famcandance2 Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Hi Does anyone know if when auditioning for and being successful for vocational school, mds awards are only given for ballet? I have tried to research this on both government and other websites and can only find reference to "talented children", not ballet dancers in particular. I was just wondering. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moneypenny Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Have you checked out the info on this site: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/toolsandinitiatives/b0068711/mds I can't speak for Tring or Hammond, but the auditions for Royal and Elmhurst are purely ballet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwimum Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 In my experience, it's ballet at Tring too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie4dancin Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I have read the article! What about Hammond? Is the MDS funding not also for ballet? Cx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regattah Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 It's ballet everywhere (including Hammond) as far as I know! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie4dancin Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Thanks for that regatta Cx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancedizzy Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 MDS at dance schools is primarily for BALLET. I refer to Elmhurst, Hammond, Tring and RBS see link http://www.cdet.org.uk/professional-training/funding/ I hope famcandance that resolves your dilemma! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitschqueen_1 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 (edited) My daughter is on a contemporary CAT scheme and her place is also partially funded by MDS Edited March 12, 2012 by Kitschqueen_1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Does the MDS award cover medical insurance at all schools or does it vary? Does whether or not is offered depend on parental income? Is it part of the award run by CAT scheme? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancedizzy Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 My daughter also on CAT scheme but it's classical and covered by MDS 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitschqueen_1 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Certainly for the CAT scheme, the amount of MDS awarded is dependant on parental income. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Sorry didn't explain myself clearly. I wanted to know if children on a CAT scheme received medical insurance as part of their award. And also when medical insurance was part of the MDS award would all children receive it or would it be dependent on parental contribution. ie high earners don't get it. Conversely, when the child comes from a low income family, but goes to a school which doesn't include the medical insurance, is any provision made. Now I am also wondering if medical insurance is mandatory for students at vocational colleges? Do Dada's include it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowlight Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 With regard to vocational colleges When my dd went to Northern Ballet School medical insurance was not mandatory - however there was an expectation that if you needed to see a physio you would do so. Certainly the school wouldn't cover it. My dd had cover through my occupational scheme. Dada's do not cover the cost of medical insurance. In fact the Dada itself only covers fees, and goes straight to the college. Those on low incomes who are awarded a Dada can apply for support with living expenses. I believe that the amount you get depends on income. I suppose in this case it would be up to you to decide whether you put some of this amount towards medical insurance, or whether to pay for private physio appointments, or rely on the NHS. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famcandance2 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 I am aware that most dance schools give ballet students their mds' but was wondering if that was the schools choice or whether this is laid down by the government. On the education website it only states that mds' are for talented children in dance/music and I wondered if there were any guidlines saying only ballet dancers could get an mds? Thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancedizzy Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 The sad reality that schools award these government MDS for talent and physique for potential in training for classical ballet. Schools are usually frank about their criteria for selection. I can speak personally about 2 of the 4 MDS schools and have close friends who have children at the other 2. With regard to medical insurance these 4 schools encourage you to join the BUPA schools scheme which is included as a separate fee within MDS, you can opt out but have to have own cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primrose Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Bupa offers a massive discount to military families. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi'smom Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Sorry for the slight deviation but am intrigued by the phrase 'suitability for classical training' as it seems to be a key phrase. Can anyone clarify what factors determine that sutiability? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Very good question Angela. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lildancer96 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Think that might be the million dollar question ! Lil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famcandance2 Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Just really wanted to know if this criteria is government stated or if the schools have decided to only give to ballet dancers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi'smom Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 That's kind of what I meant too famcandance - is there a 'non-negotiable' checklist of physical factors/abilities etc that apply to all dancers, all schools, all schemes or is just down to the artistic director's preferences/own criteria in the light of their own school circumstances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 The fact that MDS awards are given by the governement to the CAT schemes and the 'ballet schools' is surely already an indication that these awards are intended for primarily for dancers showing a particular talent/potential for ballet. Unless I am mistaken (and that is possible) MDS awards are not available for dancers at the vocational schools that are more focused on musical theatre or performing arts eg Sylvia Young, Brit School, Suzie Earnshaw(?) etc. Obviously each school selects through audition, the children they believe have the most potential and I thought the MDS then went to the children the school thought were the best. I might be naive in this view as I have not had a child audition at this age, but certainly at 6th form level, some of the schools explained that each candidate was 'scored' (for want of a better word) at their audition and when they awarded DADAs it was on merit and put quite simply, those with the highest scores were offered the award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellybeans Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 This is what I have been led to believe as well, 2dancersmum. furthermore, I understood that all dancers offered an MDS award have to have had a physio exam to determine physical suitability and this is why the four main schools all include this in the audition at one stage or another. The physio exam at Hammond is at the first audition and at the other three schools it is at the final, although at Tring not many children even at the final are sent to the physio. Does anyone know of anyone at Tring that was offered MDS without having seen the physio at the final? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lildancer96 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 The CAT mds we receive is for contemporary dance and my dd has never has a physio. Lil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellybeans Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I suspect that vocational schools and the CAT schemes have a different set of "rules" etc! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I think only one CAT specialises in ballet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Yes, the CAT we went to a taster day for has an osteopath and the children are screened by the osteopath - if I remember rightly, they are screened either before or on an offer of a place, then at least once a year thereafter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitschqueen_1 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Yes the only ballet CAT is at Northern ballet. The remainder tend to be Contemporary but I think there is an Urban dance one and a South East Asian dance one. At my daughter's CAT they all had a physiotherapy assessment after being offered a place (interesting how they are all different Lil and Spannerandpony). There was no mention of needing private medical insurance but we were all told that we could access the school's physio at a reduced rate if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famcandance2 Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 As Hammond is not particularly a "ballet school" in the sense of the word as they offer drama and music courses too, I don't see that the wording is of any real indication. Tring is also not strictly a ballet school. Surely one would hope that mds' are given to children with talent for any form of dance or in fact performing arts as a whole? Maybe I'm wrong here, but really just wanted to know if anyone knew whether the government stipulated ballet or whether the schools just chose to go this route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitschqueen_1 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 (edited) If you go on the website given by moneypenny it lists all the schools involved in the scheme. My understanding would be that any child auditioning for and gaining entry to those participating schools whether they be ballet, a mixture of ballet and performing arts or purely for musicians would be eligible for an MDS Edited March 13, 2012 by Kitschqueen_1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Does the MDS award cover medical insurance at all schools or does it vary? Does whether or not is offered depend on parental income? Is it part of the award run by CAT scheme? I can only speak for WL and Elmhurst here - our private health insurance wasn't covered by the MDS award at WL, but it was at Elmhurst (I think it's to do with the difference in fees) At Elmhurst it also covered dance uniform and instrumental tuition - and I'm sure there was something else..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nana Lily Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Hi Famcandance, not sure you have seen dancedizzy's post? She shared a link to the Council for Dance Educations website. Its states clearly that MDS at vocational schools is for Ballet (It mentions "BALLET" three times.......) "Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) For students wishing to train in Ballet the Department for Education (DfE) funds the Music and Dance Scheme which provides approximately 2200 children and young people between the ages of 8 (11 for ballet) and 18 to receive an academic education alongside the best specialist dance training available. At present four dance schools offer MDS places to ballet students at 11" It also describes CAT training for "other dance genres" "In addition, the government has announced new national grants for exceptionally talented children allowing them to gain access to specialist dance training in other dance genres in Centres for Advanced Training (CAT)" Here is the link again http://www.cdet.org.uk/professional-training/funding/ Its very clear that MDS awards at the vocational schools are for ballet only. If you want MDS funding for other dance genres, the CAT scheme is the programme to consider. NL 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regattah Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I know what you're saying Famcandance, in terms of whether it's a choice made by the school, but in practice the MDS is given for ballet, certainly not drama or music at Hammond and Tring. (Music students rightly must apply for music MDS at the non-dance, music MDS schools.) Last year Rachel Rist at Tring listed all of the physical qualities that she would want to see in order to award MDS and they are exactly the typical RBS student (long limbs, neck, 'VERY' high arches, flat turnout etc). The fact that the scheme used to be termed 'Music and Ballet School' scheme and then this changed from 'Ballet' to 'Dance' in 2002 does seem to indicate that the Government may want to open it up to encompass all dance, but this is not happening in practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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