Belleballerina

My daughter happened to be at Bloch when Bob Martin was in and he looked at her old pointe shoes and suggested some slight alternations ie higher back and double insoles. We had to pay £10 more for a bespoke pair and are still waiting for them 6 weeks later but my dd's best friend has had his shoes twice and swears by them. She doesn't do much pointe work at the moment and they were her first pair (just as well) but is looking forward to getting the new shoes. There are some shops in and around Covent Garden which stock lots of different makes and that is probably better than trawling round the entire west end (dancia) maybe? You can phone Bloch and request an appointment with him!

My dd teacher who is lovely and slim although MODERN/JAZZ/STREET not ballet although was a dancer before she went into teaching has recently had a breast enlargement (not a massive difference but she chose to do it for whatever personal reasons she had and does look stunning) but did before! I agree that ballet dancers seem to have a very boyish shape with just pure muscle "up top".

My daughter is in a very similar position at 12 she has taken an ISTD modern exam every year and always gets high distinction passes. She has been in grade 5 since last summer and I presumed she and the rest of the class would be taking the exam this summer. However the teacher has said that a year ie 3 terms isn't enough for them all the cover the syllabus which is a big step up from Grade 4 both in the amount of work and technique involved. She is always asked by her teacher to do the Lyrical set dance rather than the jazz (she would like to more funky!) but Lyrical suits her better. She has been doing Inter Foundation Modern for a term which our school run alongside Grades 5 and 6 for children whom they feel have talent and potential and who are maybe considering a career in dance. She feels this class reallly stretches her. They also do a lot of free work and limbering in the normal grade class. On top of this she has her festival work - 2 modern groups and a lyrical modern solo and duet - so definately has enough to stop her getting bored. She will be happy to do the grade 5 exam along with the rest of the class as and when they are ready. It is a shame your dd can't do Inter Foundation Modern. What about Jazz. My dd about to do her bronze jazz exam and loves it even though she always looks a bit balletic to me!

Results after final call backs are very quick. Definately within a week. Unfortunately my dd who has been a JA with NYB for the last 3 years didn't even get a recall this year. She is upset and disappointed but has grown a lot recently and does look more mature than the average 12 year old. She has really enjoyed the last three years but was really hoping to get into the main cast as in JA's there is a lot of hanging around waiting and a lot of skipping and jumping and at 12 she is capable of a lot more. She was hoping to get a chance of two weeks residential at Tring Park as her first chance of time away from home. Not sure where to go from here as feel it is too late to apply for summer schools! Guess a nice family holiday is now on the cards!

Definately be led by what your teacher tells you. Being on pointe is not an indication of how good you are as a dancer! You need to have a very strong core strength and good strong feet and ankles. Two of dds best friends joined White Lodge in year 7 (last year having never done any pointe work) my dd is 12 and only does two half hour sessions a week en pointe (working towards the new interfoundation exam) but also doing Intermediate to "push her". However I am in no hurry to push her to do anymore than her teacher recommends. There are so many factors to take into consideration. I would definately not allow her to be doing it at age 9 or 10 as it just isn't necessary. Most of the vocational schools don't start until well into year 7!

Well our address is hertfordshire but dancing school is in essex only just over the border and our vocational exams are at LONDON HQ as well!

Sorry my mistake - current year 7 and year 8 (going into year 8 and 9) is what I should have written? But surely if RBS have such a stong audition processes how can they have made such a mistake and then assess a year 7 out only 6/7 months later. This isn't personal but we know both girls and it seems so harsh and this is the reality in the dance world. Thankfully both girls are continuing with vocational ballet training with heads held high!

I definately think (or rather my dd does) that the ability to pick things up steps wise is something which can only be a bonus. She is very classically orientated physically and musically but is not perfect technically. However when she dances something which is Lyrical modern or contemporary based she comes alive. She has done very well at out local dance festivals with her lyrical modern solos and on the strength of this has been asked to do duets and goups. On top of her normal syllabus classes of ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz she also does 2 non syllabus ballet classes a week and still knows exactly what she should be doing! Makes my head spin! She also loves street and hip hop although does not look natural!

Well the whole thing has been rather unorganised and there is nothing published on the RAD website. Our Cheque and application form was sent off long before the closing date and then got lost in the post! Our ballet teacher only confirmed yesterday the dd had a place so too late to book overnite accomodation in Birmingham and a very early start. The Dd's will love it though especially as the National Youth Ballet JA final casting is tomorrow and although they have successfully auditioned for the last three years they did not even get recalls this year (very disappointed although understand that they have grown upwards a lot and are definately not "little and cute") - so hopefully this will distract them from that and they can enjoy the day! Maybe not too late to text the organiser private email me if you want the number?

Midlands and South East - we are driving from Essex!

Yes - I know of one girl from last year who made Year 7 White Lodge final but still only got MA Waiting List.! However she finally got her MA place and well deserved. Auditioned for a Year 8 White Lodge place again this year and called back for finals although wasn't offered a place. Hopefully she should surely keep her MA place?

I know of two RSB girls (current year 7 and year 9) who have been assessed out this year! They are both really beautiful dancers and auditioned at Emhurst finals! Neither have been offered a place at Elmhurst. Are Elmhurst looking for something completely different or are there just not beds for them?

My dd along with a couple of friends from our ballet school have been invited by our ballet teacher to attend this tomorrow. Really not sure what to expect other than an early morning to head to Birmingham and a long day for the mums - but dd's are really looking forward to another day of dancing! We are allowed to watch the class so that will be lovely as we dont get much opportunity to see them in a class enviroment - only on stage at festivals.

Meant to say her two friends are on short waiting list but haven't heard anything yet.

My dd has 2 very close friends who are really beautiful ballet dancers but (didn't get call backs for year 8 White Lodge RBS places this year). Our Ballet Teacher has some links with with RBS and has said that due to the Olympics they have taken more dancers who are not training in the UK. Who knows what they are looking for but would have thought they would offer places to those children on their Associate Schemes first? Know 2 of dd old friends" from dancing who got into RBS lower school year 7 last year who are not doing summer school as they need a rest from dancing! My advice from a dh who commutes every day into London is "STAY AWAY" during the Olympics!

Around the £90 mark, which compared to what some girls pay to get them made at my daughters dance school (upwards of £350) I felt was a very good price! This was for a 9/10 year old though!

Hi - I have been following this forum for a while now and this is my first post. It is great and I have learnt some very interesting things! Karen (tutusbykaren.co.uk) also made my daughters first festival tutu a couple of years ago. All communication was done via email (measurements etc) and she posted fabric and decoration samples for my daughter to see. The finished result was absolutely beautiful very reasonably priced! Although she has now outgrown it, it has kept it's flat pancake shape and still looks like new! I would definately recomment her too!