Julie 2 Milner

I was meant to be going tonight with my husband but he had to do something else. Everyone I asked to come with me was busy. So I've given my tickets to a receptionist who works at my husbands offices. She is thrilled . I tried to swop them on thursday but they wouldn't do it as it wasn't the clear 3 days.:-( Ah well at least I know someone will enjoy tonight. I guess I'll watch Eurovision instead!!!!!

Just don't worry what everyone else is doing. My son said it could be very intimidating when people were diving into splits and wrapping their legs round their ears:-) Also be aware that some will know each other which can be a little isolating. Good luck.

Performances on Saturday 26 May at 19:00, Thursday 7 June at 19:30 and Friday 15 June at 19:30 BOOK ONLINE and type 'oltballo' into the 'Do you have a code?' box and click 'Update' OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE ON +44 (0)20 7304 4000 and quote 'OLT Ballo offer' when booking. This is the offer I've used but I rang up. Couldn't get the code to work on line and neither could the ROH guy.

I'd be wary about unknown venues. Except Battersea where obviously studios, etc are great. Due to extreme incompetence at his vocational school, my son was forced to travel to Bristol to take his exam. The whole thing was a disaster. Huge travelling etc. To boot he danced badly as he found the floor so slippery. The venue apologised but it was his worst mark. His fault of course but it was a lesson for us. . I just can't stress enough how one's views on exams alters . I thought they were so important. I still do but not as important as I did. As hbrew says for teaching its another matter and getting Advance 2 is important for ARAD status, plus a distinction in that for Solo Seal. We ran out of time. did get the rquired to do Solo Seal but the next session was after he had started with a company. Results aren't the be all though I know thats not how I felt. I thought they were. Again as hbrew says an exam and grade give an auditioning school an idea of where a dancer is at. I believe that non syllabus is vital for the development of an artistic dancer and not just a practitioner. Obviously I mean this as the dancers are taking it all more seriously. Also I know people get wound up about which board. I was told that RAD was the only way forward but this is rubbish. Again only when you become involved in the wider ballet do you realise how many credible systems there are. I raised this with a couple of vocational school people and they almost laughed at me. They agreed that world wide RAD probably has the most recognition but that was it. A last point. Many dancers of have breezed through grades with distinction all the way find the vocational exams a shock. It is not uncommon for marks to drop hugely which is why I wouldn't push the vocational too young. I think the dancer needs the matutiry to deal with that level as well as the ability. I have seen youngsters distraught because they "only" got a pass at their first vocational and they could not except why given they had always got distinction before.

At 16 many of the entrants to vocational school are not from the UK and have not done RAD. Some do other systems. I'm sure the schools have a standard they are looking for and level the audition there. In my son's entry I know at least one lad had never done a grade in his life. Also among the girls even many were ISTD, IDTA or BBO. I think they are still considering potential at 16 maybe especially amongst the boys but a core ability must be there. I actually believe a mix is good. I do like exams but my son's non syllabus class every week really aided his development as a dancer rather than just a dancer proficient in exams.

Whilst the schools do ask they aren't as interested as we all think they will be. The RAD used to have ages below which the vocational (intermediate foundation and above) could be taken. These were quite young though I remember. I think we forget not everyone does grades. Certainly some people do do them young and it does become a competitve field . Ceratinly at Elmhurst those taking RAD in the 6th form were seldom beyond Advance 1 . My son did Ad 1 and Ad 2 whilst there. Many, even girls were doing lower.The lads were either at that level or below. Like many I relied on the grades as a judge of standard but it is amazing how they just aren't as important as I thought. When auditioning for companies no-one cares. If no grades have been taken they may ask your teacher to judge your level.

We are all going to have to come and watch:-)

No I realised when I spelt it it was wrong. Pressed post then was just about to correct it when the phone rang. Someone trying to sell me pet insurance:-) In this country "Happy Days" was just a great series. Mind you it is old so probably wouldn't resonate with youngsters today. The golf song is Bing Crosby I guess from his great love of the game. I even know the tune. Why,I'm not sure:-) Another idea American super heroes. You'll regret asking.lol

Just finished "The Hare" Edmund de Waal which i didn't enjoy except the bits about Tunbridge Wells (where I live) and Vienna (where my son danced) Also reading Bryce Courtney's" The Potato Factory" which is very good. It is believed the character of Fagin was based on Ikey Solomon, the character in this book. I do read alot of historical fiction:recent reads David Falconeri's "The Beggar's Throne" very good and started a series by N. Gemini Sasson about Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward11 .

Love the Sinatra ideas. Baseball but also there is a golf one, "Straight down the Middle", might be Bing! Yanky Doodle Happy Days. (always loved the Fonz!)

Kent youth Ballet did the Hoe down a few years ago. Excellent. "chigago" "Bugsy Malone" So gangsters, Jazz, Fosse. Good Luck

Just seen this. Well worth going to. Full of energy, talent, fun. Just a completely enjoyable show. I'd say its real strength is the men though there is one outstanding young lady. But the men..... wow.

Socks we always found Next or Marks white cotton mix were great. Though these weren't knee length but mid calf. Hated the nylon ones! Freeds do full sole ballet in large sizes, or they did. But most places have to order them. We aren't far from London so did go up to freeds to try some.

Martin is now 22. The problem was getting different lengths. He has very long legs! Just as he was moving to a professional company our local shop thought they might have found a supplier. Wear Moi did do some but not quite sure why he did not like those. Jazz came flared or slightly straighter. Martin did not like the ones with elasticated bottoms but think there were some. Often they were unisex.Think for quite a while we always got RAD tights. So much is preference as to what waistband they like etc. But above all for us was getting them long enough. Sorry can't be more help. Next time I talk to him i'll ask him what he does now! He is in Munich now.

Yes sheilabee boys clothes. My son used to use the sansha ones (dance belts) but found they weren't so great for tall thin lads.We found Danz Eze padded very good. Same with Wear Moi. I could even ring up and chat to the lady. The unitards I ordered through our dance shop and the catalogue lets you choose so much variety. shoes again were Sansha though i think he then moved to Freed. Jazz pants were a constant battle. simply not long enough. Bloch were good at one time then we went back up to get more and they no longer did them. good luck with your venture.

The great think about wear moi is the vast array of colours and being able to choose a top in one colour and a bottom in another for a unitard. Also as i said they will make to measure a bit. Danz eze is great for dance belts and we always used sansha shoes.

When my son was here we always used "Wear Moi". Very prompt delivery and also would deal with a tall thin lad, making their small sizes a bit longer. He sorts himself out now so no idea what he does:-)

Everything about her says she went to White Lodge.Re large busts. Well as the Mum of a male dancer I know that large boobs do make life more difficult for the man.

The problem is how international they are. If they are then English will most likely be the used language. Years ago my son did one in France and stayed with a french family and that was great. I think the Palucca School in Dresden do one and you could check the Heinz Bosel in Munich. The State Ballet School in Berlin is holding one which the director of The Dresden Ballet is teaching at however he is Canadian. So it is a minefield. Mind you if they are housed with local families that could be very useful. Sorry not to be more help. Dance Europe has lists of summer schools so maybe the best would be to ring and ask if they expect to teach in German. hope you find something.

When my son was training we used to use "Wear Moi". Also Bloch sometimes had some. But otherwise was tough. I don't have to worry now as he is professional, buys his own and he works in Munich too.:-) mind you did wonder the other day if he has bought much new there in the last couple of years.

We had problems as Martin was very good at the high jump. Represented the school and local club but caused him big physical issues. Something to do with the different turn in and out required. So much to the schools horror we had to say no to athletics. Went down badly but we had no choice.

Did anyone see The Bavarian State Ballets "Goldberg Variation" and "Gods and Dogs"? Premiered on Sunday. Also their ballet festival starts this week. Sadly I'm not able to go this year but hope to get out later to see "La Fille" and also "Goldberg Variations".

I've only seen Nutcracker on DVD and hated it. But loved Edward Scissorhands. Certainly not classical ballet and the dancers come for a variety of backgrounds. Some classically trained, some contemporary and some musical theatre. They need strong acting ability. Having known some who have worked with him everyone seems to love the company. Most of the dancers are empolyed for a specific show. Something like Swan Lake will still require a good classical dancer. I think the draw of his work is that it is more approachable for many. Those who are "put off" by the idea of a "classical ballet" find New Adventures more accessible. The stagings are brilliantly thouht out and something like "Scissorhands" was a spectacle. I will see Nutcracker on satge one day as a DVD is never as good a way to judge but for me "Nutcracker" should be as traditional as possible at its core. Mind you did see Vienna State Ballet's "Nutcracker" a couple of years ago which had updated all the toys. That was fun!

Just done that test and my boys should have been 5ft 9" and my daughter 5ft 4" so not sure it is very accurate:-)

I believe sons will always be taller than their mothers unless there is an underlying health issue. But my husband is only 5ft 8/9 and my boys are 6ft and 6ft1. My daughter however is 5ft 2". One of my brothers is 6ft 3". Both my grandparents were about 5ft 9" so tall for Grandma not so Grandad. So worth looking at whole family. My non dancing son was a very keen footballer and played in goal. A scout came and was interested but took one look at my husband and said my son would never be tall. He is now 6ft. Oh I'm 5ft 5" and was the shrimp of my family!