Julie 2 Milner

Most companies give their requested heights on audition info. One of the best places to find out about auditions is "Dance Europe". They also produce a book listing European Dance companies. Not all companies do open auditions. Look up companies and send a C.V to those you are interested in and ask to attend Company Class. Some will let you some won't. Make sure you are attending on a day the director is around! Extremes in heights are difficult either way. We have found certain countries look for taller , or shorter. For example Germany seems to have taller dancers. 5ft 10/11 is the minimum height for a male auditionee in Munich whereas in many other countries it is 5ft 7. Not all German companies of course. My son's general experience after auditioning was France and Portugal were "smaller" than Germany and Austria. But again that is a snapshot of that time. The real problem is a corps is meant to be balanced so no-one sticks out. I'm sure life becomes simpler for soloist role:-) If a girl is very small it is as much of an issue as one who is tall but there are jobs. Asia has some little girls. Congratulations to all those who have job offers for the new season. A huge achievement.

Sadly the audition with no contracts available is not uncommon and one pretty big european company did this 3 years ago! Other horrors are; an audition day where the director decides not to turn up so before any contracts offered people will have to come back. Personally I think it is appalling to do a mass audition, keep a number until the end and then say well no contracts. The other really disheartening thing is to go to the audition and be "chucked out" (ballet students term not mine:-)) after a 20 mins barre. No doubt auditioning is so tough . Some of the auditions are a shambles but some a beautifully organised and give the auditionees a full chance to show their talents.

It is such a difficult area. Do you do loads, experience etc or very select few? My son did quite a few first time and came out with 4 contracts. He could have stopped after first offer but we decided to continue to try for others. After Vienna I think he only did a couple but was fortunately offered a contract with the company he really wanted early on. Cost is huge. Flights, hotels, food etc.What I think does become apparent is companies one may fit in to. One learns to look closely at height requirements etc. At over 6ft he needs a "tall" company whereas smaller friends found those with smaller height starts a better bet. Thank god for eastjet though!!!

hfbrew does your son dance for this company? I love hearing where those who have finished their training have gone. Its why i was so surprised I knew no-one in the company. Maybe though my son, having graduated 3 years ago, means I now don't know any of the next "crop":-)

That's it. It is due in Tunbridge Wells Sat 8th Dec but only for a matinee. Seeing "La Fille" in Munich which should be fun.

Im so cross I didn't go. Thought it would be the usual length was deterred as suffering a bit healthwise. Also I didn't know anyone in it so decided not to go. I think they are coming back at Christmas with something so must make sure I go. Getting my fix in a couple of weeks though as off out to Munich:-)

Couple of things. If he is doing grade 1 at his ISTD school it really doesn't matter that his theatre school is a lower level. In fact may be an advantage as at least no conflict prior to the exam, in style of teaching. I just do not think at 6 it matters whether he is in an all girls class or not. Sure boys would be nice but, at most local dance school boys classes are still limited. Does he notice? He is so so young to be worrying about anything is my heartfelt view. I can't stress what others have said. Just enjoy what he does. He may well be less aware than you, of sex split etc.

I didn't "like" this and will admit when i first so the pic I had not read the caption and thought it a man. I know, blame middle age! Gymnastics is not ballet and I hate the increasing concentration on this. The artistry is lost when gymnastics are the focus. I have never seen her dance but must say don't feel any ballerina I have seen as appeared as such. Whether this is camera work, styling who knows. Honestly though i wonder if you looked at a hurdler, for argument sake, the muscles would be this exaggerated.

He is so young. Syllabus at this age is secondary to enjoyment. In the long run in does not matter one jot what syllabus you do. Trust me I say that as someone who was told RAD was best. There are differences. Character etc. At 6 no-one "knows" what they really want to do. If you really feel his future is in dance, be it muscical theatre or whatever, at his age the key is to variety and enjoyment. Even when one decides a career in "dance" is what you want syllabus is not the importance we, as parents, give it. I apologise if this upsets anyone but it is the way it is. I remember asking a well known "teacher" who laughed and said syllabus bothers parents, talenet , ability and "future" bothers us!!! What is important is quality of teaching. A teacher who says they are "happy" to teach RAD would worry me. Is she an RAD teacher? The styles do differ and a teacher needs to know what they are doing. If she is able in both fine. What does your son enjoy? Remember as well as ballet there are modern exams, tap, possibilities for jazz exams but again at 6 I would not even be worrying. I would find a teacher you have confidence in, he is happy with, and a class he enjoys. Re castings so many young children do get work that does not translate later on in life. At different stage s different things are looked for. I think it is wonderful your son is enjoying himself but would really caution against this being an indicator of later ability or desire. So RAD or ISTD does not matter. Sometimes a mix is good. Certainly later. Choose a teacher you like in the syllabus she is really confident in and enjoy:-)

He is such a talent. A joy to watch and a seemingly nice young man. Saw him interviewed after the game. He played well. Maybe if Van Persie does go we'll be ok:-)

The Bavarian State Ballet are also going. They are taking" Steps and Times" and" Swan Lake." Their performances are 27th and 29th June. I was tempted to go and watch my son but am in Munich in July to see "La Fille" so have decided not this time. It does sound a wonderful event and setting though.

Sadly I could not go on thursday but I will look out for them next time.

No not too fussy. Shoes do get marked quickly but you want them perfect when buying. They are expensive. Give the sales rep what for:-)

No there is written work too. They covered subjects such as dance history and costume as far as I remember (at Elmhurst). I think there is some sort of extended project/dissertation as well plus essays. The diploma at Elmhurst is a higher level one so requires work supposedly at degree level . I'm afraid I don't remember the practical aspect. I'm sure someone with more recent experience will answer but i'll ask my son next time we Skype.

Martin used to do point at his local school. We had to order in shoes and I think they were bloch but may not have been quite that big. Try sansha maybe. If anyone has a programme from The Trocs it might say where they get theirs. Good luck.

Saw this on Saturday in Stratford. Brilliant production. It is set in a non identified African country which proves a very interesting "take". Accompanied by great African music. I believe it is touring shortly, down to The Noel Coward Theatre in London and elsewhere. Would highly recommend this. Julie Milner

Fantastic news. Many congratulations to Heather . You must be very proud. Enjoy the summer:-)

Partnering is a real issue. At vocational school my son was tall, but skinny. Because of his height he was given he was given tall girls who were of course heavier. He was physically one of the "weakest" boys so this was daft. Interestingly when a new teacher came he immediately spotted this. At local schools in class there was no partnering though in shows he did a little. But very low key. His teacher knew it would be dangerous!!! Infact in one KYB duet (modern) his partner, a taller girl, lifted him:-) It is such a difficult area though. Girls are getting taller and a 5ft 7/8" girl, once on point is quite a challenge for a 17 year old lad, even if he is 6ft! But these are all things that they have to deal with I guess.

The vocational ballet schools do take 17, 18+ etc but that does make them quite "old" when trying for their first comapny. Not impossible of course but there are younger people joining companies than happens with UK students. Some still come out of the old "Eastern Block" quite young. However more and more companies are recognizing that putting someone straight from school into a heavy work load co is a problem that may well lead to many injuries. The Apprentice jobs can be great. In my son's experience he had a year as an apprentice in Vienna. They worked with the company one week, then had lessons the next. This was brilliant as the lessons were so much more than just " company class". They addressed weaknesses. The teacher was outstanding. He performed alot with the company too but not too much. When auditioning one director said to him he could give him a contract but felt his body wasn't yet ready for the work. Indeed my son chose the apprentiship over full company offers. More and more junior companies are opening which is fantastic for recent graduates. A real boon as they form a real link to fulltime company membership and work. Contemporary training does usually start at 18 and some often go on from their vocational ballet to do contemporary training. I really do think though that if someone is considering a classical ballet career largely 16 is the latest. That doesn't mean no-one who is older will succeed but it would be very hard. Obviously if someone has had outstanding teaching locally well maybe butto start a classical training at 18 means finishing at 21. Last point is I think boys do get a little more latitude when audutioning agewise but when in the job market remember the talent europe/worldwide is huge and that latitude goes.People always say boys have it easy but trust me when in the "real ballet world" that isn't true. Its a brutal world with a huge number of seriously talented individuals and some exceptional. The struggle for work is incredible and European companies are made up of every nationality going.

Good local teaching is vital. At 15, whilst at Kent Youth Ballet my son was told he had a future in ballet but needed to make decisions to do more. The adjudicator at the bursary award who had seen him over the years said his ballet wasn't going forward strongly enough. He was going into year 10. She recommended changing dance teacher and going to london on a Saturday. We had missed RB ass auditions but Central agreed to see him. He went here for a year then became a RB ass in year 11. TBH before this he probably wasn't thinking of ballet as a career more Jazz, musical theatre. The adjuicator is very well known so her advice meant alot.She said at 15 he had to decide or it would be too late and vocational at 16 vital. He was lucky to find a brilliant teacher. The trouble for many lads is that they are the only one in their class. The teacher he went to did think he hadn't been taught boys stuff well enough which is why a good teacher is so vital. So those 2 years with the teacher were paramount in him going to Elmhurst. When he got there he was behind in some stuff, but not all and his tap and jazz and contemporary were much stronger than most others. He works extraordinarily hard so that is why he has achieved so much. Going at 16 is hard. The teachers can be less than welcoming to "non vocationals". Sad but true. Some teachers were amazing sadly a couple were absolutely foul. One especially, but he dealt with it and when time came to auditon for comapnies he had considerable success which has continued. So if your local teacher is excellent and is savvy in a professional career going at 16 can really work and it is true that those who do it that way often feel they have had a broader early experience in life. Where it is heartbreaking is those who have been vocational since 11 and at 16-18 it becomes evident that a career will not happen. Sadly that's life and it is very hard at 11 to predict a glittering career for any. The most important thing is very hard work, making the most of any opportunity and being prepared for the ups and downs, highs and lows, beacuse whatever your ability, that will happen.

I think this is a great step forward in an official link between Elmhurst and BRB. We were at Elmhurst in its relatively early days in Birmingham and the link gets stronger and stronger. This is good in a number of ways. One which can't be over-emphasized is in auditioning for companies. They like a recognised name . So Elmhurst's link to BRB is very important. Their involvement in the school has changed beyond recognition since my son's day.

Well I think those who have "qualified" will at least know syllabus requirements in their board. Does it make them good? Not necessarily but I think it does show a commitment to what they are doing. If my child was doing a particular board I would want the teacher trained in that method. But I think we've all experienced teachers who are excellent and untrained. In our case that was a young teacher. But now she is fully qualified and running her own school. My requirements were a passion for their genre, an ability to interact and deal with the children, classes that were enjoyed but also the necessary strictness when demanded. A good teacher provides the right enviroment for all pupils not just the very good. In fact I would almost say the essence of a teacher's ability can be seen in how they deal with the child who isn't a "natural", but who wants to dance. The teachers who have most impressed are the ones who took time with those who were never going to be "the star" or fly through exams. Equally that good teacher will not accept mediocre from the very talented just because they shine but will get them to achieve their potential.

My son didn't go to vocational school until 16 and is now in his 3rd year as a professional ballet dancer.

Which drama School? Is it 6th form or post 6th form? Many drama courses are degrees so student loans are available. I thought some places were offering DADAs but i may well be out of touch. My daughter was at Rose Bruford but at 18 so was on a student loan.

Glad she enjoyed her audition.Anjuli-Bai is so right. Pre class is the chance to focus. Get rid of all other preoccupations and "be the ball" as they would say in golf:-)