All About Ballet

[Yngmng]

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.

[Oh My Gosh]

FantasyLandDreams:

cool_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??

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 pointe But interests is really most important.

[sky minecrafter]

cool_hi:

...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!

Thanks for sharing & good luck for the exam!

[snoopygohome]

Hi,


I have been reading the posts in this forum but wasn’t able to find an answer to a nagging question on my mind. I have a DD who likes ballet for the camaderie with her friends. She has attended ballet class at a CC since 4 years old and passed the RAD Primary exam silver. I’m not driving her hard because I just want her to work on posture and flexibility. Exams not important because I don’t expect her to be a pro one day. Are there any non syllabus ballet classes in Singapore she can transfer to? Her current ballet teacher at the CC seems to quash her morale hence the question. Please help.

[Yngmng]

snoopygohome:

Hi,


I have been reading the posts in this forum but wasn't able to find an answer to a nagging question on my mind. I have a DD who likes ballet for the camaderie with her friends. She has attended ballet class at a CC since 4 years old and passed the RAD Primary exam silver. I'm not driving her hard because I just want her to work on posture and flexibility. Exams not important because I don't expect her to be a pro one day. Are there any non syllabus ballet classes in Singapore she can transfer to? Her current ballet teacher at the CC seems to quash her morale hence the question. Please help.

I understand. When my DD1 was in grade 4, I changed her ballet school. She was very demoralised by the teacher. I think your issue is not with the class but the teacher. If you happen to stay in northeast, you can try Anchorvale CC. DD2 learning with teacher Melinda ( hope I got her name correct). I find that she has a good rapport with the children, definitely won't demoralise them. Like you, I won't focus on exams and am prepared to stop once she lost interest. So far, she loves the classes.

[cool_hi]

sky minecrafter:

cool_hi:

...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!

Thanks for sharing & good luck for the exam!

Hi Sky Minecrafter,
Thanks for appreciating my sharing
was really hesitant in sharing,but hoping that the sharing of our genuine unpleasant experience,
can provide some insight to some parents here..
word of advice.. if notice anything undesirable about lessons/teacher(esp from cc),
do look for alternative school AHEAD, instead of waiting until problems get blown up..
coz there is usually no way to feedback to higher authority of any problems..
For CC, The teacher is usually the principal & the ONLY person-in-charge!!
(can u imagine that our main problem was regarding grouping in even numbers,
which teacher insisted in having, saying it is a must, & thus insisted us to attend her other class at another cc!!
but when i checked with 3 ballet teachers, when my girl went for trials in my frantic search for new school,
i was told there is totally no problem with odd number for grouping!! impossible to always group in 4s.. :siao:
& at the new school, my girl is grouped in 3s!! TOTALLY no problem at all!!
I may not be trained in ballet, but using my layman's logic thinking, i was suspicious & strongly felt we were being manipulated to her whims and fancy..I am not brainless lor...I have my own contacts & way to verify!! eg. our ex-teacher...frankly, when I verified that is ok for odd-number grouping, I was in great shock at how she can lie about such facts..really unprofessional & unethical...)

& thanks for your well-wishes! the Exam went smoothly!! Phew!!
so relieved and Glad that she did not have to miss this crucial exam due to ultra ridiculous reasons!!

[sky minecrafter]

cool_hi:

...the Exam went smoothly!! Phew!! so relieved and Glad that she did not have to miss this crucial exam due to ultra ridiculous reasons!!

:celebrate:

[Porky Pig]

My girl just finished her G1 ballet exam yesterday. No stress and her teacher really prepared the girls well. Now back to once a week lesson.

[Oh My Gosh]

Dilemma… DD is P5 this year. Just finished her G5 ballet exam and is progressing to G6. DD is also taking piano and another musical instrument. Also learning swimming. All classes are self requested by her and I have no intention of using any to DSA. Reason being she likes all of them but is only "Jack of all trades but master of none" haha… lol. Also, she didn’t like the DSA process.


Schoolwork is alright but I would say, could be better. She is a prefect, self disciplined and has no tuition. Top mainstream class in a GEP school but she is only lower-average in her class. Now, should I force her to drop ballet or one of her activities??? I know based on her tight schedule, she is already managing very well. But PSLE is next year… sigh.

Hubby said leave it… but we all know how important is PSLE… sigh… any parents’ advice?

[xuanting]

Oh My Gosh:

Dilemma... DD is P5 this year. ... ...

Hi OMG, my kids are not in P5 yet but I'd say leave it too. From the looks of it, you have a very well-rounded child who is independent and able to manage her interests and priorities well. I wish mine could be like that too!