RosaMac

Just to add there are funding finals at Hammond but for year 7 and 8. They usually do a more detailed ballet class and flexibility, a movement/jazz class and a musical theatre workshop. After lunch they had academic classes.

You could try Bristol Russian Ballet school, they have a youth company. Entry is by audition and they meet once a fortnight on a Sunday.

If there is room the children under 12 can usually board. Last year there were several girls who were 11. Best thing to do is send an email requesting a boarding place should your child be successful. Good luck.

Letters from the audition on February 3rd were received on the 8th. So very quick turnaround, well done NYB for not keeping us hanging around. It was a recall to the finals for my dd.

The first round auditions are 10th Feb and 3rd March at ENBS also 10th March in Guildford. The recall and casting dates are provisionally 21st April JA's, 28th April Main cast and JA's and 5th May Costume fitting and photocall. The summer rehearsals are held at Tring Park 11th - 20th August and the performances 22nd-24th August at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford. They are also auditioning today at ENBS.

I agree, my daughter is studying ISTD and RAD intermediate and she finds ISTD a lot more challenging.

Done

Bristol Russian Ballet School have a youth company. It is once a fortnight I think on a Sunday for 13-18 year olds.

My daughter started ballet at the age of 4 at our local school. But after less than a term she announced that she didn't want to continue any longer as 'it wasn't proper ballet, just a lot of skipping around' her words not mine. So reluctantly I told the receptionist we would not be returning. When she asked why I felt I had to tell her what my daughter had said but apologised and said she was a very headstrong little girl and it was no reflection on the teacher. She paused for a while and said she thought she may enjoy it if she had another teacher, but we could not join this class for another term as they were in the middle of shoe rehearsals. I thanked the lady and told my daughter who said she would try again then. As it would be several months until we could join I assumed she would forget about it. But after a couple of months had passed she asked when she was going back to ballet? I contacted the school and enrolled her in the new class. She came out of the first class and announced in a loud voice" now thats what i call proper ballet". Within six months she had taken her first exam and she is now at Vocational school. I am very grateful to the receptionist who suggested another teacher because she wouldn't be where she is now without her advice.

My daughter who is at Vocational school also has clicky joints. But mainly her feet.

I usually do this with hotpants or dance shorts too.

Good news in our house too. One very happy dd.

My daughter took her ISTD grade 4 modern just before her 10th birthday and received a high distinction. She would have taken her grade 5 at 11 but as she was going to vocational school we didn't bother. We had quite a battle with the school about her taking the exam as she was told she was too young. However, my daughter felt she knew all the work and was bored in the lesson.She wanted to give it a go and was quite happy if she received a low mark to retake it when she was older. If she hadn't been allowed to take her grade 4 I think she would have given up modern. Sometimes you have to let them try even if they don't do as well as expected. It is a lesson learnt and sometimes they come out on top.

Bristol Russian Ballet School have a youth company. I believe they meet fortnightly and entry is by audition.