Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Apologies in advance as I am new today to balletco hopefully I will learn my way around soon:) My question is regarding my 8 yr old daughter. She started life very differently from other girls as she spent the early year poorly and after recovering and missing so much of school and building friendships struggled socially. In order to get her back on her feet and start building strength, our specialist at the hospital reccomended physio and the possibility of a gentle dance class I.e ballet. She joined a class of girls of whom she had never met and fell head over heals in love with her weekend classes. That was three years ago and brings tears to my eyes when I now think how much ballet has enriched and played an enormous change in our precious little girl.... She is now quietly very confident, healthy, strong and continues to inspire ME constantly Anyway... (Sorry makes me emotional haha) she seems to breath dance, it has become part of who my little girl is. I'm sure this makes perfect since to a lot of you but to others I know, they have no uderstanding. She takes x2 45 min classes a week and has just taken her grade 2 exam RAD Her teacher is very proud of her and our heart couldn't be prouder BUT.... Knowing 0% about ballet I'm wondering how I can best help to progress her? Any advice will be much appreciated Keeping her still proves so difficult at home, it's constant...ballet even at the dinner table haha I've never known anything like it but at the same time do not want to get carried away. If there is potential I don't want to be the one responsible for not taking action, I would love to have the knowledge to support her and then don't want to look silly or make a fuss over nothing Thanks 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilac Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Hi wonderful to hear how inspiring ballet has been to your daughter's recovery and life. If she wants to do more ballet, depending on where you live she might be able to audition for associate classes. These are non syllabus classes helping to develop the abler more enthusiastic students. If you were wanting to apply for next September, now would be a good time to sort out applications. I know about the South east where junior associates with the Royal ballet and the London junior ballet would be examples. These two have websites. Obviously you would want your local teacher's support, and probably signature. The other thing I would say is that most girls who learn ballet also learn other forms of dance such as modern! tap! contemporary and the more forms you learn the more varied opportunities such as pantomime performances. As well as associate classes, you can find performance opportunities such as London Children's Ballet and English Youth ballet which she may enjoy. They too have websites. Hope this gives you some ideas. My DD is 14 so I have experienced many of these! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Just a little more.. She still attends physio around 6 monthly and we carry out a home program to keep her core strong and the ankles and feet so I know this is an issue and hope it wii not told her back I'm her future. If she missed a class due to illness her feet will start to roll, she has learnt to recognise this alone and can now self correct even at 8 but it is still a concern I have. She takes a 45 min Saturday class in a group of 6 girls and a 45 min one to one class during the week. She was the one child to take her grade 2 exam as the other girls are not yet ready until possibly the summer. Due to this my daughter will need to remain with her class until summer when they are ready to move up apart from on her one to one class each week where she can start to study the new syllabus. She stands out so much in class that I pray it doesn't become a problem with the other girls or parents but can already feel it. She could just take the one grade 3 class but her teacher feels she must be dancing both. x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thank you @lilac much appreciated, we live in the south east so I can look into the websites suggested I hadn't thought about other dance classes apart from ballet, that's a very good point thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Hello Ceballet and welcome to the forum. :-) Can you clarify something for me - and apologies if I've missed it - is there no current Grade 3 class your dd could do in addition to her one to one lesson? Or will the current Grade 2 class all become the Grade 3 class when everyone else has taken G2? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
along for the ride mum Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 (edited) What a heart warming post! I totally understand what you say about her constantly dancing at home, my dd was exactly the same at that age and still is. I also was going to suggest Royal Ballet School JAs, LCB etc also check out Elmhurst associates, held at various venues, I'm not sure wxactly where. Edited to add: also look at Tring Park associates/ classical ballet academy . Good luck and please keep us up to date! Edited January 3, 2014 by along for the ride mum 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thank you spannerandpony:) As my daughter is the only pupil to be moving up to grade 3 and the previous grade 3's have all also taken the exam they will now be grade 4's. There is nowhere to place her and her teacher couldn't hold her back any longer as she has been so ready for some time now and doesn't want her dancing to become stale. The original class (grade2) is interesting, apart from the exercise remaining strength etc, my daughter tends to spend her time helping the other girls mainly. She really does enjoy this and it has helped her develop a wonderful confidence which she needed and made lovely friendship which are as essential, I am very grateful that she is able to take the other class alone in order to progress. It does leave me wondering even when the girls do move up, there most probably will always be this divide. I guess that's not important here only how hard she works and continue that matters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Do the other girls have a private lesson as well? If the rest are only having one group lesson a week they will probably always be lagging behind. I'm not sure what you could do about that without changing schools though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circe Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Have you discussed the options for progressing with her teacher? Sounds like she/he is being supportive with private lessons so should be able to advise on appropriate next steps to suit your daughter? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 No they don't! We wouldn't dream of leaving her teacher she is wonderful and my daughter and I adore her - I guess as long as now I research myself in order to make sure I am at least trying to do the right thing. It's so tricky as a mum sometimes I find, especially with ballet - I don't want to be that pushy mum but when there is something beautiful and different that shows through...x I'll at least be able to look back one day knowing I gave her support no matter what the future holds x 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 I didn't want to question the teacher to much actually believing 8 years old is far to young to be even thinking about the future in total honesty. The teacher makes it very clear regarding how proud she is, how she knows how much it means to her, how much she practices and her talent. She never hides this even in front of others which is why I decided to try and find out more before talking to her and making a fool of myself. She has mentioned the possibility of auditioning and regarding ja program's but we never go into detail probably my fault hehee. She is a very wonderful lady and we are blessed to have her teach I guess I do need to speak with her more if now is the time and I'm not to early jumping the gun here x 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thank you everyone and what a great forum, so refreshing to speak with other who understand/have been through it all!! happy new year xx 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Welcome to the Forum,Ceballet. Do keep us posted on your daughter`s progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletmum20 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 What a lovely story! I also have a 8 year old, who normally takes her exams before the rest of the class, and I think the reason for that is 1. She has a total love for ballet. - and it's her life, and 2. She does have a private lesson to work on technique and add just a bit more so she does not get stale. On my dd last ballet exam she scored 98, so at that point I thought yes it was time to add abit more, so we successfully auditioned for Tring parks classical ballet academy. Then at that point her normal class teacher then let her do the grade and the grade above. Meaning she does grade 3 and grade 4, which she loves, and in the time she has being doing this I feel it has pushed her forward, she loves learning new stuff! I will say in a small school, it is hard to get the extra classes in cause they just don't have them available and I do feel sometimes parents and children do not except my dd for her ballet ability and we do get the odd comment or moan about her going into the higher grade, but I have learnt to ignore it and think of number 1 and ghats my daughter, and I will do all I can to help her achieve her dream. Good luck and I know how you feel, 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I think the divide probably will remain but I don't think that really matters for your DDs age. I think it is just as important that she is with her peers and her friendship group and enjoying her ballet classes. My DD was in a similar situation and was encouraged to take up a class in a different style - modern jazz. As she got a bit older they advanced her through the ballet grades faster and she was typically with girls at least 2-3 years older than her but they kept her with her peers for jazz so that she was still integrated with her original friendship group. I think this worked well for DD as her circle of friends grew as she moved up and it certainly did not hold her back as she auditioned successfully for vocational school at 16. I would agree with other posters about looking into associate schemes, summer schools or youth ballet. It sounds to me like the teacher has already been hinting at that as you say she has mentioned ja's. She may well be a little hesitant at encouraging you to do so as these schemes do involve financial outlay and a commitment in time also. I know DDs teacher once told me that she does not like to push but will mention these things and let the parent ask for further information if they are interested precisely because she does not want to pry into their financial or home life circumstances. Do try and get to talk to your DDs teacher. I don't believe you would be making a fool of yourself. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Many thanks for your useful advice, it really helps 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I agree .. lovely story and such a shame that there is nowhere to place her for new grade 3. I don't know what to suggest apart from moving dance schools or doing another style of dance. My daughter age 9 really enjoys lyrical and her ballet teachers says that she can see this has been really good for her as she dances for fun in lyrical but using ballet steps and sequences and then after using them for fun she uses them in earnest in the syllabus classes. But, I guess that all depends on the classes that are on offer. Another alternative is to share a private lesson maybe. We have done that before as a boost where say 3 or 4 share a private lesson on a regular basis. Good luck whatever you choose and lovely to hear your daughter is enjoying ballet so much. As for other parents and the divide issue .. unfortunately for me the divide has just got bigger and bigger and I've had to grow a thick skin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Thank you annaliesey - all really helpful I appreciate all your posts everyone!! Many thanks:) Thanks to you all, I have been able to look into all the different ja's locally to us etc and different websites suggested and managed to find so much useful information that now I have a much clearer understanding of the correct steps as such if needed - fantastic! You have all been so kind, so happy I joined Just awaiting dd exam results now to determined her progression and take it from there x 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Ok so results in today, she passed with a distinction 84% 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Very good indeed, Ceballet! Well done to her. :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Thank you ever so much spanner x she is a very happy little bunny and i am very proud of her indeed! In complete honesty (I don't want to be deluded haha) and I certainly will not be offended, is this mark strong enough to think next steps or just slightly weak and needing maybe a bit more time or a really lovely hobby? Either way is good to know and we are so so so super proud:) x x 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 No, it's a very good mark. You do of course have a long long journey ahead of you as your dd is only 8. :-) If your dd loves ballet though then it would be worth having a chat to teacher about next steps, associate programmes etc. There may be obstacles and rejections along the way, or your dd may even change her mind and want to take up sport! You literally never know in this crazy ballet world. :-) But it is a lovely mark and assuming your teacher thinks your dd has the right physical facility then it sounds as if she's on the right track. :-) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 ok thank you again x 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Let us know how you get on. She sounds like a talented little girl. :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Good advice there from Spanner :-) Try not to get hung up on marks. My daughter always used to get really high marks in all her dance exams, but there's no way she was ever going to be a dancer long-term - her physique's just not right (well, certainly for ballet). You have a long way to go yet - have fun with it all :-) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rose22 Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Thank you julieW your so right!! she's only 8!!! Goodness me haha I need to just wait and let her have fun and enjoy and stop worrying haha my New Years resolution Super super forum thank you all - enjoy your weekend 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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