balletdreams410

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I’m actually relieved that most of you are saying what we have in place is enough. Social media is so good at making you think otherwise! I would like to stress here that I am following my DD’s lead here. This is her goal at the moment (must commend her for aiming so high haha) so I just want to give her the best chance so even if it doesn’t work out, she can see we gave it all we could. If it was up to me she’d only do it for fun 😂 I am grateful she is an only child though, bravo to those who juggle more than one child. I’m very cautious about her mental well-being, she is autistic, and dance is so much more to her than an activity. She uses dance to express herself when she struggles. If she doesn’t want to dance that day, I won’t push her to. My biggest fear is she’ll lose her love for it, so I approach classes with caution. I know as she gets older the pressure intensifies but hopefully by then she’ll have coping mechanisms in place. I don’t know what to do vocational wise, yes 11 will be amazing but I honestly don’t think she’ll make the cut, but if she wants it enough, there’s always the following year etc. Thank you again, all the best with your kids x

Sorry, would have helped if I was more specific 🤦‍♀️ DD9 - currently does RAD Grade 3, RBS ATAP, ISTD Grade 3 Modern and Unaffiliated Contemporary. Associate classes are fortnightly term time only. Vocational at 11 would be amazing, but in my heart I just don’t think she’ll make the cut compared to others

I’m curious to know how many hours a week should be considered if your child wants to aim for a vocational pathway. Financially, I can only afford 4 hours a week of classes with her dance school plus her fortnightly associate class. I am currently trying to find a second job to try give it a boost. I’m just concerned in hindsight will it ever be enough, when she’ll always be up against girls who do way more plus competitions etc. Is it just an unrealistic goal? She’ll always be perceived as behind surely?

Hi Apologies if there is already a thread. I am hoping to connect with parents of children, who are very serious about dance / ballet, that are also diagnosed autistic. My DD9 has been doing ballet since she was 5 and is very passionate about it. We don’t do competitions as we feel that sort of environment is too overwhelming for her. Ballet allows her to express herself where in normality she really struggled to convey emotion. She is auditioning for a number of associate programs this year for year 5 start, I was wondering if such schemes are inclusive where autism etc is concerned? I don’t want special treatment, she has to experience things like everyone else, but I really hope they judge her on her dancing rather than when she’s stood in a line stimming (fidgeting, rocking) in between exercises - which has happened in the past. We are considering vocational schools in the future, as she struggles with mainstream school, so we thought to channel her strengths (music/dance). I honestly don’t know if she’ll be good enough to go all the way and become professional, but she’s very determined to give it a try. I am purely following her lead here but want to research prior. I’m just concerned her enthusiasm is a lost cause if there just aren’t autistic dancers out there. I really do hope there is more inclusivity, but at the moment it seems very lonely. Ballet gives her such joy and she’s a different person when she dances. I don’t want her to lose that.