Julie 2 Milner

Ok from our experience. Firstly different companies and different countries have very different idea of what they want. The German companies seem to have taller girls and thus need the tall lads. Martin noticed whilst auditioning that places such as Portugal the dancers seemed smaller. However most companies have a minimum height for audition. For Munich (where Martin is) it was about 5ft 10/11 for boys. I think other companies were around 5ft 8". Girls are taller in companies than they were. I know some of the little girls did struggle to get contracts irrespective of their talent. Re physique. My son was and is very slim and this did impact. There were concerns as to his strength. However now, aged 22, though slim he is muscular and does not look out of place. He took time to develop and did grow a couple of inches between year 10 and 13. Sorry this probably doesn't help much. Finally though I think, in Martin's year, one of the smallest lads was the first to get a contract. Good luck.

I know the footballers so I'm afraid I didn't look. What does it mean? Well i guess the advertisers are going for a beauty and brawn/ subtle and in your face/ type of thing. Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry has been used in the past by Citroen. The car has a play of beauty and strength maybe. I always find car adverts a puzzle! Maybe the car is a wonderous learning experience.lol Who knows. Must admit I loved watching the Arsenal boys try ballet. Oxlade Chamberlin just looked a little embarrased bless him, but he is young.

This is brilliant! We are arsenal season ticket holders and my son is a professional ballet dancer so love the over-lap. Thought Scezney looked very promising. The great Martin Keown on piano. Fantastic. Joking apart I often think there is a huge over-lap in the life of a ballet dancer/training and football. Talent alone often isn't enough in both and hard work really does pay off. Though most ballet dancers will never have the adulation of a footballer they often have similar temptaions and stresses due to a non 9-5 lifestyle. Anyway thank you for posting the link.

Can only speak for the men but my son will always shave his face before a performance but not legs or armpits.

Angela of course you are right. Senior moment for me! Yes there was a review in Dancing Times. (And great excitement here as included a pic with my son:-)) Ian over the last few years I have seen Vienna State Opera and Bavarian State Ballet simply because my son was an apprentice with the former and now dances with the latter. I've always held off giving proper reviews due to my connection and inherent bias. Also not sure I am knowledgeable enough. Munich are doing a "British Season" and Ashton's "Steps and Times" is not one I know. As I saw it a while ago I'm afraid I cannot name specifics but I will say I enjoyed the whole programme. For me what makes the Bavarian State Ballet so watchable is the depth of talent throught the whole company. From the corps to the principals there is a cohesiveness which binds the company together. They tackle both classic and contemporary pieces and do both well. Last season they did "Mein Ravel" and "Multiplicity in Form" which they are reprising this season. My own view is that some companies do either classical, or contemporary well but often not both. So apologies for not giving a proper review. If this forum is still going when I next visit I will correct that. Every year they have a "Ballet Week" which is a great experience. I would have no hesitation in recommending anyone who is in Munich to try to watch the company. The National Theatre is beautiful, though I have not visited the Princeregenten theatre which is the other venue. The atmosphere is "smart" but more relaxed than Vienna. The web site is www.bayerische.staatsoper.de. Julie

Lovely topic. My son dances with the Bavarian State Ballet. Semionova was meant to dance with them last week but could not. Unwell I think. I have been lucky enough to go over to see the main company a few times now and so enjoyed it. The last thing was "Scenes de Ballet". Wonderful. (obviously i am a bit biased:-)) There are now 3 ex Elmhurst dancers with the company.

Good luck to him Julie. It is hugely stressful and yes expensive. Sometimes you go have just barre. Others you get through to the end, but no contract. Definitely some companies take "types", height etc. Martin's first cotract came through going to "company class" but Munich came through the open audition. As a parent you get to know when a phone call is "too early" so not good news. But boy when that email came from Vienna (ist time) to say he had a contract what joy. Then 2 years ago when he was in Munich he could not get through to us to tell us the fantastic news!!! When he finally did truely wonderful. So good luck to everyone. Enjoy the auditions and all the places you visit. Remember places like Norway and Estonia can be very cold.lol And always try, you never know who is watching. Some of the directors are young and you may not think they are directors. Also expect to be irritated. You have worked so hard to get there yet the auditions can be a shambles, or the director doesn't turn up!!!!

Thank you Bruce. Hope everyone had a great Christmas.