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He's very happy. Favourite at the moment is Laine. Let us know how your DS gets on. Maybe some of our children will end up together

Does anyone know how much pointe work Hammond will want you to have done. It states in their website that they will consider your suitability at audition if you haven't done any! My daughter is on pointe but hasn't done a lot at her dance school. I am considering sending her somewhere else just for some pointe work!

Thank you

Which course and what age are you considering your DD at Hammond for?

Hammond is a ballet/dance school for years 7-11 and for year 7 entry they certainly would not be expecting much experience on pointe.

Post-16, Hammond offer a BA Honours Degree in Musical Theatre Performance, which only started last September and I know nothing about or they offer the level 6 Trinity Diploma in Professional Dance or Musical Theatre. The diploma course has a common first year and students choose which strand they will continue with towards the end of their first year. Students are not necessarily strong or experienced in all subject areas when they start but Hammond must see the potential for them to be offered a place. You will find students less strong on pointe therefore but you can be sure that they will be very strong in another area (singing, tap, jazz, street etc) to have been given the opportunity. My DD, for example, had never done tap, contemporary or street before she started there.

Hammond do free taster days for post 16 entry, which can give you a feel of the school and what they offer. I would also recommend you have a read of relevant threads on balletcoforum. I am not sure what the current auditions entail to know how much pointe work is required as it has changed since my DD went there.

She is 16 and applying for the Level 6 Diploma. Not sure whether I should just leave her doing what she is doing and hope that they see her potential without extra pointe!!

I just checked with my DD and she said that when she auditioned she did not have a lot of pointe work in the audition - a few exercises at the barre and a few in the centre including pose turns from the corner. But this was when they had separate auditions for the dance course and the musical theatre course as they used to be completely different courses and now they have more vocal and drama in the audition there may well be less pointe work - I don't actually know. I would still suggest you ask on the balletcoforum for people's more uptodate experiences about what the day entails.

Ok - thanks for the information. I am probably worrying too much. It's such a stressful process!!!

Good luck to all dc auditioning this year. Our DS was auditioning this time last year and successfully gained a place at his first choice Laine, he is thoroughly enjoying it . If anybody wants any advice etc feel free to PM me.

Livy2 wrote:DD is auditioning at CSSD, Rada, Mountview, Guildhall, Wales, Lamda and hopefully Bristol. First one tomorrow ..

My dd is in the first year of the BA at Guildhall Livvy2 - if your dd has any questions I am sure she would be happy to help - good luck! x

For applications to schools such as Mountview and Arts Ed who ask for a a personal statement of around 1000 words would people recommend making them specific to the certain school? For example 'I wish to attend this school as my specialism is in ballet and this dance program offers......' or would you say to just keep it general!?

First post , so apologies if wrong place . Daughter travelling down to Arts Ed in Feb from Glasgow for 1st audition for BA MT course

I would suggest doing general personal statement but tweaking slightly to individualise . With Arts Ed audition and recall in the same day and always ask for the legit song to be sung first round and ask them to choose capability group for dance. At recall ds had to sing legit again and other choice , physical exam , mono and duolpgue and take direction . I think it's worth having another song choice too incase they ask for one ( certainly not unheard of) good luck auditionees.

When my DS auditioned for Arts Ed he also had an interview with the head at recall which was very relaxed. In fact, the whole day was very relaxed. Just tell your DD to enjoy the experience and anything else is a bonus.

Oh yes forgot the interview. Top tip , you are absolutely right ...is to enjoy the day. Good luck everyone !!

Hi Collieni,

How did your DS get on at Mountview last week - was he going for MT or straight drama?

Hi Dogcop, he had a great day at Mountview. He was going for MT - didn't get a recall unfortunately, but they've asked him to come back and audition for the Acting course! He's really pleased as he loved the college and felt really at home there. He had his Millennium audition yesterday which he also enjoyed. He said the dancing was quite tough, but the school and staff were lovely. Should hear back in a couple of weeks for that one. Urdang is next up, in a fortnight.
How's everyone else's DC getting on?