Stepping out

We went up to the Royal Academy of Dance HQ on Saturday afternoon for what looks to be the last ever ‘watching week’* for the youngest of the youngest. TYOTY has been going to RAD for a number of years now to do ‘vocational classes’ in parallel with the normal grade classes at the local ballet school. It looks like the last watching week because, subject to passing them, she has both grade 8 and Advanced 2 exams this week. She’s not confident of getting the required Distinction in the Advanced exam to qualify for the final vocational stage ‘Solo Seal’. Confidence took a hit with a foot injury which curtailed practice. Considering this all happened in the run up to A-Levels, she showed admirable resilience. Anyway, the degree of difficulty and the work undertaken was impressive. How people can remain balanced, whilst spinning around and bouncing on one foot is beyond me.

* watching week is a period close to the end of term at dance schools, when family/friends can go along and watch what the lessons consist of and see the progress the young dancers have made.

The building it’s in is pretty new, with up to date facilities. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, here’s an article on the topic:

https://www.architectural-review.com/awards/w-awards/2024-w-awards/royal-academy-of-dance-in-london-uk-by-takero-shimazaki-architects

There were some interesting items on display in the reception area. See pics below.

All of this is in stark contrast to the reputation of the housing estate that we walked through to get there. It may be because it was a nice Summer’s day and there was lots of greenery everywhere, but it didn’t feel like a no go zone. That’s London for you I guess.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winstanley_and_York_Road_Estate

Later in the evening, the Margravina and I stepped out again for a perambulation in the royal park, a meile from der Schloß. Here are some views across the Thames valley from one of the high points.

You can see Woking mum! The faint, towers in the distance are a vanity project that contributed to the bankruptcy of the Conservative led borough council (since voted out).