Jays

Glowlight what type of associates did your DD do and did she do a couple at once? She wants to be a professional dancer although she also says she would like to be a choreographer, so possibly a little undecided at the moment and not sure what is/isn't achievable. She hasn't mentioned a vocational course and it didn't even cross my mind we will look into this.

She's not expressed an interest to do just classical ballet, I think the interest in the ballet associate is to become better at ballet and ballet is one of her favourite styles. I couldn't imagine 4 associates a month, we couldn't commit to that financially or with time. She definitely wants to be challenged, that was the reason for auditioning for her current associate. It's not just for interest and fun, she's wants to go to dance college and then study dance at university. Thanks all for the replies.

Dd's already doing a monthly associate and really wants to audition for a ballet associate that is twice a month. She already dances every night of the week and is going into Y10 in September where I'm guessing homework may increase. Are associates really needed? If anyone's child did two associates or more at once, how did they cope not spending much time seeing friends due to lack of free time? If she were successful and offered a place on the ballet one too, then it means an even bigger financial commitment. Is it all necessary or can good quality training at your dance school be enough? Would she need both associates (ballet, jazz, lyrical) and the ballet one or is one enough? Thanks

Thanks for all the replies. Taxi4ballet thanks for the honest reply. At her school they have a dedicated dance teacher (there may be more than one but DD's had the same one for the 2.5 years) who I think studied ballet so hopefully there shouldn't be a problem there. However the level of dance they have done last year hasn't been difficult and DD got the top marks but one of her friends who doesn't dance, isn't interested in dance and doesn't even try got second to top marks so does make me thing year 8 wasn't hard if the non dancers could do well. There is already someone in her form saying she might do it because she doesn't want to work hard and it's an easy subject!! I've seen the studio when we visited back in year 6 but I don't know if it's a sprung floor, I will ask DD. Pas de quatre I think that's what DD is unsure on, if she is put into groups with those with no/limited dance experience. Dance is an area that she strives to be perfect in and would be unhappy if she got a lower grade than capable of especially if it was down to others not being at the same level. Nevertooold thanks for another honest reply. Your DD sounds very like my DD, dance is her passion. DD isn't thinking it will be an easy GCSE, she doesn't like writing but was/is considering because it's available, dance is her passion and it may be easier than her picking say geography.

Thanks Neverdancedjustamum, I think I worded the content line correctly. DD is wondering if the actually dancing will be basic if it's aimed at anyone who wants to study it rather than just serious dancers. She currently dances an average of 10 hours a week and helps in the younger ballet and lyrical classes. One of the girls in her form who is thinking of doing it only does street dance and another never did dancing until school dance lessons in year 7. There are a couple of others considering it who are more advanced than DD. Thanks wheretonow, DD may not like the non practical side of the GCSE but then again having an interest in dance may mean she will enjoy it more than say doing a different GCSE.

DD is thinking of doing GCSE dance but is currently undecided. She wants to go to dance college after school so would it definitely be worth taking GCSE? She would dance every hour if she could so would enjoy the extra dance. She takes classes in Ballet, tap, lyrical, contemporary, jazz and street, along with an monthly associate (Jazz, lyrical, ballet). She doesn't/hasn't taken exams in all of them but is just about to take grade 5 ballet & tap this month. Things that she is unsure about is the written aspect and because there are no prerequisites she is unsure what the content will be like for her and those that do several hours dancing a week if someone with no experience can do the course? We have a final GCSE meeting at school at the end of this month.