Lemongirl

Does anyone have any experience of this associate scheme? I don't know much about Cecchetti, how does it compare with RAD? Is it a v competitive audition and what do they look for?

Congratulations! My dd has also been in Swan Lake and had a fantastic time. She was a courtier as a lot of the younger girls but I agree that the swan group is large so there's a good chance you will be cast as a swan!

Has anyone done this before? Dd will be just old enough this year and it sounds lovely, like a smaller version of the LCB touring company. Does anyone know what time they finish the performances on the Friday? We are supposed to be going on holiday that day!

Found them from Bloch online - thanks, didn't realise they had their own site!

Does anyone know if you can buy Bloch ballet shoes online in the narrow A fitting? I've only seen the B and C fitting. Dd was fitted at the Bloch shop and loves the shoes so know exactly what size she needs.

Is NYB much harder to get in to than EYB?

Trouble is, when I mention buns to dh, he thinks of food!

Just looking at these bunhead pins on Planet Dance. Which size is best?

Very impressed with these dads that do buns! I went away for a few days a year or two ago and dh just about managed a simple pony tail on the dds!

Belleballerina - we were at Welwyn today!

And if so, from what age could she manage herself? Dd is 11.5 and I'm still doing her bun. She's not bad at doing hair generally but struggles a bit with buns and says mine are neater!

Bother, those are the two weeks we are on holiday! Does anyone low if there are ant good summer schools later in August? I know there's NYB but that's by audition.

What are the dates happy mum?

There are also some lovely pendents on the RAD website. One for each grade!

Lisadebs - do you have to audition for RBS summer school?

I'm also thinking about this for my dd. Is it early or late in the summer? Just curious why they sleep in the gym...? Are there no dorms? Do they sleep ok?

I managed to get some feedback from Tring when dd wasn't accepted onto the CBA. But this was a couple of years ago and it was a different person running it then. It's always worth asking! Dd would still love a place on this but she didn't audition this time round mainly because I knew there were very, very few places this time. I think the next audition is May and hopefully there may be more places available then. I think they're hoping to expand it. One thing I like about this scheme is that it isn't every week, it's only 6 Sundays per term. So not too heavy in terms of commitment and leaves enough time for a bit of family time!

If she is only just 12, I would speak to Miss Lewis beforehand and ask if she should do junior or senior. What grade is she?

My dd is keen to do a summer school next summer. By then she will be just turned 12 and probably have just taken RAD Grade 4. She's done the LCB one before at St Paul's school which she enjoyed. Do LCB also do a 'performance' summer school and where is that held? Although we live in London, the traffic getting back from Hammersmith was horrendous so I am keen to avoid that if possible! She's quite happy to do a residential one which would suit me as far less travelling every day! I've also heard of one in Harpenden.

I do know a bit about this as my dd has auditioned for CBA twice both unsuccessfully. First time, a couple of years ago, I managed to get some feedback. I was told it was mainly physical as dd is also not flexible and at the time we didn't realise how important it was. She then worked v hard improving her flexibility and auditioned again in June this year. Unfortunately (Mary Schon told me this), they were planning on expanding the CBA but due to various reasons it wasn't possible so that's why they only had 17 places available and over 200 auditioning. Dd is now v busy doing 3 counties youth ballet, lots of classes and new festival dances etc so in a way the timing isn't right now anyway. I said she could try again for next September if she wants. I then found out about the November audition! So I'm now in a dilemma whether to let her try again now or wait till next year.

My dd did the Xmas weekend last year and had a fabulous time. She was 10.5 at the time and I thought she would be nervous being away from home and not knowing anyone. How wrong I was! Not only did she love the dancing, but she totally threw herself into the whole boarding experience. We had a few prank calls at home from her and her friends, all part of the fun! And I will never forget the look on her face when we watched them dancing the Nutcracker on the last day. Dd is not the most smiley dancer but her eyes were literally shining as she danced. I haven't seen her dance like that before or since. She would love to go again this year but I don't know if she'll be allowed to miss a 3 counties rehearsal.

Thanks all, that's exactly the type of thing!

Not sure what else to call them really! I'm not talking about the long sleeved pyjama type affair with a zip, but sleeveless, plain black, made of fine knitted material. Loads of girls at dds dance school have them, very easy for slipping over a leotard after class. Anyone know where I can get them?

Thanks all, very helpful info here as always! :-)

My dd is new to pointe work and is on her first pair (Bloch). How do I know when she needs a new pair, is it very obvious? Apart from doing EYB over the summer, she only does a half hour pointe class per week.