Blommaert Ballet School Summer School 2023/ Additional suggestions

[MissEmily]

Hello everyone!

 

I know this is a massive long-shot, but is there anyone attending the Junior week of Sander Blommaert’s Summer School who might be able to host a 12 year-old (Year 7)? 

I’d love for my pupil to be able to do this Summer School as I know that the quality of teaching will be excellent and that lots of individual corrections will be given, but it’s tricky as it’s non-residential and of course, she’s far too young to stay up in London and commute alone.

 

Alternatively, does anyone know of other ballet Summer Schools where the class sizes aren’t enormous, where the teaching is excellent and where there is plenty of dancing each day?

 

She will apply for RBS but is obviously unlikely to be offered a place. She has been put on the Waiting List the last two years.

 

Moorland was excellent but it’s just so far away for us!

 

She will probably do Elmhurst’s as she is a full-time student there, but I would like her to experience something else too.

 

Off piste suggestions particularly welcome!

 

Thank you!

 

[Dancer20]

33 minutes ago, MissEmily said:

Hello everyone!

 

I know this is a massive long-shot, but is there anyone attending the Junior week of Sander Blommaert’s Summer School who might be able to host a 12 year-old (Year 7)? 

I’d love for my pupil to be able to do this Summer School as I know that the quality of teaching will be excellent and that lots of individual corrections will be given, but it’s tricky as it’s non-residential and of course, she’s far too young to stay up in London and commute alone.

 

Alternatively, does anyone know of other ballet Summer Schools where the class sizes aren’t enormous, where the teaching is excellent and where there is plenty of dancing each day?

 

She will apply for RBS but is obviously unlikely to be offered a place. She has been put on the Waiting List the last two years.

 

Moorland was excellent but it’s just so far away for us!

 

She will probably do Elmhurst’s as she is a full-time student there, but I would like her to experience something else too.

 

Off piste suggestions particularly welcome!

 

Thank you!

 

Tring is brilliant, my DD did it last year. 5 classes a day including ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, lyrical and Jazz. My DD also did RBS last year, which she loved too, they did four classes a day so one extra at Tring.

On one of the evenings they had a trip into London to watch My Fair Lady. 
 

[Ballet Dreams]

11 hours ago, MissEmily said:

Hello everyone!

 

I know this is a massive long-shot, but is there anyone attending the Junior week of Sander Blommaert’s Summer School who might be able to host a 12 year-old (Year 7)? 

I’d love for my pupil to be able to do this Summer School as I know that the quality of teaching will be excellent and that lots of individual corrections will be given, but it’s tricky as it’s non-residential and of course, she’s far too young to stay up in London and commute alone.

 

Alternatively, does anyone know of other ballet Summer Schools where the class sizes aren’t enormous, where the teaching is excellent and where there is plenty of dancing each day?

 

She will apply for RBS but is obviously unlikely to be offered a place. She has been put on the Waiting List the last two years.

 

Moorland was excellent but it’s just so far away for us!

 

She will probably do Elmhurst’s as she is a full-time student there, but I would like her to experience something else too.

 

Off piste suggestions particularly welcome!

 

Thank you!

 

My DD is at Elmhurst in year 8, she went to Malvern last year and absolutely loved it.  

[BusyDancemum]

On 17/12/2022 at 08:52, MissEmily said:

Hello everyone!

 

I know this is a massive long-shot, but is there anyone attending the Junior week of Sander Blommaert’s Summer School who might be able to host a 12 year-old (Year 7)? 

I’d love for my pupil to be able to do this Summer School as I know that the quality of teaching will be excellent and that lots of individual corrections will be given, but it’s tricky as it’s non-residential and of course, she’s far too young to stay up in London and commute alone.

 

Alternatively, does anyone know of other ballet Summer Schools where the class sizes aren’t enormous, where the teaching is excellent and where there is plenty of dancing each day?

 

She will apply for RBS but is obviously unlikely to be offered a place. She has been put on the Waiting List the last two years.

 

Moorland was excellent but it’s just so far away for us!

 

She will probably do Elmhurst’s as she is a full-time student there, but I would like her to experience something else too.

 

Off piste suggestions particularly welcome!

 

Thank you!

 

Kings international ballet academy is very good and small classes but not residential 

[Bolshoi]

On 17/12/2022 at 08:52, MissEmily said:

Hello everyone!

 

I know this is a massive long-shot, but is there anyone attending the Junior week of Sander Blommaert’s Summer School who might be able to host a 12 year-old (Year 7)? 

I’d love for my pupil to be able to do this Summer School as I know that the quality of teaching will be excellent and that lots of individual corrections will be given, but it’s tricky as it’s non-residential and of course, she’s far too young to stay up in London and commute alone.

 

Alternatively, does anyone know of other ballet Summer Schools where the class sizes aren’t enormous, where the teaching is excellent and where there is plenty of dancing each day?

 

She will apply for RBS but is obviously unlikely to be offered a place. She has been put on the Waiting List the last two years.

 

Moorland was excellent but it’s just so far away for us!

 

She will probably do Elmhurst’s as she is a full-time student there, but I would like her to experience something else too.

 

Off piste suggestions particularly welcome!

 

Thank you!

 

Central also run an excellent Summer Course but again not residential 

[WhatsThePointe]

Bristol Russian do a lovely one but also non residential.

[SpideyDad]

Sorry, we can't help with accomodation; but I would say that, if can get DD there: do it.

I'm guessing that you know Sander already, but I can't overstate the contribution he and his team made in getting my DD into a vocational upper school.

She's done two years of Bloemmart Ballet School's Senior week and says it is the most intense intensive she's done (including RBS, ENBS, YBSS and Elmhurst) he works them hard, is so supportive and she learned so much!

 

Good luck in your search for accomodation!

[AllAboutTheJourney]

Have you discounted YBSS? Seems the obvious residential one but the class sizes are not tiny. 

[MissEmily]

Thank you everyone! Anything non-residential is a no-go unfortunately. Her parents can’t take a week off work to go with her, nor can they do their jobs remotely. She’d have gone to YBSS if she’d had a scholarship, and I’ve heard nothing but positive things about it, but I know the class sizes are large and I imagine that impacts how personal feedback can be, especially for girls. Great to read good things about the Tring Summer School. She does want to focus on ballet though. I hear lots of great things about Malvern so maybe that’s the one to go for if she doesn’t get WL and we can’t find a host family for Blommaert Ballet School. @SpideyDad I’m completely with you; I know that would be the best one for her to do. I’ve done it myself for the past three years 😉 

Edited December 18, 2022 by MissEmily
Typo

[Peanut68]

Not heard of this SS…. Can o ask what ages/when/where/how much please…

thanks in advance…

[Tiaramum]

Please have a look at Kings - there is sometimes a residential house where the dancers can stay (they have to be able to be quite self sufficient though - sorting their own meals etc) 

[MissEmily]

@Peanut68 Here is the link:

 

https://www.blommaertballetschool.com/ballet-summer-school-1

 

I believe there’s only one place left on the junior course, due to someone getting a YBSS scholarship for the same week, but I’m not sure there are any spaces left for the senior course. Always worth asking though as people’s plans change. It is definitely the best Summer School I’ve ever done, in terms of class

size (and therefore personal feedback), calibre of teaching, positive atmosphere and as @SpideyDad said, the number of classes per day. It’s EXHAUSTING but the students improve so much over the course of a week! I’d desperately love for my pupil to be able to take that junior place but she can’t stay up in London alone.

 

@Tiaramum I will keep Kings in mind for the future but my pupil is Year 7 and only just turned 12. I know 12 year-olds can be very different depending on their life experience, but there’s no way she’s ready to look after herself to that extent yet!

[SpideyDad]

10 hours ago, MissEmily said:

Thank you everyone! Anything non-residential is a no-go unfortunately. Her parents can’t take a week off work to go with her, nor can they do their jobs remotely. She’d have gone to YBSS if she’d had a scholarship, and I’ve heard nothing but positive things about it, but I know the class sizes are large and I imagine that impacts how personal feedback can be, especially for girls. Great to read good things about the Tring Summer School. She does want to focus on ballet though. I hear lots of great things about Malvern so maybe that’s the one to go for if she doesn’t get WL and we can’t find a host family for Blommaert Ballet School. @SpideyDad I’m completely with you; I know that would be the best one for her to do. I’ve done it myself for the past three years 😉 

Ahhh: I now realise who you are @MissEmily , so you know the benefits better than I do! We have stayed down there for the week, but our DD now has her own room in halls in London and is much more independent these days.

[Lifeafterballet]

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwTOzHImPD/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 

This is new for next year. And a fabulous city to visit 😀

[Dancing unicorn]

Definitely second Malvern 💗

[Neverdancedjustamum]

On 21/12/2022 at 22:09, cotes du rhone ! said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwTOzHImPD/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 

This is new for next year. And a fabulous city to visit 😀

Letters of acceptance for this came out today via email. Very exciting! My DD and I have always loved watching the videos posted on their socials, such high standard. Now to convince the whole family that this is the summer holiday destination they‘ve always wanted to visit…

[Ballet Power]

On 21/12/2022 at 22:09, cotes du rhone ! said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwTOzHImPD/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 

This is new for next year. And a fabulous city to visit 😀

@cotes du rhone !There seems to be 2 Prague summer courses, (i don’t think they are linked) have you personal experience of this one? My dd is 13 so looking at options. Thank you 

[Lifeafterballet]

43 minutes ago, Ballet Power said:

@cotes du rhone !There seems to be 2 Prague summer courses, (i don’t think they are linked) have you personal experience of this one? My dd is 13 so looking at options. Thank you 

Both my children attended Daria Klimentovas. They were both 16/17 so it was the senior course and for two weeks. They both enjoyed it, Prague is beautiful. I got to visit when my son auditioned for Czech National Ballet 😊
They were greeted at the airport and escorted to the hotel which was a short walk from the studios and was clean. The rooms slept 4/5 or more and they could request who they would like to share with. The course itself is very well run. Daria and Vadim are very welcoming and attract a lot of fabulous teachers and AD from around the world. In the senior course they were split into two groups and do opposite classes as in ballet, rep, contemporary and pas de deux. There are plenty of boys to dance with. 
It’s attended by a lot of students from RBS and internationals. It’s good for meeting other ballet students and seeing the international standard and competition. Important when heading into graduate year and auditions I think. U.K. ballet schools I feel sadly “bubble” their students and they get very little exposure to the world ballet community so when they first attend international auditions it can be a bit of a shock as to the standard.  My daughter did international competitions and intensives so was prepared but my son had little exposure and was a bit overwhelmed at first. But he learned quickly and got job offers 😀

The days are quite full so there’s not a huge amount of down time but Prague is a wonderful place to visit with lots of restaurants etc and the weather is usually hot 🥵 

Hope that helps your decision making and good luck x

[Guest oncnp]

18 minutes ago, cotes du rhone ! said:

. Daria and Vadim are very welcoming and attract a lot of fabulous teachers and AD from around the world.

 

Just to note that Muntagirov has not been part of the program since 2020 and is not listed to teach this year. 

[Neverdancedjustamum]

42 minutes ago, oncnp said:

 

Just to note that Muntagirov has not been part of the program since 2020 and is not listed to teach this year. 

They appear to have different guest teachers every year which I believe is part of the whole experience and appeal of it. Some return year after year, such as Vadim who I think has taught it a few years but not every year. I don’t think it was ever marketed as Daria and Vadim’s intensive as such. Over the years, even without experience of it personally, I found it to be one of the most ‘transparent’ courses/intensives as an outside observer. During the two weeks, they would often have live streams of the actual classes, post videos and photos of the classes, and their website has a very informative (quite humorous) blog every year that gives an insight into the day to day operations of the course. Lots of photos and videos on the website as well. As a parent who rarely sees their DC in class especially since the pandemic, it’s quite nice to have a look into what happens during these classes, especially since a lot of the photos and videos are taken during class candidly, not posed or rehearsed. My DC and I have always admired the dancers who attend this intensive based on the stuff we’ve seen online and were pleased to see Daria starting a junior course this year. The standard of the existing programme seems very high and I’ve seen some students progress soon after to companies (I believe some who attend in the past are already in companies/junior companies). It sometimes looks daunting especially for those not in full time vocational schools as it’s usually attended by RBS upper school students, POBS and I’ve also seen some from Dutch National Ballet Company, ABT Studio Co etc. 

[Guest oncnp]

18 minutes ago, Neverdancedjustamum said:

They appear to have different guest teachers every year which I believe is part of the whole experience and appeal of it. Some return year after year, such as Vadim who I think has taught it a few years but not every year. I don’t think it was ever marketed as Daria and Vadim’s intensive as such. 

 

Very true. It has always been very much Ms Klimentová show. Muntagirov taught every year (save one) since 2013 according to the website. 

 

The only reason I mentioned it was because it was noted in the original post and people do book based on who is teaching. 

[Babyballerinamum]

Has anyone applied to the US or Canadian schools SIs? Are they worth it? We have friends/family who could accommodate our 11 yr old

[Ruby Foo]

9 hours ago, Babyballerinamum said:

Has anyone applied to the US or Canadian schools SIs? Are they worth it? We have friends/family who could accommodate our 11 yr old

The downside of these intensives are that they usually start long before our schools break up for summer and run for many weeks - 5 weeks for SAB. You must take part in the full session and they are completely inflexible about negotiating doing less weeks or starting late. They are also extremely expensive although some scholarships available.

Upside, they are great for dancers 15 plus because they are ‘ intense’ and pointe work is at the forefront which is often sadly lacking in some UK summer schools.

[Emma northmore]

Take a look at The Performance Platform Summer School being held at Rambert School and running for 5 days at the end of August.

 

It's a performance focused SS with Yosvani Ramos, Joshua Barwick, Taina Morales and more teaching. Dancers perform to each other daily and discuss mindset and nerves - a totally unique approach for the ☀️ www.theperformanceplatform.org.uk 

 

Some fabulous teachers!