Pasdebourree15

Thank you! This is really helpful... I can feel the backs of my legs really working! I'm having to constantly remind myself not to 'sink back' into my hyper extension, but when I do this exercise I can really feel what muscles I need to use to pull up. Thank you again

Wow... is she doing POB, RBS and hopefully ABT all in the same summer? And you're welcome! I think PNB in Seattle are the same... they are Balanchine but you don't have to be trained Balanchine for the SI. But good for him! That's quite an achievement. I have a friend who was accepted into some big-name programs like ABT, Joffrey, The Rock, Boston Ballet, etc. but she wasn't accepted into SAB. Best wishes for DD1's upcoming Summer School auditions as well though! I'm planning on staying in the UK to try out some of the Summer Programs here... Hopefully a few weeks with Ballet West, Elmhurst, and maybe RBS Covent Garden. But we'll see! Have your DDs done any of those programs before?

Thanks so much Anjuli! My arches 'wobble' a bit when I'm balancing on flat, and this sounds like it will fix it. Do you know anything o help control hyper-extended knees?

Fingers crossed for DD2! There are 5 different ABT programs I believe... with the main one being in New York, and the others spread fairly evenly around the country. I had a friend who went to the one in Texas and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure what the standards are... I just know that there are more spots available than most summer schools in the USA offer. SAB on the other hand has a reputation for being VERY hard to get into. They are also Balanchine based, so if your DD1 isn't trained in Balanchine, that could have affected her getting a place. Best of Luck to DD2 though!

No worries afab... They're a really great way to improve your technique because they last for such a long time. But the problem is that they might interfere with summer term because the holidays in America are different to the UK. :/ Still, if you can find one that fits your schedule, I really recommend going!

No worries! I understand now! Thanks so much. Did she complete them over the summer then... or was she home schooled? That's a lot of work to do coming out of Year 11... or was she beyond that when she started at Ballet West?

I know this is a bit late compared to the other posts, but oh well. I'm American (living in England) and I did Atlanta Ballet's Summer Intensive last summer. It was 5 weeks residential, in the state of Georgia, and an amazing experience. A few schools I would suggest looking into are SAB (New York), The Rock (Philadelphia), Boston Ballet (Washington), Ballet West (Utah) ... but there are so many. (San Francisco Ballet, Jeoffrey Ballet, ABT, etc.) To be honest though, I don't think any of them come to the UK, so look into video applications. Most of the summer programs tend to be around 5 weeks long... Ballet West has one that's 8 weeks... for some reason they don't run summer programs that long here in the UK!? Anyways... this is probably a bit late as most of the auditions will have past, but I would highly recommend a Summer Intensive in America, even if you have to audition by video. Hope this helps!

Wow thank you! Does that mean your DD took all her A levels before she went to Ballet West? I will find the forums about A levels... I'm fairly new to this all. Im American and we've only just moved over to the UK so I'm still learning about the schooling system! But thanks so much for your opinion... it's helped a lot! And sorry if I'm repeating myself, but am I right in saying that there is no form of academic schooling, (eg biology, maths, english etc.) currently available at Ballet West, besides the HND/Degree in Dance Qualification? Thanks again for all your advice

Aww thats amazing! All the full-time girls seemed to really enjoy the performance. Do you know who she is mainly taught by? Jonathan Barton runs the AP program and he's great... does your dd get taught by him at all? Also what are your thoughts on not having academics available at the school?

Thanks afab... I'll look into whats available... wish I could qualify though :/

Aww well at least you got to see it through once! It was a really great show...and all the girls at the school were lovely! It was nice to meet a few of them and talk about what the school was like. How long has your dd studied at Ballet West? Does she like it?

Thank you afab. Do you know if there's any sort of scholarship or other funding available at all?

Yes I was! I was the girl who did the partnering work in the 'sweets' dance...our AP dance was after the Arabian pas de deux... can't believe you were there! (:

Thanks swanprincess... I've looked at their website a million times but I can't find anything about WHEN the application forms for summer school need to be in by! Are you auditioning as well? x

Does this mean that since I am international, and my family has only been living in EU for less than a year, (when I audition for entry 2014 it will be 1 full year) I cannot be considered for funding? This is a bit worrying...

I also have highly-arched flexible feet. They are quite weak... and combined with hyper-extended knees I have to really work on pulling 'up-and-out' of my legs. Besides working through my tendus, (that post was very helpful) is there anything else I can be doing? I'm currently using a thera-band to point and flex my feet as resistance training, but any other exercises and advice would be helpful!

Does anyone know WHEN the summer school applications need to be in by? The forms are available on their website, but there are no dates as to when they need to be submitted...I don't want to miss the deadline!

Best of luck to your dd Discouraged! Hope she has an amazing day... fingers crossed! x

Thanks so much eloise-please! I enjoyed the audition and there's still next year! They did start our audition off, and end it too, by telling us that they really didn't have many, if any, spots for years 10 and 11, so I didn't let myself hope for a yes. But I'm glad I went for the experience anyways.

I've been offered a place from the Aspiring Professionals program...it's once a month, and we recently did a production of The Nutcracker with the company/school. Obviously nothing's set in stone yet, but a spot for 2014 entry has been offered to me. I still have to wait a year, but they said they want me when I'm 16 (and entering 6th form). It's great to hear, but I don't want to commit myself to anything before all my 6th form auditions are over! Do you have any plans for 6th form/have any recomendations? xx Thank you hfbrew! We (as in the Aspiring Professionals class) recently did The Nutcracker with the school/company, and it was really great. There are some very talented girls at the school! (One of them won the Adeline Genée recently I think) I've been offered a spot through the AP program for entry 2014, (since I'm still in year 10) but I won't say yes to anything I think until all my 6th form auditions are over. But at least I know I've always got this place to fall back on! Millie... the school does not include education beyond dancing, nutrition, etc. (no GCSEs or real subjects) is that right? To me that's the main drawback of the school... I would be worried about having a career to fall back on in case of injury... any thoughts?

Wow... thank you so much to everyone... I wasn't really expecting any replies! Thank you do much to spannerandpony for the welcome! And the recommendations are great... I have a ton of researching to do now! Haha... I started pointe late... about 2 years ago. And although I enjoy contemporary, I don't think I'll pursue it as a career. Thank you so much for the advice! Also thanks to taxi4ballet... I was a bit concerned about the age I started ballet, but it's really great to know that people like me still get accepted into ballet schools! Thanks to tutoo2much for the YDA link... it also seems like a really great school. Thanks for the summer school suggestions Julie 2 Milner! I do not live close to london... I live in the Lake District. Unfortunately there si not much in the way of ballet out here. And thank you kaledonia! I will look into botht of the summer schools in Scotland. Finally thanks to JulieW for the advice and good luck wishes! Just to put it out there, if all else fails, I have a spot at Ballet West for 6th form. Does anyone have an opinion/personal experiences about that school? Thank you!!!

Got my letter from the Manchester auditions today. (for Year 11) It was a no, but good luck to those of you still waiting and congrats to everyone who made it through to the finals!

Thank you Picturesinthefirelight! I received a 'no' letter today, which is what I expected according to the GCSE's system. I will definintly audition for 6th form, but at least now I've 'put my face out there' and gotten an idea of what the auditions will be like.

Wow... thanks so much for posting this link! It's so inspiring... I just wish I'd found it BEFORE my RBS auditions! Oh well... this is a great way to see what the school would be like. Swanprincess have you already done your RBS 6th from auditions?

Hello! I am currently in Year 10, and I recently auditioned for Year 11 at both Elmhurst and WL RBS. I received a 'no' letter from Elmhurst, and am awaiting a letter WL, though I am not expecting a 'yes', as they told us at the start of the auditions that there were not many, if any at all, spots available for Years 10 and 11. I also auditoned for the RBS SA, and am currently doing the aspiring professionals program with Ballet West in Scotland. I started ballet a bit late at 11 years old, but my goal is to attend a vocational ballet school for 6th form. (As I didn't get in to a school for this year) I want to post pictures of my feet/legs/etc. for people to comment on, but I am unsure of how to do that, if it's even possible! So if someone could help me with that... And any advice what so-ever for the auditions would be greatly appreciated... I've got highly arched feet, but they're weak, so any strengthening exercises would be great. Also any stretches to improve turnout! I'm willing to work really hard for this... should I be trying to do multiple summer schools? Trying to improve more basic ballet technique & facilities vs. more advanced technique? And any further recommendations as to what full-time schools I should be looking into auditioning for besides the 2 i named above?? (I'm American and I've only just moved to England, so advice on schooling in the area would be extremely helpful!) Thanks so Much.