celb

my DD did giselle in November age 11 - was a woodnymph en pointe but was the youngest of these by about 2 years the best non pointe roles in giselle for that age are the scullery maids and parlour maids also house keeper and cook but they are sometimes slightly older the younger ones will be children or villagers Most 14 year olds en pointe will be willis or in the hunt , the best older ones are giselles friends servants and villagers are usually a mixture of younger and older dancers pointe/non pointe all the parts are great tho -the children all get an equivalent amount of stage/dance time regardless of role and will have a fabulous time the classes at rehearsals are divided in to 3 groups which are geared to ability/grade rather than age

you definitely have made me feel better spooky-it's not just me -thanks

At the RBS summer school last year the youngest group were each given an old pointe shoe belonging to the Upper School graduate class to decorate. The shoe my DD had still had the dancer's name in it and my DD has been following her progress with interest and the shoe is hanging in her bedroom ( along with her very first [undecorated] pair). I know a ballet shop that sells decorated old pointe shoes as gifts - judging by the state of the shoes -they must have come from old unsold stock rather than well worn favourite shoes.

Thanks for that Anjuli - I have followed this advice from you before and no longer sew the ribbons so deep - instead attach elastic loop

Will try to ask DDs teacher - she is about to go to a new school tho and I won't get to speak to the pointe teacher-will ask her old teacher.This is her 8th pair -thought I might have cracked it by now. I understand function is more important - in the past I have sewn them quite deeply into the shoe to help keep her heel from slipping due to her high arch -( the heels never have slipped -she was just worried that they might)

I am unable to sew on ribbons to my perfectionist DD's satisfaction !.Whenever she comes down to flat from pointe the ribbons gape slightly at the front no matter how tight she ties the ribbons.I have tried sewing the ribbon at an angle forward from the crease in the folded over heel and have also tried straight up. Any suggestions.The ribbon I am using is thicker than the usual ribbon but my DD says the same happened with the finer EYB ribbon.Is it the ribbon , is it her feet ( she has high arched hypermobile small feet) , should I move the ribbon further forward? further back? .I did suggest to DD that she might like to sew them on herself - but then her eyes filled with tears .Any suggestions gratefully received.

Hoping I will now get to see ths now it's postponed as away at present -please do keep us informed of the new out of London date

Delighted to hear today that a boy from DDs home ballet school has been selected for the Newcastle mids.Does anyone know who is going to be teaching this class

My DD was also in the same position last year making White Lodge finals and then on waiting list for Manchester MAs but didn't get a place.It just made her resolve to work harder and reapply and now she's off to vocational school

Congratulations SWE to your DD delighted the perseverence has paid off. Again proof that No is often simply a Not Yet.

Congratulations to your DD Living the Dream , what a fantastic situation to be in having a choice. I cannot offer any advice on this question tho'

what a fabulous days viewing.Well done to the RB I hope they do this again

I can really feel the heartache of all those who have had disappointing news. My DD was in a similar position last year after being a RBS JA for 3 years-made WL and Elmhurst finals and short waiting list for RBS mid associates and then wasn't selected for any of these.She felt at the absolute bottom of the ballet rollercoaster. She felt she had failed and her confidence was noticeably knocked for at least 6 months, though her passion for ballet didn't waver. I questioned my own commitment to my DDs pursuit of her dancing dream and whether she was good enough.The support and advice from the other balletcoers encouraged me to enable my DD to reaudition this year with a positive outcome as she is about to take her first steps on the vocational school journey. So that no may simply be a NOT YET ( I didn't believe that this time last year - but now I do !)

All the best to everyone attending for funding auditions tomorrow.Enjoy the day.

Congratulations to your DD porthesia.We love hearing about successes so keep posting.Good luck with your decision making -a great position to be in to have a choice

All the best to those heading to Upper school finals - have a great day.

There's a great preview on the Odeon website. It looks like its only screening on one day -disappointed to be away then. It does look like there is a fair spread of cinemas around the country though definitely a good day trip option for the Easter hols.

All the best to everyone heading to Elmhurst this week .Have a great day ;smile and enjoy.

yes - all the best to those attending lower school finals this week and upper school finals next week .Enjoy the day

Thanks that's the kind of info I'm trying to compare - the scheme I'm looking at allows 10 sessions of physio then unlimited if sanctioned by a specialist - also has £100 deductible on first referral

All the best to those WL finallists stalking the postie today fingers crossed

Thank you -interested in your comments finallygotthere as the reason I was looking is the school plan is so expensive £220/term compared to top of the range quotes from other companies costing about £17/month ~ 1/3 of the price - but of course I am anxious to make sure there is enough appropriate physio/scan/consultation coverage. I would hate to opt out then discover she wasn't covered for what she needs.

I am looking to set up a private health insurance plan for my DD. The premiums are widely variable. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding those which are particularly good at providing comprehensive cover important to young dancers ...ie musculoskeletal cover- scans physiotherapy etc, ... or any cautionary tales?

Well done to the Hammond yesses all the best for funding

I am also addicted to Dance Moms -it's horrific but compulsive viewing.It makes my DD & I appreciative of the nuturing and positive environment in which she dances here in the UK.I can't believe the cattiness of the moms - surely we aren't that badly behaved and emotionally unintelligent here (generally speaking!). I also wonder where are the dance dads?