NotaPushyMum.Com

I have been with my DDs a few times and it makes for a great day out. There are plenty of stalls to browse and a lot of events to watch on the main stage even if you do not participate in any classes. On the classes front we have had mixed experiences. One DD loved hers but the other did not enjoy t...

My DD uses a dance bag with end sections for shoes. She can't quite fit all her shoes in them as generally does need 4 pairs + spare ballet shoes. These days she tends to take 2 bags with her. The second bag is just a canvas shopping bag and she uses that for lunch, non dancewear as often when she h...

I don't know your area so I can't reccommend any particular dance school. However, if you are looking for some structure to her dance learning and her getting some exams done your best bet might be to look at the websites to find registered teachers near you. RAD ( Royal Academy of Dance) do ballet ...

I know of many students who have gone to Stratford (upon Avon?)to do the BTEC in Performing Arts and they have all loved it. They have all been dancers so I cannot comment for other strands of the BTEC nor do I know anything about the standard or quality of teaching. A few have gone onto Performing ...

I agree that pre-16 is essentially more about ballet. I don't know the way forward for a latin/ballroom dancer. I suspect older dancers/teachers at the venue where she trains might be the best to tell her what options are availalbe. In terms of general dance though, courses for 18 year olds seem to ...

It is still a lot of GCSEs, I agree but you will just have to see how she goes and keep communicating with the school. Certainly unless science is a real strength for your DD I would encourage her to do the dual award, rather than the triple, regardless of her year 9 grade. Having had 1 child do dou...

That breakdown of subjects now seems a lot more manageable, especially with dropping RE and possibly an option later on. English Language and Literature courses overlap in that some study material is used for both so that won't be extra work for DD. Science is 25% each of physics, chemistry, biology...

Sorry yes I meant DADA as in Dance and Drama award. This is funding for post 16 courses at selected schools for dance or drama. Other dance courses at places like Cental School of Ballet, Rambert qualify for university loans but many including Tring and Hammond are privately funded but have an alloc...

Or keep fingers crossed for a DADA (or whatever it will be from 2013). My DD has just applied for Tring 6th form and at least on their application form you can say from the start that the place would be subject to receiving funding! Back to the subject of GCSEs I should say that with many English ex...

Dance and Drama Awards for 2012 will remain as before. YPLA have announced a postponement to any changes in funding. It says on their website that 2012/13 will be the final transitional year for the current DADA scheme and that any new system/changes will be implemented from September 2013. Just fin...

11/12 is about the norm for GCSEs at my childrens school. My son took 14 as his ICT equated to 4 GCSEs but was all coursework. That number of GCSEs is completely managable depending on the choices of subject ie some get very little homework or rearearch needed, others have large demands on time. For...

A huge well done for being offerd a place at Tring in the first place. That in itself is an achievement. I hope you do manage to secure the funding. I have no experience myself of the MDS scheme but others on here and the balletcoforum might be able to offer advice on where to go from here. Good luck.

I had similar issues finding clothes for my DDs at that age. Actually it is the 'slim' that causes more problems than the height. Adult size 6 clothes are often smaller in width than aged 10/11, 11/12, 12/13 childrens clothes. My DDs liked clothes from BHMS (Tammy teenage range), New Look (many size...

If she is interested in dance have you checked out Midlands Ballet Theatre? Entry is by audition and they run a programme that involves Sunday classes alongside rehearsals for a full length childrens ballet. I believe it is aged 8 upwards. They meet at the Birmingham Royal Ballet Studios in Birmingh...

I believe Dancia stock Grishko and Planet Dance, soft ballet flats but not sure if its adult and child sizes I've no experience of ordering from Dancia. I know others on the ballet.co site had bad experiences with Planet Dance but our personal experience ordering from them was positive. Good luck.