Jazzpaws

From what I can see - there is about a £5000 shortfall at Tring, even with full DADA and maintenance - am I on the right track ?

We have been offered a DaDA and i am a single parent who gets no help from dd father, earning a lot less than the £21000 means testing they start with. I will still have to get a loan or re mortgage or sell my bod(oh la la) to raise the funds to pay for accommodation and living. Its not a free ride down here. Certainly the schools dd has been offered did not ask for financials pre dada so i don't feel she only got her place on income!

Its tough for all of us regardless to find the top up to allow our kids to follow their dreams....

I'll be just like you next year if DD is fortunate enough to have offer. It would be so much fairer if all could access student finance. There are so many degree courses that have this option compared to all the vocational courses put together. These DC's work so hard for years to get where they are, their dedication should be recognised

Thank you, it's her life. Spotlessly clean !!! Better brush up on my cleaning skills and iron the ribbons

Hello

Don't think we will get any info about SA class times till much later, so wondering if anyone can help with this

Would love to know what time London  year 10 and 11 SA classes begin and finish.

Also, which shoes do they prefer students to wear. My DD has Freed and Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, freed soft blocks and Capezio canvas flats. Any help woul be lovely x

Hi Pointytoes22. My DD loves living in the all girls hostel and all but 2 of the girls in her year are staying there, as after I had reserved her a place, they seemed to co-ordinate this over Facebook, where they all got to know each other before starting in September. It's a really old building, but very clean and well equiped and in a fantastic location and has 24 hours security. Just last night, they were watching the 007 Bond Premiere Red Carpet event from outside their front door and then their bedroom windows as they are next door to The Royal Albert Hall. My DD fortunately knew girls already at ENBS moving into their 3rd year and asked where they lived and for advice and the majority of them are staying at this hostel too, so we knew before she went there that it must be ok if girls aged 18/19, still wanted to live there. It's seems like a boarding school atmosphere, as the hostel puts all the ENBS girls on the same floor. They all travel to school together, even the older girls and all look after each other. My DD was nervous about having to do her own washing, but they all club together and help each other out. It seems like one big family, which for me as a parent is very reassuring.

 

I am not sure if your parents are aware that there are not many sixth forms that have boarding facilities, only RBS (where the 1st year house is not in a very nice location and a long and cramped tube journey into Covent Garden, however the 2nd and 3rd year lodgings are in Covent Garden) and Elmhurst only board you for the first year, then you have to find your own flat. I suggest to really do your research with your parents and seek advice from as many people as you can, especially on here and also call the schools. They are all very helpful.

 

I hope this helps you and good luck.

LTD

Hi, Living The Dream

My DD is looking at 2014 entry, but I'm thinking it's just as well to think about accommodation, costs etc and the funding nightmare before applying. May even contact ENBS after they have sorted  this years entries for advice. Would you tell me which hostel this is and how much it costs. the idea of all the girls been together sounds perfect x

It dropped through the door today. My DD has a place in London RBS  SA year 11 - so over the moon

The Chinese State Circus is such a pleasure to watch and I am pleased to see they are on tour again at the moment. This piece is incredible and fantastic, I really enjoyed it, but to me nothing can compare to the beauty and quality of dance in Swan Lake when performed by a major ballet company or Mathew Bourne. 

I think sometimes, leotards can be cut too high so you can see the dancers body, nearly up to the waist, which in my opinion  looks unflattering. An in-between line is probably best for all, but at auditions, i'm sure the panel can assess leg length wherever the leotard sits.

The girls dance pants illusion on youtube and facebook. so funny and clever 1

I frequently park on the illegal spaces on the wall and haven't been caught yet........

Parking is free if you are lucky enough to get one of about 25 places 'on the wall'. If not, £3 for the day on a Sunday, more than enough spaces on the doorstep. About 10 mins walk from Ipswich centre if you feel so inclined, but just watch the cobbled street on the way - it is possible to trip and break a foot there.

Hi Clara. My DD was 13 when she auditioned and has always gone on a Sunday - I think the Saturday classes are in the afternoon from 1 - 5pm, but could be wrong about that. I'm sure you will enjoy it, well worth a visit

My DD is in her second year at Dance East Academy and loves it. She has met many lovely friends and tutors.

Parents do stay at the open day - there is a talk, then the youngsters have a session with the tutors while the parents remain and any questions can be asked. After refreshments, everyone meets up. It was my DD's first audition experience and she enjoyed every moment of both auditions, fun and relaxed for everyone, a great experience - in fact she had decided to audition again if she didn't get in because she enjoyed it so much. She is strong in ballet and had never tried contemporary before but loves that too now.

One of the best thing is working with different tutors and so many guest choreographers, which all bring different aspects of dance to the students, as well as learning to pick things up quickly and think for themselves. They experience tastes of many styles of dance and even had a trip to Circus Space in London, plus theatre trips and performance opportunities. DD also does ballet lessons during the week with a brilliant RAD  teacher - just can't do too much ballet !

hope you enjoy the open day and experience as we did.

What about sixteen going on seventeen from the sound of music, the part where maria and Liesl sing. maybe a bit short, but some instrumental could be put in for the dance part.

That was just lovely Pups-mum. I have a disabled grandson and think Holland is wonderful

I would like to wish you and your family the very best for the future

Perhaps you would like to do the same.

And to be honest, you are the one that started posting statements about income, sacrifices and those who do not WANT to work.

The ONLY people I implied were lazy were those that don't WANT to work. I stated that there were probably only a FEW of them. I am not implying that anyone who works but doesnt earn a high salary is lazy or that anyone who doesn't work through no fault of their own is lazy.

 

The fact is that more people on high salaries (certainly in younger generations) will have a degree or some form of higher education than those that dont. That's not an opinion, it's a statement of fact.

 

I am disgusted at the way people are speaking to me. This forum is meant to be a place where we share and discuss our views. I did not intend to cause any offence and really can't understand how I have when I was very careful NOT to generalise and only state what I believed to be true in the majority of cases.

 

I do not begrudge people on lower incomes getting more support at all, i have never said that is unfair. My whole point was that those just beyond the cut-off point should get some support too because its clear they too can't afford the fees in most cases.

 

When jellybeans left I actually sent her a message of support saying I know how it feels when everyone misinterprets what you say and jumps down your throat. Here it is happening again. I am always respectful of other people's views even if I don't agree with them so kindly stop calling me judgmental, narrow minded and offensive and find a way to respect my opinion as I do yours.

I would like to wish you and your family the very best for the future

Perhaps you would like to do the same.

You see it as judgmental, I see it as fact! I was very careful not to generalise and state that it was that way for everyone. I'm pretty sure statistics would prove me right!

Will you please explain the fact please, and the statistics.

I've never posted before... so a bit nervous! (And will probably hit the wrong key!) So here it goes...

And it's a bit long... sorry!

 

I have read with interest and gleaned much from this fantastic encyclopaedic forum. I’ve donated my tenner and consider it money well worth spent. Though happy to read as an “outsider” it is this issue of

funding that has prompted me to join in the forum.

I too feel uncomfortable with the tone adopted by some, regarding the unfairness/disproportionate funding for families on lower pay scales. Even with the DADA these low earners will have to find a large sum,

(relative to their income). I know of parents on low incomes who can simply not afford to go down the DADA route.

If you want support from all do not alienate lower earners by suggesting a lack of work ethic. Be careful what you say! Uni doesn’t always mean harder working young people. I work in a school where hard work doesn’t

always equate intelligence. Some naturally bright children rest a little too much on their laurels whereas those lower ability will work hard to just achieve an average. Of course a lot of bright children do work exceptionally hard,

and I find dedicated dancers, more often than not, seem to be in this category! 

 

Please don’t say those on higher salaries did a lot more work earlier. Both my husband and I are post-graduates and due to circumstance outside our control have found ourselves this past year as low earners. 

 

I recently spent a night with my frail, ill father whilst they tried to find him a bed in hospital. A 95 year old lady opposite had spent over 6 hours waiting in a wheelchair. The nurses and auxiliaries were working

their socks off. These lovely people are on such low pay and they do such a hard difficult job, yet with an aging population, the need for carers and health assistants, (the underpaid), will greatly increase.

My husband is amazed, that in this current economic climate, a DADA scheme in any form is still affordable. Like many taxpayers he will see health and education (alas, not dance) as needing priority. I’m NOT of that ilk.  I was

trained in the Arts (ah! that’s it! that’s why I’m on such a low income!!) I love all forms of it. It's what makes us, us humans, us! If that makes sense! A life with out the Arts, in all its many guises, is a dreary one, an unhealthy one. Also, the Arts are one of our greatest exports, (see how successful the Against EBACC petition was, many big Art organisations including individuals signed it). I think there should be state funding, but, on this forum, please don’t knock the lower earners.  Society works on all levels.

 

IF ONLY there was sensible state funding for all our talented children... regardless of income.

 

(sudden after-thought... have you thought of contacting the big Art organisations? To have them on board would be great!)

Well said If only!

C'mon folks - everyone has their own set of circumstances which won't be helped by prolonging the argument. I think what this thread is showing very clearly is that everyone deserves help with funding until they get to the point that they can readily afford to pay out £26k without too much pain. 

 

Eloise, I think personal nasty sarcastic remarks are uncalled for.

 

Jaylou - I don't know anything about Twitter but my partner says it may think you are a spammer if you are sending out that amount of tweets?? Might be OK again in a day or two.

Well, Ribbons, it would be great to be earning 26k, let alone paying it out! I am new to this, but having looked at all the websites, don't quite know where all this 'free everything for those on low incomes' comes from, but my daughter is for 2014 entry, so it may become clearer. I do wish (as I'm sure many do) that the student finance would be available to these kids that have worked so hard for years. Seems that Central and Rambert have it right there, in that they can borrow the whole amount of tuition fees, and of course RBS is unique anyway! Let's just hope everyone gets where they want to be.

You seem to have overlooked the use of the words 'often' and 'maybe' in my statement as well as 'a FEW of the kids'. You'll see that I did say I agreed that those on lower income need more help and I don't begrudge them that at all.

Are you trying to excuse your judgmental attitude? 

And of course often those on a higher salary now did a lot more work earlier, at uni perhaps and ended up struggling to get by then and paying loans off for years. And maybe they have been the ones that have made sacrifices in their personal lives to try and provide for their families, if that has nudged them just over £70K I bet they wish they hadn't bothered now!!

 

I'm sure a few of the kids get the most funding because their parents don't work (and don't WANT to work) - that certainly isn't fair!

 

I obviously agree that those on lower incomes need more help but the cut-off for support shouldn't be so low as to make it absolutely impossible for people on that wage to send their child to ballet school.

I find your assumptions that those on higher salaries have worked harder, struggled and made more sacrifices than those on lower salaries totally unreasonable !

I have been to university and have also worked very hard and struggled. Due to personal circumstances and location, I now earn less than £18,000 per year and have to work long antisocial hours to do this. I manage to find the money and the time for my daughter's dancing lessons which is a real struggle, but a pleasure to make the effort because of her dedication.

I am new to this (she is looking at 2014 entry), but I have been reading comments about the poor getting everything paid for, even uniform, travel and shoes. This seems surprising to me - from what I have seen on the websites, IF my daughter is awarded a DaDA, the fees would be funded, but the maintenance portion of the DaDa is around £5,000. From all accounts, it would cost around £10,000 for her to live in hostel accommodation or for boarding fees at Tring. It seems that I will have to find around £5,000 per year, which on my salary is impossible. I have not seen any information about free uniform, travel etc.

Apart from RBS, only Central and Rambert offer a package where student finance can be applied for, so it looks like that is the only possible route at the moment.

In my opinion, it is very hard for everyone apart from the super rich (must to the lottery this week), but please don't imply that it is easier for those on a low salary or that those getting most funding are too lazy to work.

Thankyou for your replies, perhaps it's best to apply in the autumn and see what the score is if she is fortunate enough to gain a place and an award. These kids work their socks off for years, they deserve an easier passage.

Am I right in thinking that any child benefit and tax credits stop if my daughter's course is DaDa funded?

My daughter is currently a CAT student on MDS. She wants to audition for ballet courses (2014 entry). I am confused about the maintenance grant portion of DaDa awards. Would this cover boarding costs at Tring and Elmhurst or hostel fees at ENB school. Only Rambert and Central offer a degree course at 16, otherwise it's waiting for student finance at 18, which seems to be too late for ballet. I am new to all this