Billyelliott Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Dancing from birth ! But lessons since he was 4 Only other audition was for WL as we knew nothing of the others ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 My quote thingy's not working, but just going back a bit Balletmumfor2, post 85..... Tierney Heap did go to Elmhurst for three years before going to another dance school and then RB Upper School Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Just to say that my dd is primarily a ballet dancer and I feel the ballet training she is getting at the Hammond is excellent. She has absolutely no interest in musical theatre and goes to vocational school purely for the dance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 WL like the boys to be small! Back to exams for a moment (although this is probably a topic for a separate thread). Looking at most local dance schools - the majority of their students are going to be dancing recreationally and exams are something to aim for, and nice to see what result they can get. Certainly, since my daughter gave up her aspirations of being a dancer at about 11, she has carried on working hard towards her RAD and ISTD dance exams and likes to get the highest mark she can (the same as with music exams - I'm sure most people who take them aren't trying to get into music college or have a career as a musician). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two left feet Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Not sure WL like the boys to be small, the majority of boys in DC 's year were very tall , and the year below even taller, I think it all depends on talent and potential whether tall or short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 I'm not saying they're all small - my son and a few of his year group were the tall ones, but they do like their petite dancers IMHO (male and female). But of course there are always exceptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myveryownbillyelliot Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 That's interesting All4dancers as we hadn't considered Hammond as my ds is only interested in classical ballet and I was under the impression that it was aimed more for students also interested in musical theatre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 I think some of the subjects on offer at Gmmond not only benefit the children such as my dd who want to do musical theatre but the more ballet minded to. After all a drama class helps all form of dance, ballet tells a story with characters after all. In Year 7 at Hammond the children get 7 ballet classes per week, 2 tap, 2 modern, 2 Pilates, 1 stretch, 1 drama & 1 vocal training. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 I think people assume it is more musical theatre because lower school students do get the opportunity to take part in musical theatre productions if they wish and because obviously they offer a diploma in musical theatre aswell as the diploma in dance for their professional students (16+) However the lower school dancers do have a dance show each summer with the diploma dance students. They also still have the opportunity to take RAD exams at the school, up to and including advanced 2. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myveryownbillyelliot Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Does anyone know how long you have to wait to find out results from White Lodge auditions please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 dd is in Y9 and although has a couple of modern and tap lessons a week, has more ballet in place of pilates and stretch. I don't think any of the schools do pure classical ballet all the time, I am sure (although I am happy to be corrected) even WL do National dance. I think dancers need to be very versatile today, even if their heart lies with classical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomuchtallent Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Nice to hear there are some small boys at Elmhurst and royal as my dd is small!hope that goes for the girls too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAIRBELLES Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Does anyone know how long you have to wait to find out results from White Lodge auditions please? Hi, if memory serves my right I'm sure it is when they have finished auditioning at every venue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusster Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Hi, if memory serves my right I'm sure it is when they have finished auditioning at every venue. HI all. We were told yesterday at DD WL audition, that letters would arrive within a week or two for decisions on whether the dancers are through to the second audition in Richmond. (Bath centre) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda-w Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 HI all. We were told yesterday at DD WL audition, that letters would arrive within a week or two for decisions on whether the dancers are through to the second audition in Richmond. (Bath centre) Yes we were at bath auditions for WL yesterday too and told the same...a week or two for full time but decisions about associate courses will take longer but will be before Easter. Very very competitive warming up sessions going on yesterday :-) definitely not for the faint hearted ....felt sorry for some poor souls that clearly didn't want to enter the warm up studio :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusster Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Yes we were at bath auditions for WL yesterday too and told the same...a week or two for full time but decisions about associate courses will take longer but will be before Easter. Very very competitive warming up sessions going on yesterday :-) definitely not for the faint hearted ....felt sorry for some poor souls that clearly didn't want to enter the warm up studio :-( I'm not sure which class you were attending Amandalou, maybe a later class for the older Mid Associates? We were the first class, so mostly JAs trying for MIDs year 7. From my point of view it's difficult to see what is competitive warming up and what is simply injury avoidance. I encourage my DD to warm up and stretch because the body is stiff that early and I know she will be asked to do the splits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BankruptMum Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'm not sure which class you were attending Amandalou, maybe a later class for the older Mid Associates? We were the first class, so mostly JAs trying for MIDs year 7. From my point of view it's difficult to see what is competitive warming up and what is simply injury avoidance. I encourage my DD to warm up and stretch because the body is stiff that early and I know she will be asked to do the splits! I wasnt at the auditions yesterday but from my experience some will warm up quietly and in their own space, others will make a very grand exhibition of their warming up process - often encouraged by over-enthusiastic parents - becomes a battle of the minds, good luck to everyone awaiting their results. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda-w Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Yes it was a later older year group than yours and don't get me wrong I Agree with the whole warming up thing to prevent injury and enhance performance and my DD doesn't mind the competitiveness either as she can hold her own when she's got her ballet shoes on :-) I did find it a very competitive group (more so than normal) and even overheard a parent who I have seen at other events making a comment about my DD and sadly DD overheard her too. Luckily it made her more determined and didn't affect her performance. There were definitely children that didn't want to go into the warm up room as they felt intimidated as I saw it, which is a shame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 We've had some discussion about this in the past after we heard that the RBS had told students (or was it parents?) that they definitely shouldn't be stretching before an audition because they'd do what was necessary in the warm-up section before the panel start assessing them. Wish they'd "police" the warm-up area a bit more maybe to discourage too much. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myveryownbillyelliot Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Well Amandalou, shame on the mother who made a comment about your dd!!! I don't know what is wrong with these people. but they are shocking examples of good behaviour to their children. We are relatively knew to this process as my ds has only been doing ballet for less that 2.5 years and a RBS JA for the last two but some parents amaze me. RBS etc know what they are looking for and no amount of back-biting/ bitterness amongst parents is going to make any difference. There is a girl who dances with my ds. She was chosen for Nutcracker and is obviously talented but her parents are unbelievable!!! After looking around White Lodge and having the privilege to watch year 11 girls practicing he actually said that he didn't think the dancing was up to standard. We are all at the mercy of these vocational schools and if some people could be a little more gracious it would be so much nicer. Always be nice to people when you are on the way up. You may meet them again one day when you are on your way back down. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 So true. Dh (a teacher at a vocational school who previously taught at drama /dance colleges) has come across several ex students as he also sometimes accompanies professional auditions. His opinion is asked! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 We have a talented dancer with parents just like this at DD's studio. Neither of them ever danced and they know nothing about dance except what little they have gleaned via their daughter's lessons, but you could be convinced by their remarks that they have run world-class ballet companies and schools and are currently just slumming it with the ordinary children at the (non-vocational) studio. Unfortunately 'ballet parents' are very much alive and seem to be ubiquitous - although I have also experienced sport parents and music parents, just different sub-species I think.... ;-) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I always noticed that at dds old dance school it was the parents who had worked in the industry or taught at a high level themselves that kept out of it & the ones who hasn't a clue who always criticised. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda-w Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 When I got home DD & I decided it was more like the physcing out before a boxing match than a ballet audition warm up session :-) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myveryownbillyelliot Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 At my son's White Lodge audition it was my poor dh who was intimidated by the over zealous warming up and power crazy parents. He texted me to say our ds ( with such little experience) had no chance against the super flexible band of boys who were apparently doing pirouettes as if they'd come out of the womb doing them. This really worried me as dh said my ds was too embarrassed to warm up with them. Picturesinthefirelight - are you confirming then that there is actually no need to warm up before an audition? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I can't comment as dh isn't a dance teacher - he teaches voice. However our dd didn't warm up for her audition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pas de chat Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I think you have to do what you have to do. I don't think you will ever stop those type of parents who over push their children. Tring handled it very well on Monday as they didn't give children time to strut there stuff as you were not allowed to arrive before a certain time and then got whisked off very quickly for a talk. However I felt so nervous for my DD on Tuesday at Elmhurst I wanted to stretch myself!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyelliott Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Rest assured that no warm up is necessary other than to show off of , calm nerves or psych oneself up as the teachers leading the audition make sure the children are very well warmed up before any stretching or splits etc are done - they have to be seen to be taking every precaution ! I think they should put up posters in the waiting areas warning if the dangers of extreme cold stretches and that there will be a warm up as part of the class ! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fusster Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I wasnt at the auditions yesterday but from my experience some will warm up quietly and in their own space, others will make a very grand exhibition of their warming up process - often encouraged by over-enthusiastic parents - becomes a battle of the minds, good luck to everyone awaiting their results. Yes I agree. I would just like to make it clear that I am not one of 'those' mums . I heard about a few of the girls in tears at the later auditions that day so am aware it was very competitive then which is really sad because it will put off a lot of kids attending these auditions again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda-w Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Yes I agree. I would just like to make it clear that I am not one of 'those' mums . I heard about a few of the girls in tears at the later auditions that day so am aware it was very competitive then which is really sad because it will put off a lot of kids attending these auditions again. Yes that's true, I saw people in tears yesterday too....bless their little hearts I felt very sorry for some of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straceydor Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 My dd has done 4 auditions this time round and for the first 3 she didn't in front of me warm up but for WL one she did as the WL associate's were. She also said that they didn't have a warm up at the WL audition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stirrups36 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 DS auditioned once or twice for a certain musical. Initial auditions were a maelstrom (great word - think that's my word of the day) of spinning, jumping, splitting boys. VERY intimidating. Vocational school were calm in comparison. But what got me more with regards to ballet was the general dismissal of the Dads taking their children. I reckon it is even more intimidating for us. Luckily, I decided very early on just to talk to pretty much any and everyone, and am thankful for their welcome and advice. The ones that didn't really engage back were usually the jumping spinning splitting parents. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingPixie Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Jolly glad I spoke to you in the lift! Hope I wasn't too intimidating... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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