Beginner!!!!!!!!!

[suzysue]

I'm just after some advice about where to start!!! My daughter is 9, she's been dancing since she was tiny and competing in dance festivals since she turned 4. She's just sang a solo in church with the school choir. She's becoming increasingly more interested in performing and I don't know what to do with her next!! I googled auditions for children (was thinking about panto at the time) and ended up here. So what do we do now?
Sue

[Katymac]

Hi Suzysue,

I'm a beginner too; but on my thread (about how much dancing) I was told that they are all doing pantomimes atm so they might not answer as they are ll so busy

You might get more info in the new year

[wissymo]

hi suzysue
i would start be reading lots of past threads on here actually!! when my ds first started acting (only 1 years ago) i did loads of research on
the internet in general but i spent hours on here!!
i looked up agents,train timetable's for getting to london(we are up north).. and finally decided to apply to an agency after a good few months of looking.
im not too sure about panto and theatre as my ds only does tv work.
good luck with it all what ever you decide to do! it has been a fantastic year for my ds and im so glad i did pursue it for him!! no regrets so far xx

[Flosmom]

I'm fairly new too, but in my limited experience it depends on two things, first (and most important) what your daughter wants to do, and second your financial expectations.

So, your daughter - is she interested in stage or screen? Does she dance or sing or act? Flo started out with aspirations to perform on stage, which is what many if the part time performing arts schools like Theatre Train and Stage Coach offer, but she's enjoying getting some experience of film too. She s also 9. She sings and acts, but isn't really interested in dance other than as an adjunct to singing or acting. So at the moment we're pootling around the casting sites, expressing interest in things that seem right, accepting some and turning down others as we find out more about them. If your daughter is more focussed, then you can narrow down your searches, but in our experience there are plenty of opportunities available, you just have to go look for them. The most important thing for us is that she enjoys what she does. As a by-product, it's building her CV, experience and confidence.

And your finances. Flo's performing arts cost me a significant amount of money, but I can afford it, within reason.She attends courses and gets involved in performances that require me to put my hand in my purse. Having done this for several years, she is now being approached to do things that don't cost me money, but don't pay much more than expenses. Very much more recently, she has been paid for some things she has done. Right now, I treat it as a hobby for her so I don't have any expectations that she'll earn much from it, it's a bonus when she does. If you need your daughter to cover her costs, you may well struggle in the short term and have to be much more selective than we are. Other mums who have a more businesslike focus on their kids activity will be more help to you than I am here.

I hope this is helpful - enjoy the adventure!

Deb x

[suzysue]

Thanks for your advice. Her main passion is dance and her interest in singing is growing. We live near to Wolverhampton (home of the children as dwarves scandal) that's why I wondered how you go about finding an audition for children's parts.
I'd better get reading throgh the older threads

[Welsh Mum]

At her age she needs experience of performing. If shed likes singing and dancing then if circumstances allow then lessons in both would benefit, also join a youth theatre group where she'll put what she learns in classes into practice.

[2dancersmum]

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 Birmingham. I have no personal experience of this but it was recommended to us by friends. For my DD it was just too much of a commitment. English Youth Ballet is a company is a ballet company that visit different towns in the country and take on a childrens cast from a certain mile radius of each venue they visit. Each venue is visited approx once every 2 years. I think entry auditions will be fairly soon for Wolverhampton as I think they are there summer 2012. Cannot really offer any advice for more general dance/performances in your area.

[bruno2]

I think 9 is a lovely age for children to be involved in both professional and amateur work. If your dd is under the dreaded 4ft 10 ins tall, there will be plenty of professional theatre opportunities which she could auditions for. You can look out for open auditions or if she is really keen an Agent might be the answer. Im sure you both will have lots of fun and lots of tears over the next few years, but its all good experience, and experience is whats needed in this business. Good luck and have fun.

[suzysue]

She does do dancing lessons (3 times a week), she's seen a singing teacher there occasionally. She's had lots of stage experience with her dance festivals and shows over the last few years but not. I'll definitely look into the EYB, she was too young last time they were in Wolverhampton but a couple of her friends danced and I'd not heard of the Midlands Ballet Theatre so I'll look for that too.
Bruno2 you mention if she's under the dreaded 4ft10, what do you mean by that? She's tall (and skinny) but I've no idea how tall in feet. Is tall bad? And where do i look for open auditions please?
Thanks again

[Caroline A-C]

To perform in the Westend children need to be below 5ft tall and that often means around 4ft 10in to allow growth during a run. Hope this helps.

[Flosmom]

To perform in the Westend children need to be below 5ft tall and that often means around 4ft 10in to allow growth during a run. Hope this helps.

The 5ft rule tends to apply to ensemble roles, which also tend to have a requirement to live within the M25. For lead roles, the height restrictions are lower, I think 4ft 3 to 4ft 6, depending on the show.

If your girl is a dancer, why not go to the Billy Elliott website (sorry, I don't have a link but you'll find it on google - otherwise PM me) and register for alerts for auditions. They regularly recruit new cohorts of ballet girls and - as far as I can tell from watching the show - want a variety of shapes and sizes. They look for Grade 3 ballet as a minimum. Might be worth a shot. Other NAPMs have kids who are or have been in the show, so if you browse this site you'll get useful tips. Of course, you'd have to get used to a regular trip down the West Coast Main Line.

If you'd like to start with something more local, take a look at what is coming up at your local theatre (Wolverhampton Grand?) over the next 12 months that involves children, use your google skills to find out who the producers are, find out from them how they are casting child roles and ask them to include your dd.

Finally (for now...I'll keep thinking) the Birmingham Hippodrome has The King and I coming up. I'm waiting for an audition call for Flo and I'll post details on the thread for that show when I get them. If your dd has dark hair it might be worth her going along for that one (assuming they are open auditions)

Hope this helps - taking smaller dd pony riding now. Which means I stand in a field for an hour in the cold. That's 21st century parenting for you!

Deb x

[suzysue]

Thanks so much. It's local theatre I was thinking but had no idea how to find out about roles. Looking for the producers and going from there makes perfect sense now that you say it but had not occurred to me! I looked at Billy Elliot which scared me slightly, I think we'll start with looking locally first

[bruno2]

Good luck

[Flosmom]

Just seen that The King and I is also touring to Wolverhampton. I'll let you know if I hear anything about casting. If you manage to pick anything up, maybe you'll share it back too? But, from what I have seen elsewhere, this is only helpful if your dd has dark hair.

I guess the King of Siam might have a bit if explaining to do if he produced a brood of blondes...

Good luck - and let us know how you get on.

Deb x

PS - its worth reading some of the threads about Billy Elliott. The ballet girls seem to have a brilliant time and it is a great show. I'm sure the chaperones are lovely too. If Flo was a dancer (she is...but not to the standard they need yet) she would be there like a shot.

[bruno2]

I didnt realise they auditioned in Cardiff, but then again dd is already 14 and wearing braces. Do you think she could have auditioned ? Good luck to everyone.