pastel

Sharing your joy chocomoto!

My dd got a yes too!!! We had almost given up and I think she has worn out the refresh button on the email today - 5 mins before 5pm the email finally came through. She is utterly shocked and over the moon!

congratulations vmmom!!!! Great news!

I do wish they would press that 'send' button for all the results at the same time - this is nail biting stuff!

So sorry for your disappointment. Big hugs to your DD.

We are still waiting, no news yet. DD wants them to put her out of her misery and just get it over with!

What is his number at YAGP? Or can you post the link if you find his video?

Went to Move it yesterday and apart from the main purpose to see BTUK students dance I also met Just Ballet and wonders of wonders have finally bought a practise tutu......which I need for LAB performance in July .....otherwise wouldn't be seen dead in one. Michelle will be pleased at least!!

 

Anyway I like the way these are made as the skirt keeps down and doesn't flap up as some do but still needed to go to extra extra large size lol!! There were some beautiful leotards on her Ballet Rosa stand .....well worth a look in if you go.

 

But Move It as a whole is definitely for the under 30's I think......it's SO noisy.

It was lovely catching up with Pastel and her DD but trying to find somewhere to be able to actually here each other talk was a tad difficult.

The best place is the cafe just over on the right as you go in.....near the entrance.

Lovely to catch up with you LinMM and we also enjoyed meeting Sheila from Just Dance.

Nana Lily - I wish I had taken your advice about ear plugs literally! I feel SO OLD! 

It was an interesting experience and worth the trek to see BTUK school dancing.

Wow! Danceislife - that is wonderful news. It is so interesting to see these young students and watch their progress

What does your 6yo think? Is she really keen to do it or half hearted? There is really no right or wrong amount of dancing for a child to do so long as they are initiating it. You could perhaps let her start and gauge how much she wants to do it and pull her out if you think it is having a negative effect. There is always the risk that they burn out early, but if they really love it as it sounds like your dd does, they thrive on as much as they are allowed. 

I remember my dd at 4yo refusing to leave ballet class each week, hiding under the chair and clinging to the leg so she could stay and watch the older girls. After a while, the teacher told me to go and do my groceries and pick her up a couple of hours later every week. She was allowed to join older and younger classes. Having said that, there was no intention of preparing her for future auditions, just allowing her to enjoy her love of ballet.

yes! I got that too. The torturous wait continues!

I've seen/read a few interviews with her and I like the way she seems modest and unaffected by her public profile. I'm sure any of us mothers would be thrilled if our kids had her level of technical ability. She's certainly matured in her performance over the past few years. My dd is the same age as Miko and works extremely hard but is no-where near that level!

I'm not sure how good or bad the media exposure is but I think we need to accept that it seems to be part of the road for many young dancers in our social media crazy world. 

From what I've read, Miko works terribly long hours and perhaps her biggest risk is burn out. None of my business though, that's between her and her family and I also accept that she comes from a different culture, living in the USA with an Asian mother. It appears that her parents are very strongly involved and that can come across to the public as 'pushy', however, she may just be extremely passionate. I'm constantly trying to get my dd to pull back just a bit here and there but she is driven by her love of ballet and pushes herself to extremes. Maybe Miko is the same.

Anyway, she is a teenager on the same route as my dd and I wish her all the best for an amazing future. It will be interesting to see which company she starts with and to follow her journey over the coming years.

Incidentally, there are plenty of other young dancers out there with huge youtube/Instagram/Facebook followings. My dd follows quite a few of them, learning from their stretching, strengthening, rehearsal techniques etc. Some of it is helpful and interesting, some of it is downright dreadful!

Thanks Aileen, yes, I shall email and ask. At least we will know. Not sure if the theatre in Hinckley is raked, but we would find out if necessary. 

Oh help! Really! How has he managed? Did he get used to it quickly?

DD is hoping the stage in Romania for World Ballet Competition isn't raked. They only get 10mins to run through their dances on the stage before performing.

CeliB - I think I missed the bit where you announced that your son will  be taking a place at Het Junior company. Congratulations! How truly wonderful

thanks invisiblecircus Very helpful.

Hi Confuddled - welcome!

your dd sounds a lot like mine at that age . I just read out the bit you posted about her being cross that Cinderella wasn't the real thing and my dd said "sounds like me". We are new to the UK, so I can't help you with SS suggestions but I hope you find something suitable and your dd enjoys it. You have so many amazing opportunities for her to see performances . Enjoy the ride.

(A mother who also knew nothing about ballet when my dd begged to dance as a tiny tot)

On the subject of other competitors, I thought Julian MacKay was outstanding and, in fact, I thought he would win overall. Harrison Lee was truly fab, as well. Of the surprise non-finalists, Miko Fogarty... I thought she was pretty flawless and was surprised she didn't get through. I suppose she was in the older age group this time around, though.

 

Of the way the live streaming was done, I actually liked the interviews with the judges and their watching of their own youthful endeavours at the competition, which many of them obviously didn't think much of! It just brought it home that the competitors are still student dancers, and they are going to get even better as their careers develop.

Yes, I wondered about Miko Fogarty too. My dd follows her very closely and she has won some huge prizes like Gold medal in Moscow last year and couple of silvers at big comps lately. 

I hope they put up the footage of the variations soon, as it would be very interesting to watch, especially the classicals.

I'm a mother of a dancer and have been around for about 3 years.

SarahW - I wondered about that too. I know one of the main reasons students apply from Australia, is for an opportunity to be seen by directors of schools. It is less expensive to fly to Europe for one event than try to attend lots of different auditions since the auditions don't run back to back. Australian schools can also offer audition tours but they are extremely expensive, so Prix would still be a more affordable option for many. Once you are in a vocational school there possibly isn't such a need to go to Prix until the final year when you are trying to get a job.

Just thoughts????

Thanks CeliB - she will be 18 this year, so next year is her last opportunity. She has been watching it since she was a small child and always expected that one day she would be there.

LinMM, yes we can chat on Friday . It really is mostly a matter of funds, plus I'd like to see how much studio time she gets to practice for World Ballet Competition and see how that all goes in March. The initial audition fee for Prix is quite expensive and I don't know if she is of the standard to be accepted. If only we all had a money tree in the back garden!

If only I had the money to go, I would at least allow dd to audition - she doesn't want to watch She wants to compete but knows it is very hard to get accepted, plus the slight issue of funds........

That's funny you are balleted out LinMM! My dd said if you need an excuse to visit Lausanne next Feb, you can accompany her to Prix - she'll share a room with you. (In her dreams!)

Yes, LinMM from what we have seen, Li is doing incredible things with QB. Strangely, the performance they did at Prix doesn't represent the company at all. They mostly perform classical works, what they showed at Prix seemed much more like Australian Ballet Company work. Not sure if Greg Horseman often choreographs for QB.

CeliB, thank you for being so detailed in your explanations. They are very interesting and helpful to those of us who are on a similar road.

I understand you not being prepared to have your son as far away as Australia - perhaps Li will consider him again in a few years. From our (limited) experience, he is a wonderful company director, the company is producing fresh classical works and dancers seem very happy. DD attended their summer school last year and enjoyed every minute. Li's classes are amazing!

I look forward to following your son's career here on the forum. 

What amazing news CeliB!!! My daughter was reading the list of offers and felt so overwhelmed that she couldn't read on! How exciting for him. I wish him all the best in whatever he decides - they are all good offers . You will keep us posted on where he chooses?

Finally managed to watch the finals and felt quite homesick with all the Australians including Lucinda Dun, Li Cunxin, QB Ballet. Very pleased for Harrison because he is such a talented dancer and a modest boy.

Is this one run by Bolshoi or the one run by Joffrey at Bolshoi? The Joffrey info is on their summer intensive website. I don't know about the other one.