Vonrothbart

Thanks susyszoo, yeah along with a lot of other DC she will just have to keep listening to her excellent teachers, and more importantly keep on enjoying what she's doing. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and next years auditions, and there could well be alternatives, and to be honest it is nice that no year 7's have been assessed out at such a young age.

Thanks for all the kind comments.

Well it was the expected no for the two UK girls for year 8, I'm not sure about the two foreign girls though. Life goes on and like I mentioned earlier, from my point of view it's maybe a blessing in disguise this year, I'm sure my GDD and her Mum won't see it that way of course but she will be fine.

I fully understand where you are coming from regarding your DD's age balletmum20, my granddaughter is almost the same, the odd thing is she was born nine weeks premature, and misses the younger section by one day.

I had a little conversation with my GDD today, I said "what if it's a no again" she said "oh well Grumps third time lucky next year"

Thank you BankruptMum, it would be nice but what will be will be.

It's very hard balletmum16, I reckon in a couple of days your DD will hopefully take her disappointment on the chin, and come back even stronger.

The two girls and their respective parents have had a wonderful couple of days in London, for their final auditions for WL. There were only two other girls, one from Spain and one from Sweden, for year 8. The girls couldn't have done any more, and they both said they really enjoyed the audition, and neither of them were daunted facing the panel of nine, the physio etc etc. We just seem to take these occasions for granted, but if nothing at all happens for either of them, maybe when they are older they will look back, and think to themselves, omg did I really do that. Good luck to all the DC who auditioned today.

Spot on there Bestfootforward, particularly the last paragraph.

Well HappyGirl as most on the forum will tell you that travelling to Juniors or mids is only part of it, in fact along with quite a few other parents and dance children, my D and GD are in London as we speak for the final auditions for WL tomorrow. The travelling doesn't trouble either of them, but luckily her best friend travels with them as she is also a MA, and who incidentally is in the final too, it could change soon though.

I would definately consider a centre nearer to your base, as the travelling and expense seems to come up quite a lot in your comments, and like has been said there are very good classes in other parts of the country. My grandaughter had a weekly round trip of 150 miles in the three years she was a JA, and is now making a round trip of 400 miles weekly in MA's, but she loves every minute of it. Go for it, any audition is not a waste of time whether successful or not, the experience gained alone will be worth it. There will also be plenty of opportunities from other centres to visit WL and the ROH to see the pro's rehearsing, etc.  

It should have read 250 not 400 miles.

I would definately consider a centre nearer to your base, as the travelling and expense seems to come up quite a lot in your comments, and like has been said there are very good classes in other parts of the country. My grandaughter had a weekly round trip of 150 miles in the three years she was a JA, and is now making a round trip of 400 miles weekly in MA's, but she loves every minute of it. Go for it, any audition is not a waste of time whether successful or not, the experience gained alone will be worth it. There will also be plenty of opportunities from other centres to visit WL and the ROH to see the pro's rehearsing, etc.  

If a child is assessed out of WL, say, would Elmhurst audition them even if they had missed the formal audition/application date.  It seems that the appraisals are after the auditions and I am wondering how that would work.  I am getting ahead of myself as DS is not even at one of these schools yet, but the appraisals system does influence if/where we would send him if offered....

From reading the above, do I take it the benchmark is not as high at Elmhurst and some other schools as it is at WL, another reason I ask is a boy didn't get to the final in his audition for WL upper school, but got an invite to another well known school without attending the final? Or is it different styles or body make up etc each school are looking for, I do have my own opinion but wondered what other forum members think?

 I was just about to say, no news is good news when you posted. well done to your dd.

Hello Vontothbart - slight misunderstanding . Someone had said that finals were possibly full , and that no one seemed to have got into finals from Feb 8 th audition . I just wanted to dispel that rumour - most certainly wasn't questioning your friends e mail. I wouldn't dream of it . Sorry if I've caused offence

Absolutely no offence taken tutugirl, I hope you can understand my frustration though, as I wrongly thought you were referring to me spreading rumours. Please don't think it was shouting text too, as I'm no keyboard warrior, as they are one of my pet hates. I was only trying to emphasise my post.

My DS auditioned on Feb 8 th for ENB and has got into finals - I'm certain they would always take someone into finals if they wanted them -otherwise there would be no point holding the audition at all .

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My DS auditioned on Feb 8 th for ENB and has got into finals - I'm certain they would always take someone into finals if they wanted them -otherwise there would be no point holding the audition at all .

I'm very sorry but it's certainly NOT a rumour, he was informed by email not to bother with the final, and was offered a place. FACT.

A lad I know was told not to bother with the final for ENB, as they want him in regardless. 

Well after reading all these posts, it's a wonder we even allow our DC to even audition for places at vocational schools, for fear of being assessed out and all the pain that must go with it. I know most parents would obviously still like their children to get a place, but we should get it in our minds that being assessed out can happen to anyone for quite different reasons. It must be a very nervous time of the year when the appraisals do come round, 

You have to remember though that you won't have the expense of the local dance school, festivals, travelling to Mids etc etc, which add up to a pretty substantial amount, either way it's not going to come cheap, but we all think it's worth it or we wouldn't be in the ball game.

We'll just take it there are no places available then, go down to Richmond Park and enjoy a couple of nice days, and just use the audition for the experience. Seems pretty good to me.

Hi vonRothbart

I was at Manchester on 23rd and to us the 13.15 group they hinted there may be no Y8 places. I'm sorry this is not the news your GD will want to hear but I think it is fair you know the score. I am sorry in a way they are taking them to seconds if no places but clearly your gd is on the cusp and if a place became available. ... I guess it could happen not for assess out reasons. ... I hope she gets what she deserves soon. Did she go for Elmhurst?

Sorry for late reply sarahw, no she only auditioned for WL at this stage, like I've mentioned I have mixed feelings at this stage, as she has got settled  in her first year at a very good school, she gets superb training from her local dance school and she is a MA. There will be plenty of opportunities further down the line, if she is good enough of course,

Hi windover60, yes I fully understand what you are saying and I do apologise for bringing to note on this forum, innocently as it may have been. I too hope we are lucky and no one reads it. 

I always  understood that even if there were places available in yr 8, they would not necessarily take anyone just for the sake of it. We certainly were not taking any notice of what we heard unofficially that's for sure, it's all part of the experience which has to be good for everyone concerned on this epic journey. Just a thought but if my GD had been born a day earlier, she would have been auditioning for a place in yr 7, so she has done very well to be involved in it all, so to speak. Thanks for all the guidance, I'm sure it will come in handy further down the line.

Hi Plie, yes I've done a little research, and you are probably correct as it was a "mum" who maybe was trying to impress she knew a little more than the rest. 

They were told at the Manchester audition that there were three places available, I can't understand why anyone would suggest that if it's not true. It doesn't really matter how many places there are available mind, as there  will always be serious competition for them,