Balletmumfor2

Yes, the Manchester mids was on but there was no snow at all in Manchester. 9 out of 13 girls made it. Having done associates for a while however, I can tell you that most girls miss a couple of sessions for something as many of them have festival weekends or other commitments throughout the year. If there is snow near the centre them the lesson will be postponed. Only 2 girls made it to SA's in Birmingham despite the main roads being totally clear. They must have been put off travelling by the forecast, were snowed in at home or maybe had auditions this weekend.

Manchester mids is on a Saturday from 10:15-12:45.

Is that London SA's as it's not appraisals at Birmingham?!!

I had a search for these last year as our younger DD's all needed one for a show and we were reluctant to pay a lot for something they might use only once. The cheapest was on the Porselli website and is called an Intermezzo Loverfor. They start at only £6.95. We also found this fits beautifully under the JA leotards and is much more comfortable than knickers which can show. My daughter is a petite 12 year old and still fits comfortably in the size 8-10.

I had a search for these last year as our younger DD's all needed one for a show and we were reluctant to pay a lot for something they might use only once. The cheapest was on the Porselli website and is called an Intermezzo Loverfor. They start at only £6.95. We also found this fits beautifully under the JA leotards and is much more comfortable than knickers which can show. My daughter is a petite 12 year old and still fits comfortably in the size 8-10.

Thank u 'mum in a spin' as that was my understanding of the situation. They offered the child the chance to resume academic studies or transfer but they chose to remain for the 2 yrs and was allowed to do so. They were warned that Upper school would be out of reach. It is easy to pass judgement on situations like this, but it is only those involved who know the exact facts of the situation and how it was dealt with and even the parties concerned may tell the situation differently. Auditions are a very small snapshot so there are bound to be mistakes made on rare occasions. Some might applaud RBS for admitting their mistakes rather than hiding them. I am also conscious that since this is a rare occurrence the person involved could be reading our posts having now moved on and put it behind them. To my knowledge they completed the two years and gained a 6th form place at an alternative school so it was hopefully a happy ending!

Hi Spanner and Pony, just to let you know, if u are offered waiting list you have to return a form stating whether you wish to remain on the waiting list up to the last minute or whether you will be making alternative arrangements and will therefore come off the waiting list. People are offered places at the last minute due to children pulling out due to injuries for example and they will always offer these places to others. Last year my youngest got offered a place very soon after being placed on the waiting list and we were told it was because she had made finals that year. My oldest (who had made yr9 finals) was offered a second week at the last minute even though we had originally applied for one week.

We know of one SA getting through from London and two from Birmingham. As there are only 8 year 11's in Birmingham that equates to a quarter of the class. You have to remember that associates are competing against girls from WL some of whom will have already been picked in preference to the associates when younger and foreign students who were not available to be picked as associates. It is therefore understandable that only the few top associates will be selected to compare with the other candidates at finals. Candidates for associates are picked on potential and are given appropriate training. However, just as in WL, there is no guarantee that potential will be fulfilled or that better dancers will not come along so there is no reason to suppose SA's should have a better chance at reaching upper school finals.

My two have done this at all the RB auditions and my older DD is rubbish. Spent two wks practising it for WL audition in yr 6 and fell over every time. Then adrenalin must have kicked in on the day because she managed without falling over!!! Still struggles with it now though although has made it all the way through to yr9 finals and SA's and has v tight Achilles. Will get girls to ask teachers on Saturday if someone's not come up with the answer by then. PS think she 'fudges' it now by lifting her heels hoping noone notices!!!!

If its compulsory for the whole school then I would be making sure both did it. My two girls regularly have the same problem with dancing and school commitments as they both sing in the choir and play percussion in the orchestra. They do miss odd dance lessons for school events and performances but in my opinion it is me who has lost out since they are pre paid, and we make sure missed classes are minimal so they do not affect learning of syllabus work. Similarly however, when they are preparing for festivals or dance shows they make sure they have full attendance at dance, sometimes having to leave school a bit early or having the day off if necessary. I feel that you have to attend the boring parts as well as the exciting parts of life and doing school activities as well as dance wherever possible makes my two girls more rounded individuals. One dance class is just that so I wouldn't even think twice even though I truly value commitment. However, we must all do what we think is right for our own children.

In my experience, all children are offered the opportunity of an audition for associates. I believe the decisions are mainly made during the audition process but the photos are there to prompt them should they need to remember which candidate is which or are undecided. It is how they dance on the day that is most important!

At an RBS associates pointe workshop they were told it was so they could feel the floor better when they are dancing. My daughter doesn't like the wool so uses toe tape and an odd jelly toe instead rather than the toe pads she used to wear when she first started pointe.

I used to clean my daughters leather shoes with a damp cloth and a bit of fairy liquid. This seemed to shift the black marks that seemed to appear on them over time. Calamine is usually used on satin shoes and canvas shoes can be washed regularly in the washing machine.

This year they have given the new Year 7's their own classes for the first two months till they get settled in. The classes have therefore been fortnightly so far. After the half term the Year 7's join the 8's and Year 9's so will be most weekends up until Christmas. Let me know if you need any more information. Once you have been offered a place, RBS are very accommodating and it is possible to change your class location. We ask for my two to have auditions on the same day if possible as it necessitates having a day of work and they have accommodated this whenever possible.

The runner up was Rhys Yeomans, a very talented 14 year old from Centre Pointe in Manchester.

Postcode is M34 3SG. It might come up as being in a restricted area as it is on a trading estate. Any other questions just let me know as we are currently on our second journey with Manchester mids. Eldest is now in SA's at Birmingham which us where we travel to after morning so be warned it only gets worse!!!!

My daughters both go to Centre Pointe and there are a couple of dancers who live in Sheffield and come about 4 times a week so I assume the journey is not too bad. It is situated right on the motorway network at the end of the M67. As MA places are so limited anyway (often only a couple being successful out of each JA class) why not see what happens. The classes are not every week but are on Saturday mornings.

I can remember when my daughter went for her first JA audition many years ago and was a long way from any splits. When she told me they had tested these I assumed she had no chance and threw the RBS info away only for her to be offered a place several months later! She was called for yr7 finals and practised splits everyday to try to improve them. Flexibility is still difficult and she has a stiff back, tight Achilles and still can't get down in box splits. Despite this she has made MA's, SA's and yr10 finals and her feedback encouraged her to try again in 6th form when there are more places. Flexibility or lack of it has never been mentioned so I assume it is not an issue.

Hi Swanprincess. Not sure if you would be thinking of London or Birmingham SA's but my daughter is currently one of only 3 year 10's at Birmingham with about 9/10 year 11's so there should be several places for year 11 next year.

Apparently dancers used to use Johnsons Klear floor polish but they changed it about a year ago so have used Freed (rather expensive) or Papillon since. I know EYB suggest Ronseal wood hardener but have not tried it. You can use clear shellac from a diy store if you can find it. Jet glue is supposed to make your shoes as hard as rock with just a few drops but again haven't yet resorted to that. Its amazing what you pick up as a 'dance mum!'

To harden my daughter pours the liquid into the lid of the bottle then into the bottom of the pointe shoe rolling the shoe around to get the coating where she needs it. She then props the shoes up on a hot radiator to go hard. It really is that simple! When she attended a RBS workshop a few years ago the teacher was really surprised to find out not many dancers were aware of this as she said it was pointe shoe maintenance. We never needed to do this with her Grishko's but she dances a lot more now and we have been told Freeds need more looking after!

To harden my daughter pours the liquid into the lid of the bottle then into the bottom of the pointe shoe rolling the shoe around to get the coating where she needs it. She then props the shoes up on a hot radiator to go hard. It really is that simple! When she attended a RBS workshop a few years ago the teacher was really surprised to find out not many dancers were aware of this as she said it was pointe shoe maintenance. We never needed to do this with her Grishko's bur

One of my daughters teachers is an ex dancer and insists they work in a hot studio (definitely no air con switched on although it is available!) He says dancers like the theatres like this so the students had better get used to working in this environment. Unfortunately I always forget this during watching week and nearly pass out when I'm sitting in my normal clothes at the side. I always think a bikini would be more appropriate but don't think this would go down well with my daughter!

If the blocks go soft can you not harden them up with hardener or even jet glue if it is a big problem for your daughter. My daughter has to do this after a few times wearing them and then at regular intervals afterwards. Her shoes would last a matter of days otherwise!

Hi Michelle. The slippery stages at festivals are usually some sort of vinyl as they are often held in school halls or small theatres. It is not possible to dampen the stage in these instances as not all peformers would want this and the different dance sections mean a variety of shoes are used throughout the festival. That is why people dampen their flat ballet shoes. A small amount of rosin is often used for pointe shoes.