8 year old daughter, what can she do to get more experience?

[LivingForBallet]

Hi Everyone, new here. My daughter is just one of those kids who's a natural grafter when it comes to things she loves. She's a competitive gymnast training 20 hours a week, but has made the decision to focus on ballet following national comps next Spring. She is 8 and studying RAD grade 3. All she thinks about is ballet, and most of her gymnastics routines have incorporated a lot of ballet in the floor and beam routines. She turns 9 early next year and I really need some advice on what she should or could be doing. Her dream is to go to a full time ballet school one day but I'm clueless. I don't know where to start or what I should be looking into for her. Any tips, pointers or help on getting more experience, any pearls of wisdom really, would be greatly appreciated. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by LivingForBallet

[Jan McNulty]

Hello @LivingForBallet and welcome to the Forum!

 

[Beezie]

I once heard that, for pre-pro training, the  number of dance hours per week should match the school year (ie Year 5 = 5 hours per week dance.)  The majority of those hours should be ballet….but not necessarily all.

 

Don’t know if anyone has heard anything similar.  I thought it was quite a clever way to remember the correlation to age and training.

 

….but as a disclaimer, continental Europe did less hours until 11-12 hrs.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Beezie

[glowlight]

My number one suggestion is to speak to your DDs ballet teacher, tell them of your dd's aspirations and ask for their advice and support.

 

That's not to say you can't explore opportunities that you discover yourself, but it will be much easier with your teacher's support and encouragement.

 

Many young dancers at that age will be looking at the 'Associate' schemes run by some of the big name ballet schools, such as Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst and Tring Park, and there are other schemes too.

 

There is information on their websites.  Look for options which are close to home where possible.

 

Look for quality of teaching over quantity.

 

Keep it fun.

 

Enjoy the journey. It's a rollercoaster but I wouldn't have missed for the world. 

[LivingForBallet]

4 hours ago, Beezie said:

I once heard that, for pre-pro training, the  number of dance hours per week should match the school year (ie Year 5 = 5 hours per week dance.)  The majority of those hours should be ballet….but not necessarily all.

 

Don’t know if anyone has heard anything similar.  I thought it was quite a clever way to remember the correlation to age and training.

 

….but as a disclaimer, continental Europe did less hours until 11-12 hrs.

This is really interesting, and seems sensible. I mean, it’s all new to me so I know very little, but ballet - at least for an 8 year old Grade 3 - would appear less aggressive than her current training in gymnastics. 

[LivingForBallet]

2 hours ago, glowlight said:

My number one suggestion is to speak to your DDs ballet teacher, tell them of your dd's aspirations and ask for their advice and support.

 

That's not to say you can't explore opportunities that you discover yourself, but it will be much easier with your teacher's support and encouragement.

 

Many young dancers at that age will be looking at the 'Associate' schemes run by some of the big name ballet schools, such as Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst and Tring Park, and there are other schemes too.

 

There is information on their websites.  Look for options which are close to home where possible.

 

Look for quality of teaching over quantity.

 

Keep it fun.

 

Enjoy the journey. It's a rollercoaster but I wouldn't have missed for the world. 

Thank you for your insight. I’ve already spoken to her ballet teacher, who is super supportive and shares her aspirations for her. I just don’t know what else to explore to aid her. Teacher did mention the associates programmes, and I’m looking into intensives for next year - when you said quality of teaching over quantity how does a newbie like me know? Are one off days in half terms worth it in your opinion? Thanks

[akh]

Look at the new program for younger students at Central, not every week and worth exploring.

[batmanballetshoes]

Not sure where you live but get her on the stage! At age 8 the best experience a child can get is the joy of dancing, rehearsing with friends and being in the wings in costume and make up! Can you audition for London Children's Ballet? Good luck x

[LivingForBallet]

Yes @batmanballetshoes we can. We live in the South East. I’ve just looked and you have to be 9 but this will definitely be on our list for next year! 

[Emeralds]

I would actually advise as a former advanced level student (got sidetracked into a non-dance career! ) that it’s important not to overtrain in dance as a child, because their bones, ligaments and joints are still developing. The Junior Associates programme by the Royal Ballet School is worth looking at. The equivalent of 50 to 70 minutes a day (that includes any private practice she might want to do at home) is healthy and safe for a child of 8. I wouldn’t enrol her in lots of excess classes.

 

Also, at this age it is best not to specialise or focus exclusively on ballet. Gymnastics, with its obvious benefits for flexibility, core strength and muscle control is beneficial for dance students, also music lessons (eg learning a musical instrument or singing or both) because dancers do need musicality and to be able to interpret music, and being able to sing opens up career opportunities, and other dance genres like tap dance and folk dance. In my classes, the ones who had had music training and experience of other dance genres had advantages when it came to expressiveness and interpretation, and those who had done gymnastics had a visible physical advantage. 

 

A one day session in half term is fine. At this stage you won’t develop a principal ballerina overnight. The idea is for her to have fun, gain some tips for improving her dancing in the future, and if her school closes during half term or school holidays, an opportunity to keep up her fitness and technique.

 

 

Edited September 1, 2023 by Emeralds

[glowlight]

18 hours ago, LivingForBallet said:

when you said quality of teaching over quantity how does a newbie like me know?

 

Be guided by your teacher. And if you follow the threads on this forum you will soon get a feel for what schemes others have found good.  I was really trying to point out that you don't have to fill every evening, weekend and holiday with dance. Get the most out of what you can afford.

18 hours ago, LivingForBallet said:

Are one off days in half terms worth it in your opinion?

 

For fun, yes. But she will get the most value out of sustained training over weeks and months. 

[Kerfuffle]

I think it’s good to add in other dance disciplines too - such as modern, jazz or tap. They can help with performance and musicality. Learning to dance in a group is very useful, rather than just focusing on solo work. 

[Betty]

For performance opportunities English Youth Ballet are 8/9 upwards and tour around some of the major towns and this is audition and performance experience - as is London Childrens ballet but it is harder to get into and London based.
 

And local RAD classes to grow technique.

[taxi4ballet]

On 31/08/2023 at 21:33, LivingForBallet said:

Are one off days in half terms worth it in your opinion? Thanks

I would recommend the dance days at Tring Park School in Hertfordshire. They do short residential courses as well, for when she's a bit older.