if only!

I haven't posted on here in ages- I have an occasional browse but your post, swanprincess, has prompted me! You are so right. I can't put it as poetically as you, (really, swanprincess, surely you should be going down the literacy route?!) but in our household where one door closes several more open AND these knock-backs make us stronger. My late father wanted more than anything to become a sculptor, (even gained a place at a good art school) but that wasn't a 'fitting' profession for a young man & so he went on to work in a 'radios' laboratory, studying a BSc, during WW2. Within months he lost his father, was bombed out & subsequently spent a year in hospital. OK. Not good. But when one says every cloud has a silver lining, well... my dad spent that year drawing and preparing a portfolio. When he left hospital he got into a fantastic art school, met my Mum, and has never looked back. Now if things had gone according to plan...??? (I wouldn't be here to start with!) I may even add, that during his art school days he had lessons with Ninette du Valois as a 'spin-off' extra-curricular activity! (Maybe that's where we got the dancing bug from!) but this would never have happened if it wasn't for all the heartache at the beginning. I'm in the process of sorting out my parents' house, (they both died recently, thus the "I-don't post-much-now-on-the-forum") BUT they had so much happiness in their lives, and in my father's case it's because things didn't go according to plan to start with. OK, so, swanprincess, (I'm sorry, I waffle), you didn't get in this year BUT.... next year. Who knows?! The world is your oyster! Grab this opportunity to get strong and wow them all! xx

Sorry to hear your daughter not well again. I hope she makes a speedy recovery, (a virtual hug sent through the internet). Janet is right, your daughter is super talented. Hopefully she will be trying to find the time to fit both her art and dancing very soon.

Oh dear Spanner, have I caused this thread to go off on a tangent?! My dd is doing the audition workshop day on the 3rd, (a bit of early preparation for next year! I've been told there's a Q&A session which I'm hoping is useful), and she has applied for ENBS in Feb but we're still waiting to hear. She has really enjoyed the ENBS summer schools she's attended. I'm guessing the Feb course will be similar without the foreign contingent!

I'm sorry to hear that too swanprincess. I'm not sure how they work these things out-all a bit of an enigma I think spanner is right and Francesca was inundated. It's a pity Wells can't hold a few more. The ENBS is also holding a Spring short course during February 1/2 term week. Perhaps you could try for this one too?

Haven't posted on here in a long time, (life gets in the way!) My dd also attending, (didn't attend the last one but did the one before & absolutely loved it!) There's also the ENBS audition workshop on Jan 3rd.

Yes, I saw the demonstration and thought they all did really well, in fact husband was very impressed! Couldn't see any feet though as was a l a little towards the back! (Therefore Nutcracker's Snowflakes on pointe was lost on me, except I knew they must have been on pointe as every now and again they got taller . Also, anyone who rolled on floor disappeared altogether!) Very enjoyable week and DD would love to go next year. ENB staff were lovely too!

Hello ballemum! My dd going this Monday and also very excited She did it last year and 2010, (funds did not allow 2011!) Absolutely loved it, found it very beneficial. Last year there was technique, repertoire (Bluebird variation and Little Red Riding Hood) some pointe and Contemporary, (the latter an important factor for dd). A lot of the students were international and dd was fascinated/inspired by the different approaches - so learnt a lot from the others. Teachers great too! (DD enthused each day, every day... always a good barometer) Also, Kings Road a great place for a teenage girl! I'm sure your dd will have a fabulous time!

DD absolutely loved London Senior Ballet. The Saturdays were very full: 1 hr pilates; 2 hrs ballet and 1 hr pointe. Alternate weeks there was a Contemporary class. She felt Ms Bowden always gave individual attention/correction to all. Students have gone on to good schools, (if you look at their previous newsletters it gives their successes.) DD's ballet improved greatly there and we didn't think twice about getting up at 4.15/30 every Saturday to get there. I'm not sure about placement... a friend of dd's went straight into the Graduate class from her audition. DD skipped Senior level, (having done Junior level and Senior Foundation) and went into Grads too, as did two others, so it is pretty flexible, not regimented by age. Also, some will repeat a year. There are termly reports and one annual assessment. Although I think there are some on this forum who can tell you much more, or another side, (we only ever had a very positive experience). She's going to really miss it next year, she thought the teachers were fantastic and she made lots of lovely friends. Good luck if your DD decides to audition!

Hello afab... My children (well, older two) will want, (or more likely need) to practise their French. DH is a language teacher and at every opportunity speaks something other than English. So be warned! DD is going to be 14 during the week in Leeds and is looking forward to dancing all day on her birthday- what better way to spend it! I'm impressed you're in charge of 4 dancing girls, hard work but good fun... I think. (Hard enough organising one set of "stuff" let alone more) So, see you next week !

Hello afab! I'll be there with the gang, that is two restless boys (10 & 15) and a not so restless husband... he'll be wanting a coffee, (so easily identifiable!) If dd was about, (and not in class) she'd want to quiz you on training in Paris (remember you kindly gave me all that info about the Paris Conservatoire... which now seems less likely, but hey, one can dream!) This is dd's first Northern Ballet SI, although she has done two Easter intensives but it's on the strength of her experience at Easter, (absolutely loved it!) that we're all heading North at the weekend. So hopefully see you about !

Seconding anjuli's and everyone else's well wishes! x

Big congratulations to Tulte and Clara!!!!

swanprincess... loved your dance diary and it's lovely to know what inspired your name, "swanprincess" !

DD has managed to find this when 'trawling' the internet for ballet/contemporary courses... (she really loves this sort of ballet/contemporary). The summer course is from 14 up, so I'm assuming it's also aimed for 'others', not just the absolutely incredible dancers on their video clips of last year's Summer Intensive, who do seem older than 14. Does anyone know anything about the course or have experience of it from the perspective of a 15 year old? (We're thinking potential camping holiday in Berlin, DH able to show off his German and I'd have a chance to visit the Bauhaus Museum. If DD was dancing then the excuse works both ways!) Not sure I've worded that particularly eloquently, (unnecessary waffle), but has anyone attended this course who is under 16?

Forgot to add... lovely photo of all the girls on the Wells facebook page, (DD has been trawling through various FB pages to see what she's missed, thus the 2 replies to Wells and RAD awards... it's been a busy Sunday for some!)

What a lovely report back swanprincess... (and spannerandpony too!) I think we should petition Francesca for more workshops, don't you? (once a month would be great!)

Congratulations to all those who did well and had a great time too! There are some lovely photos are now on RAD's Facebook page. I thought the winner of this one went to watch (not partake!) the Genee along with winner from the other East Anglian awards?

I know! Lauren Cuthbertson!!!! How fabulous is that!

Congratulations Tulte. Fantastic news !

Hello Maisie Lou... ...take heart, I think the majority of dancers out there have had a no sometime or other (OK, maybe there area few exceptions to the rule as spannerandpony has said) but if you can explain to your DD that it's definitely a not yet rather than no. I think a few rejections are character building (sorry if I've upset anyone) and it toughens the young person up for what is a very tough, and if lucky, career. DD has a very level-headed outlook as a result. She puts in more than 100% but realises you win some/you lose some. (Although I agree at 9 that's a hard concept to accept). Also different schemes do look for different things, DD has friends who perhaps made one scheme/school and not the other and vice versa. And... DD has friends who go for auditions for the thrill of it. (DD wanted to go for the late Elmhurst audition for numerous reasons including a fun day out, off school, dancing in fabulous studios etc etc! Voice of reason has stepped in and I've said no.) So it may help if you see the auditions as an experience, a fun day out with a meander round the shops/museums etc too. Like you we're in beautiful but 'miles-from-anywhere' rural East Anglia and it is a very early start on a Saturday, (4.30 alarm call). There's no way we could have managed it when my DD was 9... she's just about managing it at 13. I feel at 9 enjoyment is everything. In fact I feel the same about enjoyment at 13 too. Even 16, 20, 24 and so on. I mean it is such a hard path to choose one has to love it. We've done some crazy journeys in the name of ballet. We used to go to Tring for their CBA, 5 1/2 hours return journey for one (excellent) class! (Again voice of reason stepped in). And now we merrily traipse to London and come back absolutely shattered except for DD who's like a Duracell bunny and she's off to Ipswich the next day for DanceEast. Mary Goodhew gave my DD advice, some years ago, that we must get her on a good associate scheme. I said where we lived, implying impossible, and she said well that's the way things are and we need to make that weekly trip to London, (or wherever). It took a lot convincing my husband but now he's more than happy to go so we alternate. So, if your DD is up for it, and you are able to support her, in time and energy, I would definitely persevere with the associate schemes as, (apart from the training), it's a great way of meeting like-minded dancers. In the meantime you could look at summer schools and workshops. Tring is running a summer school, (I think you can go daily for £45, someone correct me if I'm wrong) and RAD too. We know of someone who travels from Norwich area to Leicester for an associate scheme and sometimes it's easier to go west than south to London. But do, definitely, try again. No one falls at the first hurdle, especially in dance, or otherwise I'd think we'd have no dancers whatsoever! Finally, after all my waffle, (sorry Maisie Lou!) DanceEast is a fantastic facility for the East of England and runs lots of workshops, not just their excellent CAT scheme. There is Danceats too, serving lovely coffee and cakes, always a plus for those of us not lucky enough to have the constitution of a Duracell bunny !

Swanprincess... not sure how many, there were 6 given out last time, (it's on their facebook page) but don't know whether it's always the same. But Morocco in October....... no cold wind, fog, rain, sleet and all the other forms of precipitation our English weather chucks at us. If I was younger, (a lot) and much much better at ballet, (a lot, a lot, a lot better) I'd give it a go! Scholarships aside, it was a fantastic afternoon and definitely worth every minute. I hope you love it as much as my DD and her friends did !

Go swanprincess! Who knows you may be one of the lucky ones and end up going to Morocco! DD attended and loved it, (she said Francesca Filpi was lovely!) Wished it was longer though, (but we did spend very happy time in Covent Garden afterwards) and wished she could attend next one, (alas, clashes with DanceEast...but it was a very tough call!)

Fingers crossed to those waiting to hear CAT results!

to all the yes letters and to all the not just yets, (i.e. the no letters). DD did n't try for JAs, gave MAs a go and got a no. Didn't try again until SAs (for Y10) and has got in, which was totally unexpected. So it really is a not just yet. in the meantime we did look at other schemes and she did Tring CBA and London Junior/Senior Ballet. Both fantastic and highly recommended. So there are lots of alternative associate programmes out there. Katy Custard... I was looking forward to your 'blogs'... can we have some more please?

Klaris, I hope you don't mind me commenting on a public forum but I'd like to use your dd as an example of how height need not be a barrier to dance, (I'm only talking here from a perspective of being successful at 16 for dance schools) ...the thing is she does n't appear that height but taller because of her "presence". The beautiful way she expresses herself simply creates the effect that she's much taller. She dances in such a way that you don't notice height or difference within the group but you do notice her performance quality, technique etc. She creates a personal space and has a natural presence which is 'big', (meant in the nicest possible way!) You certainly don't notice the fact she's shorter at all, you notice all the good stuff going on. I'm not sure that makes sense, but when she dances she could be the tallest there!