All About Ballet

[Poohbear]

Hi,


Like to check on coaching classes for ballet exams. Is it norm to hv coaching classes 6 months b4 exams? :scratchhead:

DD is taking RAD Grade 3 exams next year and her teacher has just informed that coaching classes will start in Oct. Previously, coaching classes only start 3 months before exams. ie start in Jan for the exams in Apr.

Thks. :please:

[nicnac]

It’s usually 6 months, sep - mar. But there are schools doing 3 months too…

[Poohbear]

thks nicnac.... so its normal... :hi5: me newbie in this ballet thingy... so am surprised why it takes so many months... siong

[jo.010813ong]

My gals ballet teacher started grade three class twice a week right from the beginning of the term. Grade three onwards the steps are more difficult especially the new syllabus.

[Monster Mummy]

Yes, For primary level and above it take 6 months but pre- primary only 3 months. Yet, some dance school might do differently. It will be best to talk to the teacher.

[Minstral]

It seems like ballet is a popular enrichment choice for girls. I’m quite keen to let my daughter take up ballet to improve her poise and posture, but I wonder if learning ballet in the long term will affect her toes? No offense meant, but I have friends who do ballet and they don’t wear open-toe shoes because their toes are a mess.

[arielle08]

I only realise most of their legs are quite chunky.


Not sure about toes.

BTW, anyone went for the CSTD competition over the weekend?
Some of the contestents are really good!

[Serendipity]

Minstral, that depends on how intensive one trains for ballet i believe. And before going on pointe (on their toes), ballet training is not likely to affect their toes. More likely they’ll develop more muscular thighs n calves. I’m not an expert but I’ve taken some adult classes and did my own bit of research. I had the same worries as you b4, but I’ve come to realise that the benefits (like body flexibility and coordination, a dancer’s grace) outweigh the cons.

[vanyali]

My daughters (age 7 and 11) would like to take ballet lessons, but cannot join classes with girls their own ages because they are beginning level (they each had some classes in the U.S. but no one in the U.S. follows a syllabus or does exams, so U.S. classes don’t seem to count for anything here).


I would like to find a private tutor to teach them individually (or the two of them together) to get them to the right level for their ages, and then I could transition them to regular ballet classes.

Do you know of anyone who offers private ballet lessons? Does this plan sound like it would work, or can children just not dance here if they did not start in Singapore at age 3?

Thanks.

[vanyali]

Does anyone know of a beginning ballet class that has some older girls in it?


Some of the other activities that my girls (7 and 11) do have mixed ages in a class, so my girls don’t feel out of place as beginners. I am thinking of their gymnastics and rock climbing classes. Other classes they take (drama) group the children by age regardless of experience.

My girls would like to start ballet, but we are having a hard time figuring out how to start them out without them having to take a class with 3-5 year olds. My 11-year-old especially would feel too humiliated, and would not enjoy that.

Does anyone have a suggestion for us? We are based in Bishan, but have no problem traveling for classes.

Thanks.