Pas de Quatre Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Never heard of this either! You would have to be dangerously hypermobile and lack any muscle in the behind to be able to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 My daughter was an SA and was never asked to put her knees against a wall, that's a new one on us too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat09 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 My DD was never asked to do this …. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaybackSapphire Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Nope, mine either. ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniffymum Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 DD is an SA in Birmingham and was never asked to do this although she could but too much hyper mobility has caused its own issues unfortunately! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 (edited) Strange one that, as far as I'm aware my GDD has no particular hyper ex in the knee, and she has been a JA MA and soon will probably be a SA. I reckon most people on the forum have learnt from the experienced members that there is certainly more than one route to Rome. I say probably as there might hopefully be other options for her fingers crossed. Edited March 26, 2016 by Vonrothbart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atacrossroads Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 It was said in a topic on this forum during a lower school audition post, some year 7 applicants had been asked to do this to see how close their knees were to the wall. It may be a fairly new thing. They have always been asked to sit with their legs out in front of them, feet flexed and see how far their heels lift off the floor at JA auditions, so the same exercise but on the floor. Hyperextension and hyper mobility may have their own problems I know, but in the end hyperextension is what RBS look for. Show me a dancer in the company without hyperextension, I'd be delighted to see it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atacrossroads Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Strange one that, as far as I'm aware my GDD has no particular hyper ex in the knee, and she has been a JA MA and soon will probably be a SA. I reckon most people on the forum have learnt from the experienced members that there is certainly more than one route to Rome. I say probably as there might hopefully be other options for her fingers crossed. Vonrothbart, I'd imagine that if your GDD has no hyperextension in her knees then she must have long legs. I've never seen a JA that hasn't had one or the other, but again I'd be very happy to hear if I'm wrong 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atacrossroads Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 (edited) Er... what? That's a new one on me (and dd too who says she's never been asked to do that, ever). It was also referenced this year by Bluebird22 on 23rd March in the Lower School Auditions topic, after talking to Mark Annear for feedback on a pupil of hers, so it must be happening now Edited March 26, 2016 by atacrossroads 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 I vaguely remember that thread now, but I thought the knees against the wall was with you facing the wall, toes against it, and bend knees to make the kneecaps tough the wall. Presumably to check flexibility of achilles. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpaws Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 I'm far from the expert, but if DC's think this is a requirement it may encourage them to force hyperextension, especially in younger DC's, which could possibly be damaging and cause injuries. DD's wonderful ballet teacher was totally against this - she always said that you have your knees for the rest of your life after all. Funnily enough DD and I just tried it and my knees touched the wall with ease, whereas hers were just slightly off - she has slight swayback, but very long legs (inside leg 35") - oh dear, yet more pressure for the kids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 (edited) Actually maybe it isn't a requirement. They do tests to rule people out as well as in, and this might just as easily be to test for too much swayback which could be a problem rather than an advantage. Alternatively - it could be to test for a flat bum! Edited March 26, 2016 by taxi4ballet 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing10 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 It becomes clearer each day that its not the dancing ability that is the main factor in gaining a place at the top schools. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atacrossroads Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Very good point taxi4ballet! It could just as easily be for a flat bum! I do wish they'd be a bit more transparent with their criteria checklist though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 We know lots of RBS associates without flat bums!???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzpaws Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Thing is , there can be all the criteria in the world but then something can be seen that they really like in someone that doesn't tick all the boxes. That certain something is elusive and can't really be defined, annoying though that is x 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Atacrossroads and Taxi the stretch I was told about was facing the wall lunging forward trying to get the knee to touch. I've had a class try the standing back to the wall and the lunge one. Lunge one is really really hard! At WL they measured how far away from the wall you were when the knee touched. Elmhurst made them stand on a set line and aim for the wall. There's also a weird one that I won't be able to describe properly Standing sideways parallel feet, bend the knees keeping the heels on the floor and back straight lower as far as you can. I've known this to be asked from JA auditions upwards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 It might be just me who doesn't recognise hyper ex, she has rather long legs though but not out of the ordinary. At 13 bodies can start to change drastically anyway, so it's fingers crossed for all of us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aklf Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 True true jazzpaws! There is certainly more to the selection criteria than physicality alone. It's maybe that special something that they see in somebody that can't be held to a specific criteria. Mr Annear describes the combination of things that they are looking for in a recent YouTube video (filmed at Manchester WL audition day) mentions physicality, flexibility, coordination, musicality, ability to take direction from teachers and, most importantly to show their joy of dancing! If only I could figure out how to post the link... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos73 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Darcey bussell - long torso proportionate to legs. Another big no it seems according to current fashions in Lower school and associates Tamara rojo- petite and not endowed with long willowy limbs. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 And Tamara Rojo has said that she was never the most flexible student/dancer. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos73 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Yep, Aileen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amos73 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 But her dancing is sublime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atacrossroads Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 And then you look at how many of their pupils make it into Upper School, very few, most are trained elsewhere. How many who make it into the company have come through their training programme rather than just do the couple of years at Upper School? How are they going to produce dancers capable of being Princpals in their own company with the current approach? For the sake of the Darcys, Tamaras and Leanne's out there, maybe it's time for a change of thinking? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bestfootforward Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 My daughter has been a RBS JA and was also offered a mid associate place at 11 which she chose not to accept as she had other plans. She certainly does not have and will never have hyperextended knees, and in fact her knees are quite the opposite in that they look 'bent' even when they are straight. This obviously affects her lines and she has to work extremely hard to try and achieve and maintain a straight leg appearance. However, she does have amazing elevation, good feet and a beautiful performance quality and I think this is why she was selected both times. She never tried for SA. I don't think there's any danger of her ever being selected for the Royal Ballet company and agree with those people who are saying that it would be rare or unheard of for a dancer without knee hyperextension to be given a contract there. However to all parents of hopeful JA, MA and SA children, don't give up hope if they haven't got hyperextended knees- it's a much safer construction not to have them and they may well still get a place if they have other desirable qualities. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bestfootforward Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Atacrossroads and Taxi the stretch I was told about was facing the wall lunging forward trying to get the knee to touch. I've had a class try the standing back to the wall and the lunge one. Lunge one is really really hard! At WL they measured how far away from the wall you were when the knee touched. Elmhurst made them stand on a set line and aim for the wall. There's also a weird one that I won't be able to describe properly Standing sideways parallel feet, bend the knees keeping the heels on the floor and back straight lower as far as you can. I've known this to be asked from JA auditions upwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bestfootforward Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Bluebird, I think the last one you describe may be utilised to see the relative length of the Achilles' tendons . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Yes I think it is, bestfootforward. It's just a peculiar position to look at. Since I was very little I've sat in a similar position so my bum doesn't touch dirty floors, my dad used to call me Gollum from lord of the rings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletcoach Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 True true jazzpaws! There is certainly more to the selection criteria than physicality alone. It's maybe that special something that they see in somebody that can't be held to a specific criteria. Mr Annear describes the combination of things that they are looking for in a recent YouTube video (filmed at Manchester WL audition day) mentions physicality, flexibility, coordination, musicality, ability to take direction from teachers and, most importantly to show their joy of dancing! If only I could figure out how to post the link... Here it is https://youtu.be/WoI6knXkCeU 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 I am sorry to nag but can we please get back to the original topic - purely because for newcomers searching for info, it makes it very tricky if a topic has veered off course. Many thanks. We have digressed rather a lot on this thread haven't we?! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 We have digressed rather a lot on this thread haven't we?!Indeed. I have moved all off-topic posts into a more appropriate thread here: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/11245-how-much-is-it-about-the-body/?hl=physique#entry151441 I don't want to have to start locking threads but they must stay on topic please without Mods having to ask several times. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Can someone in plain English explain just what a hyperextended knee looks like as opposed to a regular 'Joe Bloggs' knee..... all this talk of hyper extension seems bizarre..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Peanuts we had a thread earlier in the year about swayback knees, the non medical term for hyperextended knees. I can't post a link but it comes up if you search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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