Northern Ballet JA Leeds Assessment day

[Balletmumof2]

Hi all

My DD is in her 1st associate year at Northern Ballet in Leeds and is really enjoying it. She has her assessment on the 10th Feb to see if she will keep her associate place and move to intermediates in Sept. Has anyone been through this before with their Dd's? What percentage do they tend to keep? How hard is the assessment?

She also dances in York on the Louise Browne Scholarship. I think they assess them gradually. We are just hopefully she keeps one of them at least!! She loves both!

[shygirlsmum]

Last year initial assessment were done and kids scored from 1-5 on criteria such as strength, flexibility, feet, physique, posture, focus & attitude & performance. If you scored over 3 in each area a place for next yr was offered. Less than 3 were given development plan and re-assessed towards the end of term.

Hope this helps, good luck!

[Balletmumof2]

Thank you that's very helpful. Fingers crossed she gets 3 or above then ????

[dancingboy65]

Asked DS, who was a JA last year (now an Intermediate), he said it is very much a normal class. Was assessed by a couple of people and said he didn't notice them after a while! Good luck to your DD!

[Balletmumof2]

Last year initial assessment were done and kids scored from 1-5 on criteria such as strength, flexibility, feet, physique, posture, focus & attitude & performance. If you scored over 3 in each area a place for next yr was offered. Less than 3 were given development plan and re-assessed towards the end of term.

Hope this helps, good luck!

[Balletmumof2]

Hello again

So we got the assessment result. She scored 4s and 3s in all but posture and tracking. She was given 2 for these, (need to improve). The email said that we will find out about next years associate place after spring term. From what you remember do you know what is meant by tracking?

[Balletmumof2]

Last year initial assessment were done and kids scored from 1-5 on criteria such as strength, flexibility, feet, physique, posture, focus & attitude & performance. If you scored over 3 in each area a place for next yr was offered. Less than 3 were given development plan and re-assessed towards the end of term.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Hello again

So we got the assessment result. She scored 4s and 3s in all but posture and tracking. She was given 2 for these, (need to improve). The email said that we will find out about next years associate place after spring term. From what you remember do you know what is meant by tracking?

[TYR]

Keeping your knees aligned with your toes as you plié in 2nd would be an example of tracking.

[Lisa O`Brien]

Keeping your knees aligned with your toes as you plié in 2nd would be an example of tracking.

Do you know? I've never come across this expression; until the other day on this forum. How weird. It's hardly French ballet terminology, is it?

[Balletmumof2]

Yes even our ballet teacher didn't catch on to the term. You learn something everyday as they say!!

[TYR]

I only know it because I got told to watch it in no uncertain terms...

[sarahw]

I've only ever heard it at Northern..

Edited February 17, 2017 by sarahw

[TYR]

Which explains a lot, as I first heard it from Nicola Simpson and later at Central.

[Balletmumof2]

My DD now knows what she did wrong. She said they did the plies in parallel in the assessment but never thought at the time where here knees were aligning so that should be an easy fix now that she's aware of it. Just need to be consistent with her posture.

Apparently all the JAs have been asked by the assessirs to work on posture and tracking so at least it's something they will all focus on in class. Next assessment is May and then we know if she will get a 2nd year ????

[sarahw]

That is very reassuring for you ☺