Peanut68

No Dancing 10... In DD's year 1 of applying ended with a NO email, year 2 got Wait List.....so....here's hoping for third time lucky!!!! & for those on wait list.....fingers crossed a place frees up (it didn't for DD last year but hey ho....a wait list place still felt like a step in the right direction!)

Love the minion voice banana thing!! I think the DH's manage to keep our dance obsession in perspective with well placed humour from time to time!

Hi Stirrups.....we empathise about the rugby black eye....my DS did his RAD ballet exam looking for all the world like he'd been hideously abused.....bruises all the way up his legs (shorts at Grade 2 so no hiding it!) ....all from a particularly brutal rugby match 3 days earlier!

I think many get hung up on being as far through syllabus grades as possible (& dare I say it...some may be led this way by schools to pay for ever extra lessons to 'push on' at great expense) Does it help secure places? Maybe. Is it the only criteria? Absolutely not. I know of DC's who have been accepted onto top associate schemes with NO prior dance at all & also know of DC's now in Voc school who started Year 7 with just RAD grade 2 taken.

Keep the letter back - pop it on doormat a few days after all auditions....unless of course you are quizzed by DD or they hear others have results....in which case, best not to lie. Buying time by delaying giving a negative result will avoid any feeling of self doubt before other auditions. & remember, a no from one school just means it's not to be that school at this time.....Good Luck!

It definitely shows....also in his discipline & ability to take criticism! The strictness & demands of a rugby coach don't come anywhere close to that of our legendary ballet teacher!! Thank you Cotes du Rhone & Taxi!

I will definitely share this with him if I see him questioning about carrying on! He is at the age where he is showing a distinct interest in certain girls & worrying that his hair looks good

I know it's not a vocational exam.....but wanted to share how proud I am that rugby playing son got a merit for his first ballet exam - RAD Grade 2....& even more proud that he intends to carry on & seems able to shrug off any of the usual teasing from other boys/adults about boys doing ballet!!

Hi - my 10 year old DS (well....not sure he will be a DS in the true Forum DS down the line as he has aspirations of playing Rugby for England!) is the only boy in his now Grade 3 class (very proud of his recent merit in RAD grade 2). I think he secretly wanted to start dance years ago (as forever dragged around whilst DD did classes) & suspect that secretly he'd actually like to do more such as an associate scheme but is embarrassed as a) doesn't want to appear to be 'copying' his sister & it has not been suggested by dance teachers.....quite probably correctly as it would be unlikely to get full family support (yes - the 'turn him gay' phrase has been uttered!!) & he is also a very tall lad & with frankly terrible feet (think he missed that crucial 'good toes naughty toes' as shown in that cute animation by starting later than most of the girls!) He felt able to start as a male friend from his school class did it & he joined a class with 4 boys. His friend left but my son stuck with it much to me surprise....then he got moved up to Grade 2 as he is a little older than the other boys. I was very worried as this meant he was the only boy.....but - he stuck with it & the girls (whilst there is the usual reticence to hand hold when required stuff typical of any mixed class of 8-10 year olds!) are generally very accepting & nice. Think it does help as there is one particularly beautiful green eyed girl...his first official crush I believe Our local dance school is lucky to have boys & has great success with several going on to RBs JA's & SA's, White Lodge & many doing arts/dance related degree courses I know my son is spurred on too as he can see sports transferrable skills....he needs speed, co-ordination, ability to jump high & transfer weight in rugby just as much as in ballet & seems quite confident to state he does both! It may well help that he is very tall for his age....I reckon many his age would be too scared to take him on & tease him for doing ballet as he could easily flatten them (though is actually a gentle giant - bless!). He is always keen to go watch too....though again other family members think this odd - sigh. So, good luck, I think it is really important that we bring up sons & daughters to have respect for all sports & all art forms & to embrace the opportunity for them to try all forms & to find their niche!

Not quite the same, but I am just as nervous waiting for son's first ballet exam results...RAD grade 2! Just pleased that he wants to keep up dancing alongside rugby

There is never going to be an 'ideal solution whilst circumstances can change so readily. I think the whole point has to be that the government actually keep control of the money whilst it is 'awarded' by the school/external judges. There would (& I am sure is) always a contingency for such changes but if accurate (& honest) means testing was done then I guesstimate that when one family's MDS government contribution needed to be increased due to family changes (divorce. job loss, extra siblings etc) there is just as likely to be another elsewhere where there has been a marriage or a promotion etc so there fair contributions would increase.....

I think other people need one to be able to read my mind!!!

Ah....brings back memories....early 20's, first trip to Paris with a friend...trying to be oh so sophisticated & doing my best 'well, I am a dancer' walk down a grand sweeping stone staircase in the Louve......& yep - you've guessed it.....'ba dum ba dum ba dum ba dum' I think is the sound affect to give you the picture!!!

Seriously??? Wow - does that mean Lilac Fairy is booted off the cast list of any Sleeping Beauty EYB production???

What.....no mention of cake Petalviolet????

Sounds like a good name for a dodgy tribute act...The Swaybacks...playing all your favourite tunes from S'way back!!! Sorry folks!

I think we all slightly wonder about that one! I do think that maybe they wait til after the forst round auditions to inform about SS places as how awful would it be for DC's to go into the WL or upper school auditions right after receiving a rejection email from RBS Summer School?

Maybe we all just need to assume that all our kids are gonna cost us a fortune in some way or other & just get on that gravy train to earn & save as much as we can from the day they are a mere twinkle in someone's eye!

Again - I share your sentiments & concern & you have a level head as regards to knowing the possible changes that may happen along the way to put an end to any aspirations too such as loss of interest, other new dreams, change in body shape/aptitude/injury etc etc... & again - this can be reflected in so many other things such as you say as academic kids missing out maybe as parents don't believe in one type of education/university etc. We all have examples I am sure from our own histories! But like you, I just wanted to get 'a realistic handle' on the whole thing to manage dreams/expectations & perhaps even forward plan a little. Do I for instance just get back into fulltime career focussed work to negate reliance on funding? But then at what family life cost? The old life/work balance issue is even more in focus once you look at paying for al that dance & other such activities cost in terms of money & time......sigh.

Wise words Mumofthree.....there are so many factors at play. If awarded an MDS, household income is looked at with a small adjustment made for additional dependant children/those in full time education etc. However - it can never hope to reflect each individual set of circumstances. A minefield too when you look at such factors as geography as we all know that to have a very basic home/lifestyle can cost considerably more depending on where you may have to live (& we cannot all just up sticks & move based on one childs ballet dreams!). Also we parents all want to treat each offspring the same & provide equal opportunities & fair use of income. However, this is unlikely to be possible if a high contribution to fees for one DC has to be made....Could lead to sibling resentment etc. The current system does also presume that parents are willing to make a contribution. I do worry that there must be umpteen children out there dearly holding the dream to train but who are not even allowed the opportunity to try as parents not happy/not able (as may already be financially committed despite a very high income) to let them audition/take up places. I pity those families with multiple talented (in whatever field) children who each deserve additional training! Good luck & best wishes to everyone!

Katymac - as you seem to be the original 'Spreadsheet Queen' maybe you should produce some software to flog to us less organized ballet parents! A Ballet App perhaps where all summer school/audition info etc can be uploaded from one site/cloud (am trying to get with the times here..... )

I should perhaps have added into my first post that it is great that there is this government funding for dance training. I guess my main thrust was that there does appear to be inconsistencies & a somewhat 'cloak & dagger' approach to info/decisions etc. It only appears 'simple' when looking at RBS as all places can potentially be funded. This lack of upfront knowledge does make it hard to manage family & DC expectations - maybe fewer would audition which would be bad as talent may be missed who may just have got that funding (& cynically - sorry! - schools would make less money from the audition fees charged) I certainly hope all with the fire in their belly & the passion to follow their dreams carry on & try for those places this year. And as the saying goes....if at first you don't succeed, then try, try again!

My big issue with MDS funding....it seems that the 4 schools each have a certain number they can give out each year. This is not at all transparent - though I very much think it should be. It appears that at RBS - & perhaps Elmhurst too? - all who qualify for school year 7-11 entry (roughly ages 11-17) & based I believe on Euro/UK residence qualifying period of 3 years, will be awarded an MDS. They will then be means tested & the amount the government pay will be on a sliding scale so the more affluent a family the higher the contribution towards training they pay. With the other 2 schools they will then have a handful of MDS to award across the age groups. Seems fair so far? BUT, we all know the more affluent a family does often mean the more prepared/experienced/trained the DC's may be. They may have benefitted from one to one coaching, lots of course/associate schemes/summer schools & the support of parents who can afford to drive them around the country to train. So a DC with raw untrained talent/ability/potential may not be the 'best' at audition due to circumstance & lack of opportunity. Now, I have no problem with the places (& even the funding) being offered to the best first. This is as it should be. BUT, if many of these then attract very little funding due to high family income, then this money 'saved' by the government should go back into the funding pot & be able to be re-offered by the schools to other candidates. There could well be some years when RBS for instance may be sending the government a comparatively small bill for funding for one intake year as that year the most talented by & large were fairly well off. another year, there may be more variance & so the bill to the tax payer is much larger. This seems a bizarre way to offer funding & must make it impossible for a school to predict cash-flow/manage costs (& thus possibly rely on offering a certain number of places to those who can pay full fees & accept a place pre-funding auditions) . Surely the fair thing is for the schools to have a set amount of funding each year that can be allocated - the more higher fee paying pupils should just mean they can then offer more funding places to lower income families too. I think it unlikely that one year all accepted would be affluent.....I think better that no offers can be made until after funding auditions. So all 4 schools should operate a 2 round audition cycle with places being offered strictly on talent/potential . The schools will know their 'income' is guaranteed as they have a set amount that can come in via funding....if more MDS are awarded to lower income families. I bet the 'flex' from year to year would be very minimal. The other thing in my opinion is that this needs to be 'policed' much more stringently as stories abound of people 'hiding' income/partners/fathers etc to reduce their household income threshold & thus lower their personal bill & get more paid via MDS. Again, gossip may not be founded in truth, but whilst everything is misty as far as funding, then this will long continue. Why all the secrecy? All the stories of 'well, boys will get funding over girls' etc etc? Lets face it, it deems currently just 4 schools worthy of support so the maximum really they are looking at as possible recipients is what 12 girls/12 boys across them per year? That's less than 100 children per year. Unlikely that all 100 will be UK MDS qualifiers as several of the best kids accepted will be from overseas. So, taxpayer bill is lower already. Then sure, one year may see the demographic mix is higher proportion of lower income families requiring more MDS money but I bet my bottom dollar that in another year this will be offset as it just so happens that more talented kids hail from richer families so the bill to support that group annually will be less. Surely this is the only way to offer funding fairly? Or maybe go to some sort of talent competition & award the money in principle to the child first who can then with knowledge of level of funding available to them then audition where they can afford/are best suited (as this may entail things like location too) & it can be more of a joint selection process between the government, the schools & the individual dancers too? This could possibly open up funding to be used at other worthy establishments also (though I do think all training institutions/programmes should meet set criteria & certain standards). I think key to all this is to make more funding in schools etc available for all children to have the opportunity to try dance (& this same principle I think could be applied to funding for music/sports etc) to find those naturally talented individuals & nurture them in a fairly funded programme whilst young to try & create a more even playing field where talent speaks louder than cash! Apologies all...this is rather a long (& possibly muddled) statement, I by no means wish offence to anyone, just interested in discussion! One Q maybe someone can answer....does the government publish data on the MDS funding year on year? Also, do the schools? I am sure this is information should be available in the public domain (& available without the secrecy & subterfuge it appears - at least to me - to currently have?). I do commend families who find the money 'come what may' & also all those other funding bodies such as the schools own bursary schemes, other charitable fund providers & benefactors who make it possible for our DC's to be working on achieving their dreams!

Used Airbnb when needed to be in London for DC last year...only caution is, there is always the risk of them 'changing' your accommodation. The flat we had booked - & paid huge sum for as was in Covent Garden - several months before suddenly became 'unavailable' but we could have another close by....one of the initial ones we rejected when looking at all options on the site! Very disheartening & I suspect a ploy...hook you in with a beautiful looking place, take your money, then right before when they know you are going to have no option, push you to the (in my opinion) less attractive/quality flat. I think I might be tempted if I were you to go with the good old trusty Premier Inn option. Book early enough & prices good - even in London. Or maybe look at an option just outside (though budget in then the cost of travel in....) I have stayed often in Hemel Hempstead West. Really good - nice staff who all seem to have been there the 2 years I have been visiting. Food good too. A short drive to Hemel Train Station then train to Euston. Or apparently you can use on the train Oyster/travelcards from Watford Junction short drive on so cheaper for travel.I think there is actually a Premier Inn there too - so perhaps could work out cheaper there & your car would be able to be left in car park. Another I have used for this purpose is Premier Inn at Edgware. Free to leave your car in their car park (you have to ok it & leave reg no) then short walk to Edgware tube. Seemed full of builders & their vans so less 'family' & as we arrived late did not want to enter the at that time very bawdy bloke bar/restaurant I must say, but it was very easy for in/out of London & again you might get a cheap rate in advance. Good luck & hope your DC enjoys the LCB tour!

Oh dear - I am totally spreadsheet phobic....but I do see the benefit; particularly if I could present one to Hubbie with a cost/needs/benefit analysis to highlight just why a DC at vocational school still requires dance in the school holidays! I need to speak his language for him to perhaps understand ours? Any advice appreciated.... & if anyone wanted to share with me a spreadsheet template/example that would be just fantastic....please PM if anyone is happy to assist - thanks in advance!