Lemongirl

Wow, what a lot of helpful info here, thanks.

I got my dds first pair from a local shop but I think we may take a trip into town for the next pair. I like the sound of Dancia, do you have to make an appointment?

For some reason I didn't get round to ordering a DVD for Swan Lake in Dartford which my dd performed in earlier this year. Miss Lewis said I would have to contact the production company directly and she has given me an email address.

I have emailed them but haven't had a response so far. Does anyone know who the production company is or have their phone no etc?

Thank you.

Think I drew the short straw as I was in a dressing room with 28! of the youngest girls. Me and 2 other chaperones. But they were all v well behaved and it was relatively easy yesterday as no costumes and make up to worry about. It was good fun to see what goes on behind the scenes.

Good luck to everyone for tonight!

Do we need to be dressed in black for the run through today or just for the performances?

Thank you, that's very helpful. I will stock up on food to bring! I'm really looking forward to it.

I am chaperoning tomorrow for the run through on stage and also for the Sat matinee.

Do chaperones get any breaks or will I be allowed to nip out for food etc? I'm trying to work out how much food I need to bring for me and dd!

Personally I've found 'normal' hairnets better for buns - you can wrap them over a few times and they seem to hold the bun in more securely.

Thanks BallerinaX. And thanks for coming back again, very kind of you.

I think we might actually be sorted now. Georgie did put me in touch with a girl coming from Winchmore Hill. I have spoken to her mum who sounds lovely and we think if we do some sorts of rota, we would have to meet at a halfway point between our homes. Which may not be that helpful anyway as I would still to go out again to pick dd up albeit nearer to home. However, my lovely lady who cleans for me on Friday mornings has said she can do afternoons for me instead which makes it all so much easier. It means I can leave my younger dds at home and she can put my dinner in for me so it's ready when dd and I get home. The Winchmore Hill mum and I said we will do our own thing for the first few weeks and then see if we can help each other at all.

So I'm feeling much happier about the logistics and dd can't wait for the first rehearsal!

Another done here too!

Thank you, very helpful....seems like quite a few options.

Thanks all. I have ordered a Degas poster online for starters that hopefully will arrive in time....and we will have a look in the shops tmw for an additional pressie....

We've been so busy with EYB rehearsals we haven't had time to get a present for dds ballet friend whose birthday it is on Tuesday.

Does anyone have any ballet-related ideas? Obviously too late to get anything online now. I did think about a voucher (WH smith??) but would prefer something more personal if possible.

I was in Potters Bar and we regularly used to get the train up to Stevenage to go either bowling or ice skating. I think the bowling place was near to the station so that was fine, but the ice rink was a bit of a walk and we always used to get lost! All those roundabouts looked the same!

Happy days!

Gosh poor you Klaris, you really do deserve a medal!

Although you did make me laugh with 'the town that has no glue'! lol

Should I be getting dd a spare pair of pointe shoes? She is new to pointe work so I didn't know just how quickly they get through shoes! She is a little jewel and I'm not sure exactly how much pointe work that entails.

Thank you. That'll take me back to my past - I used to go bowling and ice skating in Stevenage as a teenager!

If there is anyone here who has done it before, where do parents generally wait during the Friday evening rehearsals? My dd will be in the junior company so 4.45 - 6.15pm. The waiting room at Watton seems quite small and the area seems quite remote. Are there any supermarkets, libraries etc nearby?

Sorry, another silly question - how exactly do they tape toes? Tape each toe individually? All of them? Or just the ones likely to get sore?

Dd has started pointe work but there seem to be loads of girls doing pointe work and not many (as far as I can see) doing vocational grades...

Thank you, that's very helpful and clear.

So the vocational grades have pointe work but the normal grades don't?

Can someone please explain to me how these work? My dd does RAD and has been working through the grades, she has just done Grade 3.

Is there a point where you switch to the vocational grades or do you also do the normal grades as well?

Is inter foundation the earliest vocational grade? Then what?

I'm sure you knowledgeable people can give me some info! Many thanks.

Well done to your dd spanner.

Are you picking up today? I will look out for your crutches lol!

Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately finding out what her friend got is out of my hands as they are good friends and no doubt will talk! Anyway she feels a bit better today. It's really hard for them sometimes.

Wow, well done to your dd taxi, that's fantastic news!

My tearful dd has just gone up to bed Of course I am immensely proud of her and told her so but I can't console her. She just can't get the 78 out of her head. She says it sounds like a much lower mark than in the 80s. She's waiting to hear what her best friend got, I suspect if it's higher than dd's we'll have more tears. Her teacher said dd got a good range of marks, it was the character that let her down a bit.

Thank you.

Where do I get this micropore tape from?

We have results for Gr 3 - distinction 78. Dd should be proud of herself but she's disappointed with the mark. She was hoping for over 80. I'm not sure what to say to her.