invisiblecircus Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I'm just picking up on the fact that some people who are attending the auditions seemed to be somewhat puzzled by things like: Which audition they are put into in the first place The timing of auditions The number system in auditions What sort of body type they want What sort of dance skills (or lack of) they want None of which as far as I can see is worth being that secretive about......if indeed they are being secretive. I don't think they are being secretive about the numbering system, the timing of auditions or which audition people are being put in. Someone here mentioned that they asked about the numbering system at their DD's audition and was told that it was in order of age. Maybe it's not always the same system, but they don't seem to be hiding anything there as they were happy to answer the question. Someone else was told that she had been placed in a later audition because she was travelling a longer distance, so again, they do seem to open to answering those questions. As for dance skills, I'm pretty sure they accept complete beginners into year 7 as they start from the very basics, although realistically, most candidates will have had some kind of dance training beforehand. I'm sure the school would be happy to answer questions about that too though. What sort of body type... that's a bit more subjective. We all know to some extent what a suitable physique for dance is and I would hope that anyone who does not have a suitable physique would be advised accordingly before applying (e.g. overweight girls) but they are also looking for physical facility, musicality and other requirements which they can't really judge unless they see the child in person. They're not being secretive about this, they probably don't even know themselves until they see it! At most auditions (I'm not referring specifically to RBS) they say that no correspondence can be entered into in the event of an unsuccessful application, and they can't go into specifics about things like body type for the same reason. As a parent I would only be concerned if the audition is authentic or not.........that is they are truly looking at the students attending with the view that anyone of them turning up MIGHT or COULD be offered a place......even though of course we know only a few will actually be available. Otherwise if they are not taking some of the applicants that seriously it seems to me that it's better to audition less pupils and be more up front about the whole process so people don't truly waste their time. I supposes I cannot really see the point of attending an audition if you really believe you haven't ANY chance at all in succeeding. I'm sure the auditions are authentic, but at some point of the audition, whether that is at the beginning or the end, they have to come to a decision about each candidate. For some candidates, it might well be that soon after seeing them walk in the room, they decide that that particular candidate is a "no" because she doesn't have the right poise, way of moving or physical facility. In theory they could eliminate the candidate at that moment, but I don't think anyone would prefer that they kicked people out the minute they decided they didn't want them! About the laughing during the audition, I have seen this reported a few times and not just this year. Obviously I wasn't there and while I don't doubt that the judges WERE laughing, I wonder if it is possible that they were laughing at something between themselves and not actually at a candidate. When you're in an audition, you do feel vulnerable and exposed and you're also looking for any minute reaction from the judges that would indicate whether they like you, and it is understandable that if you see them laughing you might think it is at you or another candidate when in reality it might not be. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I'd be pretty sure they aren't laughing "at" the girls too. I'm sure they are much too professional for that. Probably as I think another poster suggested they are just trying to lighten the atmosphere and smiling and laughing among themselves to help the students feel more relaxed. Perhaps slightly older students would automatically sense this but maybe some of the younger ones could misinterpret this. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I'd like to just chip in with the fact that I'm thrilled my son had the opportunity to train as a JA and then at WL in yrs 7-9, despite the ending not being what we would have wished for. We met some wonderful people and he had an experience that will stay with him forever (in a mostly good way - his homesickness was bad!!). The staff were very caring and it's a lovely place - and we still go back to visit when the summer fair's on (although there have been lots of staff changes, so we know fewer and fewer of them these days!). It doesn't suit everyone, but then no school does and it's a strange situation you suddenly find yourselves in. However, as others have said, you don't have to accept the place if you don't feel ready for it, and even if you do accept it, you don't have to stay (one of my son's friends left after a very short time - of his own volition - and they met again at an upper school - he's now a wonderful dancer with a British ballet company). 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Well my experiences with the RBS so far have all been 100% positive, my daughter really enjoyed her audition and brought nothing negative away from it, judges were friendly and smiled at everyone, the lines were not rotated but that was because they were saw 4 at a time from what I can gather and in my dd's audition everyone could be seen by the panel, there was nobody placed behind the panel and there was no laughing just friendly smiles. I think it's nice to hear others experiences but to bear in mind that if they have negative views/experiences then it doesn't mean it's 1) the schools fault or 2) means that you will also have a negative experience. Auditions are an exciting and important time and I think we often try to read too much into what happens in them and try to put reason to everything involved and it easily grows from a natural curiosity to guess work and speculation. I would like to wish everyone waiting on results the best of luck and hope your child gets the results they wish for.....I shall be looking forward to my dd's results letter and having the dreaded audition over and done with and feeling like we can move on with our lives and stop holding our breath .........GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!...... 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happymum Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Now THE WAIT! They said at the audition 2-3 weeks and 2 weeks will be tomorrow :-) Also from what I remember last year those who auditioned in Bath got the results exactly 2 weeks later so ... Could be tomorrow :-) Good luck everybody! as you can tell from my post I'd really like the letter (email?) to arrive ASAP, whatever the result - just to get it and go back to normal life for a month or so. How is it normally done? Do we hear all together or in order of auditions (so those from Manchester first) or "yes" first and then "nos"? I'm sure somebody's heart will beat faster after noticing a new post in "RBS preliminary audition" (mine would!) - sorry to disappoint, no results yet, just me sharing the agonising wait with you, sorry! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooZoo Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hi Happymum - the wait is agonising isn't it? Last year the results came by post not email - that was just as bad. As I recall the results came out in order of the auditions! There has been a lot of negative comments about WL on here lately but we are very happy with it. Sure, there are things that are great and things that could be done a bit better but my DS loves it and seems to be having a wonderful time. He never has a bad word to say about it, both dance and academic are small classes and the pastoral staff are all very caring. I certainly don't feel his confidence is being knocked, but he tends not to take corrections/criticism personally. I think in any dance school less confident children will find it harder as, by necessity, there is less time spent on telling them what is good, and more time spent on telling them what needs attention. But that's the nature of dance isn't it? Even principals get corrections, I imagine! Zoo 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happymum Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thank you Zoo, good to know that your DS enjoys his training at WL and that you as a parent are happy with it as well. Good to hear positive comments (as well as it was important to hear the negative ones ). I'm sure there are plenty of other parents and children happy with their training at WL. And thank you for the info re: results. So first of all good luck to those waiting for Manchester results! Do let us know! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamy11 Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Good luck everyone! My dd normally ask me not to open any letters like these, but this year an email makes it so hard and tempting! Come on rbs get the results out please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonrothbart Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Don't forget, no news is good news. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belljul Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I will also chip in with a positive comment on behalf of RBS. My son is happy and thriving. Mr Powney has also come in for a lot of critisism (on the other thread about students lacking in motivation) but I find him to be a strong leader but approachable to both parents and students. There really are some wonderful staff who all try to do their jobs to the best of their ability. As with anywhere there are a few things we could have a moan about but really on the grand scheme of things it has been a wonderful experience. As for the auditions this time round, my DD came out beaming with nothing but positive things to say about how the audition was run. All children were looked at in lines of 4. Hang on in there for results. We have upper school and lower school results to wait for at the same time argh!! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 My ds was also very happy at RBS although its some years ago now! It really provided the best environment for him to be himself. He made lots of mini videos there of him and his mates getting up to mischief in Richmond Park! It wasnt all plain sailing (what life is?) but I dont believe any secondary school would have suited ds better. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Slight change of subject but can anyone tell me how often children come home from White Lodge as read different reports, some saying 3 weekly as with tring/Elmhurst and someone else said fortnightly?! Could someone with a child there please confirm for me....thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belljul Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hi Lema. The kids can actually come home every weekend if they wish. They can leave after dance class on Saturday at lunchtime and back Sunday late afternoon before the park gates close at dusk. Exeat weekends are when they can leave on the Friday until Sunday. There are not the same number of exeat weekends as at Elmhurst where they are every 3 weeks. I would say one a term really. We have a 5 week stretch at the moment without an exeat, and it was the same before Christmas I think. That can be tough when you live far away and they can't get home on a Saturday. Hope that helps. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 That's brilliant thank you for your help Belljul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jade Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Hi all just to let you know Manchester upper school audition results are out for royal . We received an email with results. It was a no for my dd but at least the wait is over and she really enjoyed her day . Good luck to everyone x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisiblecircus Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sorry to hear it was a no for your DD, Jade, I hope she isn't too upset and nice to hear that she had an enjoyable day. Are you going for any other school? Approximately how many do they take to finals for WL for each year group? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zacharovitti Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 Jade, so sorry for your DD, but happy she enjoyed the experience. It's so difficult to get in...I hope she will soon move on. Belljul, ZooZoo and all the others, thank you for posting your positive experiences! They are as precious as the negative ones: living overseas it is very difficult for us to have a clear feeling of how things are going on at RBS (and at Uk vocational schools in general), as we can't attend open days, events etc. and do not have any contact with parents having children there. So thank you so much! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sorry to hear that Jade - but lovely to hear you taking it so well. ic - it varies a lot (about how many they take to finals) - depending, I suppose, on how many they see that they want another look at (and a new director to "complicate" matters - he might have a different way of doing things). But for girls - year 7 - anywhere between 25 and 40 - older years might only have 2 or 3 for each year (maybe a couple more). Fewer boys usually, but for year 7 somewhere between 20 and 30 (might have been few than 20 on the odd year too). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jade Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thank you ! Yes she has got hammond early feb and consirvotoir of scotland early feb also. Not sure on numbers to finals sorry x 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyOhBoy Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Manchester (boys at least) lower school audition results are out too...it was a No for my DS. its what I expected, but not what I hoped for! Oh well, at least the wait is over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sorry to hear you news jade and boyohboy, but there will be far far more no's than yeses to come I hope your children take the news ok and continue to follow their dreams, a no us only a no for today!! Fingers crossed for those still waiting on results, we'll all be twitching every time we see a new email in our inboxes now!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 *is not us!! Also didn't mean more no's for your dc's I meant no's to come in general for us all lol x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie2011 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 It is a yes for us for white lodge finals for year 7. I am truly amazed. Had to go into school to let my daughter know as she was so nervous about the results. She was absolutely thrilled!!! So sorry to here of the no's but as it has been said it really is only a no for now. There are many success stories out there of children reapplying and getting a yes further down the line. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Wow twoballerinas0004 are you our first yes?! How very exciting and a massive congratulations on you daughters achievement!! Bet she was over the moon!!! can I just ask where she done her audition?? Are you also Manchester? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie2011 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thank you so much Lema. Yes my dd auditioned on the 8th of January in Manchester. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks twoballetinas, so looking like all the results are from Manchester so maybe they will do a different audition centre each day...guess we will soon know!! Well I wish your daughter all the best for finals and now that wait is over for you but I suppose now another one begins ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happymum Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sorry to hear about the "nos" :-( Well done to your DD Twoballerinas! Fantastic news! Lema - yes I think it is in order of the auditions. So Bath next (it's us!) - will that be tomorrow??? Hope we won't need to wait the whole week :-( 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Fingers crossed for you happmum xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamy11 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 It's a yes for my daughter too for the finals!!! Really can't believe it. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowiththeflo Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 It's a 'no' for us, for both RBS and elmhurst. Daughter's fine about it- I'm not yet!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat09 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Sorry to see your news gowiththeflow - hugs to you both and good wishes for the future. Remember its a not now xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Oh no gowiththeflo I'm very sorry to hear this, best wishes to your dd for her future and I'm glad she's not let it upset her!! Balletqueen a big congratulations to you and your dd, you must be so proud....I just couldn't imagine getting a yes!! Must be wonderful!! Best wishes for finals....very exciting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamy11 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks Lema! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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