this forum who i am sure will be along soon with some more thoughts! Gingerbread xx

Thank you Spanner - I didnt know that! will ask my DD if she would like me to ask Miss Lewis. Thanks again

My youngest DD is also doing EYB in Aylesbury! She's 11. Older DD was ill on audition day for that, so didn't go.

Hello all - our No arrived yesterday Didn't want to tell you on the forum til now, because wanted DD to know before the internet did! Everyone: it's not a No, it's a Not Yet. This makes you strong. And of course well done, well done, well done to everyone who had a Yes! Big, big Congratulations and have a fantastic finals!

Just hoping that the probable "No" letter will not put DD off Sunday's Bristol audition for RBS!!! Fran - have you steamed before, and do you have any tips???

Just for the record, nothing in the post for us today!

No, nothing here yet! and the post has come today.

DD also auditioning in Bristol on the 29th - the letter confirming the audition time says: "Results of the preliminary audition for Lower School are sent as soon after the audition as possible. Results for the Associate courses are sent out at the conclusion of the National Audition Tour in March." Did your letter for Manchester say the same, Fran? good luck Poppy! x

Yes I have received your message successfully - and have messaged back

thank you, Ribbons! Will take them of course just in case, but will tell DD that they probably will not be needed!

reading this thread has been an eye-opener - I really appreciate it! it's easy when you are at the lower stages to not look beyond simply getting into a vocational school. But of course, that's only the beginning. I've decided a good motto for everyone in all of this is simply Que Sera, Sera! JulieW - very best wishes to your ds for the best outcome possible - do keep us posted...

Thanks for that, En Pointe! I also called RBS because i've not had any confirmation/details etc. They said letters were sent out on Thursday - perhaps they were sent second class then! Is your DD an associate at Bristol? Thanks to your info I've had a look online at the location - so we know what to expect (a little bit). Does anyone know if they do any pointe work in the Year 10 audition? DD will take pointe shoes just in case, but they definitely didn't need them at Elmhurst last week. Good luck to everyone in all their auditions!

Is anyone auditioning in Bristol on Jan 29th? My DD is - but I've heard nothing about times or location. We couldn't make the London one due to family commitments so Bristol is the ne!xt nearest - but i have not a clue about the venue!

I agree - a Big Well Done from me too

My DD was also in Group 2 - just average height in a black leotard. It was really good to actually meet some forum mums and their dancing offspring in person! And speaking as someone who had never visited Elmhurst before... WOW what a school!! Good luck everyone. Though I've a feeling it's going to be a tough long haul for us! But just the experience was brilliant. And thank Goodness no snow like there was this time last year - made travelling less of a mission for most of us I'm sure.

My DD won a week's scholarship for last year's seminars. From what I recall, I THINK the email they sent to say she had got the scholarship said something along the lines of "if you have already paid this will be refunded." Something like that. Email was deleted a long time ago now! It wasn't really relevant to us because I hadn't paid yet! But I am sure they would refund the registration fee - better ask them, but they are very nice and I'm sure they would. they are particularly supportive of boys, too.

thank you everyone for all your replies! Definitely lots of valuable information! Not least that GCSE dance is not all practical, and that reviewing/choreography/theory comes into it quite a bit. Sounds very, very interesting..... to me, that is. Unfortunately DD is rather like JulieW's and KathyG's DSs - only wants to DO dance, not talk, write or even watch it very much (actually I'm doing her a disservice... if a dance documentary comes on TV she will watch for a bit, but then gets up and starts DOING). She's already in year 9 so taking it early isn't possible - and I don't think the school do that. She's not academic, particularly, and is keen to also do drama, food & tech (I think that's what they call cookery these days) and textiles. I think drama and textiles too would complement her dance training that she does outside of school. Whether or not she also does Dance GCSE now remains to be seen but she will have to decide pretty soon! I am going to ask the school exactly how much of it is practical and how much is theoretical.

My DD is about to choose her options for GCSE's, being now in year 9 at a non-vocational school. She dances outside of school though and is currently working on Grade 6 RAD and RAD Intermediate. Presumably she will continue to Advanced 1 RAD in the future, assuming her interest continues! She really wants to on top of this do GCSE dance. If she chooses this, she won't have enough options left to do everything else she would benefit from studying at GCSE, plus my feeling is that she already does enough dancing and won't necessarily gain much from GCSE dance. However I could be wrong and I would love to hear anyone else's opinion or experience. Any advice gratefully accepted! Gingerbread

Hi there, I have no experience of the Elmhurst Summer School but my daughter has attended YBSS for the past 4 years and has every intention of applying again for this year. I can't recommend it highly enough - she has loved it every year she's gone. Marguerite Porter is lovely. The teachers are all highly experienced professionals. How old is your daughter?

Fantastic to have the forum back, if only for a few months. Happy Christmas Bruce and all Ballet.co-ers!