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Extra-curricular activities

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Too long in ballet grade?

29 replies

grainnewaterfall · 24/06/2018 03:16

I'm asking for a friend as our children don't attend the same dance school, hence name change. I think it's more than a bit off and think child has been failed by the school but thought I would ask for opinions.

Friend's child (nearly 12) has been in Grade 3 ballet for almost three years. Apparently corrections are very few or general corrections, such as 'some of you are doing this, it should be like this' (class of 11-15 depending) he has reached a point where he is bored, thinks it is pointless and his confidence has been affected.
He was once of the youngest when he joined, now he's one of the eldest. There is also some favouritism with competition children receiving the most correction, and they tend to do the exams, while he is overlooked. Apparently there are a couple of people like him in the class.
I think the school doesn't like to put children in for the exam unless they have a good idea they'll receive a distinction. The irony is that he only received distinctions in his old school but now he thinks his technique has deteriorated through lack of correction.

Friend is upset to have got it wrong and let so much time pass. She doesn't know whether to wait for an exam or cut losses and move somewhere else.

I don't know if I've forgotten anything there. Thanks in advance

OP posts:
TallyWest · 09/07/2018 20:25

“If you took 3 years in each grade you'd be 30 by the time you finished grin”

Shock
TallyWest · 09/07/2018 21:20

I’d be having a word if it started approaching two years in the same grade to be honest.

grainnewaterfall · 15/07/2018 14:53

That was her biggest regret that she'd left it so long. Each time she thought he was sure to get the exam entry envelope, but it didn't happen and worried about just leaving and him being left with nothing for all the time spent, and the money spent - hundreds over that time period.

It would have been much longer than three years too. I think it's just poor teaching, as has been said. Teacher also said the mother's expectations were too high and the parent was rude for saying he was bored in the grade, which after three years in a low grade I would have thought understandable. Apparently she briefly considered letting him take the exam before leaving, then changed her mind, which just sounds like spite.

OP posts:
dodobookends · 16/07/2018 16:03

My money is on the teacher at the new school saying he has a lot of uncorrected technique issues and he's not using himself properly.

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