tropicmama Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Complete newbie here and my apologies if this has been discussed before or if I am posting this on the wrong section but I would just be really grateful for some advice. My daughter (just turned 7 last month) will be auditioning for Tring Park's CBA in November. She has never auditioned for anything before and we know that the CBA is extremely selective so she has been duly prepped that it will be a challenge to get a spot. She just loves ballet and although she's only currently in Grade 1, she is often told that she has a natural ability for it. I understand from the letter that the audition will be like a class with flexibility test. I was just after some tips on what to expect. She was told to wear her usual ballet wear but I was wondering whether Tring Park would prefer socks or convertible tights? Hair in a bun? Leather, satin or canvas ballet shoes? Full or split sole? She will be in Group 1. Thanks so much in advance for any guidance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I would imagine that most children at that age would be wearing socks & full sole shoes. It's always good to try and do a bun for ballet auditions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 From their website Students should wear classical ballet dance wear and we do prefer the younger female students to wear short socks and the older ones pink tights. Male applicants may wear shorts/ tights and a slim fitting T shirt or leotard. Clean ballet shoes for everyone. Experience is not essential as we look for potential for training. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/11903-tring-park-associatesclassical-ballet-academy/?fromsearch=1 Hi tropic mama the above is a link to another similar thread which covers related issues. I agree with Pictures that socks and full soled shoes best for that age. These schools do not want you to buy specially for auditions so don't worry too much just go with her usual stuff. If you use the search function (it's in the grid thing on top right screen on my phone) you can search for Tring CBA and find similar threads to the one I've identified above. Good luck!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Here's another thread http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/11129-cba-auditions-tights-or-socks/?fromsearch=1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Hello Tropicmama and welcome to the Forum! Good luck to your DD. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Welcome from me too, Tropicmama. Sarahw has kindly provided links to some previous threads about Tring CBA. I've added the tag (a grey button under the thread) "CBA" and if you click on that, all the other threads discussing CBA will appear as a list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Welcome from me too. The best of luck to your DD [which on here can mean either Dancing Daughter [if you have another one who doesn't dance] or Darling Daughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 If you're on a phone the tags aren't always visible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 If you're on a phone the tags aren't always visible. Oh, are they not? Didn't know that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 No and it took me a long time to realise when I happened to visit via my laptop:which is rare. Until then I just added it to my list of IT failings! ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 You're quite right. I never moderate via my phone but I've just looked at the forum on it and the tags don't show, do they. If you go down to the bottom of the page and click "Full Site", you can then see tags - but obviously the writing is smaller than on the mobile version. Anyway, here's the list: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/tags/forums/CBA/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Same here. I very very rarely come on here on an actual PC, only my phone & tags etc don't show up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropicmama Posted October 7, 2016 Author Share Posted October 7, 2016 Thank you so much everyone, for being so lovely and welcoming! I have been lurking around for the last few weeks as I find the info On this forum really helpful. I've been to other forums which aren't as friendly so I'm so pleased I finally decided to join this. My DD is beyond excited about the audition and she literally wants to do ballet every day if she could. Due to limited options in our area, she can only do 3 days at the moment, two half an hour sessions and one 1 hour one. She is always wanting more. Having only turned 7, she's at that wonderful stage where she gets excited over exams and she thinks an audition is just like an exam. She's very self-motivated about ballet, without needing any push from me or anyone. People are often surprised at how passionate she is about it, being so young still. I therefore want to help her as much as she can as I can see how happy it makes her. I would love any little tips from you lovely lot whose DCs have been in auditions before. Is there anything she can do to prepare for it outside her normal dance classes? Any items to bring on the day? She is also about to start Tring Park Associates in January which thankfully at her age does not require an audition yet 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Items on the day - a water bottle that doesn't leak(!), spare socks/leotard if you have them, extra hair stuff, and a couple of snacks. Oh, and let her know that some of the exercises in the class may be ones she hasn't done before, she just needs to join in and have fun as there will be others who haven't done them before either 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Wow that's a lot of dancing for a year 2, she must be keen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Good luck to your DD Tropicmama I can't give you advice as DD didn't audition at that age but enjoy the experience Look out for things such as English Youth Ballet for when she turns 8 as my DD loved it so much at that age 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southerndancemum Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 If it helps, CBA uniform require canvas splits soles even in group 1 and pretty sure my DD who gained a place in the Nov audition a couple of yrs ago wore her split soles with socks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancey Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Hi, my daughter has just started at the CBA. For her audition she wore a red RAD leotard, belt, socks and split soles. She had her hair in cross plaits with 2 little red ribbons. Good luck to your daughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 If it helps, CBA uniform require canvas splits soles even in group 1 and pretty sure my DD who gained a place in the Nov audition a couple of yrs ago wore her split soles with socks Probably better to wear the shoes you are familiar with to an audition, rather than try split soles if you've not worn them before - they do feel quite different and can take a bit of getting used to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Hi just to say sorry about the comment I made about EYB as its unrelated to your question. I was sat somewhere yesterday with bad wifi and forum was loading in bits, I hadn't realised your DD was auditioning now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinkerbell05 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Hello, my daughter is at CBA, the uniform for groups 1 & 2 are socks and canvas split sole ballet shoes if that helps at all! Xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropicmama Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thank you so much everyone, the information is very useful. I am quite literally taking notes. DD is still very excited and now that she knows there will be a flexibility test, she has taken to "You Tube-ing" children's ballet flexibility exercises and doing them every other night or so. She's even more excited about the prospect of new shoes and socks! She obviously needs to look her neatest and best which admittedly involves new shoes as the pairs she normally wear are both (lovingly) worn out despite being only purchased only a couple of months ago. On my list are canvas split-soles. She has tried a pair on that her teacher asked her to try on (unfortunately the size was a tad too big and the full sole was more her size hence she stuck with full sole). Any tips on which brand/s to try? I must admit we've never bought canvas before - always satin for exams and leather for classes. Her feet are medium width. She is Grade 1 RAD so wears a pale blue leotard which must not be the same for all ballet schools? I suppose she can wear this to the audition. I was just speaking to DH last night who asked me if I thought DD is actually good. I told him that teachers think she has a natural ability but that I wouldn't know how she is compared to peers as I have no ballet background. Hence, I hope she can stand out, in a good way, from the start in case she is actually just average. If that makes sense :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Her Grade 1 leotard will be fine. If you are within travelling distance of London then the Bloch shop and Dancia (both on Drury Lane) both have an excellent range of ballet shoes. You'll also be able to get pink ballet socks from there. Split soles are not compulsory for the audition, so I wouldn't buy a pair just for one audition - if she needs a new pair anyway but full soles fit her better, I'd go with full sole for now, especially if she has to wear full sole for Grade 1. And I'm sure you already know this but do be careful letting her copy exercises off Youtube - especially if she's doing them without warming up first. It would probably be safer if her teacher can go through them with her after class. Firstly she will already be warm, so the risk of injury is far less, and secondly, her teacher can ensure that she's doing them properly and safely. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cara in NZ Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Just wanted to add: ensure that if she wears knickers they don't show/creep down below the leotard. And in case they pin numbers on her (front and back), make sure the leotard doesn't have a cut out at the back. (At DD's first audition we had to pin the number on her bottom, which she was mortified about!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Good points Cara! Although if the leotard is the 'standard' RAD one I'm thinking of then there won't be an issue with somewhere other than her bottom to pin the number on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cara in NZ Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Good points Cara! Although if the leotard is the 'standard' RAD one I'm thinking of then there won't be an issue with somewhere other than her bottom to pin the number on Yeah, I made the mistake of letting her choose which leo she wore, and she chose one with a pretty crossover detail at the back – that just didn't have enough fabric to pin the numbers on. Rookie error! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropicmama Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Audition on Sunday now and whilst my DD is completely fine and nonplussed, I am getting a bit nervous! It is her first time to audition for anything and I've given her the talk about there being only a few places and that she can always try again if she doesn't get through if she really wants to. She says she is fine but why am I getting worried and nervous for her? Is this normal? I do understand that there aren't very many places and competition is fierce and I thought I was fine but as the day approaches, I am feeling a bit iffy. I suppose I don't want her to get upset, especially since she only just turned 7 a couple of months ago but she was adamant she wanted to try (especially since she fell in love with the place and the classes when she started TPA not so long ago). Any tips as the big day looms? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Gin? 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancey Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 My daughter attends the CBA and I would say your feelings are perfectly normal! I am always much more nervous than my daughter. Only advice is smile and enjoy the experience, as much as they are looking for potential I am sure that they are also looking for dancers who clearly enjoy what they are doing. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Tropic mama what you are feeling is completely normal - I think the majority of us feel like this. I have found it helpful to remind myself that as a parent I'm there to assist my dd with what she wants to do and help her deal with the outcome, whatever it may be. Help them gain life skills from the experience. None of it is personal to you. The above is easier said than done - I'm getting a bit better 6 years in to auditioning!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huddsballetmum Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Gin? You can always tell the experienced ballet mums Taxi. They know that alcohol will get them through 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 I think we get nervous because we are rather powerless. It's natural for parents to want to help their children and to do everything they can to make them happy. But come audition day there is really nothing we can do to influence the outcome and that's not a nice feeling. I'd like to say it gets better as they get older but I'm not sure it's true! You do get a bit more used to it, but I think worrying about/for your children is just part and parcel of being a parent. I did my last professional exam when I was nearly 30 and my dad told me that my mum still couldn't sleep until I got the results! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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