Lildancer96

I have quite a few - please feel free to pm me. 

On 31/01/2023 at 19:00, Angela said:

I understand now, Lusodancer, thank you - there are some education programmes that call themselves junior company and take money, and on the other hand there are junior companies that pay money to their dancers. The junior companies I listed pay their dancers - I can't guarantee for all, but certainly most of them. The German ones do, NDT also. Some of them even pay what the corps de ballet dancers of the main company earn. These junior companies tour and they commission new creations for their performances. Their purpose is to supply the main company with new dancers, maybe to "park" dancers there who cannot be accepted yet in the main company, to make tours to venues where the main company cannot perform, many of them do education programmes for a younger audience, they visit schools or nursing homes etc. NDT II for example is a full-fledged touring company with some 20 dancers, with works by the same choreographers as NDT I and gorgeous young talents.

I'm not so sure if all the others that you mention really call themselves "junior company" - Nacho Duato's doesn't, it's called Nacho Duato Academy or Trainee Program, the one at The Hague is called Royal Conservatoire Dance Ensemble, which gives you a hint that it may not be paid. Others like Antwerp really use the name junior company, the Europaballett at Austria really looks like a ballet company.  So it is tricky to make the difference, I now see. I guess we can say as a general rule that if it has a "2" or "II" in the name, it seems to be legitimate.

Europaballett has a training academy and a company. Most of the company dancers are international dancers who have auditioned post grad and have not trained at the academy.

Just Ballet are now stocking these I believe x

I have lots of brand new Bloch pointe shoes for sale following a change in shoe preference, if anyone is struggling with supplies at the moment. They are mainly heritage 4.5 but other Bloch ones too. 

Please feel free to message. 

On 06/03/2022 at 11:03, Topaz said:

Hello everyone 

 

I am wondering if anyone has auditioned or has danced with or has any experience or knowledge of the Europa Ballet Company in Austria?

Good luck if you are auditioning this weekend. 

It might be worth asking some of the dancers about their experiences. I’m sure there are many niggles but also lots of positives too and the dancers have been fortunate to keep their jobs and training throughout the pandemic. 

It was lovely to see the Polish ballet welcoming Ukraine dancers yesterday on the news - such a sad desperate situation. 

Thinking of everyone who is directly involved and hoping that all your love ones stay safe. It makes all our niggles and problems seem so insignificant.

On 06/03/2022 at 11:57, cotes du rhone ! said:

Check out their Instagram page, there is a reason that the theatre and studios aren’t shown on there

There are loads of pictures of the studios and the theatre on their Instagram page including the new outdoor theatre that was built for performances during covid. 

On 06/03/2022 at 11:57, cotes du rhone ! said:

This was Dds first audition in January 2020. I accompanied her. St Polten was the grimmest / deadest place I think I have ever been too. I was expecting Dementors to appear any minute 🤣 Seriously though, if this had been the only contract that Dd was offered she wouldn’t have gone. They crammed as many girls into the ‘studio’ as they could. The floor was like an ice rink and she was so relieved just to have survived the audition. Luckily she didn’t make it to the solo round. Check out their Instagram page, there is a reason that the theatre and studios aren’t shown on there. We met lots of U.K. students and parents there so others may be able to give you their experience. 
I think you need to find what your bottom line is and that was ours. What are your prepared to accept to dance. 

I would consider asking some of the dancers who work there for first hand experience. St Polten is indeed quiet but also safe which some parents would consider far more important. Vienna, only a short journey away is amazing. That wasn’t what was been asked though and yes the company get to travel the world and dance in some amazing venues. 

Both very valid points - the dancers who are determined to not work unless paid and then get a job ... fantastic. Unfortunately not all will get a job of course and some don’t want to move away from classical.

Yes it’s true that the dancers who are lucky enough to have parents who can afford to support them when they complete a trial for a short period are very fortunate. We were able to do this knowing it was only for a short period and it was worthwhile as dd has now been there for over 5 years. Everyone’s situation and experiences are different but it is without doubt a very hard industry to succeed in especially if it’s the classical dream you are chasing. 

On 07/02/2022 at 10:52, Peanut68 said:

I am wondering if there needs to be a specific union for dancers? 

We in the U.K. & the European Union countries would all have to check on the conditions livestock are raised in & livestock workers work in.... what about dancers???🤔

I totally agree that our dancers should be better protected and be entitled to more. Unfortunately though if our dancers don’t take the positions and accept the conditions, there are plenty of dancers from other countries who will jump at the opportunity, whatever the pay and conditions. It then becomes a balance between how much they want to be a dancer and how far you are willing to go to try and make that happen. 

Personally I think a short trial without pay is acceptable - maybe a month or so to enable the director to see if the dancer fits with the company but the problem is companies that keep unpaid dancers for prolonged periods and then let them go at the end filling their position with another unpaid dancer. 

It isn’t just European companies though ... a company here in the UK once wrote to my DD and said that they had been following her progress and would like to offer her the opportunity to dance with the company for experience and she would only have to pay a reduced fee compared to the normal post grad course fee and accommodation costs. 

My understanding is that most of the dancers don’t get paid and are there to get experience. Lots of companies seem to do this now but there doesn’t seem to be many paid positions at the end.

We used Axa too and was by far the cheapest at the time. I think Tring offered cover but was far more expensive. I remember after using the policy to have surgery ( which would have cost thousands) the premium shot up as expected. 

3 hours ago, Clara67 said:

That’s lovely to hear. Thank you.

Please feel free to pm me of you have any questions😀

On 31/05/2021 at 13:27, Clara67 said:

Thank you. My DC is already at a vocational lower school - I’m just thinking ahead! Tring would be one to consider for upper school because of the A’ levels offered, as my child is very academic - it just seems that those who have had a classical career having been at Tring have only been there for some or all of their lower school training. Does anyone know of anybody gaining a classical contract after training at Tring upper school?

Hello - my dd went to Tring upper school after non vocational training up to that point and gained a  classical contract when she graduated in Europe and has been there 5 years now .

On 20/04/2021 at 20:49, balletmum20 said:

Has anybody got any 6th form dance uniform for sale? 
 

thanks in advance xx

Hello 

I have various tring dance items - drop me a pm and let me know what colour you are looking for as I can’t remember which is which year now! I think I have catsuits and Leo’s in purple and light blue if that helps .

On 20/04/2021 at 20:49, balletmum20 said:

Has anybody got any 6th form dance uniform for sale? 
 

thanks in advance xx

On 19/04/2021 at 18:13, Anna C said:

 

Lovely to see you here again, Lildancer96. ☺️

Thank you ! 

On 08/02/2021 at 14:32, balletbean said:

The old (British issued) Red passports with European Union imprinted across the top are still valid for travel (until their expiry date) and for staying in the EU up to 90 days however, holders can’t seek work like they used to. 🙁 A quick phone call to the passport office confirmed that. 
We were advised that if you have a close relative that lives in Ireland (our ancestors left in 1746 so that doesn’t quite work for us 😂) or the EU is to seek out and apply for dual nationality and then an EU passport. 
 

Not been on here for a while and lovely to recognise familiar names from when many of us were going through the upper school audition process a few years back ! 

The situation in Europe has made it harder but not impossible - European countries are used to having to pay for visas for dancers from Asia and South America to work there - looks like it may have to be similar for British but if they want a dancer , they will still have them. Although obviously it would be easier for them just to take dancers from the EU.

My dd only holds a British passport and works in a European company - she has now obtained citizenship so that she can travel easier throughout Europe.

Hello - can I have a pair of the aspirations please ? 
please pm me with info

lildancer96

You and Charlie should be so proud of what you have achieved - let us know where she decides to follow her dreams xx

Danceflash 2017 which in near Vienna  is advertising their summer school and scholarships are available according to the site. 

And Birmingham this year x

There is a cul de sac across the main road where we have parked before .. probably annoy the residents tho ????

Hugely deserved - well done x

Hard work and determination pay off in the end ... me and dd can't wait to follow her journey xx

I think that Lildancer96 also has experience of this SS....There's a thread on here somewhere

Here is the link to a clip from last years sumner school ????

https://youtu.be/HqCjCU4xQXI