Tring associate classes/CBA

[Happymum]

I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but is Tring training based on RAD syllabus? Do their Sunday classes look like a "normal" local RAD ballet classes? Or is it more than that? I thought that Tring has his own training " system" like RBS does but I just read that Tring wants their students to take RAD exams with them and not with the local ballet schools. I hope that someone can tell me more about Tring classical ballet academy. Thank you

[Anna C]

Ok, well Tring Park Associates and Tring's Classical Ballet Academy are two different things entirely. CBA is more akin to other schools' Associate Schemes, i.e. non-syllabus, specialist training. They do not take exams and there are around 6 non-syllabus Sunday classes a term.

 

Tring Park Associates, while audition entry for age 8 and above, are mostly syllabus classes (RAD ballet, ISTD tap and modern, plus some extra non-syllabus classes).

 

TPA is more like a very good "local" dance school and yes, they prefer you to take syllabus exams with them. You do not have to dance at TPA to apply for CBA, or vice versa.

 

The confusion with names doesn't help; I've long thought CBA should actually be called TPA!

[Happymum]

Oh! It all makes sense now! Thank you. If I may ask- are the CBA classes good? Do their students get to a vocational schools? are the CBA auditions difficult? Any info would be great.

[Anna C]

From what I hear, they are good classes, but my dd isn't at CBA. :-). She was at the old version of TPA, the Junior Conservatoire.

 

However, I do know Mary Schon, the Head of Associates (both CBA and TPA) and she is lovely. An excellent teacher.

[Circe]

My dd applied to CBA last year and there were something like over 200 auditioning for 17 places ( there should be an old thread on this with the exact figures). Good opportunity for audition experience though.

[Danceroo]

Following on from a recent thread I wonder if anyone has any helpful advice for the CBA auditions? My daughter is not especially flexible ie she cannot do the splits! And after reading the audition details that the groups are partially assessed on flexibility am I setting her up for a big disappointment ?

She is however a lovely performer and very confident for a 9 year old. She also loves anything to do with Tring Park. Any tips anyone?

[Anna C]

Danceroo, I hope you don't mind, but I've moved your post into this thread so that we don't have 2 concurrent threads on CBA.

 

Kind regards, Spanner.

[Danceroo]

Thanks Spanner. It did occur to me but I had no idea how to merge the two threads!

[Belleballerina]

If she loves Tring Park it is worth looking at the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain - this is a two week summer school held at Tring with performances included in Kent and then at a big London Theatre. It's quite expensive for what it is and competition very fierce with an emphasis on lovely performance qualities especially from the younger dancers but it is a great opportunity to enjoy the school and it's lovely facilities in the summer holidays. They have a good website!

[Loulabelle]

My daughter is at the Tring CBA and I cannot praise it enough for its teaching and the lovely studios. The classes are organised more on ability than age, my DD is young in the group she is in but she is advanced in her grades so it stretches her.

 

She says (just asked her) that at her audition they didn't test flexibility but they do get them doing the splits on both legs with square hips at each session. Not all in her group can do it evidently (she can) but it is encouraged.

 

I wouldn't let it put you off auditioning if your DD/DS isn't especially flexible, all good experience. The audition date (18th Nov) for the pre Chrstmas auditon and application forms are on the website.

 

There were a number of students in DD's previous group that went off to Vocational school in September.

Edited October 16, 2012 by Loulabelle

[Happymum]

Thank you all for your reply. I wonder how come they have an audition in the middle of the school year? Do they start a whole new class in January or do they have just a couple of places in existing class? Do they asses out or some children just drop out?

[Loulabelle]

I can only assume they have some places due to children dropping out/not taking their place from September. I know there was a huge demand for places at the May/June auditions.

 

From this year onwards they will be holding an 'assessment day' when students will be advised of their suitabililty to continue on the programme. We have been told that those struggling will be given assistance and by the summer term they will consider 're-allocating' places. Very much like RB Associates.

[Anna C]

I wonder how many are auditioning in November and for how many places in January?

[Lemongirl]

I do know a bit about this as my dd has auditioned for CBA twice both unsuccessfully. First time, a couple of years ago, I managed to get some feedback. I was told it was mainly physical as dd is also not flexible and at the time we didn't realise how important it was. She then worked v hard improving her flexibility and auditioned again in June this year. Unfortunately (Mary Schon told me this), they were planning on expanding the CBA but due to various reasons it wasn't possible so that's why they only had 17 places available and over 200 auditioning.

 

Dd is now v busy doing 3 counties youth ballet, lots of classes and new festival dances etc so in a way the timing isn't right now anyway. I said she could try again for next September if she wants. I then found out about the November audition! So I'm now in a dilemma whether to let her try again now or wait till next year.

[Anna C]

What form does the flexibility part of the audition take?

[taxi4ballet]

HI Spanner, I'm not sure, but I don't think there is a specific part of the audition given over to testing flexibility, perhaps it is all part of them looking at turnout etc anyway. Who knows?

[Anna C]

Ah, ok, thanks Taxi. Dd's friend from local dance school is auditioning and the schedule apparently class followed by flexibility test?

[atacrossroads]

Hi, my daughter is in CBA and auditioned last September. The had to sit in pike, straddle then splits with square hips on each leg for 20 seconds and then the same in side splits during part of the audition. The rest of the audition was based on a normal ballet class in front of the judges. I would suggest really working on flexibility before this audition as they seem to write in their 'no' letters that restricted flexibility is an issue. Hope this helps.

[Danceroo]

Thanks all for your input. There is no way my dd can manage any splits at the moment. I don't think any amount of stretching before the audition is going to change that. However I totally agree that any audition experience is a positive thing so will try and remain optimistic for the moment. She is in the first group on the 18th November so perhaps we will see some of you there among the masses! I will also look into NYB as I hadn't considered it before. DD did EYB in Aylesbury during the summer and loved it.

[Happymum]

We received the letter today and my DD is in group 1 starting at 9.45. They said in a letter that they have huge amount of applications and very few places so I guess they won't start a whole new class in January but have just couple of places in existing classes. Does anyone knows/remembers what kind of photos are they taking on the day? They want to photograph all group 1 in 15min only so surely they can't go through all the positions required for RBS or Elmhurst?

[Anna C]

I would think it's just a quick head shot for using as an aide memoire after the auditions?

[taxi4ballet]

Heard on the grapevine that there are places in the top group, it's not full at the moment. Don't know about spaces in any of the other groups though.

[Loulabelle]

It is just a head shot to attach to the application so they remember who's who.

 

When we are there on Sundays, the boys group that seems to be for Yr 8ish boys upwards is very small, the top group is very small and the second from top group looks a bit thin on the ground. My DD's group and the two below look fullish but I don't know how many they accomodate in each one. I don't see the smallest girls, they are finished by the time we get there.

 

In my opinion Tring should be firmer (like RBS are) with attendance, there do seem to be some that only turn up here and there. There should be greater emphasis on commitment to these fabulous classes that are in very high demand.

[Anna C]

How many groups are there, out of interest? Dd's friend from Sat Associates who goes there is 13 and about to take her Inter exam but I keep forgetting to ask which group she's in.

[Loulabelle]

There are 6 groups, group 1 being the youngest and 6 being the eldest. Also 1 boys group, but younger boys are in with the girls.

[PippinPointe]

From my experience it seems that groups 4-6 are more mixed with a variety of ages within each group - it would seem slightly more on the level of the student in those groups, but of course I could be wrong

[PippinPointe]

Oh and also, the CBA is a fantastic opportunity for children not already at vocational school and Tring should be applauded for it

[balletmum20]

Hi, my daughter is auditioning for the cba, but she is only 8 years old, does anyone know if many 8 year old get in?

[PippinPointe]

I know children who were in year 4 when they got in, I know one was definitely 8 when she got in

[balletmum20]

Thanks, do you know how long the audition is for? And how long the lessons are?

[Loulabelle]

CBA starts at Yr4 and upwards ie; JA age. The audition lasts about an hour, the classes are 1.5hrs ballet then 15mins break then 45mins coaching which is either body conditioning or coaching on something specific ie; turns. Group 4 upwards do pointe in the coaching class.

[atacrossroads]

Hi, I think the auditions were about 1.5 hours each session as I remember. They run them as a normal ballet class and they all have a number pinned to their chests. Some girls had buns and some had crossed plaits with a little ribbon bow matching their leotard.

Really good idea to do a little limbering in the side room that all the girls wait in before going into the audition. My daughter and her friend had no space so had to do their splits etc. under the big table that they keep in there! They were glad they did when it came to the flexibility tests :-)

Edited October 24, 2012 by atacrossroads

[balletmum20]

Thankyou very much for this information, it's all very helpful, my daughter is quite flexible, she is able to do all 3 splits, what is involved in the flexible test? Does your daughter/son go to the cba, how old is she/he if you don't mind me asking