theunderdog

Any good news school offers from this topic?

Be aware the the Associates doesn't guarantee senior school. With the offers out only 2 girls (out of 10) from Associates got a yes, rest are waitlisted. Seems the internationals and "no's" from the top tier are just too strong this year. Or maybe it's a sign of things to come...

On 30/12/2022 at 18:05, Beryl H said:

The plot thickens - yesterday I received an E-mail from the Theatre Royal Brighton inviting me to buy discounted tickets for the Varna International Ballet, and as the prices were high I got one for Giselle on 13th February,( Nutcracker and Swan Lake are on the next two nights) without checking up, I've just looked again and it says the Company was founded in 1947 and this is their first UK tour, with dancers from Ukraine and European countries, this is the information that the Theatre Royal has been given.

 

I don't mind, it will just be lovely to see Giselle without a train journey!!!

I believe Varna has taken on Ukraine dancers to help them out during the crisis (ongoing) and gone to Europe as they can't tour in their own country. And they have given opportunities to UK dancers to share the stage (I am close to 1 who got a 6 month contract performing every ballet they dreamed of as a child!). I think this is wonderful and I applaud Varna for what they have acheived, in the face of adversity.

On 09/01/2024 at 10:46, Jan McNulty said:

Hello @Betty this is an earlier thread of places it may be worth researching:

 

 

Look at ballet cymru 

On 11/12/2023 at 18:44, Swanwings said:

To my knowledge RCS, ENBS and Central do not ask for solo's. Dd is at vocational lower school and they are preparing the students for auditions; there is no mention of a solo for them, no mention on the website and to my knowledge the previous years did not do them either.

 

Happy to be corrected if anyone knows more??

For the finals they will require improv. So, if your DD has a solo for ballet or contemporary, its good they tap into that,  even if they are just asked to improv for 16 counts:)

On 09/01/2024 at 10:30, Betty said:

Can anyone tell me, are Upper Schools usually for entry aged 16? Are there any that do entry at 18 to allow for children to do A levels? Do many get accepted at Central at 18 if it is aimed at 16 year olds?

If they are entry at 16 are they essentially like private schools ie full fee payment unless on state benefits or extremely gifted and get some kind of bursary?

Look at Hammond. LMA, LSC, Rambert, Central and Bird (ballet string). All of these will take at 18 after A levels. You also now have the Carlos Acosta route which is 14k a year. PM if you need details.

33 minutes ago, theunderdog said:

Shame. But at least these ballerinas who probably trained for many years to just get a shot on the big stage, got to realise their dream in the corps of Swan Lake and probs had the time of their god damn lives entertaining you We have a very high opinion of what Ballet should be in then UK. It's probably what has led to all these other threads lately. To say BRB, RBS and Northern, and that ilke, are the only ones worthy of touring and sharing their passion with audiences is a shame. They already have the monopoly in London, so I think it's time for the little guys to have a shot (Varna established in 2023....wonder how good the first RBS production was?...if only we had forums back then!). Give them all a chance I say and if it is not your cup of tea don't go again. They will be someone's cup of tea and that's OK:)

Found an early article so thought I post https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/arts/dance-view-the-sadler-s-wells-production-of-beauty-is-a-winner.html

With this excerpt (even when the ballet brings a smile someone still has to point out the negatives  ) The women in the company tend to have weak toe work and carelessly held feet -especially when they are in the air. They also tend to dance on a small scale. To demand that they have the attack of Russian and American dancers would be foolish. 

1 hour ago, FionaM said:

Hmm I’m not sure it does explain why everything in this company is poor quality.  
 

Though the history which dominates this article is interesting. 
 

I’m personally delighted that BRB is returning to Bristol with Sleeping Beauty in April.    
 

The only other ballet company we get here is ENB for 4 days annually.  Hardly ‘over-endowed’! 
 

(Matthew Bourne comes annually too but that’s never been ballet to me … musical theatre without the singing).  

Shame. But at least these ballerinas who probably trained for many years to just get a shot on the big stage, got to realise their dream in the corps of Swan Lake and probs had the time of their god damn lives entertaining you We have a very high opinion of what Ballet should be in then UK. It's probably what has led to all these other threads lately. To say BRB, RBS and Northern, and that ilke, are the only ones worthy of touring and sharing their passion with audiences is a shame. They already have the monopoly in London, so I think it's time for the little guys to have a shot (Varna established in 2023....wonder how good the first RBS production was?...if only we had forums back then!). Give them all a chance I say and if it is not your cup of tea don't go again. They will be someone's cup of tea and that's OK:)

On 30/12/2022 at 01:14, LinMM said:

I saw Ballet U.K. tonight in Brighton but will report tomorrow!! 

I love BTUK productions. R AND J last year moved me to tears and Wizard of Oz had children as young as 2 glued to their seats...small company, small stages (you can almost touch them), fantastic costumes (the cast move the Staging and props through the dances effortlesly). Strong soloists. Yes, no live orchestra but who cares when you are drawn into the story and come away with a smile on your face. With tickets at 18-20 quid even in 2024, it's a worthy afternoon/eve out. And it's supporting small local Theatre's which, is so very, very important nowadays.  Excited to see what London City Ballet bring us in 2024 (the reprisal of the small companies, where maybe those never destined for Royal Opera or Collusieum get a chance to experience the same thrill of delighting audiences) I can't wait!

On 23/01/2024 at 03:15, FionaM said:

A rather large number of prestigious dance schools seem to be searching for heads this year

- RB

- ENBS

- Dutch National Academy

- Palucca

- Australian Ballet School

- National Ballet School of Canada 

 

Others? 

Its sad this is happening just as school auditions are happening. Like league football transfer window but at the wrong time imo.

On 14/01/2024 at 16:02, Roberta said:

My goodness though, so much reality in that.

 

It's all a very long way from five bob in the church / village hall on Saturday morning  for ballet, tap ballroom and modern stage, with Auntie Nelly (yes I knew an Aunty Nelly who taught dance) or Miss Dora, which was what a great deal of dance teaching used to be. Very few even considered a career, it was fun, a show every year, medal tests, a few grades, and then the real world of work hit. The lucky few went on, few ever made a ballet company or west end show,  but panto, cruise ships, summer shows at seaside resorts,  and all the rest, gainful employment. 

 

Of course there were professional studios, but in reality small in number. 

 

It's a huge business now is dance teaching, and ever expanding, with ex pros needing work after retirement, and the  unending, expanding  stream of those taking full time teaching courses too. In order to gain a teaching reputation, students need to be seen to be achieving, to be 'sent on'.

 

And yet, jobs are still not in abundant supply, would-be employers can pick and choose, everything is much more international, and it is difficult for aspiring dancers to see they aren't going to make the grade no matter how nurtured.  A fortune has been spent, and parents want to see a return. 

 

Careers can be made that are dance related if a young person has the gumption and drive, but again, that's often a case of luck rather than planning. (I know of one person who took her Grade three ballet as a young  adult and left what she was doing to go on to make a hugely successful career in the dance world, not dancing,  but possibly that isn't something that would happen now either. (If she reads this she knows who she is...) 

 

I have few answers, I simply see the reality, and that piece covers so much of it. 

 

And yet some local schools are also part of the problem......

At 3 years old my daughter was told she had the physique the RBS would look for (rose tinted spectacles and drawn right in!)

At 11 she was screamed at for 4 hours during a video audition (and made to really cry) to "just get it right" for a top school associate place, which she got and her local teacher told her not to lose it.... "because I got you that place, that place is mine" also told at that same age not to apply for schools (there was another the teacher had their eye on then!).

Got told, after the first acceptance to YBSS "its a fluke, you wont get it again" been to 4 other sessions since (because, as a family, we are resilient and didn't listen and stick fingers up to those who say we can't!)

Got told, after getting a distinction in an exam, it wasnt good enough because she dropped a mark to another girl!!

We have since left that school and come upon others and private teachers who champion their students and will support my daughter to eternity but, how many families end up on our journey they cant escape from?!.....

So, to say it is just the "TOP schools" fault I dont agree, this is an inherent problem, spawned from audiences that pay to see the lithe dancers, ignoring what they go through to be where they are because it is "art" right (many a times I've seen lithe dancers out back chugging a fag instead of eating during an interval -fact!), right back to local schools, where teachers were possibly also treated badly (an opinion not fact, sorry Jan, but my experience gives me this opinion) and like breeds like right!?

We talk safe guarding all the time. OSFTED (they are not 100% as we know!) look at safeguarding in teaching envs but, what do we have in the ballet world to check these local dance schools? (reputed plumbers and electricians have 'check a trade', again, in the local ballet world what do we have?).

If you try to call out local schools, the red tape is beyond hideous (personal experience, fact!), easier to walk away!

So, IMO (not fact) the whole ballet culture needs a shake up, from the ground up not just at the end of the journey and not just at "private ballet school" level....

BTW, my daughter is thriving, it is a joy to see her ballet journey unfold, she is strong and determined and she loves the art (as do we) but when she falls she will be caught and plan B is as secure as plan A

Hug each other, laugh, but most of all be the wall in front of them and the safety net to catch them and take the rose spectacles off

Like an Eastenders Christmas plot....who's next, who dunnit. It will all come out in the wash. Keeps the ballet world interesting

I know its early on but many of the student accomodation states - book by 31st March to get best deal (nothing to pay until July!) 1. wondering if a genuine offer? And 2. Wondering where students of CSB (or prospective students) are looking to stay in 2024 please?

When will the threads be back up please?

My DD is non-voc and got a resi to SI week 3. She has been for the last 2 years also and love it.