All About Ballet

[phtthp]

Oh My Gosh:

Ballet is like piano.. you can skip grades, but your DD must shows that she is capable of dancing the steps required at a higher level. It requires more leg/ calf power.


A fren of mine - her DS started ballet at 8 years old and went straight to Grade 2 exam when her DS is 9 years old, i.e. 1 year practice to take Grade 2 from scratch.

She is really an amazing dancer - I watched her dance, she's like a born dancer. So it all boils down to the child's skills and if the Tr is flexible.

But if can allow to skip grades, then parents won't be here, sharing their misery that their ballet Tr say cannot skip, despite their dd having good ballet dance underground.

If their dd totally zero ballet background, that, we can understand.
But on the contrary, their dd are dancing very well, they have talent in ballet, yet not allowed to skip grade.
So what ?
Inspite of their talent, the rigidity in their ballet Tr bar them from learning faster ?

Or is it under the old syllabus - can skip grades.
But now under the new syllabus - not allowed to skip ?
Which is which ?
This part, many parents, are confused.
Then how do you strike a balance, between talented ballet dancers vs. going by the rigid rules : step by step, grade by grade

In piano, is clear cut.
If a child is talented in music, can skip grades : because the child is already musically talented.

But in ballet, line not clear.
Can any experienced ballet Tr here help to clarify ?

[phtthp]

sembgal:

The main motive of teaching is still to earn profit.

Perhaps this explain why ballet not allowed to skip.
They want parents to pay for every grade to go through.

[butterflybee]

I have dance shoes - pink soft leather, black heel shoes (grade 2), black skirts.

All second hand. Black shoes will be $10/pair. The others - free. Let me know if you are interested and size required. My dg and friends have many to let go. She’s in p5@grade 4 now. Has outgrown many.

[Oh My Gosh]

phtthp:

But if can allow to skip grades, then parents won't be here, sharing their misery that their ballet Tr say cannot skip, despite their dd having good ballet dance underground.


If their dd totally zero ballet background, that, we can understand.
But on the contrary, their dd are dancing very well, they have talent in ballet, yet not allowed to skip grade.
So what ?
Inspite of their talent, the rigidity in their ballet Tr bar them from learning faster ?

Or is it under the old syllabus - can skip grades.
But now under the new syllabus - not allowed to skip ?
Which is which ?
This part, many parents, are confused.
Then how do you strike a balance, between talented ballet dancers vs. going by the rigid rules : step by step, grade by grade

In piano, is clear cut.
If a child is talented in music, can skip grades : because the child is already musically talented.

But in ballet, line not clear.
Can any experienced ballet Tr here help to clarify ?

Seriously I cannot comment if there is any guidelines or regulations in ballet for the skipping of grades. I am only listing the example of my friend's DD. She took up ballet in June of the year she was in Primary 2, and went straight for her ballet exams in April when she was in Primary 3. However, the start was really tough as she has to join the classes and learn the steps of Grade 1 and Grade 2. Not sure if she took just Grade 2 exams (but still learn Grade 1 steps) or took both exams. But I knew she scored a distinction in her Grade 2 exams from FB. Should be the new syllabus as she just took the exam this April.

[SAHM2KIDS]

Skip grades is possible. My dd skip the primary level, from pre-primary straight to grade 1 but that was under old syllabus. She did pretty well for grade 1 but grade 2 and 3 results (new syllabus) dropped significantly. The foundation is very crucial, the legs must be strong. As the higher grades requires alot of strength, stamina and body flexibility. Dd doing grade 5 now with new syllabus. Her training hours extended to 90mins per lesson with 9 months of coaching lesson.

[nicnac]

A few of my Dd’s preschool friends only started ballet at primary 1, whilst my dd started from N2.

2 of them are 1 grade higher than her, cos they started at grade 1 at p1.
1 of them is 1 grade lower than her, cos she started at primary grade at P1.
another 1 who was doing 1 grade lower than dd was allowed to skip grade or do 2 grades at the same time this year… So technically, now same grade as dd.

These girls are with different schools…

[sembgal]

nicnac:

A few of my Dd's preschool friends only started ballet at primary 1, whilst my dd started from N2.

2 of them are 1 grade higher than her, cos they started at grade 1 at p1.
1 of them is 1 grade lower than her, cos she started at primary grade at P1.
another 1 who was doing 1 grade lower than dd was allowed to skip grade or do 2 grades at the same time this year... So technically, now same grade as dd.

These girls are with different schools..

Are these girls with the same ballet teacher?

[nicnac]

Nope…

The first 2 (1 grade higher )are with same tr.
The other 2 are with another tr at another centre.
Dd was with the second tr previously. She is with the first tr now.

[sembgal]

nicnac:

Nope..

The first 2 (1 grade higher )are with same tr.
The other 2 are with another tr at another centre.
Dd was with the second tr previously. She is with the first tr now.

I'm confused.

[FantasyLandDreams]

Hi

I need to clarify an understanding for the minimum age requirement to take grade one rad exam at 7 years old. Does it go by calendar year or birthday month? Meaning to say those born in 2008 can take rad grade one exam in April 2015 or not? Or is it a case whereby those born before April 2008 can take the exam but not those born in or after April 2008? Anyone can help? Thanks.