All About Ballet

[lowchuac2]

Muska Thanks for your information and sharing


Although I got no experience such before but I do agree that perharps they are too young and doing exact same thing and playing most of the time in class, but my tots is to give her exposure, and see what her interest and liking. And I suppose kids before 3yo absorb more thing is stronger ? and the best is start everything before 6yo for any interest?

Where do your ds1 start her violin? What the fee like?

muska:

lowchuac2:

Dear all, I'm WC. I very new to this forum and join here.... like to enquire your opinion.. My daughter is coming 3 in this coming Sept 2015. I think of letting her learn ballet, will that be too early? or when is the suitable age to let her start off?
which school can I lookout for? as i come from Low-mid income family, so would be great if the lesson fee is not too expensive. Normally how much is the lessons fee on average?

I always heard people say that when child are young, it better to start off as early as possible....so this come to my mind

Appreciate your all output...:) thanks .....

Best regards....

My dd started at 2.5yr at Ballet N Music Co at United SQ. To tell you the truth from 2.5yr to 5yr she was doing exact same thing and playing most of the time in class. So it was actually a waste of $. She was still doing all kind of animal pretends and tall tall giraffe, after so many yrs there. Ballet n music charges $300+ for 3mth.

After that at 5 yr onwards I changed her to McCulley Dance at Thomson Plaza. It is much cheaper 3mths at $120, however, Ms Mc Culley is very strict and fierce. She will chase kids out of class if they misbehaves, and if 1-2 lesson the child still refuse to join in dance step, she will terminate the lesson for the child. So some parents can accept n some parents cant.

So if I knew all these learning experience, I would not send my gal so early to learn ballet.

crestar and ballet n music co. offer class to 2.5yr.

Same thing as violin, my ds1 started at 4..he has no talent, so it took him 2yr plus to get to grade2. With dd starts later at 5.5 only took 1yr. So I think prime age to do these are at 5...personal opinion, of cos there r some young prodigy case..so I'm quoting only for my own experience.

[muska]

phtthp:

muska:

[quote=\"bebe\"]

How much school fees, for Ms McCulley ballet Grade 3 ?

[/quote]Not sure abt grade3, my gal is only at primary this yr. Can call to check...but do expect hard to get them as they only hv 1 lady at desk, sometimes she's not there on weekday AM. usually she will be there on weekend. I almost wanted to give up calling them till my fren told me so.

[muska]

Hi WC,

i have pm u.

[Oh My Gosh]

RAD now imposes a minimum age which a child needs to be 5 on 1 January of the year (i.e. 6 years old) which she/ he is taking the pre-primary ballet exams; preparation usually only starts 6-9 months before the exams. Hence, some parents are starting their girls later as they will be dancing the same steps for the first 1-2 years if they started early. However, I believe it really depends on the character of the child (which parents should know their child well). If the child is open to learn new things and does not get bored learning a routine over and over, starting early could indeed be establishing a strong foundation. However, if the child gets bored easily and then do the ballet routine for the sake of doing it, then maybe it is not wise to start early.


DD starts ballet at 4 years 8 months, took her first pre-primary exam when she was 5 years 3 months - about 7 months later. i.e. She was having 2 lessons weekly, barely a month after starting ballet (usual training and coaching lessons). I regretted not starting earlier and was worried then, that she may find it tiring but kids have lots of energy and she loved every lessons. I am also very glad her ballet teacher is very patient with her, teaching her all the steps when she doesn't have any foundation.

My point is... parents, pause for a minute and see your child's character. You've seen them grow up, you know them better than they know themselves. Then do a self judgment if your child is suitable to start very young Not all judgments will prove correct as the child's interest may change with environment, friends, etc. But I believe this will be a good calculated judgment.

[lowchuac2]

Oh My Gosh, i can’t find any info on RAD now imposes a minimum age which a child needs to be 6 on 1 January of the year , can u assist to provide the link? Thanks

[Oh My Gosh]

lowchuac2:

Oh My Gosh, i can't find any info on RAD now imposes a minimum age which a child needs to be 6 on 1 January of the year , can u assist to provide the link? Thanks

This is the link on the minimum age requirements:

http://www.rad.org.uk/achieve/exams/tea ... quirements

The child needs to be at least 5 years old on 1 January of the year she is taking the Pre-Primary exam i.e. she needs to be at least 6 years old in the year (i.e. K2) unless she happens to be born on 1 January!!!

[Oh My Gosh]

* Extracted this from RAD website as well*


Cut-off dates for minimum ages are 1 January and 1 September.

The minimum age rule was changed in order to guide candidates through the preparation and training for their exams at an appropriate age, due to the demands of the new syllabus and in accordance with safe dance practice. Examiners were becoming more concerned that dancers were too young for the exams they were attempting, which reduced successful outcomes and risked damaging students’ development.
Minimum ages align with the period of training, when students are learning the work, rather than when they take their exam.
Removing the age rule altogether could result in students being entered for exams far too early. We realise that students develop at different rates, but the only fair basis on which we can apply the policy is that of age.
As many teachers lay great store by their students’ exam results, we are certain that the policy will help teachers and encourage students, as results are likely to be enhanced and achievement maximised when students learn the work at the correct developmental stage.
The policy change was first announced in February 2011, and we have supported teachers with a flexible approach to the policy as they make the necessary arrangements in their schools. Although this transitional period is now over, we still sometimes grant dispensations when candidates miss the deadline by a small amount. Please contact your local RAD office for more information.
Teachers should note that dispensations are not granted on the basis of previous exams or the predicted outcome of future results, but purely their age in relation to the time of their exam.

Examinations Board
February 2015

[Oh My Gosh]

** Teachers should note that dispensations are not granted on the basis of previous exams or the predicted outcome of future results, but purely their age in relation to the time of their exam.


So in the letter of appeal, it cannot be stated that the child is very skilful or dances very well, hence strongly recommended he/she can still be granted to take a ballet exam above his/her age.

Although this transitional period is now over, we still sometimes grant dispensations when candidates miss the deadline by a small amount.**

DD is born in January, so missed by a few days… I know of a girl in another ballet school born on 2 January - She can’t take the ballet exams too (not sure if her ballet school appeal to RAD). So the "small amount" stated by RAD seems discretionary. Anyway, at DD ballet teacher’s suggestion, DD does not take Grade 1 ballet exam, then proceed to take the Grade 2 ballet exam the following year.

[Em Ser]

Hi Oh My Gosh

I have seen parents shouting at the Teacher over this issue.
Very Disgusting.

[Oh My Gosh]

Em Ser:

Hi Oh My Gosh

I have seen parents shouting at the Teacher over this issue.
Very Disgusting.

Oh no! ... shouting at the teacher? But it is no fault of the teacher. These are restrictions imposed by RAD. DD is directly affected by the restriction but I don't blame the teacher and understand why RAD wants to set the minimum age - at lower grades, the impact is minimal but it is certainly not advisable to do pointe at a young age when the feet is not fully developed.

I think the main problem is the expectations. Now that the restrictions are known, many ballet schools will inform parents upfront when they decide to enrol their DD at a young age. It is probably those parents like myself who are \"affected\" when the restrictions are imposed (and RAD did not give any leeway for those affected in the interim) who gets angry.

But I believe ultimately it is whether the interests will last ... it doesn't matter if the child takes the ballet exams 1 or 2 years later.