Katymac

Thanks; that's reassuring

DD went from virtually no Ballet to Grade 5 in 8 months (although she was a keen dancer in other genre) & now a further 8 months on the teacher is starting point work.  We have a year until auditions I guess.

Anjul Bai, may I ask? If you start pointe work later (e.g. 15) is that a real problem or just one of those things

Sorry for the Hijack, Straceydor, I hope you don't mind

Thank you

I may have found a back up plan

There is a level 3 in the next town (only 2 hrs away) & she an board for 3/4 days a week

So if she doesn't get a level 6 place that is an option

Thanks Dancemad - if she doesn't try then she can't succeed

& thanks Spannerandpony

Poor thing has been poorly and has missed so much class & even 2 GCSE papers last week (I sent her in, school sent her home); then she had an audition today for summer school & she is now exhausted! But has to go to school as if she doesn't go to school she can't go dancing

I wish she could do less school - 14 GCSEs is stupid

We had the meeting with the CAT yesterday & they were much more spportive than I expected.

They have given DD some homework asking the same questions you asked Spannerandpony (sorry I must have missed you reply - I do feel rude for ignoring you; it wasn't intentional)

My mum used to sew the 2 laces together parallel and pull through

Do you think? They are very negative about her going at 16 & expect her to stay to 18

But we will struggle to manage at 16 if she doesn't do dancing

I've set up a meeting with the CAT people to discuss it

They have already suggested a level 3 there - but as it's 2.5 hours travel time (each way) it really would mean moving away, even for that

I don't think she can do classical Ballet as she came to it so late

But there isn't much round here in Performing Arts - she will have to move away even to do a level 3 I think

I do worry over much - it's a life skill I developed after having children

My DD wants to dance; she lives to dance and actually periods without classes make her a little 'lost'

If she has her way she would give up school now (she is 15 & in year 10 - doing 14 GCSEs) and just dance. But she knows she can't, legally, morally or practically.

So she wants to go at 16, which I understand will extend her 'working life'. She says when she gives up performing she can retrain and I have always stated 'learning is life long' combined with getting a degree at 43 and starting a post graduate qualification this year; so I can hardly insist on A levels (or more likely BTecs as she isn't tremendously academic)

So - she has 2 dance teachers, one has worked on the west end stage/ballet etc the other trained but works on a more administrative basis

One says 16 & one says 18; are there clear cut pros & cons for each?

Obviously I'd rather keep my baby at home to follow a more 'traditional' path most of the time (although there are days I could cheerfully allow her to move out straight away) but I'd rather control any 'leaving home' rather than have it happen as a result of a big argument.

So, currently I intend to let her audition & if she gets a place take it; but I am getting shock from people which ever path (16 or 18) we are discussing (either "you cant let her go at 16" or "you'll be stupid not to let her go at 16")

So pros & cons?

The other thing iS it has really inspired her to work harder at the CAT - she says she finishes 1.5 hrs without a sweat whereas 45 mins in her other class & she is exhausted & sodden.

We've just been at an Open day for Millenium - she loved it!

She does work tremendously hard (imo)

Thanks everyone, it seems DD and her teacher are right; more ballet, more ballet, more ballet

Thanks for all the advise, sorry about the quote.

I have lots to think about & so does DD

We went to Stella Mann a few weeks ago; DD loved it, they did a few classes which were great & they also did a 'show' for us parents (we only just got back in time - we had gone to Milton Keynes, christmas shopping). Then we went to Tiffany's (she also loved that!) And they let us parents troop round - I likd that better but DD only did one class.

Now I'm on the train to Millenium who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Getting a eztra ballet class will be tricky, the one at her school clashes with her CAT midweek & apparently some schools don't let you do classes at other schools as well (DD's teacher is quite nice about it; she thinks the extra class is more important than who teaches it)

No I have - there are 2 intermediates somethings in Ballet?.....Duh

The CAT wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't spent the last year telling her if she worked hard she would move up & she never did - then they moved 3 new 10 yos into the class - she will stick at it. But I asked her if she auditioned now what class would she be in & she said she wouldn't be there because she was obviously "****" poor poppet

Goodness everyone gets around don't they

Stageworks looks good, she hopes to do her intermediate toward the end of next year/early 2014. She does every course that she can find - but I think the problem with some of them is that she is at a higher level already.

& the local youth theatre which she has loved is prehaps no longer the best place for her

I need to organise a good easter school (the second week) & something in May half-term then something in the summer (any reccommendations?). We can't book the summer yet because she is auditioning for Youth Musical Theatre which she really wants to do.

In Feb she is doing the Urdang pre-audition course staying with family & she is really excited about that.

Someone mentioned money for classes - we are very lucky because the CAT and some of her other classes are funded.

No A levels at all at school and the local A level college is limited; she could do a BTec in the nearest city but it would mean nearly 2 hours travelling each way (public transport) - so it's not ideal

It would help I guess if we didn't live so rurally

The problem with them going older is I don't know what to do with her younger......she isn't really A level material (I employ 2 A level studens & the amount of work they do is astounding)

& she has to stay in education until she is 18 under the new rules

Half GCSE's this year & half next year - she already has Btec Dance & Science & has 12 more to take (me & the school don't see eye to eye; imo 8 solid C grades would be better than 14 maybe GCSEs)

Yes, consultations (ITPs) but at her age they do them with DD not me & they take weeks to answer my emails.

It would kill her to lose the ballroom she competes at a reasonably high level (ISTD medallists) & is about to start Opens; I guess Salsa, choir & African have to go

"What does she want to do" well when I ask her she says dance

Her Ballet teacher feels shows/cruises are what she is suited for

A recent examiner said the only places she should audition for are: Bird, Laine, Performers, Arts Ed, London (something or other I can't remember) or Udang

We are doing open days at Stella Mann, Tiffany's, Millenium & Hammond; with the hope of Urdang's preauditio course in Feb, Laine Summer school & I'm looking for something the second week of Easter and May half-term

She wants to (in order depending upon what she is good enough for)

*dance in shows

*own her own dance school

*teach at someone else's dance school

*teach high school dance

& she "intends" to dance until I am too old then I'll teach

She knows she can't do 'Ballet' but really loved the workshop at English National Ballet Youth Company last weekend

& tbh the CAT isn't really working for her; she is in a class of much youger children (some of them 4 yrs plus younger)

I think we are a bit lost in a counrty we don't quite understand the language and social mores of (iyswim)

Oh no she does the others too; she just wants more ballet

She intends (who knows how viable it is) to study dance at 16 - probably in London as we are in the wilds of Norfolk in Sept 14.

I don't know about her - but I'm knackered & I don't want to say yes unless I have to; her timetable is:

Monday

5:30 - 6:00 Singing

7:00 – 7:45 Grade 4 Ballet

7:45 – 8:30 Grade 6 Ballet

8:30 - 9:00 Choreography

Tuesday

Either 4:30 - 5:15 Ballroom or 7:45 - 9:00 Salsa

5:45 - 6:15 Contemorary

Thursday

3:00 - 4:30 School Choir

7:00 - 9:00 African Dancing

Friday

4:15 - 5:00 Grade 3 Tap/Tap Awards

5:00 - 6:00 Inter Foundation Ballet & Pointe

6:00 - 6:45 Silver Jazz Awards

Saturday

9:30 - 10:30 Ballroom

1.5 Ballet

1.5 Contemporary

1 Creative

Plus that silly school thing that gets in the way

DD just turned 15, she started Ballet last September and due to extensive practise/lessons and previous dance experience (ballroom mainly) she managed her Grade 5 after 8 months.

Her teacher made her learn all the grades (1-4) as she moved through to Grade 5 so she had quite a lot of lessons.

Now she is working on Grade 6 & the other one (is it intermediate?) & she is about to start on pointe work (as her teacher feels her feet are now strong enough)

But she is missing all the other classes she has been doing; the teacher would like her to do another class but the timing clashes with her CAT class

She also does Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and is about to start Modern in January; I don't really know what to do with her & am about to suggest a private lesson to the teacher

She does:

Monday

7:00 – 7:45 Grade 4 Ballet

7:45 – 8:30 Grade 6 Ballet

Friday

5:00 - 6:00 Inter Foundation Ballet & Pointe

Saturday

1.5 hrs of basic Ballet at the CAT

Is that enough? Is dhe being reasonable in asking for more?

(ps I'm very new to all this so please be gentle with me if I seem thick, or uninformed......I'm differently able - ask me about childcare or sailing & I'm your girl but dance??? bit bemused by it all. Sorry )