BALLET EXAM PROGRAM

 

 

About the Ballet Exam Program

  • Ballet exams are available to both recreational & competitive students

    • Students must be invited into the Ballet Exam Program by the Ballet Instructor and/or the Studio Director

  • Students will be examined by an examiner from the Royal Academy of Dancing (R.A.D)

  • Students will receive a certificate if they obtain a passing grade

  • Training for these examinations will commence in September and continue until the examination date

  • Ballet exam classes are in addition to regular ballet classes

Graded Ballet Exams

  • Ballet Grade Exams are offered in Primary & Grades 1 to 8

    • NOTE: Grades 6 to 8 are treated like vocational exams (see below)

  • Training for these examinations will commence in September and continue until the examination date

  • Students in the graded ballet exam program will have 2 classes of ballet per week:

    • One regular graded ballet class & one graded ballet exam class

Vocational Ballet Exams

  • Vocational ballet exams are offered in Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced 1, Advanced 2, and Solo Seal.

  • Students must meet the minimum age requirement as outlined by the R.A.D in order to participate in vocational ballet exams.   

  • Students in the vocational ballet exam program (Grades 6-8 & Inter Foundation - Advanced 2) will have 3 classes of ballet per week:

    • One regular vocational ballet class, one vocational ballet exam class & one ballet technique class

  • Students training for the Solo Seal exam are required to attend at least 3 ballet classes per week in addition to their weekly private Solo Seal training.  1 of these classes should be a ballet technique class.

  • Training for these examinations will commence in September and continue until the examination date.

  • Training for any particular vocational ballet exam may take more than 1 season as these exams are more demanding in technique, performance quality & musicality.  The total length of training will be based on the students particular needs & is at the discretion of the ballet instructor.  

Schedule

  • The ballet exam schedule will be available by the end of September

  • You will be notified once the scheduled is confirmed

Attendance

  • Attendance is imperative in order to be successful

  • If a student misses too many classes, they may not be allowed to take the exam or they may be required to take additional private lessons (at a possible additional cost) to catch up

Assessment

  • Every ballet exam student invited to participate in the ballet exam program is on a probationary status until December whereby a final decision will be made by the Ballet Instructor (in consultation with the Studio Director), in regards to the suitability of the student completing a successful exam.

  • If a student has shown difficulty keeping up with the ballet exam syllabus, the Ballet Instructor reserves the right to make a final decision as to whether or not the student will participate in the actual ballet exam

  • The Ballet Instructor (in consultation with the Studio Director) will make decisions regarding the ballet exam after discussion with the student and parent.

  • Before a decision is made to withdraw a student from the ballet exam, the Ballet Instructor will put forth every effort to sit down with the student and parent to develop personal improvement plan for that student.

  • If a student chooses to continue after December after advisement to withdraw from the ballet exam by the Ballet Instructor, they will have up to 4 weeks before the exam date to improve.  If at that time the Ballet Instructor (in consultation with the Studio Director) deems that the student is not ready to successfully complete the exam, the decision to pull the student will be made.  Decisions at this time are final and at the sole professional discretion of the Ballet Instructor (in consultation with the Studio Director).

  • Please note that after Ballet Exam Entry Fees have been paid, the R.A.D does not process refunds for missed or cancelled exams.  Students wishing to continue against advisement of the Ballet Instructor, do so at their own expense.  No refund (partial or full) will be given for failed ballet exams.

  • Please note that IVDA does not process refunds for ballet exam classes for students who miss, fail or are withdrawn from the ballet exam.

Attire

  • Ballet exam students must have the proper attire for class (please see Dress Code for details)

  • For the exam, students have a set uniform as determined by the R.A.D.  Students will receive a list of all required styles of attire necessary for their exam.

Fees

  • Please see studio office for fee info

  • Fees are due by the 15th of each and every month the exam class is in session

  • Ballet exam classes are not eligible for discounts or family rates

Mock Exam

  • Students will attend a Mock Exam run by our ballet instructor & a pianist approximately 1 month before their examination at our studio or at another location

  • The Mock Exam is run just as the real exam would be run.

  • The Mock Exam is an important aspect in ballet exam training.  

    • It further prepares exam students by giving them a real examination setting

    • It gives the ballet instructor a new opportunity to offer corrections & guidance

  • The Mock Exam has a fee which includes the cost of the pianist

    • The Mock Exam fee will be confirmed closer to the mock exam date & notification with further instruction will be sent out at that time

 

Examination Entry Fee

  • The R.A.D requires every exam student to pay an entry fee

  • Entry fees must be paid to the studio in order to participate in the exam

  • Entry fees include the cost of the pianist