Lemongirl

My dd is relatively new to pointe work. Should she be taping her toes as a matter of course or only if they hurt? She is using gel pads in her pointe shoes.

That's true Spanner!

Maybe we should meet each other - who is picking up tonight?

It's a really great experience, this is my dd's second ballet with EYB. She comes home each tired tired but really buzzing.

How old is your dd interestedparent? Hope the train journey went smoothly!

I think it may be the last rehearsal at the school before they go over to the theatre.

Yes, dd loves Steven, she says he's v funny! Her little jewel part is en pointe which I was surprised about as she hasn't been doing it long. I hope her feet will be ok. She says not all the little jewels are en pointe, there's a mixture. I don't know if this means she can do it on demi-pointe if it gets too much...

Spanner - what is your dd in Sleeping Beauty? Mine is a little jewel but she only found out yesterday she is also a monster! She's loving the monster rehearsals, she must have an evil streak in her lol!

Dd is missing one day of rehearsals at EYB tomorrow as we are going to the Olympics (Miss Lewis has given her permission as its only one day).

Can someone help to reassure dd as she's worried about catching up. Tomorrow is only the second day so they'll be learning all the dances. Will they go over the steps again?

Thank you all, that's really helpful advice. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

It'll be Wimbledon for us, dd v excited about the prospect of doing the Nutcracker. She'll be in the senior age group by then, how does it compare with the junior? I imagine she'll be gr 5 by then, are the steps v hard?

So how will I know if shes safe to dance?

Hi, thanks for asking.

It's MUCH better, the swelling has gone down and she says it's less painful.

EYB starts on Wed so 3 days to go. I'm hoping it will be ok by then. Should she carry on as usual with ice, rest, elevation until then and see how it is?

Just out of interest, how long on average do your children spend preparing for a grade before taking the exam? At dd's ballet school it is normally 4 terms which seems like a long time to me.

Thank you.

I shall make sure she rests and elevates it as much as possible. I'm giving her nurofen too.

Re shoes: the only supportive shoes she has at the moment are trainers, should she wear these every day until it heals? What abou at home, she normally wears only socks or bare feet indoors...?

Dd has been complaining of pain under her big toe which hurts particularly she she flexes her foot.

I took her to the osteo today and he said its a strained tendon. It looks a bit swollen too. He said she should put an ice pack on it several times a day and see how it is after a few days.

She's doing EYB soon and rehearsals start next Wed. Is it likely to be ok by then? She's a bit worried.

She's never had any sort of injury before, is this common in dancers?

Well done, that's really fantastic. What an achievement!

Are RAD results generally out now? We are waiting for a gr 3 result, exam day was 5th july......?

I don't think all the 2013 dates are up yet.

Taxiforballet - my dd has also done the Tring Christmas weekend. She absolutely loved it, both the dancing and the boarding experince. And I've never seen her smile on stage as much as she did at the last day performance. She wants to do it again this year!

Go from edgware on the northern line to Leicester square. Big car park at edgware and easy to get a seat on the tube as its the end of the line!

Thanks to everyone for your input, it really is helpful and I appreciate the time you've all taken to reply.

I do think she should do it. Apart from anything else, she really wants to and knows she may not get the opportunity again. The seniors rehearse for much longer on a Friday which may not be possible for us.

I haven't talked to dh yet but I will and explain it all to him. Now the problem for me will be the logistics. I am fine for getting her there and as it's only 1.5 hours it makes sense for me to wait around. However this time on a Friday I am getting my dinner ready (we are Jewish so have a special meal on Friday nights, sorry should have pointed that out earlier!) Ideally I want to find someone who lives fairly close to me to bring her back and I could help out with taking. Or something like that. Anyway I'm hoping something is possible.

BallerinaX - do you think Georgie would be able to put me in touch with other people who live near me?

Some really good points raised here, thank you. Now to persude dh, which could be difficult!

Dd has already said she will try to get some homework done at lunchtimes to have her evenings free, they have an extended lunch period. She will just have to be organised.

Yes that's v true about homework. It does seem the best time to do it now.

Spanner - her audition was on a Friday around the same time as the rehearsals which was useful for judging the journey. We met a bit of traffic coming home but it wasn't too bad at all.

Also another factor is the journey. We are v v v south Herts - near Bushey. When I took dd to the audtion at Watton, it wasn't a bad journey - about 40 mins on fast roads but I would be doing it week in week out.

BallerinaX - do you know anyone who is dancing with them this year from around the Bushey or Watford areas? I thought maybe I could find someone to share the journeys with.

Dd would love to do it and Georgie and Shelley seem really nice.

Thanks all. She is going to an academic school and has worked hard to get in there. But they do have an extended lunch break and she has already said she may try to get some homework done at lunchtime if she's not going to a club.

Ballerinax - what times are the Sunday rehearsals? Are they all day?

My dd has just been accepted for this. It would be for the Junior company. She really wants to do it and I think it would be a lovely experience for her. But I do have my reservations:

She isn't doing any associate classes but she is already doing a lot of classes (2 on Monday and 3 on Thursday) plus a couple of contemporary/jazz classes on Sundays (but only 6 per term - this is new). Plus festival rehearsals (only 35 mins approx on a Sat or Sun). I know some children do a lot more but it seems quite a lot to me and I want to make sure she has enough down time.

She is starting secondary school so will be having much longer days and more homework. There are a lot of lunchtime/after school clubs at the school and it would be nice if she had some free time to develop other interests.

Also my husband is not keen on her doing it and a bit of persuasion would be in order. He thinks she does enough already.

But on the plus side, as she would be in the junior company, rehearsals are only 1.5 hours every Friday and finish at 6.15pm. We eat together at 7ish on Fridays so she would be home for that. And as she's 11, she will probably be too old for the juniors next year so perhaps we should take advantage of the opportunity.

How do other secondary school pupils manage with homework and doing a lot of ballet?