Chira

I won’t say where my child is training because I want as much anonymity for them as possible. They are at one of the main vocational ballet schools. They auditioned successfully for Y9. I did not want them boarding any earlier because than this. If I could have found a local alternative I would have left it until Upper School. Boarding full-time for vocational training (and this is my own personal opinion) with hindsight is not great, but….my child loved ballet ALOT. Having everything in one place has worked well for them, however it is not easy, but waaay easier than what went before with travelling and hunting down good quality training. Would your child like to board, what age are they?

Hello, there does not seem to be much of a norm. For us initially my child and I got caught up in the excitement of it all, until I realised this is a marathon not a sprint, and a balanced life with all its component parts is key to a healthy happy child. I used to drive my child to vocational ballet training in London 5 days a week. 2 hrs each way. My child was Home Educated and it was absolutely exhausting for me as well as them. Exciting at first but after a while it was just too much. we managed a year and threw in the towel, it just was not sustainable for either of us long term. I found I was more exhausted than they were. I can only imagine how hard it would be with a full school day thrown in. My child is now in full time residential training, days are long and challenging but minus the travel. we found travel to associate programs at weekends RBS and Ballet Boost a breeze by comparison. They were a 2 hour journey each way. knowing what I know now, if I could have found a local school with a teacher that is up to date on their training and development in ballet teaching and could offer a non-syllabus style approach alongside the standard RAD classes; with parking and a coffee shop nearby I would throw myself and my child at it and stay there until Upper School if they hadn’t lost interest by then😁 your child might want it more than anything but we found that a healthy balance of fun, friends, school and dance makes for an all round better outcome for everyone long term 💗

Thankyou so much @Ruby Foo

Hello Am new to the forum. Have a boy Y10 vocational training. Needs help over the summer break with putting together his video for US auditions. can anyone signpost us to a reasonably priced classical ballet teacher (with a studio) who could help him put this together. He doesn’t want me to film it and we do not have access to a studio. He does not want to ask a teacher at his school. cost is an issue, so is location. So 100 mile radius from Hampshire. Can be a man or woman, but really solid experience in teaching and ballet is key. many thanks