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Secondary education

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Original poster

Ballet boarding school - what do I need to know?

43 replies

AntennaReborn · 04/03/2023 13:03

DD is in Y7, has been dancing since age 4, and has now told me and DH that she would like to go to a ballet boarding school.

I'm not exactly keen to send her to a boarding school, but equally if this is what she truly wants to do then I want to support it, so I am researching options to see whether it would be feasible.

I have started looking into what is available in the UK, cost, standards of education, pastoral care etc. but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and don't really know where to start or what to look for / avoid.

I would be truly grateful for any advice or insight from anyone whose DC attend this type of specialist school, or teachers, etc. (I have asked DD's ballet teacher, she is doing her own research and we have planned to have a chat in a few days)

OP posts:
toastofthetown · 04/03/2023 13:18

The main intake for vocational schools is Year 7, which obviously she’s missed now. Is she in any kind of associates programmes?

Original poster
AntennaReborn · 04/03/2023 13:29

She isn't in any type of programme, there isn't a lot going on where we live!

OP posts:
LIZS · 04/03/2023 13:31

Can she try Royal Ballet Associates or a weekend programme at onee of the regional based schools if not in SE/London. Her teacher should be able to suggest one.

TheLostArt · 04/03/2023 13:37

I'd check out the Doing Dance thread on balletforum.co.uk but just so you know not only is it super competitive to get a place at ballet school but also a lot of funding is issued for Y7. There are fewer places available in Y8/9 and they are less likely to be funded. Echo the poster who suggests looking for Associate places - there are plenty of good ones that aren't Royal Ballet which is super competitive and may have already auditioned for next year - and maybe a CAT programme too? But Doing Dance definitely a huge source of information and knowledge. Good luck.

yoshiblue · 04/03/2023 14:03

Agree the main intake is Year 7 so she's missed the boat. It's also incredibly difficult to get in, I'd imagine any places that free up can be easily allocated to girls already on a reserve list.

I dreamed of going to ballet boarding school but in reality as an adult I'm not sure I'd want that for my child. I know of at least two children who got kicked out a year before the Yr 7-11 period, easily replaced by an award winner from an international dance competition. There is no loyalty to your child and even if you make it the the end, there are very minimal places to make it into a company role. Definitely a BBC documentary about the Nutcracker that shows this in real life.

Personally, I would look at RBS junior/senior associates, also other intensive courses eg Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, Elmhurst. Northern Ballet in Leeds has a part time academy track too.

She can go down this route and look at a variety of full time vocational dance options at 16+.

Dodgeitornot · 04/03/2023 14:42

Could you maybe look at boarding schools with a good overall dance programme? Aside from the fact you're to late, she'd need to be exceptional and advanced to go to a ballet specific one.

PinkFrogss · 04/03/2023 14:52

Can you talk to her ballet teacher? It’s so competitive, I imagine if she was able enough to get a spot it would have been raised before now?

How many hours a week of ballet does she do currently?

Original poster
AntennaReborn · 04/03/2023 18:59

Thanks everyone for the responses, the little research I managed to do this afternoon and responses here all seem to indicate that she's probably missed her chance

Thanks to the posters suggesting associate programmes, I did look into these last year but the nearest one to us is very competitive and a 2+ round trip which we would really struggle to commit to on a weekly basis.

It does seem that unless you live in London or a large city you're pretty much stuffed 😔

OP posts:
Parker231 · 04/03/2023 19:03

How many classes does she do each week and what level is she at?

Dodgeitornot · 04/03/2023 19:10

@AntennaReborn there's a few girls boarding schools where the dance programme is quote big and popular.

LIZS · 04/03/2023 19:24

Commuting an hour for a specialist class or training is not that unusual in many activities. Boarding schools like Bedes might be worth a look,

Original poster
AntennaReborn · 04/03/2023 20:07

Parker231 · 04/03/2023 19:03

How many classes does she do each week and what level is she at?

She's grade 4, does 2h a week of ballet plus tap, modern, acro and musical theatre

OP posts:
Original poster
AntennaReborn · 04/03/2023 20:13

LIZS · 04/03/2023 19:24

Commuting an hour for a specialist class or training is not that unusual in many activities. Boarding schools like Bedes might be worth a look,

I'm sure some families are able to make it work but the logistics just wouldn't be doable for us.

DD was in an English Youth Ballet production which was only 30min away and DH and I both had to use annual leave and juggle work to get her to rehearsals, it was really quite challenging but we made it work for the few weeks it lasted, we just couldn't commit to doing this every weekend unfortunately

OP posts:
mixedrecycling · 04/03/2023 20:13

Tbh I don't think grade 4 in year 7 is very competitive in ballet terms.

I am not an expert by any means, DD has turned out to have a talent for dance, but I have 2 left feet. As others have said, if you can afford it and she is in the right emotional place for boarding then look at schools with a good general dance programme rather than a ballet boarding school.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 04/03/2023 20:19

My DSis did 27 hours per week of ballet in secondary school. She went to a specialist school that did morning classes only, dance all afternoon + many evenings. She made up the extra coursework on weekends. I’m not sure 2 hours a week of dance is very serious or competitive tbh. Also, looking back, my DSis’s experience is not one she would recommend. She and many of her friends ended up with serious health problems and eating disorders. It’s a weird culture for teens…

touterustome · 04/03/2023 20:20

Dodged a bullet. I know two people who went to ballet boarding schools relatively recently and eating disorders were absolutely rife to the point of being mandatory in the girls

PinkFrogss · 04/03/2023 20:29

At the level she’s on now she’s unlikely to get into a competitive school.

Is this something she actually really wants or an idea she’s romanticised in her head?

Either way, I wouldn’t be getting her hopes up

Lamelie · 04/03/2023 20:38

What about Tring?
www.tringpark.com/

StClare101 · 04/03/2023 20:39

She won’t get in. Sorry. It’s unbelievably competitive and frankly having watched a friend’s daughter go through it’s not something I’d want for my child. Her grades are average and despite being excellent she still missed out on a spot in a company. Now she’ll be a ballet teacher for the rest of her life unless she retrains.

In year seven she was practicing four hours a day.

EstherHazy · 04/03/2023 20:51

Just to say RBS does Zoom associates so you can do that - my niece does it. I have to say I don't think she enjoys it as much as in-person lessons as it's less personal really, but we're pleased as our nearest is London, a 1.5 hour train+ London travel.

I'm very sorry if this sounds mean, and I may be wrong, but to be likely to get in, her teacher should have identified her as especially talented to do this, so either your dd is good - maybe even top of class - but probably not 'the right stuff' for a professional career, or the teacher isn't clued up on it, and in which case may not be setting her up right in the techniques and standards she'd need to get in anyway. But - I may be wrong, and RBS always say they look for potential above all else!

Original poster
AntennaReborn · 04/03/2023 20:55

Thanks again for the responses

Irrespective of ability it looks like the fees would not be sustainable for us anyway in most schools, so I guess that's that!

OP posts:
maddiemookins16mum · 04/03/2023 20:57

I think it’s a pipe dream. I wanted to go to a ballet boarding school when I was 12, I went to ballet once a week and thought I was Margot Fonteyn. I blame the books I was reading. She’s missed the boat and unfortunately I don’t think she’s advanced or experienced enough anyway.

itsgettingweird · 04/03/2023 21:00

If she loves to dance then have a look at local theatres for holiday courses or even summer schools which are boarding holiday courses for dancers.

Then perhaps consider the option of choosing a independent school with sports specialism with a dance programme for 13+. She can then have both experiences and can apply for a scholarship or bursary if available.

Grade 4 isn't advanced for that age but that's no indication of ability as different schools train to a different level. Some will have ok inters and some will have amazing graders.

2phat2phaf · 04/03/2023 21:01

All you need to know is DON'T DO IT. Even if you can afford it, don't. Voice of bitter experience speaking.

PhotoDad · 04/03/2023 21:04

I completely get that transport and time are real problems, but where is your nearest CAT (Centre for Advanced Training)? My DS considered that as an alternative to ballet boarding school (he was with the Elmhurst associates and so was invited to apply there), but then decided against applying as it would have clashed with two other activities. I do feel we've dodged the bullet, as a PP said.