Lilac

Thanks for your messages. DD came out reasonably positive and feeling that she had passed which with the lack of sessions etc is the main thing.

Is exam day for DD tomorrow! The teacher did finally do some extra sessions with her which was good. Just wished these could have started sooner as DD is just starting to feel an improvement. Not expecting great things with this, the Achilles problem and exams, but hopefully will be enough at least to pass. Will be a relief to have over with now!

Glad to hear the end of your day worked out well. Hope the examiners tomorrow are nice. DD in the Ashford studio, hope your DD is also.

Know how Icwould feel with DD in the same exam, with all the expense and the long postponement. DD had a horrible lurgy for her GCSE mocks recently and was totally without energy for dance. Thankfully her results were still fine and her energy is returning. Thinking of you lots and hope your DD will still make the exam with mine. DD has been seeing physio this term and has a maintenance session tomorrow. Whole Adv 1 exam seems to be proving very stressful for the girls and mums!

Decided to have one last try with teacher as people suggested. Now have some possible dates so hopefully can bring DD to a good level for the exam. Feels a year of the work is adequate and that DD is doing well. Good luck to everyone else doing these exams. These syllabus changes are a pain, without I think we would have at least had another term and maybe another student taking it which DD would prefer. DD knows nothing of impro in the exam, is that old syllabus?

DD is very teenage at the moment and is always funny about going for outside help. Emailed lots of sources most of whom were extremely helpful including the RAD themselves. DD only wants extra from teacher and that's the one thing I can't get so feeling very upset and angry. Just don't know what to do or expect. Even if the teacher thinks I'm demanding I don't feel she should take it out on DD who she knows wants to go to dance college later. Trying to see as a last shot if dad can get anywhere with her.

DD has been learning the grade for over a year. Exactly a year to the day since she passed Intermediate, with Distinction! So I do know she has quality teaching. About 6 in the class, some who are working to Intermediate and some who don't take exams. Tring is very other Sunday and sometimes DD stays to Advanced 2. Interested to hear we're not the only ones Coupdepied! Teacher is now ill so think I will ask again at next Monday's lesson. Plan was to enter DD before old syllabus changed and there would be a long gap for her to learn it. If not I would have gone for deferring the entry. Might at least book one external private lesson as can't do any harm.

Yes I have contacted Tring to see if she could attend there associates for one or two weeks as we have the link there. Also trying RAD for private lessons, and other options suggested on this forum so will hopefully be able to sort something. Teacher is very laid back and last minute so outside chance she may yet suggest something! Just frustrating isn't it?

The teacher tends to make me feel that I am over-anxious or undermining her when I ask, and it can seem to make extras less likely to happen. Just keep weighing this up and how much longer we can wait! DD does feel anxious, especially as it is her first time of doing a vocational grade without a fellow student there which at least provides moral support.

Just wondered if anyone could advise? Dd is due to take her Advance 1 ballet old syllabus on 18th December. She has one ballet lesson locally per week and attends Tring CBA. I am really concerned that this is not enough preparation, as she has never before taken a ballet exam without having extra sessions. A while back the teacher mentioned the need for these, but all bar one never happened. I mentioned them a couple of weeks back and was asked to wait, but now we have 3 weeks and no word. DD is the only student taking the grade which doesn't help, and I don't feel I can ask again. Could people make any other suggestions, wonder if there are any private teachers I could turn to? Would need to be Hampshire , Berkshire, London or Surrey. Want to do our best for DD. All we can do is practise with the DVD outside the weekly lesson. Thanks.

Is that from 18 rather than 16?

Woking is next one for us also. Then just Tilehurst before the semi finals. DD has not done solos at Woking for a long time so will be interesting.

Bit late I realise. Does anyone know if still of to send in an application to audition for 6th form for next year?

Tring is a lovely place to train so definitely worth trying again. My DD finds the staff to be excellent.

Found it a mixture. Also loved action photographer and made the most. Shame stage was so small, difficult for some of Dd's groups, and sometimes saw people passing backstage. Adjudication mixed. I thought she was very harsh with classical ballet where even dances which had qualified elsewhere missed mark here. Yet at same time DD did her character which she had not touched for nearly 6 months and strangely it qualified! Overall we enjoyed it, and DD pleased she had qualified two more solos.

What did people think of the festival? We had mixed experiences!

My Dd will be at Hounslow for 4 solos and 5 groups! She is 15. Solos didn't go well there last year, so hope this year is better!

If you still have, yes please. Haven't looked on here for a while. If you still have can you let me know charge and I will buy asap! Thanks

She will possibly audition for ballet courses at 16, but more probably will go for a mixed course at 18. That's partly why I'm concerned about the lack of contemporary, her local school don't teach it sadly.

DD is entering her GCSE year when she will need to really juggle study time and dance time. In terms of dance she will be doing 2 hours ballet, 90 minutes each of tap and modern, 45 minutes each of jazz and musical theatre, and a 75 minute group dance class. In addition she attends Tring CBA for 6 sessions per term. I am not convinced that this is enough for when she comes to audition for dance college against students from vocational schools, weekly associate classes and larger local dance schools. I am worried about taking the wrong decision now means less options later, but DD is nervous about committing to more than this and doing well in GCSEs. I am also concerned that she does no Contemporary as this seems to be such a flourishing area of dance. I would really value any comments or suggestions, especially where families have faced this dilemma. Thanks. P

DD seeing physio recommended by dance teacher this Wednesday so hopefully she will begin to start sorting things out. Thanks for all the advice.

Bought one, realised is new syllabus and DD doing old in December!

Dd is 15 and has been relatively injury free to date. She has started experiencing a pain in her Achilles and the dance teacher has contacted me to say she is quite concerned about this, and advised taking her to a physio. We are not very knowledgeable about such things, and don't want major problems to develop. She is supposed to be taking exams in Tap and Ballet this term, and is also busy with festivals and possibly auditions. We would be very interested if anyone has any advice, experience etc. Thanks.

Or even a residential option if not too expensive. Possibly preparation for vocational school auditions?

Deadline for payment is 9th July. Perhaps you could try phoning before then?