A few months ago, my daughter’s ballet teacher told us she thought she was ready to audition to be a Junior Associate of The Royal Ballet. I can’t tell you how proud we all were. Of course, we think she’s an amazing dancer, but it’s nice to hear that her teacher, a ballet expert, thinks the same.
Last year, we thought she would audition. I stressed myself out a bit thinking about the body image issues before deciding to go ahead, then we were all devastated when her teacher told us she didn’t think she was ready. It’s not just about the ability to dance well, it’s about emotional maturity and being able to cope with rejection and failure.
We’re under no illusions that she will get in. The odds are heavily stacked against her, but I’m just so proud that her teacher even thinks she is good enough to audition. Auditioning will be a great opportunity and a fantastic memory. It is something she, and I, can always be proud of.
Before that, there’s a form to fill in and photos to take. The deadline is next week and we’ve known about the form since the start of the year. The photos have to be perfect – perfect legs, perfect arms, perfect toes, perfect hair, perfect posture. I stressed about them a bit. When would be the best time to take them?
Unfortunately, ballet is a lot about your shape and size. My daughter is tall for her age. Compared to a lot of other girls her age, she is slight. She is slim and muscular like her mum. Her legs are toned from all the dancing.
Compared to ballet dancers, she is big.
Ballet dancers have to have their tummies sucked in for perfect posture. I decided the best time to take the photos would be first thing in the morning, after a wee and before breakfast. Because even little girls bloat a bit. We talked about this in an honest way – tummies stick out a bit, it’s about posture, not weight or size. But when can you take photos, with a perfect bun, before breakfast? Not on a school day. We would do the photos in half-term.
Perfect.
But then half-term went wrong. My daughter was very ill. The photos were the last thing on my mind. Never mind, we’d do them when she went back to school.
She’s back at school now, but we still haven’t done the photos. Her bad foot means it’s very painful to point her toe and it’s not a perfect point even. Time is running out and I’m not sure we will even manage to do the photos at all. If the paediatrician had come back to us when she said she would, I was going to ask her for a note which I could include with the application to say that my daughter’s toe wasn’t working well right now.
So this illness and this bad foot may have scuppered something major for my daughter.
I wanted her to have the opportunity to audition. I wanted to feel that pride, but instead I may just have to be proud that her teacher thought she was good enough to audition. Not to mention that she has coped so well with this illness.
March 12, 2015
I hope you still manage to get them done within time somehow or are able to get an extension. It sounds really tough to get in but dehibireky very lovely that her teacher has put her forward.
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much! We’ve still got a few day and if she can point her toe through the pain we’ll do it!
March 12, 2015
You are definitely right! That’s enough reason to be #loudnproud of your little girl! I’m sure your daughter will get the chance to do just that whether or not she decides to go for it or not 🙂
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much, that’s a lovely thing to say 🙂
March 12, 2015
As I was reading this, I was thinking – but how could she audition with her bad leg? Maybe now is not the time for her but if it’s right, there will be another chance. She has every right to be very proud of even being invited to audition 🙂 x
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much, that’s just what I was thinking! If we can get the pose right for the photos, she’ll do it! The actual auditions aren’t until May. x
March 12, 2015
Quite amazing in itself that she’s been asked to audition as a junior assoc of the Royal Ballet – she must be a wonderful dancer. How hard for your daughter coping with her foot and perhaps having to cancel her audition. No matter what it’s quite exceptional being asked to audition.
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much, she really is a beautiful dancer. If we can manage to get those photos done she will do her audition!
March 12, 2015
Im sure you will be proud whatever the outcome, as that is what us Mums are good at. I will have my fingers crossed that she does well.
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much, that’s a lovely thing to say 🙂
March 12, 2015
Fingers crossed that it won’t have any effect and that she will get her chance to audition.
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much! I think if we can manage the photos hopefully she’ll manage the audition as that isn’t for a few more weeks. Fingers crossed!
March 12, 2015
Fingers crossed but you have every right to be proud no matter what happens.
March 13, 2015
Thanks very mud, that’s just what I was thinking 🙂
March 12, 2015
She’s been a wee star through all of this. I hope you get your pictures. Hugs x
March 13, 2015
Thanks very much, we will do our very best! x
March 13, 2015
Please don’t worry so much about these photos as the RBS only use them as a memory aid for after the audition. Every child that applies automatically gets an audition regardless of photos and they are just to check basic physique such as turnout. If you are applying for London deadline isn’t till the 21st and the actual audition won’t be till the last week of May- this could give plenty of time to get back to full health! Also, try not to worry about your daughter’s size or height. Children develop at different rates and the RBS take that into account. They are looking for potential not perfection. Get those forms in and good luck!
March 13, 2015
Thank you! That is such a reassuring comment. We are going to try our very hardest to get them done in that case. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment.