angel

There is plenty of movement on the waiting list for MA's because quite a few who have been offered a place will have full time vocational places and so will give their place in MA class up...

I think they try to protect pupils but in my view they create a situation where they come out the other end not really knowing what they want to do, even if they do all the way through, there are no guarantees of a contract. They should be able to experience lots of different genres and performance opportunities, and competitions but don't get me started on that one!

Yes double trouble. My DD was there at the same time. She hasn't done NYB before, I hear it is wonderful. She just isn't used to doing new things having been at one school for five years having strict rules on what they could and couldn't do

My 17 year old DD is in Group A on 8th, if I can persuade her to go again

Thank you, that's a good idea 2dancersmum. I'm 'friends' with a couple of the professional students so will ask

That's a good idea. Thanks Pictures!

Could anyone tell me if they know of a decent dance school where I could take my older DD for classes (aged 17) whilst in Chester taking care of my younger DD following an operation? Struggling to fing a school where she can take an excellent ballet class yet a lower level jazz/tap class. Any recommendations around that area?

Yet another wait list for my DD for 2 weeks WL. Catching your DD up Hairbelles!

yes they do

My non dancer goes to BSS Showbiz at the MAC in Birmingham. Whilst not part of a vocational school etc, they put on an excellent show in a week for only £119! Non residential so a trek each day but in terms of performance experience I can't fault it.

Invisiblecircus I agree with you, apart from the fact that the students who do attend outside classes tend to be the ones who do better when auditioning at 16! Also, it feels like a very unfair policy (yet again) weighted towards those who can afford fees. I would imagine that Hammond, Tring and Elmhurst staff have been pretty cheesed off in the past when students they have worked hard to train, have moved to the next school. Personally, I feel that they should be pleased that their training has been effective and that a child can go where they believe that they are better suited but as a business, with funding bodies to justify their policies to, I can see their point I guess. There is a real danger that a child may be offered a pace at Tring and no funding. Tring's policy of informing other schools isn't one you can get around as they ask for a reference from current school. I suppose they feel that it stops people attending without showing full commitment. Again, it deters those who can't afford to pay full fees.

I have been told that White Lodge and Elmhurst have begun giving reassessment advice to those who they feel might need it..sorry just seen Jane's post!

I am so sorry to see this post. I had been wondering and concerned after seeing that Mary wasn't coordinating the Tring Park school courses any more. Mary was wonderfully supportive of my DD and to me was the epitome of what is good about the ballet world. Such a beautiful, elegant and kind lady. My condolences to her family and friends xxx

Students at the Hammond school were given a very strictly worded letter stating that any students on MDS auditioning for other schools (or entering competitions, attending outside classes without permission etc) would risk having their MDS award removed. Tring park School notify other vocational schools that a DC is auditioning (as a matter of courtesy) making the risk, in my opinion/circumstances, too great. I think Tring also have a strict policy. That said. You do have to do what you think is best for your child, of course. Good luck

That 'bag of goodies' waiting as a dance mum made me fat

It was Pictures, there were several other teachers there as well as the RBS teachers. The format was different last time my DD attended. They watched a lecture style class while the outreach dancers were in a class upstairs out of the way.

I think that the fact that there were two or three years between some of the students in each class meant that the teacher probably pitched it at the older ones. BoyOhBoy, MA and JA classes, as well as WL classes and workshops are much more about doing the basics well and building on this in later years. I did see quite a few young faces looking a bit shell shocked. Foreign students are exposed to greater difficulty at a younger age as far as I understand it. It is a different system of training and Paris Opera is probably a training that most of out DC's won't get to experience often. edited for grammar

My DD attended and was thrilled with the class. She did say it was extremely tricky (I spoke to one of the WL teachers who agreed with her). DD is just 14 so one of the youngest too but enjoyed the challenge. That said, I think this is very unlike Royal Ballet classes which are not usually that difficult! Sorry Tinydancer and BoyOhBoy that your children didn't enjoy it. I don't think it helped that the entire White Lodge teaching staff were there watching but they would not have expected DC that young to handle that level so don't worry.

I know DC's who have gone to Abbotts Bromley and have been very successful. It is a school I would consider for my DD also

My DD did these Masterclasses a couple of years ago. There was a series of four, Paris Opera, Danish, Royal Ballet School and one other. They were not very well advertised and mainly White Lodge pupils and local students attended. She enjoyed them

Sorry Billyelliot I get your point now....and yes nobody should ever feel that they are risking their child's future if they are unable to allow them to take part. Being chosen IS a positive sign...that isn't taken away if the child can't take part. The recognition of potential will remain. My statement was one of fact from my own perspective Taking part in a BRB performance, you will probably agree, can be life changing. It can help a child one way or the other, decide whether they wish to aim for a career in ballet. I once had someone tell me that my DD had been given a part because they 'always have to have a darker skinned child'. I was appalled. My DD's have also been at the wrong end of the 'only the smaller girls get parts' fact so maybe I am sensitive to that comment. That is just a fact in ballet, the children have to be smaller than the BRB dancers who may only be 5,2 ish themselves. However, in the Nutcracker, my DD was the tallest in her class

When my DD was in another professional performance when she was 6 and I had a four year old and a three year old, as a single parent, had to manage every journey myself. I would have to take her to school in the morning, then to rehearsals 30 miles away, back home to collect the young ones and then back again at night to collect her. I fell asleep at the wheel more than once ....

14 years+ need pointe shoes...I almost had a new set of photos taken to comply with the younger age group having not noticed the drop down age selection!

I didn't say there were sour grapes...just that it sounded that way

It's age appropriate. I don't think I was ever prouder