Rambert Intensive: Final Thoughts|Dreams That Glitter


I’d like to begin by saying I miss being at Rambert already, it felt really weird not going back again yesterday, I think I’d just got used to the hectic nature of it all and travelling into London every day. It took me about an hour on the train but it was a direct route so it wasn’t too bad, luckily my station is right at the beginning of the line so I didn’t have to fight for a seat, getting a seat was more of a concern on the way home though when I just wanted to collapse! Commuting is kind of exhausting but I actually quite liked having that quiet time on the train at the beginning and end of the day.

Since this was only my second summer intensive I didn’t have a whole lot to compare it to, and the one I did last year was a youth one for ages 11-18 so had a very different feel to this one which was an adult course, there was a much wider range of ages as I think the youngest was 16, all the way up to 30+. It was interesting how different the tone was working with older people of different ages although we did quite similar things as to last year. First off, there’s  a lot less drama with adults I think; there’s no whiney 12 year olds!! I think with a group of adults as well there tends to be more barriers put up with ourselves as the older you get the more self conscious you are and you have more fear of trying new things and being around new people, whereas younger people generally adapt easily and are up for trying anything they seem to just throw themselves into it. I’m not saying no one had any confidence or anything because that’s not the case at all and there were some very talented dancers in the group but it’s just a completely different vibe to a group of young people.

Another difference is with the youth group, the majority of dancers participating are there because they want to become professional dancers and go into a performance career, and there can almost be a sense of competition. With this course however it was such a mix – there was some people already in dance training, some doing A Level, some there for pure enjoyment just dancing as a hobby, there because they just really love to dance. Some had little dance experience while others had years under their belt; it was a diverse group it was really nice to work with such a range of people and we all helped each other through it.

This brings me onto friendships… Most people’s main priority on the course was obviously to soak up as much information as possible, to work on themselves as dancers and performers and improve as much as possible in the short space of time. A few people knew each other before and came in groups and others knew no one and sort of kept to themselves. Back to the confidence thing, why are adults so much worse at making friends and putting themselves forward than kids? Between that and being exhausted and very concentrated on food during our breaks, everyone was generally quiet and didn’t talk to each other a whole lot really. It wasn’t until the last couple of days when we started talking more, so I guess if the intensive had been longer we would’ve made more significant friendships! It was still nice to get to know everyone though and we’ll keep in touch through Facebook.

As I mentioned before – there was two groups an Intermediate and Advanced; ultimately it was up to the individual which path they chose but the Advanced was generally dance graduates, professionals or those in full time training, and the Intermediate dancers had not been dancing so long, there more for pure enjoyment and for themselves than working towards a career in dance. As with anywhere there was a clear divide between the two groups and we didn’t really mingle between groups a lot but I did manage to talk briefly with a few of them and it was interesting to hear about the wide range of backgrounds the dancers came from. Had I chose the Advanced route I think I would definitely have found it challenging, the material they showed during the sharing looked absolutely amazing, however I don’t think I would’ve struggled so much I’d have changed groups, although a lot of the dancers in that group were very technical and expressive I think I would’ve learnt a lot being with them and would have enjoyed the challenge, maybe I’ll do that next time? I imagine each group of dancers would be different though in terms of standard.

To conclude, if you hadn’t gathered by now I had an absolutely wonderful time and would jump at the chance to do a course like this again. The level of training we received was brilliant and it was a privilege to have the chance to work with Rambert company members; truly learning from the best. It was tough at times and definitely a challenge but I’ve learnt so much – I really enjoyed having classes with a range of teachers as you get to experience the variety of teaching styles and each of them has a different vision of what they want you to get out of the experience.

Finally, here’s my list of tips to take with you to any intensive:

  1. Be open to anything! The more open minded you are, the more you can learn and the more you’ll take away with you. Don’t be confined to what you’re used to and respect different people’s methods of doing things.
  2. Eat little and often. It definitely took me a couple of days to gauge how much to eat so as to feel full fuelled but not like you’re going to throw up in the class after lunch! You have to eat properly, food that will give you energy. Most days I had: toast for breakfast, some fruit in the morning break, pasta/rice and salad at lunch, a cereal/protein bar and mixed nuts for afternoon break, and a good dinner when I got home.
  3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or put yourself forward. If you don’t understand something, ask. If you missed part of the phrase, ask. If you have an injury and need another option, ask. This is so important! Don’t just skip over something if you don’t understand it, the teachers don’t mind you asking questions as they want you to succeed and understand everything.
  4. Drink lots of water! If you’re dancing for hours at a time, keeping hydrated is super important otherwise you’re probably going to pass out or get a horrible headache. Drink lots!!
  5. Get plenty of sleep. If you don’t get enough you will definitely feel it the next day when you’re trying your hardest not to yawn at the barre. Your body is being put under a lot of pressure and a lot of energy is required, you can’t do your best and get the most out of every class if you only had 4 hours sleep.
  6. Look after your body! I highly recommend you get a foam roller or a massage ball or something similar. I used the foam roller every evening for about an hour when I got home and it made such a difference to how my body felt. Listen to your body and look after it to prevent injury. I also found an ice bath for my feet particularly soothing half way through the week. Hot/Cold showers also feel really good afterwards!

I think that’s about it…. I hope this post wasn’t too long/boring, I just wanted to share everything in one go. I’m not going to lie I’m quite impressed with myself for keeping up with these blog posts all week, it’s been a really nice way to document and evaluate everything! If anyone else has done a course at Rambert I’d love to hear about your experiences 🙂

10 Things About Auditions |Dreams That Glitter


Now that I’ve been to a few different auditions I thought I’d write this post because although I haven’t done hundreds of auditions and haven’t been going all that long, I feel as though I’ve learnt a lot already and I want to share it all with you. These are all from a dancer’s perspective but I guess they would apply to acting or singing too.

1. Be Yourself
I know it’s said a lot, but I think it’s the most important tip someone could give. As soon as you start pretending to be someone you’re not, you probably won’t do as well if you would just being you. Don’t try and be someone else that you think the company or whoever are looking for, because you could be very wrong. You never know what they’re really looking for and pretending to be someone else could throw that opportunity away for you. Also, don’t try and copy the way someone else performs the choreography you’re given, because chances are they’re a different shape to you, and could be a different style of dancer and it just won’t work. Don’t copy the material directly from the choreography either, try and put your own mark on it.

2. Learn From Others
This may now sound quite contradictory, but on the other hand, if you like how another dancer performs something and does it in a way you hadn’t thought of, there’s nothing to say you can’t do it that way as well. You can learn a lot by watching dancers around you because everyone has a different way of doing things. It’s important to get the balance right.

3. Take Risks
Risk takers prove very popular in auditions, and playing safe won’t get you anywhere. It’s better to do the choreography full out as big as you can and maybe mess up a little bit or trip up in the process, than do everything clean and small and ‘safe’. Don’t be afraid of trying new things, go for that double pirouette even if you’ve never attempted one before in your life.

4. Smile!
Look friendly! This seems pretty obvious, but a smile can go a long way. If you look like you’re enjoying yourself and look happy to be there then that could boost your chances of getting through to the next round next to someone who looks a little miserable and bored. Be aware of what your face is doing while you’re dancing, keep those muscles engaged too!

5. Do It For The Experience
Take every opportunity you can, even if it’s not usually your kind of thing because you may be surprised, and the more you go to and explore, the more you’re going to learn. Don’t go in expecting not to get anywhere, and don’t be put off by others. Even if you don’t get that place, you can guarantee that you will take away something with you from every audition you take part in, and applying next time could help you get the next thing you apply for.

6. Don’t Be Disheartened
Similar to what I said before, don’t be disappointed if you don’t get the first thing you go for, or even the first ten. It takes time to get used to the whole process but at the end of the day it’s all about being in the right place at the right time. You never quite know what someone’s looking for, but if you don’t get one thing you thought was perfect for you, there’ll be something even better waiting around the corner for you. Don’t lose heart!

7. Be Open Minded
Don’t dismiss something just because you’re not 100% comfortable with it or if something is slightly out of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to new things and throw yourself in the deep end sometimes, you might surprise yourself.

8. Don’t Be Afraid To Go For Something Twice
Just because you don’t get into that dance company the first time you try, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again next season! A lot of companies change their artistic directors etc on a yearly or so basis, so they will always be looking for new, different types of people each time they hold auditions. Try, try and try again!

9. Think
On one hand, think about what you’re going for and what you want to get out of each experience before you go and apply, that way you know you’re not wasting your time and you can benefit somehow from it. On the other of thinking, don’t do too much of it if you don’t get the place! Accept that you weren’t what they were looking for and move on, don’t beat yourself up about it. Remember, there’s always another audition!

10. Be Prepared
Do your research before you apply to make sure it’s something you can benefit from and definitely want to do. Make sure you research the venue and how to get there, plan your route and timings, always give yourself more time than you actually need! Take everything with you: spare shoes (it’s good to take various options because you don’t know what the floor will be like), layers of clothing, plenty of water and substantial snacks.

These are in no particular order but I just wanted to put that out there and hope that someone might find some use of it! Share your best/worst audition experiences below….

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The Truth About GCSE Art |Dreams That Glitter


Hello! Now, this could be an incredibly lengthy, boring post but I’m going to cut it down into 5 top tips if you do decide to take this option. I took Art & Design which is a double award meaning I get two GCSEs at the end, but the same kind of things apply for the single option I guess. Everything said in this post is purely from my own experiences and I just wanted to put it out there. So…

1. Before you finalise the decision to take Art, make sure it is something you definitely want to do. You have to be completely dedicated and committed to the course right from the start. If it’s definitely something you enjoy and are willing to put a lot of time into, then you’ll be fine. 

2. Do the work! It sounds simple, yet no one does it. Stick to the deadlines and put in that little bit of extra effort to make sure everything is completed in time. It sounds cliché but it’s worth following, if you actually stay focused in the lesson then you will get everything done and everything will come together in the end! 

3. Don’t panic. As soon as you enter panic mode about not having the work done, or having too much to do in too little time (this is often the case, it is a huge work load and is a squeeze to get it all done, so if you are someone who can stay on task and not get distracted too easily then you’ll definitely be ok) then that’s when you end up spending lesson after lesson sitting doing nothing, simply staring at the work load that is in front of you. If you keep a calm attitude towards the subject then you’ll be much more likely to finish it all. A little self belief could go a long way. 

4. Don’t think you can’t take art because you’re not amazing at drawing/painting/etc. If you have a creative mind then you can do the course. I would say that although the fine art aspect is obviously important, there’s a lot more to it than just being able to pick up a pencil and draw something. There are other alternatives than drawing free hand such as using a light box or graphite transfer methods as a good base to aid your drawing skills. This way, anyone can do it! 

5. Manage your time effectively and plan your work. Make a timetable of slots you’re going to give yourself to do the work, and assign yourself deadlines for each bit of the course being completed. Your teacher may do this for you but some let the students be much more independent, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how much motivation you can provide yourself with. If you’re passionate about the project then this is 100% easier. 

I think that’s it for now… Just know that the course is not just drawing and painting, it’s also a lot of writing about your ideas and thought processes, as well as artist research and analysing other people’s work. If you write annotations as you go through the course rather than leaving it all until the end, or at least write notes at each stage of your project then that helps too. you have to be able to think quickly and come up with a range of ideas within the first week or so of starting a project, otherwise the whole thing gets slowed down and it’s hard to catch up again. Having said that, the themes for exam projects are generally very open (Force, Order and/or Disorder, Fragments, Reflection, Disguise) and lots of topics/areas/interests can some how be fitted in to those titles, so it is quite free reign on what you can do. 

So that was my procrastination and anger over my art course transferred into a possibly helpful blog post… now I need to get my act together, take my own advice and go and get some work done! My exam is Tuesday – Friday and I have piles of work to do, mainly because I’ve done the complete opposite of what I’ve suggested above for the past two years. 

Anyone else taking/having taken/thinking about taking Art please comment below and let me know how you feel about it! 

Lauren x 

What’s In My Dance Bag?|Dreams That Glitter


A slight twist on the regular ‘What’s in my bag?’ posts! What are your favourite dance products?

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Dance bags – top, Sansha; bottom, Capezio

These are my current favourite dance bags. I got them both from Move It back in March. They’re both really good sizes and they’re strong, perfect for carrying everything you might possibly need with you. I don’t travel lightly… I like to have everything I need and more, just in case, you know?

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Scissors, safety pins and stick on velcro

These essentials came in very handy for my most recent exam… The velcro on my character skirt came off, but luckily I had spare to put on and save it! Safety pins are an essential whether it’s an exam or a show, you never know who’s going to need one. Having an assorted pack is also handy, then you’ve got every situation covered.

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Foot essentials- Resistance Bands and Tennis Ball

Every dancer should own these. Resistance bands come in all different strengths and lengths and are so versatile they can be used in lots of different ways. They are brilliant for strengthening your feet and ankles for pointe work, and even professional ballerinas use them to warm up their feet. You can start with a low resistance one and move up the strengths as you build up your muscles. They can be purchased in any good sports shop or most dance shops, and even on ebay and amazon. You can also get them from your physio. Tennis balls or golf balls are often used by dancers to massage the arches in their feet and this can help with foot flexibility, but they can also be used to relieve tight muscles by rolling the ball around the affected area.

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Wella hairspray, bobby pins, hair pins, headband, hair bands, bun doughnut

I love this hairspray, it’s great for keeping all those strays slicked back and holds your bun in place well, but it also brushes out very easily and doesn’t leave your hair hard or sticky afterwards. The bobby pins I have at the moment aren’t great, they have a kind of rough finish and really hurt to get in and out of my hair! The head band and bun doughnut are both from Claire’s, the headband is made out of a really soft stretchy fabric which would fit most heads and finishes off your look, or alternatively could be wrapped around your bun to give it extra staying power. The bun doughnut is great because unlike most, it has a popper, meaning you can undo it and wrap it around your ponytail and simply click it in place again. It’s a bit big for the length of my hair at the moment because it takes me ages to position my hair evenly around it so it’s all covered. I think the rest is pretty self explanatory.

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Pink Plume Seamless Footed Ballet Tights 

I’m on my fifth pair of these same tights now, I love them. They’re quite thin so you don’t get too hot in them, and although they can get laddered quite quickly if you’re not careful (long nails aren’t a good idea when putting them on – speaking from experience) but at £3.95 a pair they’re good value for money. In the future I’d like to try convertible tights.

Moving on to shoes…

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Freed Classic Pointe Shoes – Size 4.5 XXX

These are my second pair of pointe shoes, my first were Freed Studio II’s, but they didn’t quite work out for whatever reason. They just didn’t work for me I guess. These fit my feet a lot better than the last pair but I’m still struggling a bit, I don’t know if it’s the shoes or me! I would like to try some different brands though as Freeds are the only ones I’ve tried on.

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Katz Full Sole Satin Ballet Shoes 

These are my old satin drawstring shoes, I think I had them for about 2 years hence the awful state they’re in… I do love these though, a classic full sole, single elastic pair of shoes.

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So Danca Split Sole Canvas Ballet Shoes

I got these from a cute little ballet stall at Move It, and they are my first pair of canvas shoes, and the first time I’ve had split sole shoes. They’re a little tight in a size 4, so if I go for these again I’ll be sure to get a 5 or even a 4.5. I found they got dirty a lot quicker than the satin shoes do, but they’re stronger and haven’t got great big gaping fraying holes in them yet like satin ones would after 5 months no doubt.

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Katz Low Heel Character Shoes Size 4

I’ve never had any other kind of character shoe in my life, I’ve only gotten through about 3 pairs in 10 years. These are great, they last ages and fit fine.

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Katz Jazz Shoes Size 4

I’ve never had any other jazz shoe other than Katz either. I think I’ve had two pairs in the five or so years that I did modern, and that was only because I grew out of the first pair. These are brilliant, they’re very hard wearing.

PS. The photos were edited by my wonderful friend Maisie 🙂

Coming up… a ‘My Leotard Collection’ post!