dancedizzy

Having had 2 children at Tring one on MDS and another on DaDA totalling 6 years personal experience of the dance course, sadly I can well believe that they will take full fee paying students over more talented students needing MDS funding. Very much a rich mans playground. I also have personal experience of RBS, which is operated very very differently their priority being talent.

charlie4dancin, I live in the north and have tried a variety of pointe shoe fitters countrywide as my eldest was at White Lodge. Best pointe shoe fitter is Dorothy who owns Barnums in Warrington. You have to make an appointment. If its first time you have to leave 1hr free. Otherwise at least 30mins.

Opportunities for boys wanting classical are very very different for boys at Tring. I have two daughters one of which went to White Lodge who was still denied a whole range of classical opportunities by the dance director even though her fab ballet teachers at Tring disagreed. Since moving on she has danced with a professional ballet company as one of the main cygnets in Swan Lake. It was definitely personal at Tring as we insisted on a meeting to challenge dance directors decisions. My daughter also attained higher RAD results than some in the 'classical Set'

I have 5 yrs personal experience of Tring, academics need an overhaul and brought into 21st century ie smart boards resources. If you want a classical dance route Tring is NOT the place to be.

Classical training at Tring is far from good. I have had 2 daughters who gained government scholarships to attend who both after 3 and 4 yrs training left to take up classical places elsewhere! if you are not the dance director's favourite or if you've dared to challenge a decision of hers then dont bother! All classical doors will be well and truly closed. One of my daughters now attends the classical CAT programme at Leeds led by Yoko Ichino. The course is extremely challenging but absolutely fanastic. All students have personalised training programmes and my daughter has improved 100 fold and now has so much more self confidence. It helps that the dance director has been a professional ballerina herself unlike Tring's Dance Director!

Link not working

Hope some of you had successful phone calls to The Hammond today and MDS have been redistributed

Northern Ballet School is Manchester Northern Ballet Academy is Leeds Northern Ballet Company is Leeds

I had 2 children on MDS's and my parental contribution was the same for 2 as it was for 1

Kiwi mum we too were in a similar position last yr both my girls at vocational schools on MDS realistically we knew that in order for my eldest to continue she had to gain a place at an institution which offered funding via student finance releasing tuition and maintenance funds. The main schools being Central, Rambert and Ballet West. She fortunately gained that place and is studying for a BA in classical ballet

At the Northern Ballet Academy Leeds boys are encouraged to have their own pointe shoes to strengthen their feet if it's appropriate for that child x

This yr 2 boys and 1 girl got Royal.

I know of 2 who got DaDAs for Elmhurst who are going elsewhere so fingers crossed for those on reserve list

Sorry Julie I take your point regarding Tring but feel the training/opportunities students receive affect their ultimate destinations as graduates. My daughter trained at RBS then on to Tring the only bones in her body were classical ones! Dance Director at Tring tried over a 4 yr period to persuade her to follow a jazz/contemporary route definitely square peg round hole syndrome! Tring will have more graduate classical success once the current dance director steps down and a director with a classical dance training background takes over! My vote is for Terry wright and Lorraine Jones!

My daughter is a CAT student at Northern Ballet Academy Leeds. The only classical CAT programme in the country. The course is absolutely fantastic and worth every penny. Previous to this my daughter was at vocational dance school on a MDS. She does more classical training on the CAT course too!