'older' DD started ballet

[wotnochocs]

DD1 (9) has just started ballet as acomplete beginner in a grade 3 class.Many of teh girls have been doing it 4+ years
I have 2 questions
1 How long do you think it will take to catch up.
2 I really don't know which loetard I should be buying.the teacher said RAD navy but there seem to be 3 types to choose from .Some have flat fronts, some ruched and one has a label on the back.Does it matter which one?

catch up - can't really answer - depends on if she has natural ability and how good the other girls are!

leotard I would say doesn't matter, why not see what the others girls wear the first class and then make decision?
(dd also 9 wears a flat fronted leotard)

my dd is nearly 13 and has been doing ballet since the age of 3 BUT i truly believe that if she had started at age 9 she would still be where she is now. She did grade 3 exam when she was nearly 11 years old. (at that point she had just changed ballet teacher). she has now motored through grades 4 and 5.
So in summary, she started early but didnt make that much progress. Then progressed sharply from around age 11.

Re leotard, for grade 3 i THINK it is the model called "aimee" but I'm sure your ballet teacher will clarify. some teachers are stricter than others about this sort of thing. good luck>

I did a lot of ballet when I was young and started at 4 years old (which is fairly usual) I finished at 13 on Pre elementary having taken G4 at 10. so on balance I don't think G3 at 9 (presumably to take at 10ish) is at all behind.

Good luck to your DD. I remember rather enjoying it. In terms of uniform I think there are practically uniforms for most dancing schools and there are certainly uniforms for exams.

lots of kids (and many boys) aren't starting until gcse age now - and opting for dance as a gcse option. it's getting very popular again. just check what the other students are wearing and go from there - some schools have one specific style and some just specify a colour, so you do need to check.

catching up? depends. if her teacher is ok with the class setting she is in i wouldn't worry about it - she can always move her up or down as necessary.

I'm surprisd she ha gone straight inat Grade 3. Dd is 9 and has just taken her Grade 2 and moved into Grade 3 about a month ago. The girls in Grade 3 are roughly aged 9-11 years old.

Grade 2 are roughly 7-9 years.

For Grade 3 it is the one with the ruched front. You can get the offical RAD one(with the label on the back) or cheaper makes, dance direct do them either are acceptable exam wear. Grade 1 & 2 are flat front. She will also at some point need a character skirt.

Two new girl just started indd's grde 3 class last week. They are aged about 11 & 12 and complete beginners.

It obviously depends on the school. My DSs started ballet aged 10 and 6, and went into a pre-primary class of 5-6 yos. They stayed with the same peer group until they left at 19 and 15.