spooky

There was an announcement at the end to say if you turned to another channel the whole performance could be seen but as I was watching on +1 anyway it was too late for me. Hope I can find it on catch-up but haven't had time to look yet.

My dd had a bottle of water leak over a pair of almost new pointe shoes and some soft-blocks and I'm sorry to say both ended up useless. I did try drying out/re-hardening but nothing worked!

I would echo the advice to speak to the schools concerned in advance. We were in a very similar position several years ago and requested the latest audition dates possible abd all the schools were very understanding. Do remember they will be used to dancers having injuries. I would ask whoever is writing your advice letter to state that they anticipate the injury to have no long-term effects on a dancing career if they are happy to do so. Also it is less likely to be a problem if there are recall auditions and your dd will be fully recovered by them. It will be hard for your dd to restrain herself and not push beyond what she has been advised but tell her to concentrate on performance quality and keeping her leg lower etc will show them she is well disiplined.

Best way to keep colour in pink tights is to ban dds from wearing them under dark jeans as the colour always seems to rub off!

Tulip - it used to be possible to book massages at school with a masseuse(?) who came in about once a week. Can't remember how much it cost but it was quite reasonable I think.

Whilst it is a good idea to look at graduate destinations for schools this information alone may not give a true picture. For example Pastel's coment above implies that Central graduates are better suited to contemporary companies rather than classical ones but please remember this is almost always an individual's favoured choice rather than a second-best choice because they are unable to gain a classical contract. The classical training at Central is just as strong as other places otherwise dancers would not be gaining any classical contracts. Also there is one graduate from a couple of years ago who never appeared on the graduate lists because they did not gain a company contract but has been working continuously and very successfully as a freelance choreographer since leaving Central.

At 9/10 my dd was doing two ballet, one tap and one modern class (all 45mins). She then gained a year 6 JA place and I was alarmed at how many more hours most of the other girls seemed to be doing. Naturally I was concerned particularly as our dance school couldn't offer any more classes but when I spoke to the JA teacher about my concerns she said not to worry as it was definately quality rather then quantity. Even at 16 she was still only doing about 6hrs a week ballet max plus a little modern, contemporary & pilates but she was still offered three 6th form places (Central, Rambert and Tring) and got to finals for ENB. As another poster said it really depends on what is available and individual circumstances/finances and if a child has 'it' (facility, musicality and passion) this will usually be spotted by a school at auditions.

LinMM she is a regular black and white moggy with white 'socks' one of which is knee length. As I mentioned she was a rather large cat in her prime (nearly 5kg) but now only weighs just over 3kg. We didn't choose her name as she was a rescue cat who we were told was left homeless (along with her mum) following a marriage breakup. She loves being stroked but not handled too much. She has had a really good day today and seems very well - almost impossible to remember how she seemed just a day or so ago

Many many years ago now when dd first did EYB she had to miss one rehearsal through genuine illness (sickness bug). We obviously let them know and they were understanding but at the next rehearsal it turned out there had been a lot of 'illness' the previous week which apparently was also NYB auditions. Many fellow students asked if thats where dd had been but she didn't even know what they were talking about (she was only 8 at the time!). Ballet is such a small world I would just be up front and honest and ask but I can imagine several people may be in the same situation and could understand Miss Lewis not wanting to set a precedent by saying yes to one and then finding herself with a lot missing. Familarising herself with what was missed from another child is ok but it is very hard to understand spacing/formations unless all dancers are present. For example one child might need to remember that they stand between a and b and then at the next rehearsal there is an extra person in that space. I know it is exteremly frustrating for teachers to hear from parents 'Oh it won't matter if my child misses a rehearsal she knows what she is doing/picks things up very quickly' with a complete lack of understanding of the impact of absence on the rest of the group.

Well it was the best news possible from the vet. He didn't think it was time to let her go yet - she had actually perked up a lot from the previous evening by the time we got to the vet. He thinks she possibly has a urine infection so gave her an antibiotic jab which will last two weeks and we have upped her steroids. As long as she continues to seem pain-free (he said although it is hard to tell when cats are in pain he felt I was very in tune with her) and eats well we will review again in two weeks. We know that we are getting close to saying goodbye and I would never want her to suffer but am so glad to have a little extra time. She seems very well today even jumping onto my bed for a cuddle first thing and I have just brought her a lovely mat that refects back body heat as she seems to be feeling the cold (hubby not keen on her sitting on the table behind his laptop where the fan sends out warm air as blocks vent!). She looks very contented on her new blanket inside a cardboard box that we have been unable to throw out after a delivery because she adopted it!

Just about to leave home to go to vets with our darling 19 year old cat Socks. She has a cancerous growth attached to her bladder and has now started passing blood. Am dreading the verdict. She was a rescue cat who we adopted together with her mum when they were 12 & 13 years old as noone else wanted to take on such elderly cats. Sadly Mum died after a couple of years but Socks has always been very healthy until she started losing weight about a year ago. She was a big fat cat but is now all skin and bone but we love her enormously and I just cant imagine arriving home and her not coming to greet me.

When my dd was unable to dance while recovering from a foot injury we had a wonderful physio who told her to use the opportunity to do some of the things she normally didn't have time for including lots of socialising. She also recommended swimming and gave some pilates exercises to maintain core strength which were added to as recovery progressed. I felt this more than anything told me that she really understood the commitment of a serious dancer.

At 15/16 years old my dd was quite happy and confident catching train and tube up to associates in London alone (a journey she had been doing with her Dad since year 6) however she was petrified of catching a bus from home into our town centre or back - a distance of about 1.5 miles!

audsjcanuck - don't know about RBS but definately know of one person who joined Elmhurst for the final year of sixth form having been taught privately previously and it is definately possible to audition for Central's third year but not quite sure what qualifications would be available in these circumstances. Central's third year usually results in a BA hons degree but as this follows on from the foundation degree of the first two years not sure if this would be available to a newcommer unless they had transferable qualifications. Your best option is probably just to contact any schools you are interested in and ask them directly about your particular circumstances as you have nothing to lose by asking.

I have dyed quite a lot of different materials in the past but the biggest problem is not the fabric itself but the cotton used to sew it together. Several times I have had an item take the dye beautifully but the stitching remain the original colour! The dye itself can also be quite expensive so I would also recommend seeing if someone from your dance school could lend you one if its just for one exam.

I don't know about the ballet schools/universities but all the central graduate apprentice contracts are paid (salaried) not fee-paying.

I brought the first couple of these books when they first came out to try and encourage dd to read as she was a very reluctant reader ( found out many years later she is dyslexic) and she left them on the train on the way to JAs!!!!

In March Chelmsford Ballet Comapny are putting on The Nutcracker. The company is made up of children from 10 years upwards and is of a very good standard with lovely costumes and sets. Not too far at all for you to travel I think and I am sure your dd would enjoy it. More info on their website. http://www.thechelmsfordballetcompany.co.uk/

A few months ago I was at work and actually quite busy when I started feeling really odd and unsettled. I sent a text to dh asking if he was ok and saying how I felt. Got text back saying don't be stupid everythings fine then about an hour later we heard dd had been rushed to hospital with paralysis down one side. At first they thought she had had a stroke but luckily turned out to be a very severe migraine. Dh was most unnerved by my text then. Btw my user name was not chosen because of any claim to psychic power - was watching an episode of the x-files at the time of registering on the old site many years ago. edited to correct spelling

Phew GCSE results were v good - off out for lunch now to celebrate.

Oldermum - Dd had one pair of Bloch Serenade that were just like you describe. Even using pliers to pull the needle through it took me about 10 times longer than any other pair and then to add insult to injury dd decided she didn't actually like them and they were hardly worn. Darned plenty of other shoes of all makes, including Bloch with no problems.

We have GCSE results for youngest daughter tomorrow. Can't believe we had degree, A level and GCSE results all in one summer!!

As students we were in a pub with a visiting American friend and we were all munching on crisps so our American friend went to the bar to ask for some. She was most surprised to be told they would bring them over in a few mins and didn't understand why they didn't just pass her a packet from the display. Of course she had asked and duly got chips!

Billyelliott - have sent you a pm

Clara - I have sent you a pm