All About Ballet

[jtoh]

i3mum:

I finally got a ballet class for my DD can anyone tell me what is the black character skirt use for? My DD is in grade 1 & it was part of the attire. Sorry I have been a bit ignorant about ballet.


Another question, how about the black heel shoes? Which grade will start to wear them?

The black character skirt and black character shoes are to be worn during the character portion of the syllabus. This will be tested during the exams. Character dances are usually Russian or Eastern European in origin.

I can't quite recall when they doing character dance but I think at Primary level.

If you're concerned that you might outgrow the shoes, check with the teacher when you'll need them. Also, some schools will swap the shoes as the girls outgrow them, so you don't need to spend so much money on them.

[twilight]

i3mum:

I finally got a ballet class for my DD can anyone tell me what is the black character skirt use for? My DD is in grade 1 & it was part of the attire. Sorry I have been a bit ignorant about ballet.


Another question, how about the black heel shoes? Which grade will start to wear them?

RAD syllabus basically consists of 3 segments: classical ballet, free movement and character dance. The black character skirt is worn in the character dance segment, together with the black heel shoes called character shoes. Grade 1 and 2 will wear the low heel character shoes, grade 3-8 will wear cuban heels which have higher heels.

[i3mum]

It's: http://www.attitudearts.com

phtthp:

i3mum,

where is Attitude ? you have the website link ?

[i3mum]

Thanks jtoh for your enlightenment! Now I have a better idea of ballet!

We haven't got the shoes, so when wait till the teacher inform us!

jtoh:

The black character skirt and black character shoes are to be worn during the character portion of the syllabus. This will be tested during the exams. Character dances are usually Russian or Eastern European in origin.

I can't quite recall when they doing character dance but I think at Primary level.

If you're concerned that you might outgrow the shoes, check with the teacher when you'll need them. Also, some schools will swap the shoes as the girls outgrow them, so you don't need to spend so much money on them.

[mommsie101]

Cool, i checked out the website. It looks quite good and promising.

[i3mum]

thanks twilight! I will wait till the teacher inform us when my DD need to wear the character skirt.

twilight:

RAD syllabus basically consists of 3 segments: classical ballet, free movement and character dance. The black character skirt is worn in the character dance segment, together with the black heel shoes called character shoes. Grade 1 and 2 will wear the low heel character shoes, grade 3-8 will wear cuban heels which have higher heels.

[i3mum]

The teacher who is teaching my DD is a pleasant lady, but those staff at the counter really have \"attitude\" and they are slow & queue is long. It took me an hour to sort out everything (registration, payment & attire fitting) :rant:

mommsie101:

Cool, i checked out the website. It looks quite good and promising.

[i3mum]

Hehe 2 more questions:


1) I saw some resources for RAD: books & DVD, is it recommended to get them and let DD watch? Anyone know where to get?

2) Does your DD practise at home? As a parent, how should we help them?

[Serendipity]

i3mum:

Yes I also think their rates are higher, but when I enquire at Crestar, it's a few dollar cheaper, not much. And attitutude have more classes which are more flexible. Where have you decide on?

Serendipity:

I've enquired with Attitude before, but I find their rates a little steep. So I'm looking for alternatives at the moment. Have more or less decided on one actually, but I have to give my DD time to adjust and get comfortable with the new class setting. Hopefully she'll join in rather than sit on the sidelines and observe! :slapshead:

Decided on Dance Station. She finally started to join in at her last trial lesson. Yay! :rahrah: Hopefully she'll continue to grow more comfortable with the class. :xedfingers:

[Serendipity]

i3mum:

As a parent, how should we help them?

If you can afford the time and energy, I say take up some adult ballet classes yourself! Nothing better than experiencing first hand what it's like to be in a ballet class!

I had no dance background, but after taking up some classes, I find that I know a lot more about what to look out for in a dance class and about the exercises they do in a typical class. But of course, it's useful prob only for the beginning levels. Once they're on to higher levels, they'll prob know more than we do!

Alternatively, I find it helpful to refer to online resources. Here're a few links you might find useful:

Glossary of ballet terms from American Ballet Theatre
http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/index.html

Royal Academy of Dance for info on the RAD exams and syllabi
http://www.rad.org.uk/

Btw, I recently heard that they're updating the RAD syllabi, so your DD might be doing the new syllabus in the near future.