All About Ballet
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sembgal:
According to the new RAD age requirements, candidates need to be 7 years old on 1 January of the year they are taking the ballet exam. As such, unless your DD is born on 1 January, she should be 8 years old in the year she is taking the ballet exam.phtthp:
When dd is Primary 2 (turn 8 years old) : can take RAD G1 ballet exam in April.
But my dd will turn 8 after April next year. Technically speaking, she is considered 7 years a few months in April 2015. That means she is not eligible to take grade one exam next April. Right?
It is not a must to take one grade after another, although the basic dance foundations must be there. My DD started learning ballet when she was 4 years old. She took the Pre-Primary and Primary exam but when it's time for her Grade 1 exam, the new RAD requirements set in and she is unable to sign up for the Grade 1 exams. She went through the same G1 coaching training as her dance-mates, except without taking the exam. Then she proceed to taking the Grade 2 exam with her dance-mates one year later (i.e. she skipped Grade 1 for a year and took Grade exam the following year). -
Great that I am tagged to this thread.
My Yr2007 girl is in this ballet school that she had to auditioned in, however she have to downgrade to pre-Primary Year 2 and only taking Primary exam next April (when she is 8yrs old).
If she stayed on the previous school (started since K1), she would have taken the RAD Primary exam this year. I have just received notice of an additional training day per week to prepare for the Primary exam next year, thus make me think hard now whether to move her again, to a school that would take her for Grade1 exam next year instead.
My gal is determined to continue ballet after she joined the RAD summer school and I hope to use Dance as DSA. Heard schools accept only at least Grade5. If she stays on, she will be grade 4 in P6, and wont have competition exposures in ballet to back her up. Current dance school only do RAD syllabus and has their internal concert, once every 2-3 yrs only. Her current school CCA does not have ballet. Any parents use dance as DSA can advise? Or any advice if I should switch? Any recommendations? Greatly appreciated. -
momresource:
Most ballet schools will increase to 2 trainings a week (1 regular and 1 coaching) 4 to 6 months before the ballet exams, to better prepare the students for the exams. For higher grades, 3 trainings a week is not uncommon. As to whether to move your DD again, you may like to talk to the current teacher - check out why she need to be downgraded. Is it because her foundations are weak or the school does not want to take chance to expose a new student to Grade 1 immediately? Under DSA, the criteria is indeed Grade 5 as a guide but I believe with the new RAD age requirements, the MOE will be reviewing their criteria.Great that I am tagged to this thread.
My Yr2007 girl is in this ballet school that she had to auditioned in, however she have to downgrade to pre-Primary Year 2 and only taking Primary exam next April (when she is 8yrs old).
If she stayed on the previous school (started since K1), she would have taken the RAD Primary exam this year. I have just received notice of an additional training day per week to prepare for the Primary exam next year, thus make me think hard now whether to move her again, to a school that would take her for Grade1 exam next year instead.
My gal is determined to continue ballet after she joined the RAD summer school and I hope to use Dance as DSA. Heard schools accept only at least Grade5. If she stays on, she will be grade 4 in P6, and wont have competition exposures in ballet to back her up. Current dance school only do RAD syllabus and has their internal concert, once every 2-3 yrs only. Her current school CCA does not have ballet. Any parents use dance as DSA can advise? Or any advice if I should switch? Any recommendations? Greatly appreciated. -
Oh My Gosh:
When will MOE be reviewing their criteria? I'm tempted to let my girl skip 1 grade so that she will be in time to take grade 5 in P6.
Most ballet schools will increase to 2 trainings a week (1 regular and 1 coaching) 4 to 6 months before the ballet exams, to better prepare the students for the exams. For higher grades, 3 trainings a week is not uncommon. As to whether to move your DD again, you may like to talk to the current teacher - check out why she need to be downgraded. Is it because her foundations are weak or the school does not want to take chance to expose a new student to Grade 1 immediately? Under DSA, the criteria is indeed Grade 5 as a guide but I believe with the new RAD age requirements, the MOE will be reviewing their criteria.momresource:
Great that I am tagged to this thread.
My Yr2007 girl is in this ballet school that she had to auditioned in, however she have to downgrade to pre-Primary Year 2 and only taking Primary exam next April (when she is 8yrs old).
If she stayed on the previous school (started since K1), she would have taken the RAD Primary exam this year. I have just received notice of an additional training day per week to prepare for the Primary exam next year, thus make me think hard now whether to move her again, to a school that would take her for Grade1 exam next year instead.
My gal is determined to continue ballet after she joined the RAD summer school and I hope to use Dance as DSA. Heard schools accept only at least Grade5. If she stays on, she will be grade 4 in P6, and wont have competition exposures in ballet to back her up. Current dance school only do RAD syllabus and has their internal concert, once every 2-3 yrs only. Her current school CCA does not have ballet. Any parents use dance as DSA can advise? Or any advice if I should switch? Any recommendations? Greatly appreciated. -
sembgal:
When will MOE be reviewing their criteria? I'm tempted to let my girl skip 1 grade so that she will be in time to take grade 5 in P6.[/quote]It is not by choice. Your DD teacher got to ascertain her foundation and skills, before deciding if she is suitable to skip Grade 1 and go to Grade 2. Ballet is a long-term commitments - surely you will not want her to build a poor foundation, only to spend more time on a higher grade subsequently. If she can really skip Grade 1 and take Grade 2 when when she is in Primary 2, then she will have clear Grade 5 by Primary 5.
Most ballet schools will increase to 2 trainings a week (1 regular and 1 coaching) 4 to 6 months before the ballet exams, to better prepare the students for the exams. For higher grades, 3 trainings a week is not uncommon. As to whether to move your DD again, you may like to talk to the current teacher - check out why she need to be downgraded. Is it because her foundations are weak or the school does not want to take chance to expose a new student to Grade 1 immediately? Under DSA, the criteria is indeed Grade 5 as a guide but I believe with the new RAD age requirements, the MOE will be reviewing their criteria.Oh My Gosh:
[quote=\"momresource\"]Great that I am tagged to this thread.
My Yr2007 girl is in this ballet school that she had to auditioned in, however she have to downgrade to pre-Primary Year 2 and only taking Primary exam next April (when she is 8yrs old).
If she stayed on the previous school (started since K1), she would have taken the RAD Primary exam this year. I have just received notice of an additional training day per week to prepare for the Primary exam next year, thus make me think hard now whether to move her again, to a school that would take her for Grade1 exam next year instead.
My gal is determined to continue ballet after she joined the RAD summer school and I hope to use Dance as DSA. Heard schools accept only at least Grade5. If she stays on, she will be grade 4 in P6, and wont have competition exposures in ballet to back her up. Current dance school only do RAD syllabus and has their internal concert, once every 2-3 yrs only. Her current school CCA does not have ballet. Any parents use dance as DSA can advise? Or any advice if I should switch? Any recommendations? Greatly appreciated. -
Oh My Gosh:
Agreed. And I think it is still too early to talk about DSA at this point. As ballet progress to higher, it becomes more demanding and challenging on the techniques and physical strength. I never know that ballet can be physically demanding until I see the gals sweating in the aircon dance studio, and also they complain about muscles pain. Some of the gals dropped out dancing before grade 5 as they subsequently lost their interests or started to have other commitment. I would say, let the younger gals enjoy dancing for the time being.
It is not by choice. Your DD teacher got to ascertain her foundation and skills, before deciding if she is suitable to skip Grade 1 and go to Grade 2. Ballet is a long-term commitments - surely you will not want her to build a poor foundation, only to spend more time on a higher grade subsequently. If she can really skip Grade 1 and take Grade 2 when when she is in Primary 2, then she will have clear Grade 5 by Primary 5. -
bebe:
Yes, especially when they starting on pointe, and blisters result. My understanding is that the new syallabus is more challenging than the old syallabus, hence RAD decision to raise the minimum age requirements.
Agreed. And I think it is still too early to talk about DSA at this point. As ballet progress to higher, it becomes more demanding and challenging on the techniques and physical strength. I never know that ballet can be physically demanding until I see the gals sweating in the aircon dance studio, and also they complain about muscles pain. Some of the gals dropped out dancing before grade 5 as they subsequently lost their interests or started to have other commitment. I would say, let the younger gals enjoy dancing for the time being.Oh My Gosh:
It is not by choice. Your DD teacher got to ascertain her foundation and skills, before deciding if she is suitable to skip Grade 1 and go to Grade 2. Ballet is a long-term commitments - surely you will not want her to build a poor foundation, only to spend more time on a higher grade subsequently. If she can really skip Grade 1 and take Grade 2 when when she is in Primary 2, then she will have clear Grade 5 by Primary 5. -
can i ask, why grade 1 need the ribbon strap? and they will be wearing black shoes?
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The grade 4s this year is doing a new syllabus I heard. They are the first batch doing it…
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nicnac:
The grade 4s this year is doing a new syllabus I heard. They are the first batch doing it..
No, all ballet exam grades are now under the new syllabus. Tougher for the Grade 4 as they are the last batch to take Grade 3 under the old syllabus.
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