Pointe-less Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Hello all, I know there are other threads here and there with info on about the schemes but I'm posting to ask for as much info as possible on anything and everything to do with these schemes as I don't know anything about them at all really, an before googling I wanted to seek advice from people who may have first hand experience! I just want to know everything really, especially for the contemporary at the Birmingham centre, what hours are involved, are the classes held in the same place each week, do all the different age groups train together, what exactly do they do? What are the performance opportunities like, costs involved, is everyone funded or do you audition for funding as with vocational schools, do you have to reaudition every year? Just basically anything you wish you had known before starting. I know there's a lot to take in there lol but thank you for any advice offered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Have you had a read through this already, Pointe-less? http://www.nationaldancecats.co.uk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointe-less Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share Posted October 29, 2016 No I haven't thank you Anna C I shall have a read now xx 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLou Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Funding - I believe everyone who is offered a place on any CAT scheme pays fees according to a means-tested scale. You don’t have to audition separately for a bursary. If you are offered a place you just have to fill in some extra paperwork to access the funding. The amount you pay varies between nil and about £3800 per year depending on your income. There may be significant uniform and travel expenses to consider on top of this! My dd is on a CAT programme but not Birmingham. She is 14 and does about 15-16 hours per week, mainly with other dancers around her age and level, in groups of about 10-15. Younger dancers do fewer hours (For example, I think a 12 year old would typically do about 11-12 hours per week). She does mainly ballet, some contemporary, pilates, and some classroom based work (nutrition, physiology, audition preparation etc…). They do not have to re-audition as such, but they are formally assessed within class twice a year and could be ‘assessed out’ at the end of the year if their progress is not deemed to be satisfactory. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 The Birmingham CAT is based at DanceXchange. The classes run on Sunday's in term time. I don't know how groups are arranged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anondancer_15 Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 if it helps at all, i did a CAT satellite scheme (like a mini version, lots of people on my course then went on to do another full CAT scheme) so if you have any direct messages about that at all then feel free to message me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancefanatic Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 I looked st Swindon CAT a year ago for my DD (they do a contemporary scheme and an urban one) and they said once a dancer joins the scheme then they stay on until they either leave for a vocational school/conservatoire or are too old. So although assessments happen they gave the impression they worked with dancers rather than said no thank you. But as their contemporary scheme is for 11-18 but only 11 year boys seem to get a place, girls are told they're too young(!) I don't know much more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointe-less Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share Posted October 29, 2016 Thank you for the replies everyone, and pictures I had noticed on the DanceXchange website that it said the scheme was on Sunday's, and that is what made me wonder about hours, I can't see them getting in 15/16 hours like BlueLous dc does if they only attend one day a week?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 The girl I know who attended the scheme used to travel weekly from Stoke on Trent on the train. There were sometimes workshops in the holidays too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lildancer96 Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 My dd did Birmingham CAT a few years ago - it was all day Sundays , inc a ballet class which was often taken by artists from BRB. The cost was covered by MDS and there were several performance opportunities. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointe-less Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share Posted October 29, 2016 My dd did Birmingham CAT a few years ago - it was all day Sundays , inc a ballet class which was often taken by artists from BRB. The cost was covered by MDS and there were several performance opportunities. What sort of performance opportunities did your dd get to take part in lildancer96 if you don't mind me asking and how did your daughter get on there? Did she enjoy the classes? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointe-less Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share Posted October 29, 2016 The girl I know who attended the scheme used to travel weekly from Stoke on Trent on the train. There were sometimes workshops in the holidays too. Thanks pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lildancer96 Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 They did performances at events organised and choreographed by Rosie Kaye who was the programme leader at the time. They also participate in events organised by dance exchange and do a summer showcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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