Julie 2 Milner

Already booked:-)

You'll probably find every school has issues. Our year was just very wearing. :-)

Totally agree Tulip but they aren't disciplined Actually many of the foreign students do work harder as they have often come a long way to study. . As I said I hope things have changed but the behaviour was truely shocking. It would not have been tolerated in a local state school but was in this vocational school. All I ask is students work hard but I really think if a student getting a DaDa is consistently rude and abusive the DaDa should be removed. should say this was not just one pupil either. Of course this may have just been this school going through a not great time. Same school did have complaints about its students when out and about. A great shame.

Ok first POB school. Certainly have taken "foreigners"in the past. I remember a very interesting article in Dancing times ( I think) about a japanese student accepted and how incredibly hard it was. But in France, companies as well, they do seem to favour the french. 2nd funding the scholarship from the school, should go to the "best" student. Wherever that student is from. But gov't funding is different so the tax question is not really relevant. Overseas schools can offer huge scholarships for UK students. 3rd touching. My understanding is that what is necessary for the lesson is fine but that does not include slapping. No good teacher I have ever known has ever held off on the touching. 4th at vocational school there is a lot of shouting but I totally disagree that discipline is high in British vocational schools. Hopefully things have changed but when my son was at his school discipline was shocking with boys who told teachers to "F" off not being sanctioned. This is very dispiriting to hard working students and as I've said before something the amazing Russian teacher could not cope with. Again I do hope things have changed but my brief experience of vocational school was not rewarding. I think our students benefit hugely from interaction with other nationalities and learn a huge amount about life, dedication etc. to leave Japan at 16 to come here is tough and tbh our students need to know this dedication is what they are up against. We now have students going to Russia which must be so hard but boy do I admire them.

Depends from where they come. EU have EU rights but others pay alot I think. I'm sure scholarships are offered too.

I think there are many "bits" to this. Where are students coming from? We get very few students from Russia unless they go to RBS. Alot from Japan and that is simply down to the fact that job opportunities are very limited in Japan and appallingly paid for women. They need to come to Europe. Australia, again training opportunities aren't huge and companies limited. Alot from Italy. Italy isn't doing well for ballet companies, same for Spain so they need to move away from home. Very few from Germany because ballet training in Germany is excellent, vocational schools very good and opportunities good. Germany has alot of companies, big and small. France again has some excellent training and does have quite a few companies. Do i think they should get the places? Yes. A school needs the best and if the best aren't British then the better question is why? Personally I do think training in this country needs looking at. The attitude of pupils and staff etc. but not the place for that discussion:-) So I'm afraid I want the places to be given to the best available then, if you get a place, you know you should be there. Trying to find a company is hard but to know your place in the school is truely on your ability gives you a confidence that your standard is high enough.

Many many congratulations. What wonderful news.

Exams and results may be of little interest in the professional world but they are vitally important to many students themselves. Many use it as a good way to measure themseleves against others. Don't be obssessed by them but if you do them it is only natuarl to wish to do your best. But if a mark is lower than expected put it down to experience. Of course though some competitions do require a particular grade achievement.

Ok gut feeling.... this is basically paying for an apprenticeship. Do they still take apprentices like they used to? Just as an example the Vienna State Ballet apprentices were paid and got all this. Same in Munich! Unpaid apprenticeships are the bane of the ballet world. Cheap way of getting corps de ballet and the take up rate of moving into the companies is not so great. Don't get me wrong. Apprenticships are brilliant. A great link between school and professional. A good way for the dancer's body to mature enough for a company. I really think they are a fabulous way forward but paying for it isn't the way forward. In effect it is paying for more schooling. Of course the name is a huge lure.

Saw this last year. Tremendous fun. Well worth catching.

Was going to say Sussex Summer School too.:-)

Disagree def looking for potential. Obviously they expect a certain standard but I think that is why physique becomes so important. The ability to improve. I think potential is still key.

Legats is boarding. It is attached to St Bedes school http://www.bedes.org/legat-school.aspx It has a very long history in this area but over the last few years has suffered frequent changes of head. Two ex Elmhurst people were heads at different times. But recently it seems settled. Others on here may know more. Also Hammond though maybe you have already considered that.

Have you tried Northern Ballet? Also Legat in East Sussex.I was also going to suggest talking to the Russian Ballet School in Bristol. Good luck.

Congratulations.xx

I have an acting daughter. She graduated in 2009 and has worked but it is tough. She has done a years tour of Germany going into schools and is currently in Barcelona for 6 months. She has done panto here and toured "Sense and Sensibility" Also my son is a ballet dancer. He is on yearly contracts at the moment which of course is easier. But many dancers also have to go from contract to contract.. Basically the Arts is so tough. Pay for many actors seems to be even worse than dancers. My daughter is really at the stage of does she keep going or does she get a job that will earn her enough to live. I don't envy any of them.

Wow totally brilliant. Alice, my daughter went to Rose Bruford but loved Central. One of the top 5 for Drama. A wonderful school and lovely location. Many many congratulations. This is a hard school to get a place at.x

Meant to add that the magazine "Dance Europe" usually have a comprehensive summer school listing.

Our only experience of a summer school that could seriously be said to cater for vocational schools was Prague Masterclasses. But did not know about POB. We were tempted by the Alvin Ailey summer intensive but too long a time committment. On another tack Hong Kong Ballet used to do a summer school.I have no idea of the real standard though. Good luck finding something suitable.

Well a very interesting performance. The tour through the bowels was fascinating but actually I would have liked it to be darker and to have more "birds". Obviously it is quite packed with people though they stagger the groups. It was certainly amazing to stand on the stage. We were very much at the front because of course, they cannot risk us traipsing over the bit they dance on. I enjoyed the performance itself. Not sure I totally "got" all the videos :-). The dancing itself was great though I must admit a sneaking relief when the final "group" started as the music moves from rather cacophanous to beautifully melodic. Would highly recommend this to everyone.

Well it was a while back but at the final audition for Elmhurst there was a physio assessment too. Actually it was funny because loads came out saying "ooh I have one leg shorter" etc. It was quite quick and seemed a baseline view. Checked spine hips etc. Certainly was nothing to worry about. It is also probably worth holding the view that if they do find something that will make ballet very difficult as a long term future career better to find out then than later down the line. Good luck.

also many local schools have a seniors class that join in the shows. I used to do Tap and Ballet with my children's school but declined to join in the show.lol

Tulip on their website you used to be able to look back at photos from many previous years. This may give an idea of class size. I'm sorry I just can't remember. The classes are of a very high standard. There seems a very professional air.

I think huge benefits. They take you away from your normal class so put you in a completely different enviroment. You learn from new teachers which I always think is good. But obviously it needs to be good teaching and it is essential your son or daughter ends up in the right group. this isn't normally an issue with girls but due to smaller numbers boys can sometimes get shoved wherever suits.

See I saw this and wasn't impressed. What did I miss? I do think it's a hard platform to do contemporary but he just didn't do it for me. Given how crazy everyone was going I felt bad I didn't like it. Maybe i just don't like the angsty walking and looks. I don't know and don't be upset with me. Sure he could move ok but his physique didn't help me either. Sorry.