dancerbabe82

The ones I've watched as a teacher (a couple of years ago now) they do a lot on posture, & turnout and their conditioning exercises are very slow and controlled. The barre work is fairly traditional (barre reverence?!) but very easy with emphasis on solid secure technique... A fair amount of focus on eye line/ projection from what I remember. National is often in pairs or 3's to encourage a bit of dance quality too. The classes require a lot of concentration and dedication for the kids as they're so young and I'm fairly sure that they look for the dedication and 'studious' type at auditions as well as those with musicalty, physique etc

Anjuli I agree that dance is dynamic - but there is nothing dynamic about sitting in the splits!

Having oversplits allows dancers to get to 'splits' or near splits in movements like leaps and penchee arabesques more easily. There are 2 types of flexibility - active and passive. Passive involves using the floor, or a hand or a friend to help and often dancers can get into splits this way but find it hard to actually 'use' their splits in an active way. Active flexibility is the flexibility you can use yourself eg using your own strength to developpe into split or hitting a split in a leap. There is always about 30 degrees less active flexibility than there is passive. So if a dancer can get 30 degrees past a straight split passively, it's more easy to get a straight split in other movements. Does that make sense?!

Firstly - Unless its a broken bone, Get her to a good sports or dance physio asap. It might be that a couple of sessions of physio will help the injury so much that she'll be able to do everything ok. Secondly, the physio's are the right people to give advice on what activity to modiify etc

Anjuli that is precisely my point - do you think this will ever change?

My students often get creaky blochs. It's usually a loosening innersole. More irritating than anything else!

What bothers me sometimes is that people seem to accept that the high injury rate in dance is inevitable; that there is nothing that can be done. I know that injury in life is not entirely unavoidable, but I do worry that there is a mindset among dancers saying "don't whine about having an injury because it's part of what goes on" and more concerning, the message sometimes being sent out by being positive about those who 'soldier on' as though it's something to be proud of - which sends mixed messages to young dancers.

Yes we've gone off topic here really! My concern was really the 'celebration' of a dancer who 'carried on with an injury, what a trooper' and what that message is sending out. My other thought is that how many people believe that injury is inevitable and therefore accept it?

All4dancers From what I remember from when I spoke to them a while back I don't think it's much - a ballet class and a few stretches. As with most auditions I'm sure they're looking for potential. There is an admissions policy on their website that says they're looking for musicality, focus, ability to apply feedback and flexibility so my advice for my pupils will be to enjoy it, work hard and do their best! Good luck to your DD - how old is she?

Is anyone else auditioning for MIDAS?

Ooops my bad - I'm a west midlander born and bred and geography isn't my strong point! :-)

No they're run by different people - although it is a very similar name. Some say imitation is the best form of flattery!

I believe so - MIDAS is based in central Birmingham and has been running for a year. This other midlands associate is near Nottingham and seems new,

Gosh I didn't know that Newark was the Midlands! Isn't it almost Sheffield?!

This is a public forum, and by posting the newsletters on their website, they also make whatever they write public. Therefore it ought to be remembered by all that while everyone is entitled to their opinion they should consider the feelings of whoever reads it also. Talent12 this situation must obviously be very difficult for you - I hope that it resolves soon. I have a dance teaching friend who was bullied by her employer so badly that she left and found getting another job very difficult as the employing teacher had alledgedly told other schools in the area 'all about her' and had posted messages online etc. No other person ever has 100% of the information regarding situations, comments etc yet human nature leads us to pass judgement......

I emailed the people that run it (she seems very knowledgable and we have similar values about health and dancers!) because one of my pupils has ability but there's not much in the Midlands once kids are too old for PVP's. She's going to do the audition so I'll let you know what happens!

Looking at some of their other videos that seems to be their uniform for modern/jazz (maybe it's really hot in Australia!?!)

Here's another fun youtube vid.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw4l4zY5YYY&feature=BFa&list=UUE-9zXWXEA5XvH8liNqBDmQ

Anjuli I cannot agree with you enough. Not to mention the fact that if a dancer is ill, hungry or tired they are more likely to suffer an injury! In fact fatigue is the biggest (reported) cause of injury in professional dancers. So rather than accepting the injuries as par for the course, perhaps its the training mindset that ought to change too?!

I'm starting a new thread because this topic got discussed on a different one which was not the correct intention. There appears to be a climate of belief among dancers that not only is it inevitable to dance through an injury but that it should be celebrated or praised. Other things that still perpetuate through are things like dancers should be rehearsing non stop right up until a show/exam/competition in order to be brilliant. I feel really strongly that until people stop believing these things, and stop telling our young dancers these things, that dancers will not get happier or healthier - and they deserve to be as healthy as any other professional. The advent of the discussion of eating disorders in dance, and the launch of the national institute NHS dance injury service is all brilliant but sadly, until people make changes to beliefs, our dancers are going to keep getting injured, way more than they need to. I'd love to know peoples feelings on the matter.....

Sorry JulieW your post appeared while I was typeing

Yes dancers should never be picky about parts - a part is a job at the end of the day, and bratty teenagers will never go far as dancers BUT what was written the a newsletter which will last forever a) did not need to be written at all, or if they wanted to make a point about people letting down a cast which IS unprofessional I personally feel there are more appropriate ways of wording that point. Secondly - NO DANCER SHOULD HAVE TO DANCE THROUGH AN INJURY. Ever. Ok so this is my personal view but there is evidence that shows that dancers who dance through injuries are much more likely to have more severe injuries later which will end a career. Another point is that dancers don't actually need to suffer injuries. The vast majority can be avoided. I refer to a previously quoted statistic that I think came from dance UK - the injury rate in ballet is 80%. The injury rate in rugby is 30%. Prevention and early recognition saves time and gets the dancers back on stage quicker in the long run. By accepting that "it's how it is" and "everyone does it" the cycle will continue, and nothing will ever change. By letting young dancers believe that it's the only way and congratulating dancers for dancing when injured - eg "well done, good girl/boy you didn't show the pain on your face, look at so and so, isn't she brave for dancing with a broken toe" etc etc your young DD and DS are not only accepting it, but thinking that it is something that will get them praise. "Professional dancers really do need to dance with minor injuries whether they like it or not - they have to earn a living and if they take too much time off it has an adverse effect on their career." Taxi4ballet:I hope your young dancers don't think that this is true. If they don't take time off with minor injury, they will end up with a major injury, which will force them out for a hell of a lot longer. And possibly end their career.

The comment "they felt they were too good to be swans - an insult to professional dancers" is very unpleasant - who knows the reasons why the girls left? It might have been financial (£420 is an awful lot to pay) but no-one wants to admit that. I hardly believe the girls left saying "I'm too good for this" which is what is being inferred in the newsletter. If I were the girls' parents I'd be very angry and upset (and tempted to sue for defamation of character!)

I don't actually think that this should be celebrated. It's setting a really bad example to young dancers that it's ok to dance through an injury.

I teach RAD ballet and ISTD everything else. The 'link up' between RAD and IDTA enables IDTA teachers to teach and enter pupils for RAD exams, and vice versa, and to call themselves a 'mutually recognised teacher'. I personally feel that the ballet training of the RAD is superior, particularly of teacher training, however any syllabus is only as good as the teacher delivering it. I am leaning more towards teaching mostly free work and body conditioning. By doing more free work children pick up the examination settings quite quickly and then follow them for a term to take the exam then we go back to free work.