Lemongirl

If the performance is mid November, I imagine they'll do a block of rehearsals in Oct half term. That's what happened at Wimbledon last year. They try to keep school absence to a minimum.

I am considering OPES and sussex summer school for dd, although we may well be on holiday early Aug in which case Sussex will be out.

Interesting about OPES, dd likes a bit of a challenge! A few questions about Yorkshire summer school - do they have to do 2 weeks or just one? And how difficult is it to get in?

Opes summer school is supposed to be very good.

Billyelliott, I have just ordered from the very helpful lady at Limelight. I went for the same ones - Arabesque - in a ladies size S with short leg. Hopefully they will fit! Thank you so much for the recommendation.

Sorry, one more question - I assume they should be full length not 3/4?

The too small ones are cotton lycra, not shiny at all. Does anyone know if Tring are fussy about them being a certain make?

Does anyone know if you can get jazz pants in different lengths? I bought a pair from Dance Boutique for Tring associates and dd says they are tight on the thigh and waist but too long! I think they are arabesque size 2a. I know they can be shortened but if I go up a size they'll be even longer and will be a lot to take up! Dd is about 5'1" and average build.

Thank you, will crack on with the exercises. There's just so many of them. About 8 different exercises, 10 reps of each, 3 times a day! Some use a theraband or a folded towel which (I think) help to build up the leg muscles. Can I get away with doing less? It needs to be manageable or dd will just give up.

We've got a maze wobble board which is fun, they have to use their feet to get the ball in the middle. Out of interest, does anyone know if research suggest that excercises make any difference to pronation? My middle dd has quite pronounced rolling in. She has been prescribed custom made full length orthotics but he physio has also given her loads of exercises to be done 3 times a day! It's just too much for a 10 year old, I spend all day asking dd if she's done them! A physio we vaguely know said that there is research to show the exercises don't make a difference, it's the orthotics that are important. Anyone know if this is true?

Thanks all, that's really helpful. I don't think dd wants to be a professional dancer but she does love her ballet and wants to be as good as she can be. I'll show her this thread and see if she can try some classes.

Katymac - your post made me laugh, I can just imagine your dd doing it! s So if my dd's done a little contemporary before but no modern or jazz, which would be easiest for her to pick up and would complement the ballet?

I must admit I don't know much about other dance styles! Dd is starting an associate programme, there is a huge choice of classes and she's not sure whether to go for jazz, contemporary or modern in addition to ballet. She's also going to do a tap class.

I echo what everyone else has said although I do sometimes wonder about EYB auditions with regard to numbers. What would they do if 200 turned up?? Congratulations to your dd carmen, mine has also done EYB 3 times and loved it. Sleeping Beauty is her favourite so far! It's a really lovely atmosphere and the shows are amazing.

You sound very committed spacefordance. Nice to see a Dad on here!

Thank you

Does anyone know when the new Grade 5 syllabus comes out and what's the latest time you can take the old one?

Oh dear. I must have been lucky then as I ordered something recently and the entire order turned up with no problems. Looks like I won't be able to exchange anything though by the looks of it.

It depends. Dd has done EYB during term time when rehearsals are over 3 or 4 weekends. But if there is a school holiday they have a block of rehearsals during half term or a week over the summer. They try to keep school absence to a minimum.

I think there are about 10 rehearsal days and they use a local school. Each day is 6 hours long, usually 12-6pm or 1-7pm. Then on Thursday evening preceding the performances, they have a rehearsal at the theatre, this is normally around 6-10pm. Friday they are needed pretty much all day, dress rehearsal in the afternoon and first performance that evening. Then 2 performances on Saturday.

Some of the little ones might also be chosen for the Chinese dance. My dds doing the Nutcracker at the moment - I LOVE the upside down doll!

Think we might be going with Jo from Little Women, not sure what bit though.

After a week of EYB rehearsals en pointe, dds feet are suffering! She's using a combination of plasters, foam padding and lambs wool to minimise the damage and she's giving her feet a break from pointe work during the week. Is there anything she could/should be doing? Are there any good creams for blisters? Or something she could soak her feet in?

Thank you for all the suggestions. She's already doing a Jayne Eyre character duet! I did think about something classic like Little Women or the Secret Garden but I've seen these done often at festivals. Dd thinks something about WW2 might appeal - maybe an evacuee as Lilac suggested....

Dd (12) needs a new character solo and we're trying to think of ideas. She finds it hard to do happy so a sad or more serious character is needed. Needs to last her a few years too. Thought about Anne Frank but there's a girl in her age group doing that. Any ideas?