pastel
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Posts
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Everything posted by pastel
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Thanks, yes, I think a round of calls would be a good idea, once we have definite plans and know where dh has to work.
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Yes, UK is full of amazing opportunities - we're looking on it as an adventure. Not thrilled to have to leave our farm, but we're trying to bow out gracefully rather than hang on kicking and screaming. Dh's job doesn't have a future here. Sadly they are culling large numbers around the country and closing offices. He's already had one office close and been commuting long distances for the past few years. Not sure yet if the job will be in London or one of the northern cities. We lived (actually, I shivered) in London for a year in the 90's, so we sort of know what to expect.
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Thanks so much Legseleven! Yes, we will try the other schools. Some we've looked into but unfortunately, the fees are not affordable. Also, we've missed the application dates for most. I'm waiting to hear fro BTUK because their applications are still open. I figure, if we end up in UK without a place in a ballet course, I'll start knocking on doors and see if there are any waiting lists available for students who drop out for whatever reason. Thanks again
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Thanks afab - we are happy too - I'm sure we are like everyone else, and finding it hard not to count our chickens before they hatch. After all, it is only an invitation to the finals, not to the school.........
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Has anyone been able to access the school website? It doesn't work for me.
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Thank you everyone for your kind comments No, we don't fly over for the finals - they will look at her dvd, photos etc again at the end of March along with the finals. Yes LinMM, we did meet up with your friends and have been keeping in contact. Looks like dh will be sent to the UK for work whether or not dd gains a place in a vocational course. Not sure what we will do if that happens - we don't really want to leave her behind.......... time will tell.
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Just received the long awaited email to say that dd has made the finals for Central - Do you think they have ANY idea how much cheering goes on when these emails/letters are opened?
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Thanks spannerandpony. Not a classical course.
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What is Millennium? Is it a post 16y vocational course? Please excuse my ignorance.
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My dd puts her demis in the washing machine if they are hard. You just have to remember to wear them while they dry - at least for the last part. She put a pair in recently and hung them on the line, it was a REALLY hot, dry day and they were dry in about half an hour, so of course they shrunk. She's going to wash them again and hope to stretch them on her foot. Good luck.
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Oh, yes, kookaburras are very common. We have had them at every home we've lived in. Recently, one evening, there was a young one sitting on the table, on our screened-in veranda. We couldn't figure out how it got there until the next morning, when we saw a tear in the screen - the poor thing must have flown straight through because its beak was so big and sharp it pierced the mesh.
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LinnMM - it is a kookaburra!
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Thanks nhc1992! What an informative post.
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thanks! Interesting......
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Great news!! Congratulations to all those with 'yes's' and sorry for those who didn't make it to the final for Central. We have heard nothing - not sure if the reply will come by snail mail or if there is a later date for O/S students to find out if they made the finals. I'm thinking of emailing to see if they can tell me when we are likely to find out. The suspense is killing us!
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Hi, does anyone know about this school? http://www.koninklijke-balletschool-antwerpen.be Their website seems to be under construction as there is no info on the pages about 'tuition', 'fees' etc Has anyone had dc attend their full time program or the summer school?
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Yes, we'd probably move to the UK for a year or so. My dh's job here is flexible and his company are looking for someone with his particular skills in London. We lived there for a year when we were first married. The problem with dancers being offered jobs and not getting visas is the time wasted. They stop auditioning and are hanging around waiting for their visas. Then when things fall through, they are back to square one.......
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Oh Afab!! Just the school, not the company! Sorry - Let me clarify - I think she would be able to get a student visa, but we know a few Aussie's who have been unable to get work visas when offered ballet company jobs in the US. The general thought is that it is probably better to go for training in the country where you are likely to be able to get a visa rather than train in the US and then have to break in to Europe. Who knows? But, we do know that dd is not ready to face NYC alone at this age.
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JulieW - I was also under the impression that the top private ballet schools were getting students into companies, but as we've been traveling down this road, have discovered that they are very successful in getting them into company schools, but not companies. The best schools take their students on audition tours in Europe, UK and USA to audition for the company attached schools. We have taken the "dvd audition route" because those tours are REALLY expensive! Not sure how anyone affords to send their kids to the overseas competitions and tours......... Kids get great exposure at the competitions and some are offered scholarships, but the cost of doing all of that is just as much as the tuition fees. The figures are astounding!! We keep telling our dd that we don't live in that universe and we'll all do our best with the resources we have available. Thankfully, our ballet school supports students applying individually. The school is able to train students to a level where they have been accepted into O/S company schools, so it seems pointless moving her interstate to attend a different private school which will ultimately achieve the same thing. Our dd has been offered Joffrey NYC but she's too young to live in NYC alone. Plus we know a few dancers who have been offered jobs there and can't get visas, so it doesn't seem like a smart move. I think this ballet life is pretty complex no matter where you live in the world. We're keeping positive, knocking on doors and trusting God to take care of the rest
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JulieW - there are only 2 schools in Australia for her to audition for. Australian Ballet - their auditions are in July, and yes, she will try, but it is next to impossible to get in. The other is Queensland Ballet and they only offer a graduate year. She will audition for that, even though she isn't at that level yet - just have to keep trying, but again, their auditions are not until October. She'll also try for New Zealand School of Dance and more in Europe - not venturing to the US for a few reasons.
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I have searched the forum, reading about Northern Ballet (Manchester). Sorry if this question has been answered, I can't find the answer. Their 3 year course starts with a general dance year, followed by 2 years specialising in either classical or jazz. It appears from their website and prospectus that they train both classical and commercial dancers. However - my question is, would you send a student who wants to be a classical dancer, there? They have a list of companies which their graduates have gained work in, but if you look at the recent year's graduate employment, it is pretty much all on cruise ships and the like. I think I found 2 classical jobs in the last few years. Also, is it wise to spend a year not really focussing on classical work if that is the area one wants to be?
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Gulp!!
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Oh, that's lovely Jazzpaws! Tring looks absolutely gorgeous! Pity the fees are so high.... I'm very pleased for your dd that she has been offered funding. What an amazing environment to learn in . Best wishes for Central too. Glad you enjoyed Sydney - I love being woken by kookaburras . Where we live now, I get woken by roosters having their crowing competitions from about 1am.
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Thanks Kat09 - actually, she has sent in a dvd from Australia. I'm hoping we hear results after this weekend's auditions. Not sure when they tell O/S candidates.
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Best wishes for Tring Jazzpaws! OT - I never noticed you having a kookaburra for your profile pic
