Dance School - advice needed!

[Dance&Smile]

I have a 15 year old daughter who wants to go to dance school e.g. Laines, Urdang, London Studios, Bird etc. Is it advisable to go at 16 or 18? Do the 16 year olds compete against the 18 year olds for places? If she applies at 16 and gets rejected will it be held against her at 18? She is not particularly academic and could well struggle with A levels if she stays at school.

Any advice gratefully received!

[36cherryblossom]

My daughter is curretnly in her second year at Urdang after auditioning at 15 (Yr 11), I don't think there is a right or wrong age to start training and each individual child is different. However, personally I think if they are going to do Dance then its best to go as early as possible but for musical theatre life expereince is an advantage so to go at 18+ may be an advantage.

Your age is not taken into consideration and on your audition day you could be auditiining with ages from 16-26.

Another aspect I think you have to look at is living away from home at 16, again some children cope with this in their stride.

You will need to get your applications in quickly as the deadline for funding applications for most colleges is normally in the next 8 weeks.

Also if you are not sucessfull in getting in your first choice college and its where you want to go keep trying it does not go against you. We know of candidates that have tried 3 times before they were sucessfull in getting in their chosen college.

Good luck and if you want to ask any questions PM me.

XX

[Dance&Smile]

Thanks for the advice 36cherryblossom. DD is in Year 10 so we are looking at entry for Sept 2012. She is not mature for her age but who knows what she will be like in 18 months time! I would prefer her to stay at home for another couple of years but can not see her doing 'A' levels; perhaps a BTEC in Performing Arts before going to dance school. On the other hand, I don't want her to miss the boat by waiting until she is 18!

[islandofsodor]

A lot depends on the school and the course. My dh teaches at one of the colleges you mention. There there are some courses open to 16 plus and some that are only open to 18 plus.

He says that the emphasisis very much on triple threat these days. Apart from ballet/contemporary based courses athe dancers have to sing and vice versa.

It is very hard going. Every week the college physio sneds him a list of injuries etc. You have to be quite tough in a way so consider your dd's personality, living away from home etc. If it were my daughtet I think I would prefer her to wait until at least 17 but only you know your dd.

[FelixGirl]

Hi Dance&Smile
My DD is in exactly the same position - 14 years old, Year 10, not very academic (except for Physics, which she loves, bizarrely!!) - and she has already said that she doesn't want stay on at school for A levels. So we have decided that she can audition for as many dance colleges as possible to see how she gets on, and if she doesn't get a funded place first time, then she will go to a local college and keep trying!!

Whereabouts are you based? We are hoping that if she were to get a place she would be able to stay at home - it could be a bit of a long journey (depending on which college!), but she'd rather that than be living away!

Sounds like we could be meeting you at auditions!!
xx

[GypsyMumNot!]

Hi Dance&Smile
My DD is in exactly the same position - 14 years old, Year 10, not very academic (except for Physics, which she loves, bizarrely!!) - and she has already said that she doesn't want stay on at school for A levels. So we have decided that she can audition for as many dance colleges as possible to see how she gets on, and if she doesn't get a funded place first time, then she will go to a local college and keep trying!!

Whereabouts are you based? We are hoping that if she were to get a place she would be able to stay at home - it could be a bit of a long journey (depending on which college!), but she'd rather that than be living away!

Sounds like we could be meeting you at auditions!!
xx

I see you are in Surrey - best place to try for your dd is the Brit School I think? My eldest dd is in 6th form there right now doing BTEC in Musical Theatre & absolutely LOVES it! You can specialise in Dance too if you prefer - take a look at their website - highly recommeded....oh and its free too!!!

[FelixGirl]

Yes, the Brit School is very close for us, so will definitely audition there (DD has done workshops there already, so has a bit of a feel for it)! Great to have a recommendation too, thank you!!

She starts the rounds of open days next month but I can't believe we're looking at colleges already....I've only just got to grips with secondary school!!
xx

[Welsh Mum]

Quite a few of my DDs friends are on 18 plus dance courses (at Laines, Bird, Urdang etc) after dong BTEc in perfroming arts. It doesn't seem to have held them back not going at 16, in fact the BTEC seems to have helped prepare them.

[Angela]

Hi my dd in year 10 also and not sure what to do after yr 11.
She is fairly academic so i would like her to get some A Levels but I will ultimately let her decide as most people end up doing a job they hate and if this what she really wants and enjoys then what a better way to earn a living.
Are there open days going on soon that we should perhaps go to.
I thought leave that till next year as it all seems too soon but looks like I am wrong.
I have two friends children that are going to Laines this year one at 16 and one at 18 so I suppose it just depends on the individual child.
Its all such a mine field.

[Dance&Smile]

Thanks for all the advice!
FelixGirl - We live in Berkshire so no good dance schools locally
We are considering BRIT School for BTEC in Dance but we live outside the catchment area; I understand you have to be exceptional to get in but we will give it a go!
For Dance school, it sounds like if you don't get in when you are 16 it isn't held against you, so my DD might well audition next year and see if she can get a funded place.
Does anyone know if the DaDa awards are going to continue? The other worry is they might have gone by 2014 if she waits until she is 18!

[Charz]

Talking of the Brit School, has anyone heard from them regards the auditions/workshops for the year 10 entry into the dance strand yet?? We live in Dorking, which is on the main railway line to London, yet, we have heard nothing at this stage. We are desperate for some news!!!

[GypsyMumNot!]

Give them a call Charz - we know a boy who has applied for Dance strand and had a letter inviting him for a workshop at the end of last week.

[Charz]

We did, they said that the letters were going out, but in no particular order! We are just getting impatient now!!

[Charz]

Letter from the Brit School dropped onto the door mat this morning, with great news!! My daughter has got her workshop and interview!! We were jumping up and down in the kitchen!!!

[GypsyMumNot!]

Letter from the Brit School dropped onto the door mat this morning, with great news!! My daughter has got her workshop and interview!! We were jumping up and down in the kitchen!!!

Thought you would - they do see everyone that applies within the catchment area. Good luck!