FullContretemps

I wish I had known about this forum years ago when I was trying to work out how to deal with this! Luckily I have always been to classes where it was acceptable to wear a little pair of black lycra shorts over leotard if there was a particularly dodgy day - especially if the teachers know you don't normally mess with uniform. But I have often wondered what professionals do and thought maybe they just gradually decide it's not for them if they can't find a way to get round it. A shame if that's the case! Also, somebody mentioned mooncups earlier. I swear by mine. I don't think it's really any more disgusting than a tampon and I find easier and completely painless to get in and out (tried a variety of tampons but none were ever quite right), and less leakage than tampons too - I used to have to wear a pad with tampons anyway, but now unless it's a particularly dodgy day I can just wear a little Bodyform liner to deal with anything. Don't know how suitable for teenagers as obviously no applicator, but still worth considering I think.

I would be interested in the old! Have been granted a complementary re-examination in summer session :S Panicking having done our first class in the syllabus for 5 months today having been looking at the new one. Think I might do worse than last time!

Oh poor you - what a time you are having of it! You don't need the guilty feeling on top of everything else going on but I know how unavoidable it is! But you sound like you are being a fantastic Mum (doing all you can and some more, as Mums somehow seems to!) and DD1 will know this - she has years of experience to know how much you care for her and want to be there. She probably wishes she could be too but hope she has a fantastic time and dances her heart out!

I was pinching stills from the DVD of our recent show and accidentally captured this. It was so hilarious I had to share as I thought it might give you all a giggle! Think I might run a caption competition and turn it into a meme... (And yes the one doing a bellyflop is me! I promise I can vaguely dance actually.- I was genuinely supposed to be doing something different from the others in the pic, but it has just come out rather beautifully I think) New hobby is finding the most ridiculous moments I can, and there were plenty!

Thinking of you all. I hope they manage to find out what caused it, and that older dd gets the place she wants And that you have people close by to look after you too when you're being there for your girls. Thoughts and prayers are all we can really do from here but doing plenty of those

Don't know if it would help if she can try and think of a smile as part of the dancing - you know, turn out from the hips, stretch your legs and feet, engage your stomach muscles and smile. Maybe not, or might end up as a fixed grimace which can be worse! Just an idea. I know all my teachers (who don't know I'm on the spectrum) always comment on the mad faces I pull when dancing! What you said about her practising just took me right back to schooldays! I had completely forgotten but I was just the same with music. I hated practising when anyone was around and would go over and over something getting crosser and crosser and it would go worse and worse and half the time I'd end up storming off in floods of tears. Makes sense now I know about AS! At least she won't have this problem in exams - it's one try and that has to do. But maybe try and help her with tactics for moving on and starting afresh - can be a thing if something does go wrong we write the whole thing off as a non-starter. Would there be any possibility of her having some time on her own in the studio some time before the exam if that would be helpful to her? Mock exam with a teacher she doesn't know who can feed back to her/her teacher? Hard to know what will help for someone else, but at least you are behind her and looking for the best for her. Helping her work out triggers and what makes her anxious is a really helpful thing you can do for her though. My Mum is fantastic for that, even before we knew what it was. She can ask the right questions to help me understand myself, and when I know what's going on in me it's easier to deal with and react less irrationally.

Don't really have much to add other than that I think the people who said you are entitled to reasonable adjustments but will still be marked by the criteria are right. Don't know whether special consideration would change it at all or not, but worth asking I guess (maybe they would give something extra for the performance section or something?). RAD aren't always the most accommodating, probably because they have very high standards and reputation to maintain, but it doesn't make it any easier for those at a disadvantage. I do also have AS, but have never bothered to declare it for 2 reasons. I was never diagnosed until adulthood anyway so would only be the most recent exam I could have tried with, but also I didn't feel for me it would make much difference. But as PrincessandtheFrog pointed out, one person with autism is one person with autism. For me it is almost easier to perform to an examiner as I don't know them and will never meet them again, than to show feeling in class where it is very vulnerable because I spend time with those people every week. It sounds like your dd's issues are mostly with anxiety and performance so maybe think whether there is anything the examiner could do to make that easier for her: it is all about what would help her, not just a 'generic' 'person with AS' Not sure I've helped, but sometimes it's just nice to know there are others out there Let us know how things go!

Hi Petalviolet. I'm an oldie really so have technically been at YDA as house parent rather than dancer though some dancing might have happened too! It means that I got a good overview of what happened in the different groups at different levels and with the different teachers though. I didn't go through the associate schemes etc myself when younger (now mid-twenties) as I didn't start dancing until my teens (and wouldn't have been anywhere near good enough! though I make it up with enthusiasm ), but have been round a number of different teachers over the years and looking into teaching myself now, so I am very nosy about all those sorts of things! I was just really impressed by the ways the teachers found to really get children to feel in their bodies what they were explaining rather than just using words. Things that I still use to remind myself of technique-wise when I am in class now!

Hi mollyjacob and welcome to the forum I'm not most qualified to answer this (I'm sure people will be along who are) but will throw in my two-pence-worth. I know two girls now in my class and aged 17/18 who went to YBSS once or twice when they were teenagers. They enjoyed it but found it really hard work and felt behind the other students. They really enjoyed the challenge though and weren't completely left behind or anything. These girls have been very well trained but never at vocational school and although they're fairly good (just passed Adv 1 with high merits) don't aspire to be dancers. Obviously that's just one family's experience, and I don't think they were ever associates either and it was a few years ago now. I can highly recommend YBA (or YDA as I think it is this year) though! The ballet teaching is absolutely top quality (I would say as good as any of the other big summer schools), as well as the contemporary and jazz. But it's not only that: the atmosphere is really welcoming, and fun as well as hard work is part of the deal! Also, the faculty really care about the students they are teaching and how best to support them and help them learn, and I see no distinction between the way vocational and non-vocational students are treated. Do PM if you have any more questions (or ask worktolive of course!)

Can also thoroughly recommend!

Keep us updated Nutcracker-x - I don't have anything to add but will follow with interest as I would love to do the CBTS and get into ballet teaching. May I add a question: does anyone have any ideas on funding? I just have no idea how I could afford it, being on just above minimum wage, all the bills to pay and a wedding to pay for! And I already have a degree so can't get student funding. After Easter I am starting a baby ballet class for my teacher but you can't really get much further without a qualification! Sorry not to be helpful but I'm sure some others will know more

Definitely do what suits you! I started late (at 12) and was never going to be a dancer. 1hr class a week for a few years, then upped to 2 or 3 for a few more. When I got to Uni I was able to do a free class at Uni and a syllabus class by the teacher at her school and that was great. But when I got a job I was able to afford more and although it makes me very busy, I now dance between 4 and 6 days a week (all ballet except one tap, which I took up 2 years ago and is great fun!) between 1 and 2 hours a session. As trog says, for me it is an unwind. It genuinely keeps me sane (people comment how I get really down in the holidays when I don't even notice!) and takes my mind off whatever is going on in work or home life, and allows me the joy of expressing myself, moving in space, realigning my posture and working on challenges and tracking my little personal achievements. Never going to be more than a hobby, and yet it keeps me living!

I find the 'dance' bras are never any use for controlling my boulders, so I just use the strapless ones from M and S. And not those ones with the really thin clear straps! I think the one I've got at the moment is this one (http://www.marksandspencer.com/strapless-multiway-bandeau-a-dd-bra/p/p22272059?colour=Natural). It has been surprisingly good for stopping bounce and it has covered any costume I've needed it to, but go in and try and try a load on to see what works for you. If you can, wear the leotard to try, then you'll know for sure!

A bit disappointed and slightly baffled but that's the way the cookie crumbles! At least we (my friend in the same exam as me is in the same predicament) get to celebrate with the two from our class who took London session and got merits! And now we can distract ourselves preparing for our show in 3 weeks... Enjoy celebrating everyone - you've all done fantastically

Well done to her - that is how I took it too! (and my teacher was more annoyed than me too!) Interesting...

Adv 1 on 4th December

Fantastic news 2dancersmum - well done to your DD (I was right haha! I am an old fogey so didn't expect a great mark but thought I should have passed. Did get plenty of marks for a pass but they just marked me down on pointework which was definitely not the thing I did worst in! Hey ho at least I know I was generally good enough and I don't need the qualification for anything. Out of interest, am I allowed to ask what other people thought of the examiner - obviously not naming her, and very general opinions - or is that against the rules?)

Congrats to your DD Kat09! Waiting in trepidation for mine now. If London are out why haven't I got mine from Manchester?! Unless I have failed and my teacher is stashing it to tell me in person tonight which is quite possible!

Wowee! Congrats to her - she must be a fantastic dancer

No! The original target date was 8th I think, but they changed the session so now I don't know. Waiting on tenterhooks! Let us know if you hear

Merry Christmas everyone! And here's to happy and healthy dancing throughout 2015 (getting withdrawal symptoms already and only 1 week into 3 weeks off!)

Thanks 2dancersmum. Don't suppose I am allowed to ask which side barre and pianist are on?!

You're all making me wish I was staying! Only 1 day off work allowed though Anybody know what the floor is like there now? I seem to remember last time I was there (about 4 1/2 years ago ) it was pretty sticky. Just wondering what those turns are going to be like...

I'm pretty sure I walked when I went a few years ago. Don't think it was too far at all. How old is DD? Going to the upcoming exam session? I will be heading over on the 4th

Quick update: my friend tried her shoes out in class today and really likes them. Apparently they have some padding built into the box which she likes. Dance-wise she says they feel OK so far mostly doing barre stuff, she can definitely get over them well and balance seems pretty good. They fit like a glove and she doesn't think they'll need much breaking in. The box itself isn't too hard but has a lot of support. News yet to come on how long they last! Sounds like they might be OK for those of us with feet/ankles that only just allow for pointework and don't break shoes...