Jump to content

Elmhurst Auditions


Lifeafterballet

Recommended Posts

Hi I'm new to this forum.

My daughter unsuccessfully auditioned for yr10 Elmhurst last year. We had originally decided to use this as an experience knowing that competition is extremely tough and she would have no chance of being successful.

This year she has auditions again for Elmhurst and also The Royal Ballet for yr11.

My question is are the ballet schools obliged to give auditions.

Elmhurst already know my daughters abilities and recorded last years auditions.

I just don't want her to go in feeling confidant then being disappointed.

My daughter is 14 and only decided a couple of years ago that she wants to be a ballerina so we are both at the very beginning of a tough journey.

Advice would be most welcome.

Di.

Edited by DanceMamInTraining
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 452
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Hi I'm new to this forum.

My daughter unsuccessfully auditioned for yr10 Elmhurst last year. We had originally decided to use this as an experience knowing that competition is extremely tough and she would have no chance of being successful.

This year she has auditions again for Elmhurst and also The Royal Ballet for yr11.

My question is are the ballet schools obliged to give auditions.

Elmhurst already know my daughters abilities and recorded last years auditions.

I just don't want her to go in feeling confidant then being disappointed.

My daughter is 14 and only decided a couple of years ago that she wants to be a ballerina so we are both at the very beginning of a tough journey.

Advice would be most welcome.

Di.

Hi and welcome to the forum :)

My daughter also arrived late to the "serious" ballet scene. Auditioned for year 10 at Elmhurst and RBS and was unsuccessful. The schools were not encouraging for applications at year 11 due to GCSE courses,and tbh there are very few spaces for that year.

My daughter continued with Associate programmes, applied,and was successful in gaining offers at multiple schools for post 16 training.

Good luck to your daughter - if she does audition but is unsuccessful,it is all good experience for next year, where more places will become available.

II

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi DanceMam

I certainly think it is worth keeping on trying and wish your DD every success.  As I understand it,  places like RBS and Elmhurst do audition anyone who applies, but as to how much info they keep from previous years I have no idea.  Anyway, dancers can be very different one year to the next so it is worth trying again.  I am not sure about entry in year 11 though, as I thought that very few schools take them in year 11 due to being half way through the exam period (years 10/11).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to the forum.  As others have indicated, I think year 11 is a very difficult year to get into - but based more on academics than anything else.  If you are coming from a school system that does not have GCSEs its probably less of an issue but to swap schools half way through the 2 year GCSE courses and try and match the various subjects and the various exam syllabi would be a nightmare for most.  Obviously no school gives automatic progression through to upper school either so within months of starting at the new school, if successful, you are back to auditions for upper school places.

 

I don't think either Elmhurst or Royal Ballet turn anyone away who wishes to audition and I don't believe they look back to previous years and how well students did either.  An offer of a place depends on the current audition and not previous experiences.  So much can change in a year.

 

Good luck to your DD for her auditions.  It is good experience for her and practice for next year for the worst case scenario but equally this could be her year to shine.  If a school likes her and wants her they would take her regardless of what year she would be joining.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all so much for your comments.

At the beginning of this years journey our plan was audition experience only.

My daughter is working at A* level GCSE at the moment and would be tricky breaking half way through.

You have all answered my query and we are both aware of how difficult selection can be.

This year will be experience and all we can do is hope that she gains 6th form entry in a school of her choice.

Thank you again forum.

Speak again soon.

Di

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Happymum, my DD is auditioning for y7 on the 18th. I will probably have my 7 yr old DS with me too! We are at CBA on Sunday so will travel to Hammond from there for audition on 17th and then onto Elmhurst. No chance to drive all the way home to drop him off so he is going to have to have the time off school too!!

 

Good luck to your DD Sashee.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Busymum! What a busy schedule! We have decided not to audition to Hammond but I hope your DD's audition goes well.

So good to know that somebody else from the forum will be at Elmhurst on 18th. I'll look out for you, hope not many others will come with 7years old siblings. I have no idea how many groups of children do they see during the day but maybe our DD's will start at the same time. I have no idea when they will give as more details, hopefully soon!

Edited by Happymum
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Twoballerinas, I agree that the nerves are building up. My DD has her first audition in 2 weeks and 6 days time ( Tring) - that's very soon and very scary. I have no idea what to do and what to tell to myself to calm down and to stop thinking about it. My DD is fine and I can keep her calm and I'm telling her to be relaxed about it and

she knows she has a very slim chance to get in etc etc. But when it comes to myself I can not relax! Don't know what to do :-(

 

Edited to correct the amounts of days left till first audition - this is how bad it is - I must log out from the forum and give it a rest for a week.

Edited by Happymum
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Happymum, I know exactly how you feel! I'm also finding it all quite stressful, especially when our dcs are so excited, positive and full of hope, but we as parents all know their chances are fairly slim and are fearful of the heartbreak a rejection could cause. Try and remain calm (at least outwardly so for dd's sake!) and focus on you both enjoying the whole experience, regardless of the outcome. I know, easier said than done! Good luck to your dd for Tring and Elmhurst. x

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good luck to you all - I remember the anxiousness you're experiencing so well from last year.  This forum was (and still is) permanently open on my desktop :)  

 

It's easier said than done to just try to enjoy it....but I know DD came out of all 4 of the schools audition days having enjoyed them and that's the main thing....we didn't know whether she would make the grade but we knew we had to give her the opportunity.  It does kind of take over your life for a few months but it's worth it to see them going for their dreams!

 

Hang on tight and feel free to keep posting for reassurance if you need it x

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Happymum. I guess there will be lots of households like ours all over the country with nerves jangling. My daughter is so desperate to gain a place that I am just dreading the whole process. Just don't want her to have to experience such bitter disappointment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We tried to view each audition as a lovely day out together and a chance to dance in a lovely school or studio that many dancers never get to see. Yes there will be disappointment for many but it does not take away the excitement of the experience and it is not a 'never' - certainly for those aiming for year 7 entry. If it is a 'yes' - then brilliant but it does not take away the stress or the nerves I'm afraid - it just shifts towards the worry of them actually going away from home.

 

In the meantime parents, try and keep busy - do your Christmas shopping, write your cards out early - distract yourselves. Good luck to all the dancers and the anxious parents.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...