angel

Age 11. Can’t see anything on their website

That would be perfect. I’ll suggest this to my friend 😀

Thank you. That’s helpful 🙂

Does anyone know of a contemporary class in or around Wilmslow?

I wish so much that I could have talked to people like us, at the beginning of this journey and been open minded enough to believe how absolutely gruelling vocational training is and how damaging it can be to young minds and family relationships. I wouldn’t have listened 😕

I like to think of it as the path not taken.

Dear Kat09, your post will resonate with many on here (or perhaps those in your/our position) are all gone by now. Those just starting out, please listen to your child. There are so many children I know who are fighting their own silent battles. With many, eating too little is the problem but anything that gives control back or shows how out of control we feel, can creep in. I read your dd’s Blog earlier and thought how wonderfully empowering it must be to own this part of her journey and put it out there. I loved her comment re being kind. It is a lesson to all. This world of ballet can make monsters of many as parents and children alike compare and criticise classmates and competition companions. Teachers and mirrors do enough damage without this. People have commented that she has been courageous. Yes..but how sad that that being honest about struggling to fit into this mould of perfection that ballet sets out is so unusual. How sad that it is inevitable that most of our beautiful uk students will fail to live up to the standard that the uk schools expect of uk students. I know your dd will use the strength that she has gained to make a great life for hersel and that you’ll both recover from this chapter. Keep in touch. Angel x

Both of my dd’s have always come home every weekend. It’s the only thing that kept them sane! Having time out from the boarding house was essential. Having dd’s at different vocational schools meant I couldn’t do all journeys. My older dd travelled with a boy from her year for many of the journeys and I contributed to petrol and I took the younger one. Occasionally they both caught a train to Birmingham to meet me. That said, every child is different and every family situation too.

I think the answer here is to get a teacher who can break it down for her. Start again from scratch.

Yes, get in touch with Nicola. You won’t regret it

My dd has done all of the courses mentioned above at one time or another and Woodside Dance Retreat is absolutely the best value for money. The small class size means that each young dancer gets individual attention and the positivity in the studio (and their home) is wonderful after a term at vocational school! So glad we found them!

It is possible to do JA’s fortnightly. Not sure about Newcastle centre but if you call RBS they are always helpful and friendly (admin staff at least 😂). I know many people who have travelled that distance. Don’t underestimate the impact on family life though if you have other children. I even know a lovely lovely lady who is planning to travel from Scotland to London for SA’s this year! 😊 Good luck with auditions. JA’s can be a magical experience x

In theory, this shouldn’t be any different to the usual letter that vocational schools require for full time school. Does it ask if your dd has any health conditions which would mean that dancing to that intensity would be inadvisable? If so, a letter that states... dd has no condition which the gp feels would hinder her ability to participate fully, would suffice, I would imagine? Is your dd at vocational school now? If so, I would say that the US school is asking if you can do the same thing, there.

I saw a couple just like you describe at Stardust (Lichfield) this morning.

Indeed it is

Yuck! That’s not a great idea. Personally (and with years of hindsight) I’d invest my time and money on a private lesson nearer home.

My DD wasn’t allowed to do MA’s when she was at Hammond. I think it is very short sighted of them. Hope they change their minds (does it still clash with the timetable?)

Advanced Associates for my DD. Nice news after a tricky couple of years

Thanks Pictures. We have a lot of thinking to do. She’s hoping to go to America but waiting to see how funding there works and if she can go at 16 (or if she should stay where she is for now)

Believe it or not there are several students who can afford (or at least manage to raise) full fees!

We have our upper school results from Tring. I think most of the current students already know. Perhaps they let them know first?

This is lovely to hear. I hope both of your DD's are very happy for a long time to come.

Open days don't allow people insight into the workings of a school behind the scenes though do they...

Having a non dancing DC in the same schools as DD, the different experience is enormous!

Anna C, we hear the positives all the time on here and I have never seen such a useful and measured discussion about this topic. It is easy for those reading to think that those commenting all have DC's who haven't been successful in the school and so have a reason to feel negatively about the school. I have heard So many sad stories from my DD's year who have been through WL, all the way through to US or for only a year. I feel genuinely sick to my stomach when people I like tell me that their child has a place there. I remember the excitement and pride when she got in vividly. I'd only heard about the school from JA's and other parents who didn't dare tell me anything negative for fear of saying something about their own DC that might get out, which I fully understand now. However....