SI audition

[12345]

My dd will be 11 this summer and i think i am reading where she could possibly still auditon for intensives that take 12+ yo dancers? is that true or does she actually need to have turned 12?

 

and is there a list of SI that are for younger dds? i know its getting late to even consider these but still want to try.

 

thank you.

[dancemaven]

12345, we have quite a list of SIs in our SI Forum. They are arranged alphabetically. Also, in the SI General Topics forum, there are quite a few topics that might be useful to you. It might be helpful just to scroll through the index and drop in on threads that interest you.

 

As far as whether an 11-year old may audition for programs listed for 12+ year, sometimes it depends on the specific program. Sometimes they are very strict and other times they are less strict. Often it depends on whether the student is willing to provide her own housing as typically the dorm situations (by virtue of the college/university contract) does not permit the younger children.

 

So, it may come down to you having to simply ask the programs you are interested in.

[dancingjet]

Here is a thread in the SI section that might be of interest to you - a list for pre-teens:

http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=38700

[lorrainegd]

12345

 

I don't know how far you want to travel for auditions - but The Rock School in Philadelphia is a great Si for younger kids. DD went last year at 11 for her first SI - had fun, learned a lot and came back so much stronger. I know they are still auditioning. I don't know where else they are auditioning before then, but their last audition is in Philly on 3/1.

 

lorrainegd

[yankee]

Young dancer programs are specifically designed for that purpose - because the dancers are young - physically and emotionally younger than the 12+ students who are typically further along in technical achievement and in at least some degree of further physical development (of course there is a full spectrum of exceptions). Sometimes exceptions are made for those students who will be closer to age 12 during the summer but generally programs are fairly strict about their age limits (and they have to consider liability issues involved in making exceptions). It is extremely rare that a program would accept a 10 year old into a program developed for students age 12+ unless that particular 10 year old could demonstrate technical proficiency of at least the lowest level of the program and present with the proper physical strength and development needed for the course of study involved.

 

As dancemaven suggested, take a look at the SI forum for specific SI's and the 2, 3, 4 week suggestions given in the more general SI forum. You will find a wealth of information about programs for students ages 8+.

[12345]

Thanks - all helpful information.

 

How do most schools feel about parents wanting to be with their kids for medical reasons? ie i'm certainly not against my dd going to an intensive out of our area. but boarding in a dorm/cafeteria situation simply would not work because my child has life threatening food allergies. so while she could certainly attend, if boarding were required she could not attend.

 

no that i need to hold her hand or attend class or anything like that. but either I (or she) needs to be able to shop for and prepare food throughout the stay.

 

has anyone had any experience with this? do longer programs allow you to commute vs board?

[yankee]

I am not sure that this is noted specifically on the SI thread for this particular school but it is fact that Walnut Hill School REQUIRES boarding during their 5 week summer intensive - even if the student lives 5 minutes from the school. That is a program definitely limited to age 13+ (some 12's who will be turning 13 may be admitted but they are required to audition). The mandatory boarding information is written on the audition application for that school.

 

I cannot comment about other programs and their boarding policies - again you may have to search the threads or, better yet - call the programs you are considering and ask.

 

Your concerns are valid and many young dancers travel with their families to young dancer summer programs due to lack of boarding and the shorter length of the programs. If your dancer has specific dietary needs which require specific foods and preparation then by all means it is reasonable to consider traveling alongside h/her.

[lorrainegd]

12345

 

I cannot speak of any other programs but The Rock School does not require boarding. In fact I know that there were many different situations with some of the young dancers, with one dancer and her mom staying ina local hotel and another family rented a house at the jersy shore and commuted from there every day. My dd's roomate had her dad staying in a nearby hotel although she was boarding. So there were a lot of different situations. The Rock also seems to work nicely for some of the younger girls and first timers because of its flexibility - you can choose 2, 4 or 6 weeks.

[12345]

good to know. and they are holding an audition her this wknd.

 

thanks for the info.

[lorrainegd]

What a coincidence!!!

[dance1soccer1]

I think very, very few SI's actually REQUIRE boarding, so you should be fine with pretty much any program, particularly given your unique circumstances.

[petnzoo]

You need to talk to the program as well. My middle son also has a serious food allergy that prevents him from eating almost all prepared American foods. He was going to attend football camp away from home last summer and they were willing to heat and serve food at the meals that I had prepared ahead of time. A ballet SI may be able to do the same thing.

[12345]

I cannot comment about other programs and their boarding policies - again you may have to search the threads or, better yet - call the programs you are considering and ask.

 

do you think they might count this against her if i inquired in advance? i was thinking it might be better to get accepted first and then inquire.

[quill]

Typically the housing comes up later on anyway--and I've never seen it NOT be optional, although it appears from this thread that some are. After you are accepted, you receive a packet, and part of that is asking whether you want housing. Many programs do not even offer housing for younger dancers, such as Washington, but admit them to the program provided they have local housing available.

[lorrainegd]

I have heard that at some Si housing is required, but I definately think it is the exception rather than the rule. The one program we looked at this year that required housing until their dorm was full was Joffrey NY, but even they allowed you to apply for a waiver due to circumstances.

 

And asking now or later depends on you. If you want to pare down which auditions to go to, you can ask ahead of time (with as many questions as they get I doubt they track who asks what) but with it being so late and her being young, you may just want to do the auditions since there probably aren't as many options. And I do think that it would be a rare casr that you wouldn't be allowed to opt out of housing - in which case you could just tell them that's why you have to decline.