robin64

Thanks everyone. That is really helpful. I will definitely think about booking for next summer and I love Scotland so might book a holiday there at the same time.

I mean the benefit of doing an extended diploma vs A levels. (read it back and sorry it wasn't very clear!)

A levels would probably to be the way to go if you wanted to do dance and textiles because diploma courses are in art & design OR performance (well, that is the case at our college) The benefit if you want to do an art degree is you save a year and don't need to take a foundation year after A levels which many popular art colleges would expect. Costume design would be a very exciting job if you love textiles. Pupils doing A levels (inc A level dance) at DD2s school have secured places on dance/performance degrees but I am wavering because the dance teacher there isn't as good as the old one and my dancing DD has dyslexia so worries about exams although she is a bright girl and at a grammar school. btw my eldest DD did art and textiles GCSE last year. If you are doing both then the work does take up LOTS of time and textiles took up more than art. Never leave anything to the last minute. However you do get them done before the bulk of other GCSEs start.

Has anyone been to the summer school where they do Matthew Bourne rep and was it good/ what would be your feedback on it? I think it is called "The Dance Summer School" and is in Scotland. DD will be studying Matthew Bourne as part of GCSE dance so I wondered if it might be a good summer school for next summer. She would be about inter level. Thanks.

It depends on whether your DD would prefer to stay at home until 18 or would be happy to live away. It then depends on where you live and the transport options available. It appears your DD is going to aim for a MT type of dance course as she obviously enjoys drama and dance so it wouldn't really be necessary to go away to study at 16 unless she desperately wants to go to a particular college and try for funding (eg at Hammond if you live near there) Recently my eldest DD started an extended diploma course (equivalent to 3 A levels) at a specialist post 16 art college because she is aiming for an art degree and career. Our experience is that it is far superior training to staying at her grammar and taking A level art, textiles etc . The range and expertise is far greater and it is proving perfect for her. There is also an option to take an A level too. DD2 is a dancer and like your DD is keen on a variety of genres and enjoys drama and singing. We had been thinking she would stay at her grammar and take A levels but now are wavering towards a performance based extended diploma instead. My advice would be to look round at your options. If you live near Preston then I would certainly look at Preston College Dance faculty and speak to them. Your DD can continue with her dance exams there and get up to inter/advanced level as well as teaching qualifications (I think) and performance opportunities. Plus they will have the contacts and experience to prepare your DD for auditions for post 18 courses. Oh, and doing the ballet/ modern/tap exams at college might mean you would no longer need to pay for lessons at her local dance school so you might save money too. I browsed their website as my mum lives in Preston although we don't live close so I'm no expert on it but thought it seemed good. There would be lots of options in Manchester too as others have said. Look round a few places and go to some open days then go with what you feel will be best. A levels do have the safety value but many colleges really value vocational qualifications especially if you are aiming for further vocational training rather than an academic degree. Check quality and how successful the students are at gaining places at post 18 colleges. Good luck.

http://www.step2wo.com/style/step2wo-annie-plain-velcro-shoe-111235?colour=2690 This sort of thing is a nice plain school shoe. Quite pricey brand but the shoes seem good quality. Due to having size 7 feet DD had these below which although ballet pump style are much better made with support than most similar. She will be in Y10. Although the OPs shoes are quite sweet, I agree they might be a tad babyish for secondary unless most girls wear similar. Oh and got talking to the assistant in the shoe shop who turned out to be a ballet dancer and gave us a discount on the school shoes and recommended a pointe shoe fitter near my mum's. Hurrah! http://www.step2wo.com/style/step2wo-cilla-school-pump-311216?colour=2013

Janet I agree and also I think that knowing re training in the future is another possibility might be a source of encouragement to young dancers. You can risk following your dream because if you want or have to do something different later you can.

btw sorry to go off topic but it is just another example of lack of thought in these decisions.

Pas de Chat, I empathise with you as my dancing DD is dyslexic too. New government plans for GCSEs look to penalise these pupils further with deductions for spelling in all subjects inc things like science. I agree about work ethic. My DD puts hours of dance in plus all her homework which takes longer anyway. DD is bright and at a grammar but she just cannot remember spellings at all. It's a really unfair penalty. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/05/dyslexia-gcse-exam-spelling

If your DD is pretty quick at picking things up then ask if she can skip to a higher tap grade. She does not have to go through them all. We had a similar problem with small school and very slow to do exams but DD started at a different school and went straight on to grade 5 tap - no problems at all and has enjoyed it more too. She also skipped up to inter modern with absolutely no difficulty. Now this might not work in ballet but your DD is not that behind especially if she is on intermediate now. She could also try getting a few extra tap lessons if she feels she needs it but I bet she would be fine.

I think it is great that BRB have encouraged and supported their dancers to study part time and took the time to explain clearly on their website how they did this, what the dancers had studied and what the dancers would be doing when they left the company. There was also support for them once they had left. It made interesting reading.

ah thanks everyone. Bit of a long shot for DD really, she is tall and her feet are definitely not the best for ballet as we have been told by her teachers in the past but they recently said she was one of the most determined dancers they have and has made great progress with pointe work so I am proud of her (as you know she had a bit of a wobble and nearly gave up last year but has worked hard to keep up and improved). We were looking for an extra class to support this progress rather than ballet as a vocation. I think she felt she had done her best on the day so enjoyed the experience. She will carry on with classes and enjoy summer school at Cymru. DD is a bit of an all rounder and singer but I'm glad she still loves her ballet. It's really nice to have the support from the forum.

Hi I don't know much about the associate scheme but the summer school was great and all the staff and company are lovely - very helpful and friendly. DD is going again this year.

Waiting list for DD but she did enjoy the auditions so we would recommend it to others.

Yes I think you are right but just thought I would try and mention some options for post 16. My DD will be going into y10 in Sept so I have been taking a first look at what is available and the cost. As far as I can gather sometimes people who audition for a degree course get offered a foundation place instead but am I right in thinking there is no funding for these foundation years or do they award dadas for them?

There are some post 16 courses for dance available which are free because they are F.E so equivalent to A levels. I think you would gain a level 3 BTEC. (please correct me on this if I am wrong) These are not foundation degrees but do look to prepare students for auditions for higher ed. Many of these BTEC extended diplomas are in performance (so dance, drama and singing) but some places like Preston College offer dance on its own and include taking your dance exams eg RAD ISTD as part of the course and I think can take dance teaching qualifications too. I am only aware of this from browsing the website but don't have first hand experience. If you were looking for ballet training then 6th form at the specialist ballet schools would be the best route I should think but otherwise there are a few options. http://www.preston.ac.uk/index.php/dance-academy My eldest DD is doing a level 3 BTEC in art and design instead of A levels and the specialist art college she will be going to also offer dance as part of a performance arts BTEC. However I know a student went off to Cambridge to study dance at higher ed level after completing the BTEC there and she was a lovely ballet dancer. Girls at DD2s school have done A levels inc dance A level and got into dance colleges in London afterwards so there are many routes to get where you want to go. Oh and don't forget CAT schemes some of which have auditions coming up soon. I think the options at 16 would be A levels or BTEC level 3 (dance or performance art) or audition for 6th form places at vocational schools which you may get some funding for but otherwise these are fee paying. Some colleges offer a foundation year and I think (but not 100% on this) that these are unfunded but hopefully would get students ready to audition for the full degree course. Hope that helps. I think it also depends if you are happy to live away from home or don't want to do this at 16.

Just to say that DD did the MIDAS audition today and really enjoyed it. She said it was really friendly and the music was great so thanks for that MIDAS staff.

The CAT scheme in Swindon would be an hour away I think. They offer contemporary and urban dance options but I think the contemporary would include ballet and it is a high standard. Auditions are coming up fairly soon I think.

They are doing a tour so it might be possible to catch them elsewhere. Here is the link which will hopefully work. http://www.welshballet.co.uk/tour-dates/

We were lucky enough to see a rehearsal for Romeo a Juliet and it is amazing. It brought tears to my eyes and that was without the orchestra, costumes or scenery that will be part of the performance on 3rd and 4th of May at the Riverfront Theatre in Newport. Please try and see it, you will thoroughly enjoy the beautiful dancing and inspiring choreography. What a talented group and such lovely people too. They give so much back to young people and the community.

Congrats from me too. I was hoping she would get it. Best of luck at Central. We have a friend who went there and is now a very happy, successful dancer and choreographer. I bet she has a great time and a bright future. You must be so happy.

I think London studio Centre do a degree in theatre dance which you can do after A levels. A girl from my DDs school (just a state grammar not vocational) got a place on that course last year. She was a good all rounder, very nice tapper and had done A level dance but not sure what other A levels she took. This type of course would be funded with a student loan I think.

Have you seen this http://www.bodywork-dance.co.uk/ Katymac. I had heard of it and we are on the other side of the country. No direct experience of it but is located close to the train station so might be accessible for you.

Marianne didn't see your post before mine. To be honest I am sure some people might choose somewhere like Laines. Perhaps the reality of employment is making a more commercial route more tempting to some although if you love and are excellent at ballet then certain schools must still be the dream I would have thought.

Spanner I agree. My DD is interested in MT in the future and those colleges are the ones that always come up. Kitschqueen's list is where a contemporary dancer would be aiming for. Just thought it might help anyone looking ahead to post 16 training to know this. However, for example, you can do a dance course at Bird which is separate from their MT course and would still do a ballet class as part of an audition for most MT schools so that is perhaps where studying at somewhere like YDA would give you the edge although not necessarily. Not contemporary focussed there though.