Applying for 2013

[suesmith]

Felixgirl - I have inboxed you not sure if you have seen? No worries either way just interested in your dds experience at Bird and how she has got on going at 16? Didn't want to hijack someone elses thread My dd very similar to yours has her heart set on Bird having seen students and performances last 2 years at Move It but at only 15 will be auditioning for 2014 intake - any info you can give would be fab - thanks

[JayLou62]

Hi,

For those who've recently auditioned for Chichester/Arden/Central, what standard of dance were the auditions based at? Dd plans to audition next year (2014 entry) and does adult classes in beginner ballet (roughly grades 3-6/Intermediate ISTD/RAD), tap (Grades 3-5), modern (Grades 5/6 and Bronze) and contemporary (no exams). Are the students expected to be 'en pointe''? Dd working on strengthening exercises at the moment in readiness for pointe. Dance is her weakest area but she is working on it
Any tips/advice appreciated

[jinty66]

Please help, first post. RE the DADA funding , I'm a little confused (think everyone is!!) On the Government's website

http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/fi ... 013-14.pdf

Does it mean that if a DADA is awarded to your son or daughter , fees are all paid except for the parental contribution column ?

Thanks

[JayLou62]

Hi,
Re: DaDA funding, depending on your GROSS household income depends on the amount you have to pay. For example, as my husband and I both work and we earn between £47,000 and £50,000 we pay £2,650 per year. We are unable to claim anything for maintenance costs so these are extra. Expect to pay £11,000pa in London and £9,000pa outside London.
With 2 children auditioning for 2014, and the changes to DaDA funding means other children are not taken into account we are looking at paying £30,000pa (impossible on our salaries!).
Please sign and share the petition (under Subjects for Debate on this site).
The idea was that people on lower incomes would be better off under the new scheme and stop wealthy people from applying. What it's actually done is make it impossible for those on lower incomes (audition fees,travel costs, overnight accommodation plus maintenance costs as the DaDA doesn't cover all these costs) and middle incomes (who now have to pay more, in many cases up to the full fees) so now ONLY the wealthy can afford to train.
My elder dd is looking at University courses for Musical Theatre and younger dd who wants to train in ballet is looking at Central, Rambert and overseas which is considerably cheaper!

[showtunes]

Hi,

For those who've recently auditioned for Chichester/Arden/Central, what standard of dance were the auditions based at? Dd plans to audition next year (2014 entry) and does adult classes in beginner ballet (roughly grades 3-6/Intermediate ISTD/RAD), tap (Grades 3-5), modern (Grades 5/6 and Bronze) and contemporary (no exams). Are the students expected to be 'en pointe''? Dd working on strengthening exercises at the moment in readiness for pointe. Dance is her weakest area but she is working on it
Any tips/advice appreciated

Hi. My dd has been to all three of those to audtion so I will check with her later and inbox you the details if that's ok.

[JayLou62]

@Showtunes - that'd be great, thank you

[FelixGirl]

Hi Sue

I did see your PM and I did reply....I will check my messages now to see what's happened!!

Be back to you shortly!

[suesmith]

No worries - maybe I'm looking in the wrong place I'm off to work shortly so will check later, just didn't know where else to put it I'm quite new to all this and didn't want to use someone elses thread!! Thanks

[2dancersmum]

Hi jinty66, the amounts quoted in the government table shows the parental contribution towards fees only. Under the old scheme there used to be a standard parental contribution of £1275 regardless of family income. Now the contribution varies so that those on a family income of between £42 and £70k contribute more than previously and if family income is over 70k no government help is available. Help for maintenance/accommodation was and still is income assessed and is only available to families with household income of less than £33k.
As jaylou says other children are not taken into account in the assessments. Auditioning is an expensive process and help for this process is not and was not available.
Re accommodation - costs do vary considerably. Some of the top ballet schools charge £3k or more per term for boarding making £9k a year but some of DD's friends pay just under £100 a week for their accommodation (less than £4k pa). Cost varies on type of accommodation - school boarding houses, flats, shared houses, landlady accommodation, hostels - aswell as location and not all charge for the full year. It really is worth doing your homework on accommodation aswell as courses when looking at where to apply.
I

[showtunes]

Hi Showtunes, fingers crossed for your dd, such a stressful time, will be good to know exactly what to prepare for for September. DS still waiting on Manchester Met recall result,they said 10 to 15 days, it's day 15 today. He eventually got his preliminary audition date through for the regional audition in Cardiff for 28th March, also has Bristol Old Vic in a couple of weeks and RADA in April

Hope you have heard by now nigelben and its not too stressful for you all.

[nigelben]

No, still no reply from Manchester Met Showtunes, ds got one of the other auditionees facebook addresses and he hasn't heard either. Good luck to your dd for Arden, hope they reply a bit sooner!

[dorothy]

Dd enjoyed her audition at manchesters Arden theatre school today. That's the last of her auditions. How I will miss them ha ha! Just wait to see if she is successful then make a decision whats she is going to do in September.

Any news for anyone else?

Glad it went well. Fingers crossed. My dd still waiting to do her recall at GSA.

[dorothy]

No, still no reply from Manchester Met Showtunes, ds got one of the other auditionees facebook addresses and he hasn't heard either. Good luck to your dd for Arden, hope they reply a bit sooner!

My dds friends are still waiting as well . Hope it will be a yes and you dont have to wait much longer

[nigelben]

Thanks Dorothy, that's given ds hope that perhaps no one has heard as yet from Manchester Met.

Does anyone know, in schools where they say they require A levels/UCAS points such as Manchester Met and GSA, are they really hot on this as ds drama teacher from the workshop he goes to outside of school says if they want you they will have you even if you don't get the required A levels, hoping ds will make the grade anyway after a couple of retakes!! Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts or info.

[showtunes]

Thanks Dorothy, that's given ds hope that perhaps no one has heard as yet from Manchester Met.

Does anyone know, in schools where they say they require A levels/UCAS points such as Manchester Met and GSA, are they really hot on this as ds drama teacher from the workshop he goes to outside of school says if they want you they will have you even if you don't get the required A levels, hoping ds will make the grade anyway after a couple of retakes!! Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts or info.

I havant much info,but what I do know is that for my dd's course at uni she has to gain at least a MMM on her mt B tech. Which is 240 ucas points I believe. Others appling for similar courses have been told they must gain at least 220 ucas points to take up your place. As for whether they would take you regardless of results I think it's doubtful when these places have 1000's applying for places. But on the other hand for the acting/dance/mt courses our children are applying for why should they need A levels. They are looking for raw talent in performing after all. So I suppose the question is,if an audition panel were blown away by an auditionee and wanted that person on the course would they bend the rules for them. And I think for a uni place then know as they have rules to follow,but in a drama school then yes as they can set their own entry requirements.

Hope your Ds hears today. Otherwise it's another weekend of wondering for you all. It's no fun is it!