Royal School of Ballet Exams - is this OTT?

[Tanzie]

DD1 (who is 6) is being entered for the presentation part ONLY of the primary exam. Her teacher is demanding that she (and others taking the exam) have about 10 extra lessons each (at vast expense of course). Having read the leaflet about the exams, it seems to me that there is no pass or fail for this - they just get a certificate for participating, and do very simple stuff that they do in class. Surely weekly lessons should be enough for this - so what am I paying for? Teacher has also said she won't enter children for the exam who do not have the extra lessons as well.

Perhaps you are getting off lightly as I remember my mum having to MAKE my costumes for a show!

I've been hoping my dd would be keen to do ballet and tap, but after reading this thread I'm rather glad she isn't!

After spending years trying to convince dd2 she doesn't want to do ballet, I finally gave in after she sat & watched 2 hours on tv, and then spent the rest of the night trying to copy the moves. She's 7 & is going to her 1st class tonight. Haven't the faintest idea what to expect, as I and dd1 'do' the horses, not the ballet. Am now completely panicking at the thought of all these extra classes etc, but suspect that dd2 will be in her element
Has anyone else got dds who atarted ballet later, I'm a bit worried that she's going to end up in a class of 3yrolds, although teacher did say she tried to match age & ability.

My dance teacher sister makes all the costumes for their shows & a lot of the festival costumes too.I have to admit that it is hard work & I've spent many an evening sewing sequins & beads onto outfits to give her a hand.

I don't know if dd will want to learn to dance-she is only 18 months & obsessed by horses at present.Now theres another hobby that isn't cheap.

I remember having to make costumes too (well my mum!) We were given sewing patterns and material and off you go. We tend to buy ready made costumes. A lot of mums prefer to pay a couple of pounds extra and not have to do any sewing. Have to admit so would I. Mirage I think your sisters very brave doing all that costume making and you too for helping.

Berries don't worry about extra lessons many schools don't do loads of them anyway and if they do it's only at exam time. How did dd get on tonight?

Can I just butt in to say that dd2 passed her exam! She was "competent" in all but 2 areas where she is "progressing" (it goes competent, progressing and needs guidance, or something). The comments said "X has beautiful feet and legs. She obviously loves her ballet". Bless her. She was quite blase about the whole thing (apart from having the afternoon off school, which she was really excited about lol), so obviously felt no pressure, which is exactly what I wanted.

That's really great. Am very pleased for her and you too!

Emsiewill, congrats to your dd.
Dancer - not so good I'm afraid. Although the teacher seems very nice, dd2 was v quiet when she came out. It transpires that the teacher was telling them to do a lot of things that dd2 didn't understand (comes from a completely non-dancing family) and got very confused. She was also v upset that she couldn't do it, when she had wanted to for so long. Unfortunately, she's not the sort of child who appreciates the 'work hard & it will come' - she thinks she should be able to do it all now. I have suggested that we could buy a video so she would get an idea of what was going on for next week, and she is going to give it until Easter & then decide. Teacher did say that she had extremely good posture, esp considering she had done no dancing before, she also said that she would get a cd to copy so she could practise to the music at home, but not much use if she can't remember any of it! She also said that they are practising for exams at the mo (so hopefully not too many extra lessons then) so classes were a bit repetitious. Most of the kids were dd2s age (or thereabout) but had all been doing it for 2 -3 years (or longer)
If you have any suggestions they will be gratefully received.

my ds aged 4 does ballet tap and jazz. he adores it, but hubby moans like hell' why can't he just play football' he says!
in a dance show next month- only 2 boys go, mine and an older one.

I've got a dancing boy too, but we live in Stoke Newington so daddy around here would dare make him do footy instead He doesn't mind being the only boy. He and the girlfriend he dances with just think there is a quota system with one boy allowed per class, as there is only one boy in the next class up too! The teachers aren't bothering with any exams at all this year, they're putting on a show insteadand parents have been told they don't need to contribute any costumes or cash. There are quite a few classes around our waywe seem to have lucked out with the laid-back one!

my ds always has a little girl draped around him when I collect him too! He is in his element! His pride and joy are his ballet tap and jazz shoes. He does have footie boots as well, but can't balance in them!

Just popped in to say that Dd passed her primary ballet exam today, she was competnent in 7 areas and progressing in 3 others .

She was really pleased as was I

Congrats to your Dd too Emsiewill

I am hoping DS will keep up his dancing...whenever footy comes on TV he just looks completely bemused, despite (or perhaps because of) my attempts to share the joys of supporting Leeds United.

My 3 yo is doing her pre-juvenile ballet exam on Sunday, with less than 1 week's notice. She rarely lets me do her hair, and am worried about her accepting the teacher doing her bun. At least the teacher is willing to help. In contrast she is doing her second rosette ballroom exam in the afternoon and just has to wear a pretty dress with tidy hair. I think when she finished pre-school classes I will try to get her to go the disco/ballroom route instead of the ballet/tap route, as it seems much less stressful. It would probably be more useful in normal life, anyway.

This thread is such a shicking eye opener DD (nearly 4yo) doesn't do formal ballet. i don't think it is her, not just yet. And I really can't see her going through the whole strict exam process. DD just wants to dance. She loves pop music, rather than the classic, and is not particularly light on her feet. We have found her a fab dance studio (it does do ballet, etc too) and they have this lovely 3-5 year olds class where they do dances and routines to S Club, that Barbie Girl song, Elvis and other poppy tunes. DD loves it. It is really informal for them at this age and it is all about having fun, following instructions and gaining confidence. Parents can stay - and join in! Dd needs to confidence boost that I think dancing will bring. Oh, and for DD, one of the best bits is the silver, sparkly ballroom style shoes she gets to wear :) So glad I found such a relaxed, but professional studio :)

I am dreading it if DD wants to move onto the full ballet when older, having read this! Maybe she'll stick with modern or ballroom instead.

DD has this as well, she is currently working towards 3 dancing exams but the rules are the same - extra lessons for about 8 weeks before (£2.50 per extra one), new ribbon for hair, new socks, new shoes (for ballet exams) tap shoes have to be new or scrubbed so they are white again.

Oh and they charge for the hire of the dresses that they wear on exam day.

But then we did know this when she started so not really complaining.

DD has her Primary exam on friday, we didn't bother with the pre primary presentation. It is a bit OTT for the exams but on the whole I like the disipline of it all.

DD has had 10 extra lessons, the time in normal classes is spent practicing for the shows as well as normal drills. Not all of the class are doing the exam and the classes split as they progress with some working for exams and other classes who take part in the shows etc.

We did have to buy satin shoes and a new leotard, but that will do for the rest of the year, the school will provide skirts but a lot of mums have bought these. The teachers and the helpers will do their hair, I'm glad of that as if DD's hair is not up properly she will spend half the time pushing it out her face.

I like the fact the teachers take it seriously, both dd and ds do gymnastics and ds spends half the time in a dream lying about on the mats, I watch from outside and I am dieing to run in and shout SIT UP and PAY ATTENTION!. They faff about a lot and the kids lose concentration and get bored. They have a fun competition coming up but i feel they are not getting much practice.

Some one mentioned the disco and ballroom dance, talking to other mums put me of that, they go in for loads of competitions and have to buy and sew costumes, the competitions get very intense.

Having said that DD does tap and jazz and most mums have forked out over £25 pounds for outfits, I made one out of a swimsuit and bikini set I got for £6 and now she wears jazz style leggings and a little top from Tesco v. cheap.

My MIL is a ballet teacher - may print this off for her for info!

Is she an ogre? with a big stick she bangs the floor with? .

The teachers at DD's school are lovely but the head is a bit more scary.

The are very close to the pupils, during the summer school the older students stay for the week at the teachers houses and have a great time watching videos and eating pizza. I couldn't believe it when i saw them all with their bags and sleeping bags. I thought they were going to sleep in the school or something, but no they stay in their houses.

I teach music - so a little different - but I only enter children who can cope within their existing lessons. I haven't got time to start giving 10 extra that's for sure.

I do a couple of group classes for aural, but that's because the kids prefer to learn it that way. And the expense is shared and so not vast.