Julie 2 Milner

This is a great step. The shows were always so frustrating. Limited tickets and a scrabble to get them. Glad they are doing this.

You poor thing. Wishing you a speedy recovery.xx

Tonight there is live streaming from Munich of the new piece "Helden" (Heroes) by Terence Kohler. I'm so cross I'm out so will miss it and haven't seen it, nor will. I'm out in a couple of weeks but for "Exits and Entrances" (Cuningham) http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de//tv

Oh goodness I suspect this has nothing really to do with you but just the other Mum was caught out and maybe embarrassed not to have been around. Because of that she lost it. Certainly does not sound a reasonable or normal reaction esp if you have been friends so long. Maybe she was upset about something else. Can you speak to her and say you're shocked and also I would think embarrassed for the girls. Say you in no way meant to upset but were just trying to be helpful. A tricky situation. Try not to worry.

Well Hamburg and Neumeier have a good reputation. Good luck to your friend.

My son was offered a sort of apprenticeship which would have involved splitting time between company and school. He decided to take Vienna instead. Partly because it was all vague and not paid as well as vienna. This was obviously post training. Others said they knew of people there but weren't too sure how much contact with the company they really had. There is a requirement in most of the German schools to get a basic level pass in language. But this isn't difficult. It's an EU wide recognised level. All I'd say is generally the German training seems very good. Structured, serious etc but whether in the long run destinations are good I'm not sure. Have you looked at Hamburg, Stuttgart (John Cranko School) Munich (Heinz Bosl) or Vienna. All have good reputations. Munich and Hamburg both now have junior companies too.

Very wise. We had a situation where a pianist reported a teacher at vocational school for his treatment of my son and another lad. When asked my son refused to complain. I was furious. This teacher was a foul bully, a disgrace. But my then 17/18 year old said, Mum if I can't cope with this what hope have I in the dance world. He said he just isn't a nice person that's all. Great maturity.

Thoroughly enjoyed today. I'm going to mention David Brewer though seperately as he really stands out as both a lovely dancer and actor. Think I said this at Christmas too. The company, as any, does vary in standard but Mr Brewer is there at the top. I wonder how long they will be able to keep him? The costumes are stunning. My daughter toured with a small acting company and they were severely let down by costumes but this company has the most wonderful, approriate and brilliant costumes. Would urge anyone to see this. This company is to be so commended.

Thank you and yes really it was a roundabout way of finding out what part David was dancing:-) Really looking forward to it.

Off to this tomorrow. Wonder who will be doing what? Looking forward to it.

I'm booked in the stalls in TW but the circle has recently been refurbished and is really nice. TW always do this. Open the circle very late.

LinMM you asked what an MDS is. It is one of the ways of obtaining funding help and if I'm correct is assessed on parental income. Might stand for Music and Dance Scheme or Scholarship not sure.

This month's Dance Europe has a big Summer School feature.So may be of interest for anyone still looking.

Don't know about schools in Italy but I do know an awful lot of Italians come over here or other European countries to train.So there may not be huge choice. But as I say have no direct knowledge.

TBH I'm not sure it is ever acceptable. I've seen some dire performances but would not have booed. Just would seem rude. It is difficult though if one feels a whole company don't give a damn but still I wouldn't boo. My other hat is Arsenal supporter. There has been alot of booing this season but I can't even join in that. Recently I saw a Gilbert and Sullivan evening. It was professional, 3 handed and was so awful it was beyond belief. In this instance I don't applaud. Actually we left at the interval and complained to the theatre. Lot of complaints and full refund!!! So my protest is no applause and if it is justified a complaint to the theatre. Oh should say does exclude the pantomime booing which is a great tradition, even in ballet.

Martin had a huge problem with his periformis. huge. He saw physios and osteos. It really restricted him. I vividly remember hin at the Tun Wells dance festival due on stage for a Wells summer school scholarship contest. He was in tears and I honestly didn't see how he could dance. He did. The physio had assured us that he couldn't damage himself. His issue was flexibility , think it was his right side. But the physio did work or maybe it was just time who knows. Cortisone was never suggested for us. The physio we saw was a dance specialist but was a sports physio. He was brilliant.

The one where you stand your foot in I heard very bad things about but one that was good was from a spanish company. It is used sitting down. Can i remember it's name? No! I know a few boys used it. I've looked in my son's room so it is possible he has taken it to Munich with him. Next time I speak to him I'll ask him what it was called.

Wow I'm amazed. How can anyone sign that. What if circumstances change and you need to raise money? It seems mighty strange that anyone can dictate what you do with something, esp if you've paid for something. I know in the dog world puppies are often sold with endorsements and any rescued dog cannot be sold but must be returned to the rescue organiztion.However of course it is almost impossible to police as I guess it would be here. Most top ballet dancers seem to sign a lot of shoes for charities etc . Well you certainly learn something new every day.:-)

Seems very strange and I'm not sure how legally binding it could be. Never sell! 10 years, 20 years.

Full time under sixteen will be performing arts schools, ie Arts Ed Chiswick, Italia Conti also London.Conti's also do associate classes around the country. Otherwise Theatre Train and Stagecoach are big companies. TBH you wouldn't want full time acting under 16. Far too restricted. My daughter did an acting Btec instead of A levels then 3 years at Rose Bruford (in the top 5). She now agrees with what we said all along. Often better to go later rather than earlier. Acting definitely benefits from maturity. Many of the Saturday classes offer LAMDA exams which are fun.

We still have Martin's in a cupboard somewhere. More money than sense if anyone paid that sum for it. Also why would you but it if you hadn't been. Never understood that.

Can only echo everyone else. Grades etc are meaningless for a dance future and career. Every childs body develops at a different rate so pushing too far too fast can have serious negative effects. Most children have at some time been the big fish esp if they go to vocational school later in life and not at 11. Susccess at festivals seldom translates into a good indication of future success but can be great for giving confidence and performance. Let her enjoy her dance. If it becomes clear she does want to try a career and teachers etc see it as a possibility then my advice is to increase hours of dance as she matures. If you are not even thinking of vocational until 16 this is vital. Keep up as many styles as she enjoys. No-one really knows how a body will develop and sometimes sadly that can be the deciding factor. Doing non syllabus classes is good too. Keep an eye on the grade level but don't become obssessed about it. ( I say this as someone who probably did).10 and grade 3 sounds about right to me for most schools. Being en pointe early is not good and a good dance teacher will look at each individual child. Good luck to you and your daughter and just enjoy. Good luck too with the NYB audition.

Years ago, and it was about 12 years ago when Martin did English Youth Ballet a girl bounced in very proud of herself. She was a big fish in the area, at festivals etc and I guess about 10. She announced that of course she was en pointe at which Janet Lewis firmly told her that she would not be anywhere near pointe shoes at EYB. She did get the lead but Ms Lewis gave us all a talk about the dangers of early point. Most of theteachers I've know have been insistent on it depending on the strength and physique of the dancer/foot etc. Of course I've very little experience of pointe work but Martin did do it. All the girls in his class were so he decided he would too. Now buying size 9 pointe shoes is not easy.lol

Katymac a while back I had just this discussion with my nieces, mixed race. My son loves Alvin Ailey and we were joking about whether he could ever get into the company given he is very fair. That led on to Ballet Black and how it is allowed. He has worked with the director when he did Kent Youth Ballet. Interestingly 2 of my nieces thought positive descrimination was wrong the other felt it was great. I'm uncomfortable with the idea. If you are looking for something extra for your daughter English Youth Ballet is something to consider if they are near you. Or National Youth Ballet though I think that has a very southern bias. good luck.

I have a question and I really don't mean this to be argumentative. I've always wondered the same about Ballet Black. How can one set up companies for a specific ethnicity? Does this not break all our race laws? Can you imagine the outcry, quite rightly if a youth company was set up for those only of Anglo Saxon descent. It is something I just do not understand., both legally, and why? I do understand wanting to encourage youngsters but companies based on colour and background seems a huge step back. I know Ballet Black felt it was the only way some of their dancers would get work but again to be barred from a company for being white? So please do not take this as an invitation for arguments or an attack on any company but just a genuine, puzzled enquiry. Just how is it legal?