along for the ride mum

https://www.facebook.com/ymtuk/posts/10152252472269673 Admin I hope it's ok to post this here, thought it might be of interest to some. Sorry i was trying to post a link to the website not the Facebook page but if anyone is interested they could google it. There are auditions this weekend in many towns and cities. We aren't 'into' MT but I thought it might interest some.

Oh dear porthesia, sending you a virtual hug! On the plus side, you did make someone smile today... Me, I now don't feel I have any right to moan about my woes, which seem to have faded into insignificance by comparison. I love the bit about saving your syns for alcohol! I too am doing my best to be good and save a few calories so not drinking at the mo but feeling rather tempted tonight!

I agree totally hfbrew and we opted for vocational school with our decision based on academics and having a happy well balanced child in equal measure, as well as the excellent dance training. However our set of circumstances will be very personal and unique to us and I totally respect anyone who comes to a different conclusion. The only thing I would say though is that nothing is set in stone and you can always try it and if it doesn't work out for your child there's no shame in saying this is not for us and bringing them home, nothing ventured - nothing gained

Without wanting to spark controversy, as I'm aware that this is a ballet forum, surely it is a decision based on more than purely ballet? It will also depend on the quality of academic schools available locally as well as a myriad of variables around financial implications and travelling distances to schools, ballet schools, associate schemes etc as well as the impact on parents who act as dancers taxi! The truth is this will all be very different for each family and there's no one perfect solution! I just wish everyone peace of mind in finding their own 'best fit' solution x

A word of caution here, last year having had a yes letter for final audition we waited and waited for details to arrive. Nothing came and by the time I hit the panick button it was school holidays so I didn't get through when phoning. To cut a long story short they had emailed and despite having already had emails from them, this one had gone in the junk folder! I would absolutely second the advice for her to phone, they are very helpful.

This has rather touched a nerve with me LinMM. My dd's primary school never acknowledged her achievements of a ballet nature . My dd and I are fairly private people and don't seek publicity/ approval but it might have been nice to get a mention, maybe in the celebration assembly held each fFriday or in the newsletter. Oh well.... Edited due to rambling off topic

You definitely aren't saying anything that most of us haven't felt at this stage in the process Fusster. I think there are a lot of children at vocational schools whose parents would never have considered boarding school were it not for the dancing/ MT element. I know I wouldn't ! It is a very emotional time and it is right to think through whether it is a path that's right for you and your child. I have to say, I agree with the above post about personalities too. They find themselves with like minded children who have similar interests and understand them so they feel comfortable and are able to be themselves ( I M O for what it's worth)

Oh dear It sounds to me as though your poor dd experienced the "competitive warm-up". There was much discussion about this on the comparable audition threads from last year. I remember it all too well, along with the look of despair on dd's face! It means nothing in the end! Good luck for the endless post box watch

Get well soon spanner!

What a heart warming post! I totally understand what you say about her constantly dancing at home, my dd was exactly the same at that age and still is. I also was going to suggest Royal Ballet School JAs, LCB etc also check out Elmhurst associates, held at various venues, I'm not sure wxactly where. Edited to add: also look at Tring Park associates/ classical ballet academy . Good luck and please keep us up to date!

During the week one of the guest teachers (Tring Alumni) was a cast member from Mama Mia. On the Thursday evening there was a coach trip to see the west end production and it was a highlight I'm told, with the children standing up and doing the dance that they'd learnt in the aisle, must have been amusing for onlookers! There was also a talent contest and some children chose to bring a costume and perform a festival dance but no pressure to participate.

Hi My daughter went to this course aged 10. She absolutely loved it. They were kept very busy each day with classes in ballet, tap, jazz, repertoire as well as having visiting teachers from the professional world and lovely evening activities. The pastoral care seemed really good but to be honest she didn't seem to need to much help. She was on a dorm with six others and they very quickly became a tight knit group of friends! There was some sleepover type goings on in the room next door on the first night and I think they all realised pretty quickly the next day that they would never cope without enough sleep! If I'm honest dd was deathly pale when we collected her on the Friday and definitely needed a good lay in but she always did need a lot of sleep and she was a very happy bunny regardless. For our dd it was a great experience, she experienced some new styles of teaching and she came home declaring that she absolutely WILL be going to vocational school! She then approached her dancing with an invigorated determination! I personally would thoroughly recommend it but I guess like everything we only form our opinions based on our own experience and it won't be the same for everyone. Good luck with the journey ahead

Welcome to the forum flutterby, have you tried the website? At the top there is a red bit that says dance, click on that and a menu drops. Down and one of the options is post-grad course, click on that for more info, sorry I can't be of more help, good luck

Oops Sorry! It's a good job I only went for the edited version, the full length version is a real ter-jerker . But I will just say that I didn't mind the drive one bit because the best Crhistmas present I could possibly have is Ito have my son at home, looking healthy and happy! there have been times when I thought it would never happen. I have all four of my children at home at Christmas for the first time in many years and it means the world to me! Xx Edited to add .... Even though they are all still in bed while I'm cooking the lamb!

Oh The Quays, I do so understand. I was just talking to my 27 year old ( and now lovely) son in the car - I drove a three hour round trip in pouring rain on the evening of Christmas Day to collect him and bring him home because he was working- about how when he was younger he really didn't appreciate the things I did, he was self centred and when I was young I was very self centred too! We concluded that it is not deliberate or in any way a slight on ones parents, it is a natural and normal part of growing up and finding out about yourself and who you are. Only when you have that figured out can you look outwards and appreciate those around you even if they aren't always of exactly the same opinion! I am sure that Sean absolutely loves that he has a safe secure home where he knows he is loved and cares for and can be himself, even though he hasn't yet figured out that you have put such a huge effort into making it so. He will and when it happens it'll bring tears to your eyes, as it does to mine to realise just how proud you are of the fine young man you have raised! Congratulations to you on being a great mum who can give him the support, love and space that he needs while he's figuring it out xxx

Anjali that is brilliant! Made me chuckle. The quays I live your waffling! Children are definitely growing up in this house... This year it was hubby and I lying in bed wondering if it was too early to go and jump on their beds and wake them up shouting "it's Christmas! Can we open our presents yet?!" Dd hasn't been up before midday since getting home for the hols! Merry Crhistmas one and all x

I've stayed ther too and found it adequate but, second time round , got a room at the infinitely more comfortable Pendley Manor Hotel for £70! A lovely room, great breakfast and use of the spa and it is five minutes at most from Tring school

A slightly different situation but I definitely recognise the emotion... When dd (the youngest of four children) left primary school in summer. I had been doing the 'school run' for twenty three years and it felt like the end of an era, made all the more poignant by her imminent move to vocational school. It seemed like weeks of 'last ever's and goodbyes and was incredibly emotional. It took me quite a while to pick myself up and I am definitely still adjusting but new adventures await, new friendships to be made and others to be strengthened by a shift in focus. I hope the move goes as smoothly as possible and you enjoy your new horizons x

That's precisely the kind of attitude I was referring to S&P. I am personally not overly keen on overt shows of 'passion' (unless it is appropriate to a role! ) However when I read the article My immediate reaction was to think 'well, he hasn't met my daughter' (or many of the dc's whose parents post on the forum) who could not be described as dancing passionately but she is most definitely passionate about her dance, although even her closest friends could not possibly know the depth of her commitment as she works with quiet determination to achieve her goals

I hear you. But... Do we need to 'see' passion to know that it is there? How about quite, self-contained hard-work, determination and commitment ? Does somebody have to outwardly show passion in a dramatic fashion to be passionate? ... I guess it depends what you think passion to be defined as, if you get my meaning

Fox poo! Or more specifically mutley's insistence on rolling in it :-(

Receiving beautifully written letters (yes real handwritten letters on real paper through the snail mail) from my lovely, caring twelve year old daughter. Yes, of course I miss her but I feel so privileged to have these beautiful letters to treasure forever.

Happy birthday! BBC I-player?

Carlos Acosta on Saturday Kitchen Live this morning.....made my day ( and reminded me that 40 is the new 30! )

I would urge anyone who uses Facebook to check and tighten up their privacy settings. It is not complicated to do. On your page click on settings, privacy settings and then switch the various settings such as 'who can see my photos' and 'who can see my posts' etc to 'friends only'. I personally know of several young dancers, who have Facebook accounts ( the rules say you should be 13 I beleive) who have photographs of themselves in fairly skimpy dance costumes and lots of personal information such as what school they go to, their parents names, their dates of birth etc all open for anybody to see, no security settings on at all. Clearly the message about online safety still isn't getting through! Edited to add. It is also possible to go onto your photos and select each album (or each photo) individually click on edit this album and select 'friends only" in the 'who can see this album" line. I think the process is slightly different depending on which version of Facebook you are using but if you have a play around it becomes obvious.