Centre for Advanced Training - contemporary

[Junn]

DD (14) has just been accepted onto the CAT programme at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. This sounds like an awful question but I’m basically after some reassurance that this is a significant achievement (!).

I’m clueless about the world of dance. DD has had a fairly casual weekly dance class at a performing arts school for a couple of years, though she was much more focussed on the drama side of it when she started. A year ago she started ballet classes at the ripe old age of 13, then last summer went to a summer school week at NSCD and loved it. She started taking a technique class there in Sept, and picked up a performance class in January and 2 months later has had this offer!

It all just seems like such a quick progression onto the CAT programme and it’s so expensive that I have a small niggle that maybe it’s not so exclusive and it’s just a matter of being willing to pay and you’re in. I (think I) know rationally this can’t really be the case, for a start there is a bursary scheme, but would appreciate some reassurance from more knowledgeable people that this is a good and serious thing.

Maybe try asking @KatyMac, who had a thread about her daughter auditioning for it. She's still around on here.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/extra_curricular_activities/1294982-Sqeee-Im-so-excited-DD-has-an-audition-on-Friday

Thanks @GarlicStyle, I remember KatyMac’s threads from over the years, never thought I’d be scouring them for advice though! I’m a bit flummoxed by it all and wondering what it means for DD.

The thing that shook me was the 5am starts! Having a talented child must be unbelievably exhausting 🤯

No 5am starts for us thank goodness!

Just a little bump…

Yes, it is a big achievement for her to be accepted onto a CAT.

I thought that the training was funded by the MDS scheme?

There is a sliding scale means tested bursary funded by the MDS but we aren’t eligible.

Aah - right, I did wonder but didn't like to ask your financial situation. As far as I am aware, they do some ballet, but mainly to support the contemporary dance training, as good classical technique and core strength really helps. If they have offered her a place, then they have clearly spotted that she has a lot of potential, and the physical facility to be able to cope with the rigorous demands of contemporary dance. A lot of young dancers who attend CAT schemes do go on to full-time contemporary dance training at 18+, and if she is keen on pursuing a career in dance, then I'd suggest that you grasp this opportunity with both hands. She would also need to continue with her regular dance classes as well though, as the CAT scheme is intended to supplement existing training rather than replace it.

She would also need to continue with her regular dance classes as well though, as the CAT scheme is intended to supplement existing training rather than replace it.

Really? That’s not likely/possible for DD. She currently does 1.5hrs on Tues/Wed/Thurs evening. The Tues and Thurs classes are at Northern already and I’m pretty sure there aren’t any current CAT students in those classes. The Weds class is ballet and will be a direct clash with one of the CAT evenings.

I had assumed CAT would supersede all her other classes, they are all at a pretty basic/introductory level.

Anyone else with any insights?

Perhaps speak to her existing dance teacher then, and ask their advice.

Some dance teachers, especially ballet, are quite snooty about CATs and feel they don’t offer the level of pure technique which is needed for vocational dance school. Associate places at well known brands, with consistent teaching by teachers they know and rate, are valued much more highly.

On the other hand, the CATs do provide a holistic package (career support, technique, performance opportunities, health screening, different types of dance) that is hard to get at a local dance school. And they do provide a wide variety of teachers, which can be both good and bad.

I don’t know enough about it to make a judgement, but I suspect you’ll go further with a very savvy and good dance teacher than with the CAT. But finding that teacher is hard, and if they don’t teach some dance styles you want, or they aren’t a good fit in other ways, then the CAT is better than struggling on spending hours a week with a teacher who isn’t on the same page as you and your DD.

Oh bum, now I’m more confused than before. I guess I’ll just have to be happy with the thought that it’s better than what she’s currently doing, and hope that she gets enough out of it to make it worth doing.

Yes, ballet teachers wouldn't normally suggest a Cat scheme to their ballet students. They would normally suggest an associate scheme at a ballet school. That's because there is only one ballet CAT at Northern Ballet - all the rest are contemporary/other, so ballet teachers wouldn't necessarily recommend them for dancers whose primary interest is ballet. Unless you live near Leeds, other ballet schemes would be preferable. The Northern Ballet CAT, by the way, is outstanding.

It all depends which dance style you wish to pursue.

Talk to your dd and find out what she wants to do. If she wants to concentrate on contemporary, fine. If her interests lie more with performing arts, MT, ballet etc, then she might decide it isn't for her.

You can't push her in one direction or another, the motivation and determination to succeed has to come from her. She's the one who's going to be doing it, and she's mature enough to be able to decide. Gut instinct when choosing somewhere to train is also worth taking into consideration. What I will say though, is that if she only started ballet a year ago, she's got one heck of a lot of catching up to do, whichever path she decides to go down.

If she isn't dead set on a career in the performing arts, then it isn't so much of an issue, so you can then discuss it as a family and decide based on what suits family life better.

Thanks @madaffodil 🙂 DD definitely wants to pursue contemporary. She says it looks cool and ‘feels right’ in her body and that when she listens to music now she imagines the choreography she would do for it.
In terms of catching up on ballet, not sure how it’s supposed to work but she’s in a class that are working towards grade 4 and seems to be doing well.

@Junn My DD is on the second year of CAT at NSCD. Happy to try and answer any questions if I can (I know very little about the world of dance but can tell you about our experience if it’s helpful). So feel free to pm me (I tried to message you directly but can’t work out how to in the app!)

Dd is at the contemporary CAT at Newcastle. She loves it, and the training is of a high standard. They have students who go on to full time training at 18 every year.

A small update - DD has talked to her ballet teacher, who echoed the point about continuing with her class to support CAT, and said there may be a class on a different day she could go to instead. So I guess that will be three weekday evenings and one full weekend day of dance - I’ve told her she’ll have to start getting the bus!

Her teacher has also told her she is ready to go on pointe, which she is very excited for.

Good news, I'm glad things are progressing well.

My daughter has just been accepted too! She auditioned on 8th March.