Two week residential summer course in or around London

[Dance*is*life]

We are looking for a two week course to send students on scholarship - they will be flying in to Heathrow or Luton. We are considering YBSS, but the journey up there from London seems to be too difficult without a chaperone. All the RAD summer schools are now only one week and we would prefer two. Does anyone have any suggestions??? Or alternatively ideas on how to get the girls to York safely????

Edited October 24, 2016 by Dance*is*life

[Picturesinthefirelight]

how old are they?

[Dance*is*life]

Probably 14 to 16 I think. I don't know yet - the auditions will be in December, but we have to decide where we want to send them - also depends on how much money we raise.......

Edited October 24, 2016 by Dance*is*life

[Anon2]

Just curious how you would ensure your scholarship students would get places on the course? YBSS known to be difficult to get a place on especially if you have not been attending since a junior. If RBS students attend the Royal summer school as has been suggested on another thread it may open up spaces at YBSS.

[Anna C]

Perhaps YBSS has a different selection process for International students? I have no idea.

 

Does Central still do a two week summer school, I wonder? It's not residential though. Does it have to be a two week course, Dance*is*life? If not, I was wondering about York Scholars if you can get the students to York: http://www.yorkshireballetscholarshipcentre.com/4.html

 

Or Elmhurst which is residential but again only for a week - although Birmingham does have an airport.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

What about OPES.

 

Hearhrow to Kings Cross on the tube then a direct train to Retford (East coast mainline)

[Jan McNulty]

You can fly direct to Manchester and there are direct trains from Manchester to York.

[Dance*is*life]

We feel it's a bit too much to ask parents to pay an international flight for a 5 day course, that's why we really want 2 weeks. I think Central is also one week now and as you say non-residential. Okay, thanks everyone.  We have a preliminary meeting on Friday - we'll break our heads then!

[Guest]

English National Ballet offer 1 or 2 week courses in London. They are very popular with overseas students. But not residential unfortunately. Another possibility might be Legat Dance at St Beds, if they are offering a summer school next year. This is a boarding school with ballet/ contemporary dance available. They are near Gatwick Airport and do host overseas students so are set up to meet and greet from airports etc.

[aileen]

Your students could get a taxi from Luton Airport to Stevenage Station which is on the main line to York.

[Pas de Quatre]

Would Ballet Cymru based in Newport Wales be a possibility? Trains are direct from Paddington. DD went for a couple of years in her teens and had a wonderful time

Edited October 24, 2016 by Pas de Quatre

[sarahw]

What about Moorland? They did a pick up from Manchester Airport I think.

[Pas de Quatre]

To get to Newport they could get the airport bus from Heathrow to Reading. There they can get on a direct train to Newport (goes on to Cardiff) which only takes an hour and a quarter. Not too arduous.

[Happymum]

Or there are national express or megabus coaches from Heathrow direct to Newport station which is walking distance from Ballet Cymru SS venue. But this is not residential

[Pas de Quatre]

There is accommodation for students in Newport who are 18 or over.  Presumably the girls you are enquiring about are younger than this?

[Anna C]

There is accommodation for students in Newport who are 18 or over.  Presumably the girls you are enquiring about are younger than this?

Yes, I think Dance*is*life said they are 14 and 16?

[balletbean]

We are looking for a two week course to send students on scholarship - they will be flying in to Heathrow or Luton. We are considering YBSS, but the journey up there from London seems to be too difficult without a chaperone. All the RAD summer schools are now only one week and we would prefer two. Does anyone have any suggestions??? Or alternatively ideas on how to get the girls to York safely????

Hi, When you say a scholarship, is that because the students will be funded from their home to attend a summer school or looking for a SS that offers a scholarship? Not really up to speed with all this funding business. So I thought I would ask, if that's not being too personal.  Thank you

[alison]

Don't the rail companies have some sort of "unaccompanied minors" service?

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I don't think they do.

 

Most of the train companies say they accept no responsibility for children traveling alone. A few say they don't allow children under 12 to travel alone.

[Dance*is*life]

We are fund raising to send two girls to the UK preferably for a two week course, so these are English as a foreign language teenagers - we can't really expect them to start making train connections etc. That's why I wondered about London courses (apart from the RAD, which I'm familiar with).

[taxi4ballet]

We are fund raising to send two girls to the UK preferably for a two week course, so these are English as a foreign language teenagers - we can't really expect them to start making train connections etc. That's why I wondered about London courses (apart from the RAD, which I'm familiar with).

As you also mentioned Luton airport - it is just over 30 miles to central London from there, and would take a good hour on public transport.

 

(They call it 'London Luton Airport' but it isn't actually in London at all!)

Edited October 26, 2016 by taxi4ballet

[Moomin]

Is it an option to fly in to Leeds bradford airport or even East midlands? And then get a taxi?

[LinMM]

I am a retired teacher and would be happy to escort some girls up to York for YBSS......also I have been there before....if it's in the same location that is.

 

My concern would be they would all have to have gained entry onto the Course and it's not an easy one to gain access to.

 

Usually they want pictures ( not necessarily videos) taken of different poses plus evidence of the last exam taken etc.

 

If it's just a few going to York and others attending another course( eg Central) then again would be happy to accompany any girls who needed this support.

You would need to warn me in advance as I would need to get a new CRB check as mine is out of date now ....but can't remember if the girls are over 16 whether would be required ....but almost certainly if any are under 16.

[Piccolo]

I agree with you Happymum. It's so easy to catch a National Express coach from Heathrow airport to just about anywhere.

[Anna C]

We are fund raising to send two girls to the UK preferably for a two week course, so these are English as a foreign language teenagers - we can't really expect them to start making train connections etc. That's why I wondered about London courses (apart from the RAD, which I'm familiar with).

  

As you also mentioned Luton airport - it is just over 30 miles to central London from there, and would take a good hour on public transport.

 

(They call it 'London Luton Airport' but it isn't actually in London at all!)

Apart from London City Airport, none of the "London" airports are really IN London. Heathrow is at the end of the Piccadilly Line but the girls would still have to navigate the Underground and undoubtedly change lines. Wherever you choose, it's likely that a chaperone would be very useful.

[Legseleven]

If they could fly into Manchester then the journey to YBSS/York Scholars/possibly OPES may be easier? They could get the train from the airport and change at Piccadilly for most rail lines.

[Legseleven]

It may also be less overwhelming than arriving at Heathrow, then having to use the line from Heathrow to central London, then probably use the underground to get to the required station for their onward journey.

[balletbean]

We are fund raising to send two girls to the UK preferably for a two week course, so these are English as a foreign language teenagers - we can't really expect them to start making train connections etc. That's why I wondered about London courses (apart from the RAD, which I'm familiar with).

Central School of Ballet is 5 min walk from Farringdon Underground Station on the direct train from Gatwick, one stop before St Pancras Int'l. Not sure how international Gatwick is from your location.  

 

The other consideration, thinking completely outside the box. Glasgow Int'l Airport! Maybe daft but the train from Glasgow would take the girls to Taynuilt or a coach to BALLET WEST. Full Board accommodation provided (£580pw) and the SS has 4 weeks on offer so a student can select their own weeks, anything from 1 to all 4 for the overseas. If taking the train, I know the school offer a pick up service from the station to the school. Pastoral Care is outstanding, from personal experience. 

 

Deposit on application full payment in May. 

 

Maybe worth a look. But obviously all subject to where the students are flying in from understandably. 

[BadBallerina]

BW is such a good summer school but Ive travelled there myself twice now which hasn't been the easiest thing (one was because of train strikes and so here was a coach which wasn't planning to stop at Taynuilt and go straight to Oban but they had to stop specially for me). Once at Taynuilt, they're great for picking you up but for a non-native english speaker I think this would be difficult! Central tends to have quite a few tube changes from central london but fairly easy to navigate nevertheless

BB

[balletbean]

I skipped the public transport and hired a car!  Obviously not practical for teenagers. 

 

I did obtain a quote for a taxi from Glasgow airport to BW in case my DD was travelling on her own. At the time she was only 13 and an inexperienced traveller.

 

£130 one way for one taxi (not per person). Driver would be in the arrivals hall at the airport, all drivers (firm I recieved quote from) holding full police checks incl Child protection etc. Drive is just over 2hrs without stops. 

 

Much quicker and direct than public transport but obviously more expensive. 

 

Challenging

[Guest]

Returning to the London location, there is also the option of using Chaperone Services who will meet students from their flight and take to accommodation. There are several companies listed on the RAD website under 'summer schools'.

[Dance*is*life]

Thank you very much for all the helpful comments. I will let you all know what we eventually succeed in doing!  We have a lot of fund raising to do!

[taxi4ballet]

How about doing one week's summer school at the RAD (or similar) and then a week of multiple different classes at Pineapple dance studios or Danceworks?

(Although that would mean finding London accommodation).