All About Ballet
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FantasyLandDreams:
Thanks for sharing with me. Personally I find that it may be too heavy to attend ballet twice a week if we include the coaching class. I may opt out for Grade 2 exam if her teacher is agreeable. But most of the time, Ms Blue is not.Porky Pig:
Can I just checked whether we have to take all exams or is it ok to skip grades?
Depends on the teachers actually.
If you mean still go for lessons regularly but not coaching class, some teachers still ok, for grades 1 to 3 usually, but perhaps must still maintain 70 per cent attendance even if not taking exams for that year. After grade 3, it is a no-no for most teachers that I spoke to.
But if you mean take Grade 1 exams, then skip grade 2 entirely and straight away join a grade 3 class, I have yet to find one that is agreeable.
Also, somehow when you change cc or ballet school, the new teacher may even downgrade you one year.
The above is purely my own experience after speaking to a few east side teachers. -
FantasyLandDreams:
Just to share..my gal took G1 exam in 2014, & then took G3 exam in 2015..Porky Pig:
Can I just checked whether we have to take all exams or is it ok to skip grades?
Depends on the teachers actually.
If you mean still go for lessons regularly but not coaching class, some teachers still ok, for grades 1 to 3 usually, but perhaps must still maintain 70 per cent attendance even if not taking exams for that year. After grade 3, it is a no-no for most teachers that I spoke to.
But if you mean take Grade 1 exams, then skip grade 2 entirely and straight away join a grade 3 class, I have yet to find one that is agreeable.
Also, somehow when you change cc or ballet school, the new teacher may even downgrade you one year.
The above is purely my own experience after speaking to a few east side teachers.
it depends on school's policy & mainly depends on teacher's assessment on the child..
my girl's teacher assessed & approved her to jump grade(i requested as she was donwgraded by 1 grade when switched to this school), but this teacher resigned shortly after,
& the senior teacher who took over, was more cautious & preferred her to attend both G2 & G3 classes concurrently,
for around half a year, as she feels that certain techniques may be weak/not mastered,if jump grade direct....
&there are cases whereby parent insisted in skipping grade, as school+teacher did not allow,
so changed school & took exam the following year, but can see foundation is weak,
and did not score well for the exam...& kid will also find it tough as she move up the grade due to weak foundation.
So it depends on parents mindset also...
some parents simply want to chase after cert, TRY to have Private Coaching with teacher to close up the learning gaps due to skipping grade, & get Grade 5 cert by say p5, and call it a day,stop lessons totally..
just sharing what i know:)
hope this helps
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Girl in P5, taking G5 this year. During the pre-exam briefing, tr said G6 is an intermediate level… so there wont be any exam next year as the girls will be taught foundation skills and G6 dance concurrently hence G6 exams will be 2 years time when she is in Sec1. Which is good news for me as next year is PSLE … arghs! Haha
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Oh My Gosh:
Girl in P5, taking G5 this year. During the pre-exam briefing, tr said G6 is an intermediate level... so there wont be any exam next year as the girls will be taught foundation skills and G6 dance concurrently hence G6 exams will be 2 years time when she is in Sec1. Which is good news for me as next year is PSLE ... arghs! Haha
good for u !!
yup!usually, g6 and intermediate foundation onwards,
need 2 years to prepare for each grade's exam:)
anyone knows the difference betw taking G6, 7,8...
and intermediate foundation, intermediate, etc?? -
anyway, suddenly recalled an incident…was contemplating whether i should share here…
think,for benefit of others…i should share…
my girl transferred to another school last jul-dec…new teacher(who is also the principal) is quite good in teaching,
but not open to feedback…due to certain issues(which i would not want to elaborate here…),
I sms her, my girl would not be taking exam but would still like to continue regular class.
She did not even bother to ask why etc…just replied "OK"…Basically, not concerned at all!!
(whereas her ex-teacher said it’s a big waste not to take exam as she been preparing for past 1-1.5yr!!)
& during 1 of the regular lessons, the teacher’s mentor came to teach the class…
as my girl did not attend the extra coaching class, so there was a certain dance which she cannot catch up,
& she was chided by the mentor…
But the teacher DID NOT bother to voice up and clarify with the mentor that my girl is not taking exam+don’t attend coaching class…
My girl felt stressed, panic and teared on the spot…& on seeing her cry, the mentor got angrier & continued scolding…
STILL, the teacher did not speak up!
i only realised something was wrong when i saw my girl cried…
& all these happened when i was in the same room!!
i Cannot imagine what other ostracization can happen if parents are not there!!
I am not an over-protective parent…I always tell my kids’ teachers, if need to scold, coz of bad learning attitude etc,
please go ahead! BUT when my child is not at fault, i also do not tolerate wrongful scolding!!
(& my gal survived & thrived under a very strict, critical PRC teacher for 2 years previously…)
we left early & I sms teacher to apologise for leaving early, but we never went back for the last few lessons of the term…
& the teacher did NOT bother to call/sms to ask why we stop lessons…(or am i expecting too much??Or is this the usual way of management from CC-teacher-cum-Principal?)
Subsequently, actually my girl who loves ballet a lot, still want to take exam…
i was in a frantic mode, last minute had to scramble to find a suitable school & teacher for her,last year Nov-Dec!!
& Many schools might have already registered for exams…
& after much effort, found & went for trials with 2 teachers in that school & both teachers said she is definitely good enough to go exams(i was so afriad she would be rejected since that Principal Teacher was totally not concerned when i said we not taking exam, so i thought my girl may be too mediocre,thus she render such unconcerned attitude) .
Anyway, she is in good hands now! & taking exam next week!! Hope it will go smooth & well!!
while watching her danced in open class this week, i can see her enjoyment in dancing, i was so thankful that i did not give up finding the right school for her to take exam!!
& this French teacher is so humble & friendly and has never ever made her feel like a 3rd class citizen just because she joined in late!!(I was initially worried that teacher may be bias/unfriendly.as there were a few caucasian students in her class) Though Fees is more ex(I do feel heart-pain), but EVERY single cent is well-spent!!
At least, we do not feel that our existence is MERELY for the sake of adding revenue to the school/teacher!!
So do try to make sure a teacher is really ok about skipping an exam…
It does not do a child any good, if the teacher alienate her /is bias because she is not taking exam…
& for our case, the teacher said is "ok" but her actions speak otherwise!
But i really have to "thank" her for her unprofessional unconcerned bias actions, if not,
my girl would be still be staying on her class & would miss taking her exam!
(P.S. i just attended 2 Open class in her current school, only after 2nd one, then i noticed there seem to be 1 girl who is not taking exam…& asked my gal and confirmed…teacher never single her out/say anything sarcastic etc…she joins in the girls in practising the dance movements…but i dID notice she look a bit ‘sian’…just shARING…) -
cool_hi:
If I am not wrong, the intermediate foundation route is for those who aspire to be professional dancer or ballet teacher. Otherwise just take Grade 6-8.Oh My Gosh:
Girl in P5, taking G5 this year. During the pre-exam briefing, tr said G6 is an intermediate level... so there wont be any exam next year as the girls will be taught foundation skills and G6 dance concurrently hence G6 exams will be 2 years time when she is in Sec1. Which is good news for me as next year is PSLE ... arghs! Haha
good for u !!
yup!usually, g6 and intermediate foundation onwards,
need 2 years to prepare for each grade's exam:)
anyone knows the difference betw taking G6, 7,8...
and intermediate foundation, intermediate, etc?? -
cool_hi:
I totally understand what you been through. A friend just experienced something similar in one of the dance school this year too. Hence my earlier post of 'not all teachers are open to non-exam route'.anyway, suddenly recalled an incident..was contemplating whether i should share here...
think,for benefit of others..i should share...
my girl transferred to another school last jul-dec..new teacher(who is also the principal) is quite good in teaching,
but not open to feedback..due to certain issues(which i would not want to elaborate here..),
I sms her, my girl would not be taking exam but would still like to continue regular class.
She did not even bother to ask why etc..just replied \"OK\"..Basically, not concerned at all!!
& during 1 of the regular lessons, the teacher's mentor came to teach the class..
as my girl did not attend the extra coaching class, so there was a certain dance which she cannot catch up,
& she was chided by the mentor...
But the teacher DID NOT bother to voice up and clarify with the mentor that my girl is not taking exam!!!
My girl felt wronged and teared on the spot...& on seeing her cry, the mentor got angrier & continued scolding...still, the teacher did not speak up!
i only realised something was wrong when i saw my girl cried...
& all these happened when i was in the same room!!
i Cannot imagine what other ostracization can happen if parents are not there!!
I am not an over-protective parent...I always tell my kids' teachers, if need to scold, coz of bad learning attitude etc,
please go ahead! BUT when my child is not at fault, i also do not tolerate wrongful scolding!!
we left early for that class and never went back for the last few lessons of the term...
& the Principal teacher did NOT bother to call/sms to ask why we did not attend lessons...(or am i expecting too much??)
Subsequently, actually my girl who loves ballet a lot, still want to take exam..
i was in a frantic mode, last minute had to scramble to find a suitable school & teacher for her,last year Nov-Dec!!
& after much effort, found & went for trials with 2 teachers in that school & both teachers said she is definitely good enough to go exams(i was so afriad she would be rejected since that Principal Teacher was totally not concerned when i said we not taking exam, so i thought my girl may be too mediocre,thus she render such unconcerned attitude) .
Anyway, she is in good hands now! & taking exam next week!! Hope it will go smooth & well!!
while watching her danced in open class this week, i can see her enjoyment in dancing, i was so thankful that i did not give up finding the right school for her to take exam!!
& this caucasian teacher is so humble & friendly and has never ever made her feel like a 3rd class citizen just because she joined in late!! Though Fees is more ex(I do feel heart-pain), but $ well-spent!!
So do try to make sure a teacher is really ok about skipping an exam..
It does not do a child any good, if the teacher alienate her /is bias because she is not taking exam...
& for our case, the teacher said is \"ok\" but her actions speak otherwise!
But i really have to \"thank\" her for her bias actions, if not, my girl would be staying on her class & would miss taking her exam!
I am also in dilemma now whether to drop ballet completely this year or not , or 'tahan' a bit longer and see how it goes though teacher has expressed 'ok' for no exams next year. As next year is syf year and P5, it means 4 days (2 days supp class and 2 days cca) in school till almost 4pm. Really no way I can add in a grade 5 coaching class next Jan to April on weekdays! School hours is really scary at P5 to me, but was told it is worse at sec 4 and JC! :yikes: -
DD1 started learning ballet when she was 4 years old. But, she only took grade 3 exams. I realised that she has lost interest in ballet and allowed her to stop when she was P6 (learning grade 5). It is really difficulty to manage, with her many tuition and preparation for PSLE. DD2 just started learning ballet this year and the teacher strongly advised her to take exam next year. Coaching class to start in Jan. So far, she has continued to show interest in ballet and seem to enjoy herself.
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FantasyLandDreams:
If I am not wrong, the intermediate foundation route is for those who aspire to be professional dancer or ballet teacher. Otherwise just take Grade 6-8.[/quote]You are not totally wrong... vocational training (i.e. intermediate foundation, foundation, advanced foundation, etc) are for those who aspire to be a ballet teacher... but even if your DS does not, it is good for her to learn if she is interested (and her tr deems she is good enough). After all, it is only at vocational training that you learning pointe (even grade 8 does not test pointe) and I feel ballet is not complete without pointecool_hi:
[quote=\"Oh My Gosh\"]Girl in P5, taking G5 this year. During the pre-exam briefing, tr said G6 is an intermediate level... so there wont be any exam next year as the girls will be taught foundation skills and G6 dance concurrently hence G6 exams will be 2 years time when she is in Sec1. Which is good news for me as next year is PSLE ... arghs! Haha
good for u !!
yup!usually, g6 and intermediate foundation onwards,
need 2 years to prepare for each grade's exam:)
anyone knows the difference betw taking G6, 7,8...
and intermediate foundation, intermediate, etc?? But interests is really most important.
-
cool_hi:
Thanks for sharing & good luck for the exam!...for benefit of others..i should share...my girl transferred to another school last jul-dec..new teacher (who is also the principal) is quite good in teaching, but not open to feedback..
...
& during 1 of the regular lessons, the teacher's mentor came to teach the class..as my girl did not attend the extra coaching class, so there was a certain dance which she cannot catch up, & she was chided by the mentor...But the teacher DID NOT bother to voice up and clarify with the mentor that my girl is not taking exam+don't attend coaching class..My girl felt stressed, panic and teared on the spot...& on seeing her cry, the mentor got angrier & continued scolding...STILL, the teacher did not speak up! i only realised something was wrong when i saw my girl cried...& all these happened when i was in the same room!! i Cannot imagine what other ostracization can happen if parents are not there!!
...
we left early & I sms teacher to apologise for leaving early, but we never went back for the last few lessons of the term... & the teacher did NOT bother to call/sms to ask why we stop lessons...(or am i expecting too much??Or is this the usual way of management from CC-teacher-cum-Principal?)
Subsequently, actually my girl who loves ballet a lot, still want to take exam..i was in a frantic mode, last minute had to scramble to find a suitable school & teacher for her,last year Nov-Dec!! & Many schools might have already registered for exams..
...
Anyway, she is in good hands now! & taking exam next week!! Hope it will go smooth & well!!
...
So do try to make sure a teacher is really ok about skipping an exam..It does not do a child any good, if the teacher alienate her /is bias because she is not taking exam...& for our case, the teacher said is \"ok\" but her actions speak otherwise!
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