Royal ballet school junior associates

[MaisyMoo123]

Hi, have raised this on a different thread but thought I'd start a new one specifically on this topic. My 8 yr old dd's ballet teacher has suggested that she audition for the royal ballet school junior associates programme. I'm really not sure what to make of it. Clearly we're very proud of dd as she's obviously showing some promise and I can see it would be an amazing opportunity but it also fills me with fear as it is a completely alien world to me and one I'm sure would be viciously competitive and require huge time and financial commitment. honest! Has anybody got any experience of this? I'd really welcome views and opinions to help me get my head round it! Thanks!

I don't know if just the right physique is enough. I was in similar situation with my daughter, she had only a moderately arched foot and that worried me (it was a no for us).
I noticed lately that some of the people who win first place all the time in the ballet sections at the festivals and championships seem to have had success in gaining places at RBS JAS, so I wonder if they're also looking for an all-round polished performer also. I really don't know.

If her teacher has made the suggestion then it's certainly worth a try.

That was to Marina, back in March I realise now

jodens possibly they are successful at the auditions for much the same reasons that they are successful at festivals. As well as a trainable physique and being a good performer (and the confidence that comes with success), there's probably also quality training from an excellent teacher, rhythm, musicality, balance, co-ordination, grace, charm, style, natural talent, the potential to benefit from further training and an indefinable quality that no-one but RBS can put a finger on!

Yes of course, and they tend to come from the same group of schools so the training must be excellent.

A friend of mine is considering, with teacher encouragement, letting her daughter audition next year. She has beautiful feet and technique and in festivals her future potential is often mentioned, but she is quite shy and not the natural performer. I wonder if this sort of person would be overlooked at audition.

How old is she?

She's seven. So of course only just old enough to audition next year. I think that's why she is considering, torn between hope that she may gain confidence if she waits a year or two, and the teacher who says to try to gain a place sooner is better.

I do wonder also when I hear of somebody having joined a dance school, never having taken a class before, and only weeks later being asked by the school to audition for JAs. I heard of a case of somebody being accepted under such circumstances years ago, and two more recently (though it was via their outreach scheme), I think it must be a rarity. One of my teacher friends says it is more likely boys to be successful in such circs and mainly on potential etc.

It would be best on the whole to audition as soon as she is old enough as the first year is the one with the biggest entry. If she waits another one or two years there are hardly any places available, as there will already be people on the scheme moving up. Places in the next year group will depend on people leaving/being assessed out and are very few and far between.

It is all on potential at this age, and if a teacher spots someone they think RBS might be interested in, they will suggest an audition, even if that pupil has only just started lessons.

Which centre would she be auditioning for? The odds are slightly better for the regional ones rather than London, but probably still only about 10/1. Slightly better odds for boys since not so many attend the auditions.

My own child is auditioning this year for a year 4 place. Interesting to read the old threads.

She did 'JA for a day', a few weeks ago, and is now looking forward to the audition. I think they said something like 1300+ last year auditioning for approx 100 places!

My DD is auditioning for a Y3 place this year (after last year's tantrums and never wanting to do ballet again, we have a new school and teacher and she is loving it and wants to do more and more classes).

I have family members who are ex-RBS and they have said not to even look at the numbers auditioning. RBS know what they want and you either have it or you don't. At this age it basically comes down to the 'right' physique in terms of proportions, feet etc, an innate musicality and ability to move and potential to benefit from their training and most of that is down to genes rather than experience so I'm way more relaxed about this than things like MT auditions where it's current ability needed.

Good luck to all those auditioning, and good luck to all the parents running the extra-curricular taxi-driving/bag carring/hairdressing/shoe finding/tear drying and fee paying service!

My seven year old is going to try for a year 4 place. We considered putting it off for her until next year, but as somebody mentioned there are not so many places available in years 5 and 6.

Does anybody know if they're allowed to wear split sole ballet shoes for the audition? Dd wears them for festivals and shows, as they enhance her feet beautifully, but not yet for exams. I can't find anything specific about it, here or any other discussions

Probably the best bet would be full-sole satin shoes - some makes have elasticated drawstrings which make them hug the foot better. Remember to take a belt to wear with the leotard as well.

Split soles generally aren't recommended for younger dancers in class I believe, although you're right, they look much nicer for performances etc.

There are some threads about JA auditions on the 'doing dance' section of Balletcoforum.

Oh yes, wouldn't forget the belt. Thank you. Full sole is probably safer I think then.

I'm over on ballet co as well, just couldn't find anything about the type of shoes. Plenty of worry about the best sort of leotard though. It probably doesn't make much difference us worrying whether these small details will impact

Good luck to all those with DC auditioning. I suppose we'll receive details of times soon now that entries have closed.

The best leotard to go for is one your dc is comfortable in, that fits snugly (their normal class leotard will be fine) and that doesn't have any fiddly straps. Oh, and if it is high-cut round the legs then make 100% sure that there's no underwear showing!

Don't go for one that's too low cut at the back either, in case they have to pin a number on the back as well as the front.

We were told normal class leotard with belt, standard shoes - pink, leather and full sole and socks not tights.

If you have a child who wants to wear undies under their leotard, then M&S and some of the dance schools do seamless nude pants that don't show.

Main thing to check with leotard is that there are no fiddly straps and that it stays put on the backside.

Mine will be wearing her dance school uniform leotard, though we had the option to wear another of our choice, but preferably pale and sleeveless.

My friend decided to buy her daughter a neon orange leotard, a couple of years ago, at the audition, in the hope of standing out. It didn't work

do M&S do seamless nude pants? not seen any. could do with some for festivals. will have to have a look on their website.

I've only seen the white seamless pants in M & S here. I buy the nude seamless by Silky, or even katz, from Ebay

thanks evian, I can't see them on the website I must admit. Will look on ebay.

Did everyone applying here name their children's audition photos? Apparently there's been some IT problem, linking photos to forms, and some parents are having to resend. I'm hoping the dance teacher still has all the originals!

I labelled each one DD first name / last name / Image 1-6

It took about 8 goes to get them all to upload.

One of my friends children (children at the same dance school) says her child's JA class is full of the well known (locally) championship and festival winning dancers. Her child is one of the few who isn't in that category, apparently, which is reassuring. She was worried at the audition as there were so many stage school, confident types.