along for the ride mum

I totally understand those feelings, Sarah! I have rationalised it to myself by thinking that dd will be in small classes in a school that gets reasonable academic results with bright , motivated children. Even if she does not end up pursuing a career in dance, she will have had a decent education and been happy and motivated along the way. We did consider a very academic girls school nearby but even with the scholarship offered, the fees would have near crippled us and she would not have been able to continue dance at anything other than the most basic once-a-week level. It just didn't seem like an option as I can't imagine her not dancing. I think she'd be miserable. Of course everyone must make the choice that seems right for their own family, and there's no guarentee that any of us will get it right. We just have to do the best we can with the info we have at the time. Good luck xx

Sorry about all the typos, my phone is rubbish for this

sorry to hijack this thread but in a related question , dd is about to go for.her.first pair of pointe shoes. Do i trust to one of the local(ish) shops or is there any point(e) i. making a trip.to London to the better known branded shops. My gut feeling is that the lical shops will have stock of all different brands whereas if we go to Lo.don we would be going to Freed or Bloch or wherever, which will obviously have an interest in selling us their.own brand. However good they are, is.it better to try lots of different.brands first time round . Also are any brands/models better for first timers,. Unfortunately I am no longer in Thorpe Bay, JFB! x

Honestly cant remember how many were there fie auditions, alot has already been said on here about what they may be looking for and what will be required and it's all good info. Honestly I think the best advise I could give is to keep it relaxed and treat it as a fun experience and a special day. The result will be what itwill be, no amount of trying to guess what they want will change that. I think it is right that they are looking for the physique and the potential not who is the better dancer.If you are well prepared in tes of directions, having change for parking etc youll be more relaxed and then you can both enjoy the day. The one thing I worried about is when we got there everyone had waist elastics except my daughter, I'd never seen them before. We are in the last couple of months of JAs now. It has been a wonderful experience and i cant recommend it highly enough. It has been quite a journey for sure! best of luck x

I wonder now if what I took to be indifference was actually quiet determination, looking back now I think so. So yes, I'd say go for it, I wouldn't want my child to say at a later date 'I really wanted to try but you didnt let me'

I have always thought that we would just keep going as long as she wanted to, someone much wiser than me said just lean on a few doors and see which ones open, it doesnt mean you have to step through if you don't like what you see.

i felt much the same about my daughter and when she was fortunate enough to get into JAs i was botherd that she had no concept of how privilaged she was . Other girls seemed more enthusiastic and more aware. she has however spent most of today sewing name.labels on everything that didnt run away, ready for going to vocational school in September! I have come to understand that some children are just more self contained about their passions.

Blimey, JB, the coincidences go on and on! not only do you live within a couple of streets of where I was born/grew up/went to school but we too have a black lab called Marmite!! He is 5 now and we still get a lot of comments about his unusual name although I did once meet a woman in the forest who had a cat called Marmite (not with her, she was walking her dog) xx

definitely intersted in skirt 2 now that ive measured, can you pm me

No, dd was offered mids but has declined as she is going away to vocational school. It was with a heavy heart that we sent the decline slip though, as she has thoroughly enjoyed JA's. Best of luck, enjoy the ride! x

have pm-d you x

Good luck to both your dds! We are just about coming to the end of the JA's journey and will be moving on. It has been a lovely experience for both my daughter and me. We have met some friends for life and had some wonderful experiences. It is a huge commitment and weekends arw not your own,particularly if you need to travel any distance but dd has got so much out of it! Any questions , feel free to ask

sorry all4dancers, I cant comment re Hammond

I don't know how old you are Megan, but to be honest I would say it would be best to ask your dance teacher. imo it is better to have someone who knows what they are doing check that you have got it right as tiny differences in technique can make a world of difference with excersises, ballet or any other form of excersise. Most teachers would be really happy to help a keen interested dancer.

Maybe we need to go to the doctors more often, perhaps if we were regulars she would have been more accomodating!

Ouch Lottie! I suppose it's small change in the great scheme of things

Thanks for the tip Tippytoes x and just to clarify, dd not going to Wl but another v school

Blimey hfbrew! I can't complain about the service, she was fairly thorough and hands on but as only the second time dd has needed her services since the usual baby stuff, I would have thought that she would have charged a little less, they do get paid for having her registered there and I have never been one of thesums who takes child to the doctors for a cold! As the charge is at the doctors descretion, I feel a little cheated.

Thanks Lottie x

Hi Amber, yes I know its a long shot but the doctor left me with the impression it was the same age group and as we know who over half of rhe girls going to WL are, it qould be nice to know if one lives very close to us. Would just be nice to have someone close by who understands.

Should clarify that AH is the initials of the village not the initials of the child!

Sorry about all the typos, Im rubbis with this phone!

Just back from dd' s doctors appointment for health screening for vocational school starting September. This has brought up two points that I feel moves to post about. Firstly charges! I was told by the receptionist that it could be up.to £150. I didnt take this terribly seriously as she's a a child. A very healthy child, who has only ever had one doctors appointment since her pre school jabs, a very minor thing back in 2007! The surgery have received money for having her on there books every year since she was born. She has hardly been a burden so imagine my surprise when after less than 25 mins in the surgery I was charged £80!!! More than 20 times my rate of pay! I need a stiff drink! The second thing is, the doctor then said that she has just done another one for someone who is going to RBS , I think she meant WL and i s just wondering, how on earth have we trailed aeound the auditions this year without realising that there was another girl from our tiny corner of Hampshire. If anyone on this forum would like to identify themselvesbto me as being from a village with inials A.H. would love to catch up and compare notes. Would have been nice to know when travelling around to auditionsx

kiwimum my husband often tells me i keep repeating myself! It is some kind of affliction? Only joking ( I think we know each other btw)

Thank you Taxi 4 Ballet, I was wondeting about that as i wasnt wanting to send dd to watch it on her own! Im guessing that the show is on the evening of the workshops?