Belleballerina

We have always been encouraged to follow the RAD balletexamination system as opposed to ISTD and BBO and they are lovely for a recreational dancer. However at auditions for the tops schools results are not even looked at - they are just something to judge a dancers standard by. Non syllabus classes have lots going for them. It probably depends on what your daughter wants to do. More and more in the uk I am seeing dancers doing non syllabus Russian technique and they are amazing!

No that is french plaits like normal plaits but someone looks wonderful and starts from the top of the head.and is done backwards. Then there is the fish tail plaits!! French pleats are sophisticated classical styles as you described which I need to get to grips with for festival ballet group but despite watching numerous you tube footage and buying something similar to a bun donut but long and thin - still no success! My dd will not allow me near her hair as it has always be a bit of an obsession with me for the bun to be flat and neat and she tends to back comb it and make it look rather like a birds nest! For festivals and auditions and exams I will stand there and encourage rather than shout with a can of hairspray to get it right! She has long hair too which doesn't help. Then we have the bun with curls for her modern duet and her messy side parting bun for a modern group and high twisty plaits for NYB audition - help !!!!!

Good luck to all dd's friends auditioning today and enjoying the workshop with LAUREN CUTHBERTSON ( a new patron adding to the already very impressive list!). My dd and friend auditioning on 3rd March. My dd has done this for two years but is desperate to do summer school at Tring! Usually they have a Birmingham audition but think they have changed to Guildford this year possibly because this is the new theatre where the performances will be. They used to be in Tonbridge. Website is down today - I too have been trying to go on! It is an amazing if expensive (prices for summer school have increased this year) experience but there are scolarships available! There is a massive amount of hanging around and waiting as there is at any of these performance opportunities so this needs to be taken into consideration. They do also seem to have their "favorite dancers" who come back each season without really having to properly audition. It does seem to be who you know not what you know! That said the standard of the dancing is amazing and defo worth going to watch a performance even if you are not lucky enough to get picked for 2103 cast!

It isn't necessary to spend mad amounts of money on costumes - although my dd has never been interested in doing National as a festival dance genree we do watch a lot of these sections when at festivals. Some adjudicators are picky but to get through to National Finals they are in every genree. DD's dance school has just entered a National Group for the first time ever (Hungarian I think) and it will be very interesting to see how it does. Luckily there are some very handy with the sewing machine mums who have made beautiful costumes just based on a normal RAD character skirt - but the dancers have had to purchase red hungarian boots from somewhere? They all look amazing. The best dance I ever saw was a mexican dance. She just had a very very full fluid white dress with a bit of brading and bare feet but so good she won the section. I have often said that at festivals it doesn't matter if the dancer was wearing a black bin bag - if they danced well enough and were good enough they would do well!

The last couple of festivals we have been to the adjudicator has been VERY particular that the costumes are correct and in keeping with the country espcially shoes styles. One even had photos to show the dancers! The country the dance is from now has to be announced along with the title if there is one at the beginning and she has even asked the girls questions about the country their dance is from!

Places are definately very limited but possible after year 7. Also possibility of MA's or SA's

My dd and her friend really enjoyed the day. They were probably the youngest there 12 and 13 but they kept up really well. There were some very talented dancers there and the classes were taken by two very inspirational teachers who really explained why they were asking the dancers to do things as well as challenging them. The room was quite cramped as there were 40 plus dancers there but parents got to watch the whole day which was a real treat for me! Definately worth doing if you are thinking of Central as one of you options! I think they have similar Dance Days in the spring and summer term also.

My dd has been doing them for about 2 years and loves them -BUT they very time consuming, very competitive and a lot hard work and expensive re- tutus and costumes if you have solos, duets and numerous groups as we do. However they are fun and enjoyable if you take them for what they are which is a way to build performance confidence on stage and make friends. If you are lucky enough to get through to the semi's and finals which happen bi-annually the competition is fierce and of a very high standard. They are a good way of measuring the standard of other dancers of your age and most of the adjudicators we have had are high up and well known in the dance world so always good to get noticed. However we only do them alongside very good RAD, ISTD, grade and vocational classes and they are an xtra fun thing as my dd loves to get on the stage and dance!

thank u for that Lottie - may get some xmas shopping done after all !

Meant to ask janice and ellen roughly what time does it finish - maybe we will get time for a bit of shopping afterwards although probably unlikely as shops shut early on Sunday !

Oh so maybe no shopping then after all! - but would be fantastic to watch the classes as very rarely get to watch anything other than at festivals! Will definately be £5 well spent!

It's a first for us as well - recommended by her ballet teacher!

My dd and friend really looking forward to Sunday. We are travelling on the Central Line to Chancery Lane from Epping. Just wondering if we could walk from there to Central Ballet or do we need to take a bus or taxi? Also if anyone has done this day before it encourages parents to stay and watch? Presumably this will be towards the end of the day so us mums may get time for a bit of retail xmas therapy or a coffee somewhere (anyone know if there is a Costa/Starbucks anywhere nearby?)

Are sway back legs considered good for ballet or not. My dd definately has them - in what way are they prone to injury? Her feet however are not the desired banana shape but are strong!

Don't know about Hammond but several recent graduates from the Tring over last couple of years are now dancing with Ballet Theatre UK who are an amazing young newly established touring Company. They most definately have fantastic classical training? We've seen Nutcracker, Snow Queen and A Christmas Carol and are now eagerly looking forward to Alice in the spring! They tour round the uk and are based around Leicester I think . Has anyone else had the pleasure of seeing them?

Strong ballet technique, technique, technique is what we are told!! My dd is 12 and isn't sure about the future but does love her dancing and may want to pursue it as a career. She is definately an "all rounder" but stongest in ballet - but also loves modern, jazz and contemporary. She tried both tap and singing/musical theatre when younger but didn't love them enough so stopped - her teachers have said she can think about taking them up again later if she wants to audition at 16 - 18. She is currently doing two Grade 6 ballet classes a week, two interfoundation classes (just about to take her exam) and one intermediate class to dance up a level as well as pointe, istd inter foundation modern and grade 6 modern, silver jazz, a free contemporary class and 2 freework/festival/scholar ballet classes per week!! Her teachers think she has a lot of potential and facility but all the time they talk about ballet technique is what will be required if and when she wants to audition at 16 - 18 for the top schools. She had no interest in leaving home to go to vocational school in year 7 and luckily we have such strong sound local training (ex rbs associate teachers, National Youth Ballet mistress) at her dance school here in essex this is where she will be for the time being - I am exhausted running her around and it is hard juggling her timetable with homework etc - and she'd do more if she could but finances and family life won't allow at the moment! I have to say though that quality teaching is better than quantity ie better to have less classes with a really good, caring, knowledgable inspiring teacher than lots of classes if her interest and passion isn't there!

My dd has a lyrical modern solo and duet which she does at festivals (under the modern genre) and I am proud to say is through to semi finals in both! She would love to do a more jazzy modern routine but she is more balletic with her turn out and port de bras which is why this style seems to suit her!

And yes she has moved onto Bloch and my who had Bob Martin's Bloch shoes from the start is now wearing Freed's - so yes anything is possible!

My DD's very best friend joined Royal Ballet White Lodge Year 7 last year - her mum told me that only FREED fitted the girls and they spend a long time checking the feet of each girl! However DD's friends feet are perfect bendy bananna feet and so has been given 4 pairs from Freed free to try (new technology) apparently! so she is happy ! It's such a long and personal journey to find shoes that fit let alone are comfy! And yes - the girls are only allowed lambs wool as is my dd who has several weekly lessons at her local dance school from a fantastic teacher who is also an RBS Associate teacher, National Youth Ballet Class Mistress and Ex RB Teacher! She watches her girls feet very carefully and recommends as and when ! xx

Dance Direct online now sells costumes - the tutu's look very reasonably priced!

Thank you for posting the video - great for my year 8 dd and me who have no idea of the wider options of colleges and schools and about about dancing as a profession but good for her to see just what is out there outside just the classical ballet choices! She is passionate about it and I want to investigate all the options.

Yes and well deserved!

I never win anything either but a free tutu definately worth a shot!

Brilliant for new re Tom Edwards - before he went to Central he trainined at DD's old school and was simply amazing. It's great that he is doing so well!

I have also stocked up on this Ted Baker range (especially as it was 3 for the price of 2) as thought they would make lovely presents for DD's friends and maybe some of her teachers. Spannerandpony you must be very very organised! I am usually tearing around at the last minute!