HumflyDumfly Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Does anyone know what this will involve at an audtion for a vocational (upper) school? What kind of attributes/faults are they looking for? I'm a worrier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Hello Humflydumfly, Hopefully someone will be able to answer your question, but in the meantime, welcome! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 I think it means the same as a Physio assesment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie 2 Milner Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Well it was a while back but at the final audition for Elmhurst there was a physio assessment too. Actually it was funny because loads came out saying "ooh I have one leg shorter" etc. It was quite quick and seemed a baseline view. Checked spine hips etc. Certainly was nothing to worry about. It is also probably worth holding the view that if they do find something that will make ballet very difficult as a long term future career better to find out then than later down the line. Good luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumflyDumfly Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 Thanks for the welcome Spanner&pony, and thanks to Tulip and Julie. DD's spine and hips are fine, but doesn't have the much prized sway back legs or high arched feet. Don't know if that would be a negative! But as Julie says, better to find out now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie4dancin Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Welcome humflydumfly.... Love the name Good luck with any 6th form finals Cx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Welcome from me too and I also love the name Julie's summed it up well - and don't worry about the lack of swaybacks or arched feet - those aren't always seen as desirable! It's really nothing to worry about. Good luck for the audition(s) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 If your daughter has pleasing strong feet and legs that are well stretched with good pulled up knees then I don't think not having the sway back legs and highly arched feet will go against her. I am writing this out on my phone so any poor English and dodgy spellings its not me it's the phone he he. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumflyDumfly Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 Thank you - I've nicked the name from our pet house rabbit! DD has three 6th form finals. I don't let her see now stressed I am! I've always worried about her less-than-amazing feet, but they are strong and flexible - well, she can only do her best! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 They sound like my dd's feet, which are - apparently - utterly identical to Agnes Oaks' feet. Never did Agnes' career much harm! :-) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Actually - I understand that it is hyper-flexibility that is one of the concerns, so those with sway back knees and high arches will be checked out by the physio to see if they have enough strength, or whether they will be too prone to injuries to follow vocational training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumflyDumfly Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 That's interesting! Thanks for cheering me up 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdance Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 They're likely to be looking for extreme leg length differences, scoliosis, passive hip rotation (an indicator of turnout) and hypermobility. Often schools do this in place of a screening at the beginning of the academic year and merely keep the information on file. Or it can raise an issue (eg scoliosis) that was unknown and may make a career in ballet more tricky. Although there are professionals with scoliosis. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanprincess Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Scoliosis... how severe would it be to hinder a dancers' career? I have a very mild S-curve, 9 degrees on top and 11 at the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdance Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Swanprincess.... It would be difficult to say as every case is different. A lot depends on how the curve is affected during puberty and the growth spurt. All I know is that some schools are very strict about it (to the point of not giving places to children with scoliosis) and others are happier to assess it gradually. The best person to ask is an orthopaedic surgeon/consultant who works with dancers. Dance UK have a list of practitioners. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElllieP Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I am very interested in this as my DD has been monitored for scoliosis and has now been told she should have a back brace. This will have to be worn 20 hours a day, not sure for how long but potentially until she stops growing. She is 14. We are rather knocked sideways by this. She was at vocational school for a couple of years and scoliosis was not picked up (though she did always seem to be being told one shoulder was higher than another). It seems that it has worsened recently, presumably due to a growth spurt, so I guess it was not yet an issue at the school. She is still dancing but not as much as at voc school of course. It seems the curve is still fairly mild but they are concerned about progression - has progressed 5-8 degrees in past six months (taking it up to around 28 degrees). I have spoken to our very good physio and she has spoken to her dance teacher who are supportive but both think it is worth 'embracing the brace'. The brace looks pretty awful - esp to her - but I was assured they are not too cumbersome by the lady who just called to make her appointment at the orthotics dept. Just sharing this really, and apologies if taking off topic more, but if anyone has any advice or experience I'd be keen to find someone to share this with! I think she will be given exercises and am told that she should definitely continue to exercise including dance, which will undoubtedly help, + pilates and swimming recommended. It just seems very tough on a teenager and I know we will have to give her all the support we can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdance Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Keep working with your physio, and the orthopaedic consultants who you're dealing with, who are the best people to advise you and your DD. The back braces are worrying at first but people do get used to them, and they do their job. The growth spurt will most likely have had something to do with it, but it may even out once she's finished growing. There are dancers with scoliosis. People can dance wearing the brace, in fact it often helps add a bit of core stability! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElllieP Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thank you DrDance - that is reassuring especially about dancing in the brace! Will report back on progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophika9899 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Drdance, can you tell us some more about "passive hip rotation" please? If it is discovered, at these 6th form audition physio assessments, that the DK has less than perfect rotation does that hinder the possibility of a place at the school or possible future career? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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