Interested Parent

My DD did this summer school last year and absolutely loved it, made lots of friends who she still FB's and would love to go again.  HOWEVER, she did say that as a non-voc girl, the school can be quite intimidating at times.  The top A groups are filled with vocational students and they are generally picked to do the masterclasses whilst everyone else watches.  We were also a little upset about the photos as there seemed to be so many of the vocational students, ie A groups, but very little for the B groups.  After discussions with her friends back there this year, that seems to be even more of the case.  Its a shame because we are all paying the same.  Of course, this is just me/my DD's personal feelings and as I said, DD loved the apres-dance (not sure if that's a new word!) and the many friends she made, both from vocational and non-vocational backgrounds.

If you have a relative who is, or was, a Mason and part of a masonic lodge, you can apply for help from their organisation.  I have a friend who applied and, after a very rigorous and long interview, was and is awarded regular amounts for dance classes, travel expenses etc.  They fund throughout the student years of the dancer and I think that's up to 18 and they regularly keep in touch to offer help with smaller expenses where needed.  Just google "masons talent aid" and you should be able to access their website (I can't access it at the moment as it seems to be down).

Many thanks PdQ (-:

Does anyone know if the classes are Saturday or Sunday and if they are every week or alternate weeks?

I'm so pleased your DD has got a place Ribbons. You were so instrumental in providing information, supporting others and discussing the issues openly and constructively in the DADAs 2013 thread. A big help to those of us heading down that road in the next couple of years. Best wishes and lots of luck for your DD and finances (-:

Of course AliKat. It was set out in a table with categories such as Allegro, Adage so each part of a structured ballet class plus a Flexibility category and then a Rating for each Category such as Excellent, Very Good, Needs Improvement etc with ticks in the relevant boxes. Plus I think there was a comments section at the end from the Director of CBA. I'm afraid this is all from memory and as said earlier may not be the same this year now that Mary has taken over.

What's wrong with being a Taco Bell employee? Probably not well paid but you can eat all you want ;-))

Last year we got them at the next session but it may be different this year as we had a different dance director and Mary may do it differently. I would ring today as the main school will be on half-term next week x

Many thanks everyone. I hope your DDs health is improving C4D and she is back on an EYB stage soon xx

IP - many congrats to your dd, thrilled for her, she really deserved it

and I return the compliment to you and our DD too

Thank you everyone. We've had many years of 'no's' at voc school auditions and she really needed this confidence boost.

For EYB Oxford, JulieW, or elsewhere?

Thanks JulieW (-;

Hi Legseleven, it was for Oxford and she won the Senior full scholarship. Can't get her down from the ceiling at the moment.

Looking forward to meeting some new balletco members soon x

And now I have a question... Have EYB done Oxford before and, if so, where did they rehearse last time?

Hi everyone we are hoping to be there on Thursday too. I've tried all options as regularly take a shopping trip to Oxford. Car parks are very expensive, street parking is maximum 2 hours and the council do this on purpose to make you use the cheap and quick park and ride. Thorn hill and Water Eaton are free to park and £2.40 return on the bus, you don't pay for kids. Other park and rides are £2 for carpark (can pay by meter need correct money or pay by mobile phone / web beforehand at ringo.com). I use Peartree P&R because it drops off in George Street and only takes 12 mins - I believe all of them now run until very late night except Sundays. Check Oxford councils website for their drop off/pick up points in the city. Phew hope that helps xx

Spare a thought for all those DC at Tring CBA today having their assessments; a few nerves rattling around today. I wish them all the best of luck xx

Could you advise the Mum to bring the teacher with her to the shop?  Some dance teachers are willing to go along with the student if there is a conflict of views.

I am so sorry to hear this Tutuesque. Your talented DD is the real life example of who the EFA are failing with this new DaDa scheme; just outside the scheme with no hope of affording a fully paid place. I hope your Plan B helps your DD and wish you lots of luck for the future.

Yes I would go for St Albans for a nice stroll around the shops and a walk along the canal. Hemel has an Aquasplash which is all flumes and water park style swimming.

Thank you for the heads-up Janet.  I am not a tweeter so wouldn't have known about this as it's not coming up on the ATG website.  Spoke to ATG and even they found it difficult to track down but have now done so and the ticket is in the post! xx

Hi DramaScientist, I will pm you.

One would hope that, if that happens, the 'DaDa' schools consider changing to the Foundation Degree so that every talented child can access the student loans funding. This year Central will have the pick of the bunch.

As usual, another worrying 'take' on the new DaDa rules:

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2013/02/means-tested-dada-awards-to-exclude-wealthiest-students/

I wonder if anyone will be asking for a quote from parents of dancers at some point?  I certainly intend to respond to the article and hope others will to.

Wish I had known that 2 years ago. DD was on RBS swl and we booked YBSS. 2 months before RBS rang and offered a place that I turned down because we had already paid for YBSS. After putting the phone down I kicked myself and rang RBS back BUT THE PLACE HAD ALREADY BEEN OFFERED TO SOMEONE ELSE!

Sadly anyone over 70k can now not apply for them and many under 70k cannot afford them so for those parents it doesn't matter if they have 126.