Interested Parent

Yes I know that page says photo app only but then when you click on the link 'application details and download' it states that a prelim and recall audition are required and we have received a letter from them for the audition    Oh dear, you're right, I think I will ring them this morning.  Thanks Lisadebs.

Thank you Kat09.  Do you know if there was a recall audition for this?  We are coming up from the South and it is already costing £60 rail-fare for the first audition so was hoping not to have to travel again 3 weeks later, especially as that rail fare will be a lot higher now.  I have emailed them but just hoping someone whose been may have more knowledge.

My DD has applied for NBA Easter School in Leeds and she has to audition for a place on Sunday.  I have just re-checked the website and it seems that this will be a preliminary audition with a possible final audition later in the month.  Can anyone advise on whether this is the case as it seems rather a lot for just an Easter school.  I am also interested to know if anyone can advise on the standard of the course as I am hearing conflicting views on whether it is of a good standard.  I imagine that having to audition (possibly twice!) should mean it is of an excellent standard but just wanted posters views.  Thanks.

In light of current questions from posters on this forum.  Thought adding this link might be useful for some, especially the annexures.

http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/d/dada%20qa%202013-14%20-%20final.pdf

if the pdf doesn't open, the original web page is here or you can select the whole link and right-click to Go to the web page:

http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/1419/post16/

Lordy now you've got my mind racing as we are one of those families that have had to put DaDa dreams away because of the prohibitive 70k cliff edge. Let's keep our fingers crossed for some action that is fair for everyone.

Schools are fighting. A committee has been formed with representatives from the various schools, trying to put things right

Can you give more details on what you mean?

Interestedparent - I think your understanding is almost correct but it may be me in the wrong, simply because I thought the DADA was government funding, not schools contribution. Previously a school was given a set number of awards - so the school would award those 13 DADAs to students. Most parents would then pay £1750 contribution to the school and the government would make up the difference between parental contribution and school fees. For the new DADA system, the administration has been passed to the schools themselves and they receive the money equivalent for those 13 places. But now parental contribution is based on the sliding scale of family income so as they list the students in order of preference and start awarding DADAs, each student will receive an award/parental contribution based on their own circumstances and as far as I am aware they keep working their way down the list until all the money is allocated. Thus the number of students funded by DADA will vary each year as some years it might fund those 13 students and others (when all parents have greater contributions) it could be more. Please note that I use the number 13 because someone mentioned it earlier in the thread and not because I have any inside knowledge.

Sorry didn't mean to give the impression that the school paid the difference. I meant that the school administered the government-funded difference. Hope that clarifies ????

Ok this is my understanding please correct me if I'm wrong at any point:

- the government had greatly reduced the DaDa money given to each school. However the schools can still financially award roughly as many awards because of the much greater contribution that parents now have to make.

- in the past MOST parents paid only £1,750 ish towards the cost plus accommodation. Which meant that schools had to pay the rest for each child out of their fund

- from last year ALL parents are means tested and pay between nil and just over £7k pa plus accommodation. However if your total income is more than £70k you have to pay FULL fees cutting many dancers and family out of the scheme entirely but reducing the schools contribution.

- those who still apply for DADAs over the £70k cliff-edge are doing so because they are not entirely sure whether they will go over the cliff-edge until final P60s, P11ds, self employed accs are totted up. Could go over by £1.01 and lose out on their child being able to take up the offer. Imagine that after being offered the award fair and square that a few quid could mean not going anywhere, at all.

- the accommodation with DaDa is means tested separately and is an even lower threshold by comparison so even those who can scrape the DaDa may find it prohibitive because of the accommodation costs.

- the schools rank each dancer, review their contribution from the pot for each child and when the money runs out... well the money runs out.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction bangorballetboy - I have now purchased my tickets for Daria's farewell performance - so excited!

Me too plus a special ticket for daughter but it will be a surprise - sooo excited to see her last performance at ENB and double bonus being at the RAH!!!

I would be interested to know from those who complete a DaDa household income form last year if they had to provide any benefits in kind such as private medical insurance, company car/petrol that kind of thing that comes on your P11d or was it just the P60 that had to be submitted?  Thanks.

Please bear in mind though that funding at 16 is more complex. Only a couple of classical ballet focused schools offer student funding option, ie degree, hnd and most offer the Dance and Drama award (DaDa). This is now means-tested similarly, but not the same) as the MDS but crucially the cut off point for not qualifying for a DaDa is much lower (currently at 70k total household income) and accommodation costs are separate. There is a separate thread all about the new DaDa rules on here if you search.

Just to say that the YDA Summer School dates are:

 

July - 21st - 25th age 8-12 and 28th July - 1st August age 13-16.

 

They are also auditioning for Full Time training on 12th February and their Associate programme on 9th February.

Can you provide a link to the SS on the YDA website.  I'm probably being dim but I can't seem to find any info at all.

Sorry, I know this thread is not about SATs but just wanted to balance out the 'need to do well' in SATS...  In those counties that take the 11+, SATs are important.  This is because the Headmistress gives your child a score based on how well they have done (including SATs) in previous years.  This score is not used unless your child doesn't pass the 11+ and wishes to appeal and then the score and SATs results are very important in being successful at the appeal round.  So I know how a lot of you will be feeling around Spring/Summer term with auditions and SATs 

Am I right in thinking that you have to audition and then final audition for the NBA Easter Course?

My DD also loved it although she felt it wasn't as challenging as she would have liked (she was desperate to get back to dancing too). She loved the ribbon dance and pleased to get autographs. Now looking forward to the ENB workshop on Friday!

thank you Tulte - we have actually already applied for that one. They emailed back a few days later saying they had received so many applications that they are going to have to be more selective, but would be in touch soon. I've not heard anything since. I am wondering how they are going to be "more selective" seeing as we were only required to submit name, age, address, dance school on the initial application....??

Sorry to go off topic but just wanted to say we had our email tonight and DD is in Silver group. Has anyone else had there email yet?

In our experience, the early auditions tend to be grouped according to year/age, whereas the later ones (Jan) do have the odd day that can be a very mixed group.  DD has experienced both of these and found the early auditons preferable.  I know the preliminary auditons are more of a look at you, your physique and musicality but when you are auditioning in the higher years I think its nice to have the opportunity to 'show them what you can do' as well.

The knot in your stomach that you feel all the way through the audition process just tightens when they are successful.! In my experience its stressful getting in but far moreso staying in ! I fear the upset my dd will experience if she comes home and also the loss if she stays and her friends go home !

Its the ultimate rollercoaster ride I wish all getting on board the best of luck xx

and to be fair it is very stressful for those who don't get in and never get in to Lower School.  Because then, after the doubts and questions of why your DC didn't get in, comes the very long and stressful hours of finding good local schools and teachers who will help and support, auditioning for associate programs, fitting in homework, long, long hours travelling in the car, in the dark to lessons whilst doing homework every night, working with academic schools to help support the time needed to dance and travel... the list goes on....

but moving on...  I would echo Bankruptmum's point that there really is no point in trying to guess or find out what places are available, what years should you audition etc.  I believe that if a school wants your DC they will sort out the logistics anyhow.  I know this from auditioning every year at schools and knowing friends/acquaintances of my DD who have, or have not, got places.

Just enjoy the journey, make time to do other things around the audition day, maybe have a meal out after or some shopping because you want to look back on it/them as good experiences whether or not your DC gets a place.

Hi Munchkin16, I have done exactly what you are doing  and the results weren't great.  The dye isn't cheap and you need lots of salt too.  The results were patchy and the stitching sort of stayed burgundy rather than black (as mentioned above).  If you can get a simple black leo from say Dance Direct for a tenner that might be better but I know you do have to pay P&P with that.

Another great FAQ list would be '6th form dance schools'.  I bet anyone planning to audition or has auditioned for these in the past has produced their own list of all the schools in the UK and what funding, ie DaDa, student loan and what certification, ie Diploma Level 6, Foundation Degree, BA Hons etc.  Anyone who has a DC at a particular school could add to the sticky giving the key information that was relevant to them.

Sorry, can't help myself now.....

This is what I'm referring to:

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1195482

The mod creates the sticky with some rules, eg no discussion or questioning, just the FAQ, but the posters actually maintain it by adding their FAQ posts.

Hope it helps

Well, nana, things *can* be pinned to the top of the forum, but to judge by the sort of questions you've posed I think there'd be so many that it might be difficult to see the wood for the trees, if you see what I mean.

 

I'll ask, though ...

I dont see why Nanalily should apologise.  The 'Well' in this statement is emotive and so is the 'but to judge'!  I think its a great idea.  I access other forums where they have 1 (yes 1) sticky for say 'Year 7 entry to vocational school FAQs' and people add a short post to that sticky such as 'leotards can be any colour but you might want to consider....' or 'solos are usually about 1 to 1.5 minutes long and you might consider...' etc.

Great suggestion and would be much easier to find.

Bought some lovely pink and white-green roses this morning from Tesco. I'll pop in a card and deliver to the stage door at 6 tonight. All for £10 and I don't charge delivery ;-)

On a more fragrant note. Here's a clever touch from an Oxford flower shop:

http://www.thegardenoxford.co.uk/occasion/english-youth-ballet-offer.htm

(posted link on my mobile so hope it works)

I agree! My DD says all the senior parts are complex but interesting, hard work but fun and she thinks Miss Lewis has picked parts that accentuate a dancers best qualities in the dances they are performing.