[/quote]Thanks for that ,midnightstars! It's always good to know what life in SOTA dance is like.

Are your exams over yet? Maybe you can enlighten us on what it's like in the school. Besides worrying if my child can get in, I am also wondering if she will be able to cope there.
1) how many classes are there yr 1 etc? Are they grouped by PSLE results or what?
2) what's the ave PSLE score like? We seems to hear quite a number with 250ish. Is that the usual or did we happen to just happen to ask those who scored similar results.
3) how stressful do you find balancing dance and studies? Everyone we saw at the open house sounded really upbeat about everything.
4) do most of the dance kids continue with dance classes out of school? Will these 'clash' with what SOTA teaches?

Would really love to hear from you or any other SOTA dance students. Thanks![/quote]

Hi, I'm currently a Year 2 dance student and I would love to share more about sota!
1) I am assuming by \"classes\" you mean both arts and academics. There are about 8-9 different subjects, and the academic classes are streamed by psle score in Year One. For dance, the cohort is split into two classes (depending on the amount of intake, but usually two classes only) by random.

2) There is quite a wide spectrum of psle results, from barely express to 260+, so the ability level when you first step into sota is actually quite different across the cohort. However, I hope this does not deter your child from joining the sota community as what is most important is the open-mindedness and the willingness to learn and absorb as much as one can

3) Dance is a very physically and mentally draining art form, and it does get quite tough to juggle it, even at year two (years one and two are considered the \"honeymoon years\" before the \"real stress\" begins apparently). I think that if there's a will, there's a way. Personally, I feel that as long as you know how to prioritize and time-manage, you're good to go. With an arts education like sota, discipline is of utmost importance and I feel that this is what the school is trying to drill into us as young artists-in-the-making through the school curriculum.

Of course, it is stressful. But the arts is the way it is, and not to mention the amount of schoolwork that is heaped on on top of that, it is definitely tedious. But what can you expect from a school with both arts and academics, right?

4) We are allowed to have external dance classes, but one thing that the dance faculty emphasizes is that sota dance always come first, not any external commitments.

I should think that there would be some clashes, even though I've never experienced it myself, but sota dance is always the priority and you would jolly well make sure you attend sota dance classes, I guess
~~
I think all in all, sota is definitely not for the weak-hearted. It is stressful, tiring, and mentally and physically draining. However, in a way, the whole reason why we feel like this, is actually because we heap the expectations onto ourselves. Artists are always very self-critical and always pushing themselves further and further towards perfection. It's always trying to get up to the next level, and the next, and the next, striving for excellent (note: excellence, not perfection). I feel that is creates a sense of responsibility and self-awareness, and the values of discipline and hard work and perseverance that is so hard to find in other mainstream secondary schools. I am not talking about just discipline or just responsibility, I'm talking majorly responsible and majorly discipline. Why, you have to, to be able to keep pushing and pushing at the boundaries that may or may not even be there.

This is why I feel that SOTA provides such good training in not only the arts or academics, but life in general

Hope this answers your questions and sorry about the long post (got a bit passionate there at the last bit). Do voice out more of your queries if you have any, I and all other sota parents and students, I'm sure, would be delighted to answer them

Ragamuffin shinobi:

yip33:

[quote=\"delsa\"]Hi all,


My dd is shortlisted too..for dance(non-ballet). Would any parents or SOTA students share their experience on what to expect during the TA for this?

Thanks in advance:))

Hi, I'm a year one dance student. I got in through non-ballet. So basically, the dance audition is split into two parts: Introduction to Ballet/Movement Audition and Individual Specialized Audition.

The Introduction to Ballet/Movement is to see how well you can pick up new movements and whether you would be able to cope with ballet, as ballet is the basis of all dances and is learnt through all six years in SOTA. This part of the audition is like an open class, and there will be a teacher watching the class. So to prepare for this, just come with an open mind, be dillegent with your stretching before class and have fun!

The Individual Specialized Audition is basically just you dancing your solo in front of a panel of teachers. So smile and again, have fun.

Both auditions will be recorded on video, but don't feel intimidated. You want the teachers to feel that you love dancing.

PS: do come and say hi to me as I'm the videographer for the non-ballet auditions.

Good luck! (Have fun)

wow! You are in year 1 and going to help out at the audition this year? SOTA sure involves their students in many aspects!
You mentioned the audition process for the non ballet side, but would you happen to know how the audition for the ballet side will be like?
I also wonder how many people they are shortlisting for dance this year. Do let us know and thanks in advance![/quote]From what I know, there will be a ballet audition and a contemporary class audition. These should probably be open classes, I guess.

I forgot to mention, I think there will be interviews and diagnostic tests for all dance auditions, but I don't know what it will be like.

There has always been the least students in th dance faculty as compared to other art forms, so I would say about 20+ to 30+ dancers?

delsa:

Hi all,


My dd is shortlisted too..for dance(non-ballet). Would any parents or SOTA students share their experience on what to expect during the TA for this?

Thanks in advance:))

Hi, I'm a year one dance student. I got in through non-ballet. So basically, the dance audition is split into two parts: Introduction to Ballet/Movement Audition and Individual Specialized Audition.

The Introduction to Ballet/Movement is to see how well you can pick up new movements and whether you would be able to cope with ballet, as ballet is the basis of all dances and is learnt through all six years in SOTA. This part of the audition is like an open class, and there will be a teacher watching the class. So to prepare for this, just come with an open mind, be dillegent with your stretching before class and have fun!

The Individual Specialized Audition is basically just you dancing your solo in front of a panel of teachers. So smile and again, have fun.

Both auditions will be recorded on video, but don't feel intimidated. You want the teachers to feel that you love dancing.

PS: do come and say hi to me as I'm the videographer for the non-ballet auditions.

Good luck! (Have fun)

luckyone:

hi thanks for the info, my dd has been shortlisted for VA and has to write the CE on 24 June..can you throw some light on how to prepapre for the exam and also the TA thereafter? Many thanks

I am not sure about VA TA, as that's not my art form, but I know about the CE.

There isn't anything you can do to prepare. But I think the best bet you have is to prepare it like how you would prepare for oral conversation. CE, for me, was just like oral conversation exams, just that you write it down on paper. The questions, again, for me, were like the type of questions that would be asked in oral exams, just that it's not so much of a yes-no questions, more of something along the lines of \"How has art helped you in your academics\".

Ragamuffin shinobi:

What's the standard of CL in SOTA? As in does it follow the usual sec school syllabus or is there a different IB standard? Don't think I have heard much on this before.

We don't have textbooks in SOTA, and we don't follow the normal secondary school syllabus. Currently, in year one, we've been looking at a more cultural side of the Chinese language, such as how the Chinese language was formed and Chinese emojis

mommyNg:

jajnj:

[quote=\"Mrs Cheng\"]My son is in SOTA VA yr 2. Like many parents, we were apprehensive about him going into SOTA as we were not sure if he can cope with IB prog (his psle results were not good), if he will enjoy the school life, etc. In fact, we were extremely surprised when he received the confirmed offer. In the end, we decided that he should enter SOTA since they must have seen the potential in him during the audition in spite of his poor academic results.


Having said the above, i guess SOTA is not for everyone, putting aside the art form. For my P6 girl, she will prob do better in a sec school with more structured curriculum.

Thanks for sharing. Do you know of anyone who got in thru chinese orchestra?

I remembered one of the SOTA admin person told me (1-2 months ago) that there were students who got in through Chinese Orchestra. Can't remember the instrument, may be Suo Na or Yang Qin? You can call them and ask them. The person I spoke with was very friendly (can't remember her name either). :oops:[/quote]Hi, one of my classmates got in through Yang Qin.

Dazzydancers:

yip33:

[quote=\"Dazzydancers\"]Hi people out there....My kid interested in SOTA who is P6 this year......In knowing what to submit for the application for SOTA as stated in the website, there is this note that you'll have to submit a one minute video of yourself dancing in a thumbdrive. May I know if the dance you do that is to be recorded is the dance according to the syllabus (RAD/CSTD)?

Or is it you got to make your own?

May I know what are the questions that will be tested for the Cognitive Exercise (CE) and what question would be tested during the interview?

Hi, I'm not sure about the video as this wasn't part of the audition last year, but I can tell you about the CE and the interview.

For the CE last year, we were given three questions to choose from, kind of like an essay or oral, but written on paper. If I remember correctly, the questions last year was \"The pros and cons of cellphones\", and I can't remember the rest, but I remember the two other questions had something to do with the arts.

For the interview, I don't think everyone will be asked the same questions. There will be two interviews, one for academics and one for arts. I remember for my academics interview, they asked me which subject I think I do best in and things to do with subjects and school and how I study. For the arts interview, I remember Ms Tan asked me whether i had any ballet background (I auditioned through non-ballet), whether I knew what the year sixes have to do for their IB dance project, why I want to come to SOTA, stuff like that.

Basically, it was like oral conversation.

I hope this helps and do voice any more queries you have:)

Well thank you, Yip33!
You're a Genius!
Are you in year one now?
Anyway, what is the load of homework for each day in sota?
One last thing is, my daughter's ballet results were just merit or pass each
year. Never distinction.She takes RAD ballet. Will this cause a disadvantage in her admission in Sota although she had a passion to dance which she always looks forward to every dance lesson?[/quote]The workload, to me, right now in year one is quite manageable, but all the senior say years one and two are easy, year three you get stressed, year four you want to die, year five you die and year six you are cremated.

Regarding the ballet, I'm not very sure as I came in through non-ballet, but I do not think it will matter much. What the school looks for in a student is the passion, potential and talent, but that doesn't mean you are exceptionally good. And the academics matter too, if you get accepted, you still have to get a minimum of express stream in PSLE to get into the school

Dazzydancers:

Hi people out there....My kid interested in SOTA who is P6 this year......In knowing what to submit for the application for SOTA as stated in the website, there is this note that you'll have to submit a one minute video of yourself dancing in a thumbdrive. May I know if the dance you do that is to be recorded is the dance according to the syllabus (RAD/CSTD)?

Or is it you got to make your own?

May I know what are the questions that will be tested for the Cognitive Exercise (CE) and what question would be tested during the interview?

Hi, I'm not sure about the video as this wasn't part of the audition last year, but I can tell you about the CE and the interview.

For the CE last year, we were given three questions to choose from, kind of like an essay or oral, but written on paper. If I remember correctly, the questions last year was \"The pros and cons of cellphones\", and I can't remember the rest, but I remember the two other questions had something to do with the arts.

For the interview, I don't think everyone will be asked the same questions. There will be two interviews, one for academics and one for arts. I remember for my academics interview, they asked me which subject I think I do best in and things to do with subjects and school and how I study. For the arts interview, I remember Ms Tan asked me whether i had any ballet background (I auditioned through non-ballet), whether I knew what the year sixes have to do for their IB dance project, why I want to come to SOTA, stuff like that.

Basically, it was like oral conversation.

I hope this helps and do voice any more queries you have:)

dasalo:

lexis:

Just out of curiousity, do all the SOTA students take the IB or is there a parallel O-level track?


Is it a dual track school (like SJI, Cat High, SCGS) or pure-IP school (like RI, HCI - which have 1 or 2 O level classes for the weaker kids in Year 3/4)?

Only one track leading to IB.

This year, SOTA announced that they are starting IBCC for pupils Year 4 and above who are exceptionally good in their art form and is considering their art form as a career path

Shoe:

I've heard mixed feedback on SOTA, any existing parents with kids in SOTA to share their experiences?

Hi, I'm not a parent, but a student in the lower years of SOTA.

I think that a lot of people view SOTA as a school where the students don't study, they go to SOTA because they have bad academic results, SOTA students have no self-discipline etc. And this is totally not true.

SOTA students actually have quite good PSLE results, as you have to get into express stream to be admitted into SOTA.

Even in year one, students work hard to excel in both the arts and acads. I think that with an extra arts curriculum, it makes us even more busy. It is a common misconception that artists are loose. It is in fact the opposite.

I think SOTA is a very good school. I have always been happy with myself, but after going to SOTA, I'm very pleased with the person I've become as I'm more enthusiastic, more open and much more happier. I think that if your child wants to have an arts curriculum, SOTA would be a good choice.

The teachers understand us, and they are professionals at what they do, and can share personal experiences about their careers as artists.

I hope this helps, and if you want to find out more, SOTA is having an open house on the 12 of April