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Could someone please advise how MDS is allocated at the top ballet schools if the student gains their place after year 7? My understanding so far is that there is very limited availability of funds if that is the case. Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone...... forgive my confusion regarding higher education qualifications !! I’m hoping someone with more knowledge can clarify things as I’ve ‘googled’ it - but it just throws up conflicting information !! What is the difference between a level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance compared with a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance & Performance. I know they are both 3 year courses and are funded by either Dada or Student loans respectively. What I don’t quite understand is if they are deemed equivalent to each other and are they recognised as equivalent to each other by prospective employers in the dance industry. Also , if a dance student wished to change career totally, away from dance ..... which qualification would be more recognised by employers in other fields - or are they both regarded in the same way ?? Thanks v much

Can anyone tell me what the fees, excluding boarding and before all the extras such as exam fees, are for Elmhurst 6th form please? Can't seem to find the information on the website. I'm assuming its not just as straightforward as deducting a day place from a boarding place? Although the figures I have for that are from last year.

Hello can anyone please explain how dada contributions are worked out? We we have been asked to provide only our p60s as evidence which puts our total pay in one bracket but quite close to the next one up. However I read something about employer pension contributions. If I add both of ours together this actually moves us up 2 brackets which makes quite a big difference in terms of affordability for us. We dont have any any other income apart from child benefit. I know we would lose this if she does a level 6 course but we have a younger child as well. Do we need to include this? Thank you

I’ve been trying to find out this information from all the schools but none of them will give me a straight answer so I’m hoping someone on here has been in the same position! If you have two dc at different schools both with mds is there some sort of deduction so that you don’t pay the equivalent of two full mds contributions? If they were both at the same school I’ve been told there is a reduction but no one seemed to be able to tell me what would happen if they were at different schools. At the moment the query is redundant because we’re waiting on reserve list places but would still be nice to know.

First time posting! Long time reader... My DD is at a full time vocational school and her funding (that was paid by a relative) is no longer available. Unfortunately said relative has decided to change their mind a year into her course. We are in an awful predicament, I’ve just changed jobs after being self employed for six years so no loan or credit card company will look at me. Does anyone have any ideas or help. I’ll be calling the school too to beg... 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hi Could somebody please explain to me in simple terms the qualifications, different types of dance colleges and schools and funding options to me, its a minefield! My daughter is coming up to 15 and would like to go to dance college/school at 16, I personally feel its too young. I cant seem to understand all the different courses and what qualification if any it leads too, where you need funding, where you don't, how to apply for it etc. Where do I start? Many thanks

Hello, I have some questions related to studying dance at age 16-18 if anyone can help please. I have quite a few questions but I hope it's ok to put them in one post? Background information - my daughter is currently in year 10 and we are trying to get all the information together to apply next year ready for a year 12 start the year after. Her main love is ballet but she is not at a level to go to vocational ballet school so we are looking at a more general dance course but definitely one that includes ballet. We live in the North so have mainly been looking at Manchester and surrounding areas so far but would consider others. As far as I can see we have 3 options: 1) Study extended btech dance / performing arts. The benefits that I can see for this option are that it is free and it would count as A level standard if she wants to then go on to university. We are lucky to have 2 colleges reasonably local (one specifically a dance college and one on a general college campus) that have very good reputations locally. The downside is that I'm not sure if they're respected within the dance industry. I'm not sure if this is because the training is at a lower standard or if they are considered an easy option? - I was wondering if anyone has any comments about this type of training? 2) Apply to a college that offers the chance for DADA funding / level 6 training eg Northern ballet in Manchester Unfortunately we are not in a position to self fund but we can afford the parental contributions if she did secure funding (which I know is a big if). We have looked into a few of these places and she feels they would be a good option. My questions for this option are: Can you use the level 6 qualification instead of A Levels to apply for uni if you wanted to go on to do a full degree course? If you accept DADA funding can you still apply for university student loans for fees and cost of living at a later date? Is it realistic to top up to a degree in 1 year assuming it was in the same subject or in reality is it a case of starting a degree course from scratch? 3) Study dance or performing arts at a private college (for example Phil Winstons theatre works) This is ideal in some ways as it is studied over 3 days a week so the student can work and contribute to their own fees. In order to accept students from age 16 then I understand they must be classed as further education but they don't seem to offer an actual qualification. I understand that these places are about being 'industry ready' but what if that doesn't work out. Can you use these courses towards any further study? Am I right in thinking that this type of training is usually entirely self funded? Any opinions / advice would be appreciated. Especially if there are any other things we can look into or if you think we have misunderstood anything. Thank you

Hello my DD has just been accepted into the Hammond. She is going to the call back audition, aiming to achieve the scholarship. On the open day we were provided with a sliding scale to get an idea of what the cost would be, but I can’t find it. Would anyone have a copy or know where I can obtain one before I have to request one from the school please? Thanks

Hi, My daughter has been offered a place at NBS, which we are waiting to find out if she will be awarded a DaDa, but we are confused about accommodation funding? Is there funding available?

Hi dd is keen to audition for sixth form ballet courses at the major schools such as central, ENB, Elmhurst etc, I know with a degree course there are maintenance loans, but how does it work with dada funding? Thanks

Hi everybody, This has been my first time auditioning to vocational dance schools in the UK. From everyone's vast experience here with dd's and ds's, I would like to when or how long do schools take to reply to queries or decisions about help with funding? I understand that they are closed during the months of July and August... during what time period are bursaries/awards/scholarships given out in the months leading up to the course? The wait is seriously killing me. Thank you!

Hi , I'm very new to this and after a little help/support? , my Dd has been offered a place for year 9 at Hammond , but is on reserve list for funding , anyone know if this ever happens ??

I thought you might all like the latest government info on DADA awards. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dance-and-drama-awards-income-scales/aaaaa

Can anyone shed some light on whats available for funding fees and living costs at Central School of Ballet. We are Scottish. Expecting info pack in a few days but just wondering what others have done? Thank you.

I'm wanting to find out more information about the MDS award. Is it a case that if your DD is good enough/gets a place and you fall into the category to be eligible for a MDS award - you get it? I can't believe that it's that easy. I'm sorry if this has been discussed before - I have done a quick search which now means that I know the difference between MDS and DADA so thanks for that. I'm looking at Elmhurst and Hammond potentially in three years time. Thanks

Has anyone had the experience of trying to raise funding independently ? My dd has been given a place on a 6th form dance course but very sadly no funding and without help she cannot except the offer . I have already contacted my local education authority but because we are 'choosing'to send her to an independent school they cannot help financially . I have written to approx 16 or more Charitable Trusts associated with the performing arts but a lot support clubs and not individuals . Unfortunately I am on a time limit as registration forms and a large deposit need to be completed very soon and to be honest if I cannot get the funding in time the deposit is needed elsewhere .

Hi there, I have read a few posts re 6th Form Tring funding not available this year due to some clerical error and I have been told by someone that this also affects MDS for lower school. I am not sure how accurate this is though. Is anyone able to shed any light? Audition in March, and although, MDS are very scarce at least there is a chance. If no funding available at all through this shceme then there seems no point in auditioning. I know it is good for the experience but I just can't afford to throw money away on hotels and transport if there isn't any chance at all. If anyone can clarify the situation I would appreciate it. Thanks

Can anyone advise me on where I might be able to get funding for my daughter as she has been accepted on to a 3 year ballet course.

Please can someone explain this to me? I have been on the website, looked at past threads but I am struggling with something that is probably so basic! On the income scales on the official website, is the amount shown under "student contribution to fees" the figure the student pays to the school? Is this termly or annually? So, just choosing a completely made up school fee as an example, the school charges £9,000 per term and the pupil pays for example £1275 depending on family income. Dada pays the rest to th school? Is this the student's entire contribution to tuition and boarding? Obviously I understand there are loads of extras too so I am just thinking fees at the moment. Or am I misunderstanding this completely? So what does the second column mean-Dada maintenance rates? We are a non boarding or vocational school family so it's all a mystery. Feeling confused....and hoping someone can explain it to me. Thank you.

We have just had our MDS form to complete from school and I have tried to find information on Gov.co.uk about the current contribution bands. I can't find anything and wondered if anyone has an up to date list or could provide a link, please? ????

Last Thursday I was invited to the Creative Industries Federation EU Response Event at Manchester Metropolitan University. Over 45 individuals were on the attendance list from design, education, fashion, museums, publishing, local authorities and most of the performing arts. The big exception was dance and although I think I had been invited in my capacity as an intellectual property lawyer I championed the dance industry as a dance blogger as there was nobody else to do so. Even though the meeting took place in the Ormond Building which is about 100 yards from the Dancehouse Theatre and the Northern Ballet School where I attended a ballet class immediately after the meeting, I found that there a lot of attendees including senior council officials with responsibility for the arts in Manchester who had never heard of those institutions or the Manchester City Ballet. I banged the drum for dance recalling the special connection we have with English National Ballet which gave its first performance in our city and will return again in Autumn to premiere Giselle. I said that Northern Ballet had started out in Manchester and had done some of its best work in our city before crossing the Pennines. I tried to build a consensus that a conurbation of over 3 million in the centre of an almost continuous built up area that stretches from Leeds to the Wirral could and should do more. The meeting had been called to discuss Brexit and I was shocked to learn of the extent to which it had already affected the creative sector. For instance I was told that he number of applicants to our universities from Europe was already sharply down. I had previously heard that scientists had been dropped from research teams by their continental counterparts but it appears to be happening in the arts too. There was a lot of concern about restrictions on free movement of people as well funding. Geoffrey Brown of Euclid who helps arts, heritage, culture and creative industries to access funding described the referendum as "a disaster for the UK across a range of areas - ranging from reinforcing a nationalist and isolationist tendency in the age of globalization which will result in the UK being left behind by larger and more powerful trading blocs and countries." The sharpness and suddenness of the reaction took me by surprise. Although I had voted "Remain" I had a "let's wait and see" attitude thinking that there would be opportunities as well as costs to the decision. I was sorry to learn that at least one business already felt at risk from the referendum and several speakers feared for their livelihoods. Speaking selfishly for dance I think that we shall suffer less than most. I don't think the ending of free movement will stop our companies getting good dancers from the EU any more than they have been prevented from getting good dancers from laces like the USA, Japan, Russia, Australia and South America in the past, Most of their funding is generated from the UK rather than the EU. Recruitment to our universities was an unexpected problem I will be monitoring what (if anything) happens to the performing arts in general and dance in particularly and shall report back from time to time in my blog.

Has anybody in the UK started their application for student finance yet for the third year for Ballet West? We just started and it is saying that because DD "lives in Scotland" she cannot get student finance from the UK? Aaaaaaah WHAT? Help! DRSC

Hello you knowledgeable forum members, not been on for a while so look forward to a good read later but for now, I have a question!! Friends ds is off to vocational school and mum is worrying over finances. We met for coffee and looked at the fee calculator in the RBS website which is a useful tool and noticed it says, household income includes 'amounts paid to superannuated pension scheme's....can anyone clarify what exactly that means? Does it mean that the amount of money they pay out in pension contributions is added back into the pot so to speak? So even tho it is deducted from their salary, it has to be declared as income? Does that make sense? We have been trying to understand it so there are no surprises when the MDs calculation is done but we didn't get very far so I told my friend, I knew just who to ask! You guys! ???? Thanks in advance and apologies not been on for a while.

I have been offered a DADA for Millennium Performing Arts school, and will be starting in September. This is amazing as my parents only have to pay a small percentage (and even that is going to be a stretch). The problem is we are on the financial cusp of getting the DADA but no maintenance grant. My family cannot possibly afford maintenance fees, so I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to get funded. I cannot apply for a student loan because of the type of course, and a bank loan will only last me two years and has to be paid back within a set amount of time plus interest, which I'll also never be able to afford, even with a job. Any ideas? I'm a bit desperate!