MT deg/dip auditions etc for 2022 entry

[Dramaofadancingdiva]

Hi there, new to this, but my daughter has done some auditions pre Xmas and we have a few after!

So far acceptances for NBS and Laine, and Renaissance Arts. We are doing LSC, RCS. She has a recall for Conti but it keeps clashing with other auditions, they have not given us another one yet! We are in two minds about Rambert, as everyone says they like them older and she is only 15. Also a school I’m not allowed to discuss.

She wants to cancel Tring, trinity, NSCD, does anyone have any thoughts? It has been a costly and stressful process 😂

[Justkeepsmiling]

I think the main thing to consider is where your daughter really wants to go and if this is one of the places she has already been offered. Are you dependent on funding auditions for Laine and NBS? If she already has a place at her first choice and funding isn’t an issue, I would cancel the ones she wants to cancel. Presumably they are not high on her list  of where she wants to go as she wants to cancel them and with places already secured, you might as well save yourself some money on travel. 

[Gowiththeflo]

54 minutes ago, Dramaofadancingdiva said:

Hi there, new to this, but my daughter has done some auditions pre Xmas and we have a few after!

So far acceptances for NBS and Laine, and Renaissance Arts. We are doing LSC, RCS. She has a recall for Conti but it keeps clashing with other auditions, they have not given us another one yet! We are in two minds about Rambert, as everyone says they like them older and she is only 15. Also a school I’m not allowed to discuss.

She wants to cancel Tring, trinity, NSCD, does anyone have any thoughts? It has been a costly and stressful process 😂

Well done so far to your Dd! Can’t really offer much help as the only course we have in common is Laine! Good luck for her other auditions. 

[Kendie76]

Hi daughter so far has done an audition with urdang(not offered a place) and London studio centre. The audition for LSC is split into 2 parts but daughter didn’t go through to the second part but was told it doesn’t mean she hasn’t been successful. She has auditions at Wilkes, performers, trinity, addict and bird. Any advice would be welcomed haha. Honestly this audition malarkey is a minefield. 

[Pointetoes]

DD stopped auditioning once she had received an offer for her first choice. Yes this meant we had paid for auditions and she didn't go but there really seemed no point.

1 hour ago, Dramaofadancingdiva said:

Hi there, new to this, but my daughter has done some auditions pre Xmas and we have a few after!

So far acceptances for NBS and Laine, and Renaissance Arts. We are doing LSC, RCS. She has a recall for Conti but it keeps clashing with other auditions, they have not given us another one yet! We are in two minds about Rambert, as everyone says they like them older and she is only 15. Also a school I’m not allowed to discuss.

She wants to cancel Tring, trinity, NSCD, does anyone have any thoughts? It has been a costly and stressful process 😂

Conti are notorious for late audition dates especially if you have have to change the date.

 

It is an expensive time, I worked out including audition fees, travel, accommodation , food etc it cost us over £1000

However I think it was money well spent, its amazing how quickly you for get the stress.

[Gowiththeflo]

1 hour ago, Kendie76 said:

Hi daughter so far has done an audition with urdang(not offered a place) and London studio centre. The audition for LSC is split into 2 parts but daughter didn’t go through to the second part but was told it doesn’t mean she hasn’t been successful. She has auditions at Wilkes, performers, trinity, addict and bird. Any advice would be welcomed haha. Honestly this audition malarkey is a minefield. 

Hi- my Dd still has performers to go( beg of Feb)but has done the Bird audition, if you’ve any questions….. 

She applied to 5, but has since cancelled Italia Conti as it was bottom of her list, and didn’t feel she’d learn anything about them from doing the auditions by video- if it had been in person, I think she would have still gone. Her remaining 4 move about a bit in order, so will defo have to do a big pros&cons chart to go through, (should she end up with more offers) 

 

Any pointers on what to include on such a list  would be much appreciated from anyone who’s had to choose!! 
thanks ☺️

[Kendie76]

17 minutes ago, Gowiththeflo said:

Hi- my Dd still has performers to go( beg of Feb)but has done the Bird audition, if you’ve any questions….. 

She applied to 5, but has since cancelled Italia Conti as it was bottom of her list, and didn’t feel she’d learn anything about them from doing the auditions by video- if it had been in person, I think she would have still gone. Her remaining 4 move about a bit in order, so will defo have to do a big pros&cons chart to go through, (should she end up with more offers) 

 

Any pointers on what to include on such a list  would be much appreciated from anyone who’s had to choose!! 
thanks ☺️

Hi thanks for your reply. Dd has Wilkes this Friday and performers 23rd January. She doesn’t really have a set favourite if that makes sense she goes on the thought ‘what will be will be’ lol. Urdang was good but I will be honest I wasn’t keen but she liked LSC. Any tips would be great xx

[jazzhands]

Any opinions on whether it is best to drive up on the day of the auditions or to stay the night before? I keep going back and forth. Whether it’s better to sleep in your own bed and get up early or to stay and feel less stressed about the journey? 

[Gowiththeflo]

16 minutes ago, Kendie76 said:

Hi thanks for your reply. Dd has Wilkes this Friday and performers 23rd January. She doesn’t really have a set favourite if that makes sense she goes on the thought ‘what will be will be’ lol. Urdang was good but I will be honest I wasn’t keen but she liked LSC. Any tips would be great xx

I think so far Bird has been *my* favourite-(not necessarily DD’s) possibly purely down to the fact we were able to go to an open day, and parents were also invited in for a intro talk on the audition day. Admittedly the same info as on the open day, but nevertheless we got a really welcoming feel from Bird. I like their ethos etc, and Sidcup seems very nice & really easy to get into London for a bit of excitement!! 

[Gowiththeflo]

3 minutes ago, jazzhands said:

Any opinions on whether it is best to drive up on the day of the auditions or to stay the night before? I keep going back and forth. Whether it’s better to sleep in your own bed and get up early or to stay and feel less stressed about the journey? 

I suppose that depends on the length of your journey really? For us (near Liverpool) it’s a definite no brainier of travelling down the afternoon before & staying over- and we’ve the added benefit of being able to have a wander round the surroundings trying to find somewhere to eat etc, so we can see what the area’s like…… 

 

not sure if I dare add up the cost so far of travel & accommodation etc…… 🙈

[Pointetoes]

16 minutes ago, jazzhands said:

Any opinions on whether it is best to drive up on the day of the auditions or to stay the night before? I keep going back and forth. Whether it’s better to sleep in your own bed and get up early or to stay and feel less stressed about the journey? 

We found staying somewhere the night before was way less stressful especially when some of the auditions were early starts. It took away the worry of traffic etc. All DDs auditions were in the morning. There was only two we drove to on the day both that 9am start and were only an hour away on a Saturday, so we knew we were ok. 

 

Even now DD says she is glad we went up the night before where necessary and she is in her third year. 

 

We let her apply to as many many as she wanted but did say for the sake of funding we really wanted her to do a degree. 

[jazzhands]

15 minutes ago, Pointetoes said:

We found staying somewhere the night before was way less stressful especially when some of the auditions were early starts. It took away the worry of traffic etc. All DDs auditions were in the morning. There was only two we drove to on the day both that 9am start and were only an hour away on a Saturday, so we knew we were ok. 

 

Even now DD says she is glad we went up the night before where necessary and she is in her third year. 

 

We let her apply to as many many as she wanted but did say for the sake of funding we really wanted her to do a degree. 

We’ve said the same. We are happy for her to apply to as many as she would like to but she’s aware that it may boil down to funding. Got to be in it to win it though I say! 

[Hairpinseverywhere]

31 minutes ago, Gowiththeflo said:

I suppose that depends on the length of your journey really? For us (near Liverpool) it’s a definite no brainier of travelling down the afternoon before & staying over- and we’ve the added benefit of being able to have a wander round the surroundings trying to find somewhere to eat etc, so we can see what the area’s like…… 

 

not sure if I dare add up the cost so far of travel & accommodation etc…… 🙈

I agree we only didn’t hotel it for our ‘local’ one, we made sure we got to the hotels reasonably early and DD was very focused and was asleep for around 9pm which is unheard of usually. I found going down the night before- even though I’d sussed them out on google maps- really did take the stress off as the driver. Most journeys were 3-4 hours so wouldn’t have loved the 4am set off and the risk of traffic issues I think it just put DDs mind at ease (as much as it could) knowing she could take it steady in the morning preparing 🙂

[Gowiththeflo]

2 minutes ago, Hairpinseverywhere said:

I agree we only didn’t hotel it for our ‘local’ one, we made sure we got to the hotels reasonably early and DD was very focused and was asleep for around 9pm which is unheard of usually. I found going down the night before- even though I’d sussed them out on google maps- really did take the stress off as the driver. Most journeys were 3-4 hours so wouldn’t have loved the 4am set off and the risk of traffic issues I think it just put DDs mind at ease (as much as it could) knowing she could take it steady in the morning preparing 🙂

Yes, definitely! Although I don’t think my Dd has been asleep at 9 since she was tiny!!! 🤣

Luckily so far all our hotels (premier inn/Travelodge) have been very close to the respective colleges, so have been able to find where we need to go ,& how long it takes etc the evening before.  The only exception for us will be performers, which is a bit further away from the nearest hotel, so we’ll either need to get a taxi, or have a longer walk in ( about 35 mins) 

[Kendie76]

1 hour ago, Gowiththeflo said:

I think so far Bird has been *my* favourite-(not necessarily DD’s) possibly purely down to the fact we were able to go to an open day, and parents were also invited in for a intro talk on the audition day. Admittedly the same info as on the open day, but nevertheless we got a really welcoming feel from Bird. I like their ethos etc, and Sidcup seems very nice & really easy to get into London for a bit of excitement!! 

Daughters favourite so far is LSC but audition is confusing if I’m honest. Audition is in 2 parts and some are taken to the second part but if you’re not it doesn’t mean you are not successful 🤷🏼‍♀️  Just a waiting game really. Daughter has applied to bird but doesn’t want to audition there anymore. 

[Kendie76]

2 hours ago, jazzhands said:

Any opinions on whether it is best to drive up on the day of the auditions or to stay the night before? I keep going back and forth. Whether it’s better to sleep in your own bed and get up early or to stay and feel less stressed about the journey? 

We have stayed the night before so daughter could have a good rest before the audition. 

[jazzhands]

Thanks everyone, I’ve taken your advice and booked the hotels for the ones in London. The one an hour from us I think I’ll drive in on the morning 

[Kendie76]

13 minutes ago, jazzhands said:

Thanks everyone, I’ve taken your advice and booked the hotels for the ones in London. The one an hour from us I think I’ll drive in on the morning 

Yeah good plan. Which hotels if you don’t mind me asking? X

[jazzhands]

Of course, I’ve booked the Travelodge Farringdon for Urdang, there is a Premier Inn nearby too. DH has booked one for one of the others I’ll find out which one

[Gowiththeflo]

3 hours ago, Kendie76 said:

Yeah good plan. Which hotels if you don’t mind me asking? X

I know not all will apply to you, but Premier inn Basildon is closest to Performers, about a 35 min walk away though, so probably taxi (unless of course you drive!) 

Premier inn Sidcup is about a 5 min walk to Bird, and the Epsom premier inn or travelodge are both less than 10 mins walk from Laine.

We’re booked in the Farringdon travelodge for DD’s Urdang recall. 

[Dramaofadancingdiva]

Thanks everyone, it’s a minefield, and the costs are spiralling due to flights and hotels etc! Funding is more than definitely an issue especially for Laine, but really all of them. LSC is also a degree but not fully funded so there are so many options as well as financial ones. She has decided against performers and bird, she would like somewhere with a strong ballet training. Does anyone know anything about Stella Mann? 

[Hairpinseverywhere]

19 minutes ago, Dramaofadancingdiva said:

Thanks everyone, it’s a minefield, and the costs are spiralling due to flights and hotels etc! Funding is more than definitely an issue especially for Laine, but really all of them. LSC is also a degree but not fully funded so there are so many options as well as financial ones. She has decided against performers and bird, she would like somewhere with a strong ballet training. Does anyone know anything about Stella Mann? 

I don’t have any direct experience with Stella Mann. DD auditioned there recently and it was pleasant enough.

 

From reading other threads KS Dance seem to have a strong ballet focus with the option to specialise.

 

Sorry I can’t be of any more help but I’m sure others will be able to add.

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[balletbean]

19 hours ago, Dramaofadancingdiva said:

Thanks everyone, it’s a minefield, and the costs are spiralling due to flights and hotels etc! Funding is more than definitely an issue especially for Laine, but really all of them. LSC is also a degree but not fully funded so there are so many options as well as financial ones. She has decided against performers and bird, she would like somewhere with a strong ballet training. Does anyone know anything about Stella Mann? 

Might be a few years back but I do have experience of Stella Mann.  Not sure if they’ve had their DaDa status returned though. However, Bedford is incredibly budget friendly for both accommodation and daily living expenses as it’s also home to the University of Bedfordshire so very student led. It’s also at the northern end of Brighton line links into London especially St P and Gatwick are regular and inexpensive compared to other locations. 
 

I would personally advocate for NBS in Manchester over Stella Mann if you are looking for strong ballet training as your baseline. 

Edited January 11, 2022 by balletbean

[Mummy twinkle toes]

If it helps, Dd1 is studying the classical ballet at LSC. On this they do ballet, pointe, solo class, virtuosity and repertoire. They also have 2 contemporary, 2 jazz classes, a social/ballroom class and an option each term. Dd did heels class first term and is now doing additional pointe. You can also choose singing, drama, hip hop, tap or additional contemporary or jazz.

Dd1 finds it very friendly. The student numbers in total are fairly ‘large’ and varied for a dance school. Classical ballet is the smallest cohort. LSC offers other courses including MAs and a professional diploma so that helps to ensure a variety of people studying there.

 

[Kendie76]

6 minutes ago, Mummy twinkle toes said:

If it helps, Dd1 is studying the classical ballet at LSC. On this they do ballet, pointe, solo class, virtuosity and repertoire. They also have 2 contemporary, 2 jazz classes, a social/ballroom class and an option each term. Dd did heels class first term and is now doing additional pointe. You can also choose singing, drama, hip hop, tap or additional contemporary or jazz.

Dd1 finds it very friendly. The student numbers in total are fairly ‘large’ and varied for a dance school. Classical ballet is the smallest cohort. LSC offers other courses including MAs and a professional diploma so that helps to ensure a variety of people studying there.

 

Daughter unfortunately didn’t get into LSC she heard back today. Audition set up is confusing to be fair and the only at they set the kids up to have a yes if they don’t go through to the second stage and then it’s a no 🤷🏼‍♀️  Daughter gave her all but obviously she’s not what they were looking for. She went to Wilkes today though and loved it 

[Mummy twinkle toes]

1 minute ago, Kendie76 said:

Daughter unfortunately didn’t get into LSC she heard back today. Audition set up is confusing to be fair and the only at they set the kids up to have a yes if they don’t go through to the second stage and then it’s a no 🤷🏼‍♀️  Daughter gave her all but obviously she’s not what they were looking for. She went to Wilkes today though and loved it 

Sorry to hear that Kendie. All the schools look for something different. Good luck to your Dd with Wilkes. My Dd auditioned for around 14 institutions including a couple abroad. She got 9 yeses and 5 nos. 

[Kendie76]

49 minutes ago, Mummy twinkle toes said:

Sorry to hear that Kendie. All the schools look for something different. Good luck to your Dd with Wilkes. My Dd auditioned for around 14 institutions including a couple abroad. She got 9 yeses and 5 nos. 

Wow I know it’s hard when they get a no and today she did sound crushed bless her but then her Wilkes audition lifted her spirits and they were so lovely 

[Drdee]

1 hour ago, Kendie76 said:

Wow I know it’s hard when they get a no and today she did sound crushed bless her but then her Wilkes audition lifted her spirits and they were so lovely 

@Kendie76Has your Dd done much performing at festivals? Just wondering. Does she have other auditions coming up after  Wilkes? 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Drdee

[Kendie76]

20 minutes ago, Drdee said:

@Kendie76Has your Dd done much performing at festivals? Just wondering. Does she have other auditions coming up after  Wilkes? 

Yeah she’s done competitions etc and danced since she was 2. I will say she does look young for her age so maybe it’s that to be honest. She has performers next week, addict on the 16th feb and trinity Laban when they send a date 

[Drdee]

1 minute ago, Kendie76 said:

Yeah she’s done competitions etc and danced since she was 2. I will say she does look young for her age so maybe it’s that to be honest. She has performers next week, addict on the 16th feb and trinity Laban when they send a date 

It is really a tough thing to do these auditions. So hats off to your Dd! I know that my Dd learnt a lot doing groups, trios, duets on top of solos (the highs and the lows) and tried not to get shaken by the sheer numbers at the auditions and focus on the moment and listen. Is the Trinity Laban the MT course? That one is more singing than dancing. Of the three look at Performers. They do a degree and Foundation. 

[Kendie76]

10 minutes ago, Drdee said:

It is really a tough thing to do these auditions. So hats off to your Dd! I know that my Dd learnt a lot doing groups, trios, duets on top of solos (the highs and the lows) and tried not to get shaken by the sheer numbers at the auditions and focus on the moment and listen. Is the Trinity Laban the MT course? That one is more singing than dancing. Of the three look at Performers. They do a degree and Foundation. 

Did your dd get into Wilkes did you say? Thanks for the tips 

[jazzhands]

14 hours ago, Kendie76 said:

Daughter unfortunately didn’t get into LSC she heard back today. Audition set up is confusing to be fair and the only at they set the kids up to have a yes if they don’t go through to the second stage and then it’s a no 🤷🏼‍♀️  Daughter gave her all but obviously she’s not what they were looking for. She went to Wilkes today though and loved it 

Sorry to hear it was a no this time and I hope your DD had a good time at Wilkes. We have that audition in two weeks as well. Does she have many more to go? If she’s a stronger dancer are you seeing anyone for the singing/acting side?