CDM SCHEDULE

Pre-primary – Grade 8

These classes are suitable for children aged five and up, and include elements of Free Movement and Character Dance. One class per week is required for Pre-Primary and Primary levels. Two classes per week are required for exam preparation from Grade 1 to Grade 4.

Graded Syllabi (Pre-Primary & Primary Levels)

These classes develop students’ physical skills, stamina, creativity, expression and musicality using a range of sounds and musical styles. This strong foundation prepares students for a successful transition to ballet and other dance genres.

Graded Syllabi (Grades 1-8)

These classes provide broad practical dance education by progressively developing the technical, musical and performance skills of the student. They incorporate Classical Ballet, Free Movement and Character. Classical Ballet is the core of the syllabus. Free Movement incorporates movements in common with dance genres such as Natural Movement, Contemporary and Classical Greek. Character is the theatrical presentation of national dance using ethnic dance and music, which has been freely adapted for the theatre. Three styles have been selected for study – Hungarian, Russian and Polish. Instructors will decide when students are ready to take one of these exams. Graded examinations are located at our dance studio. 

Examinations are open to both male and female candidates, and they may take any Grade without having passed previous examinations, provided they satisfy the minimum age requirements. Candidates may also re-take an examination as many times as they wish, regardless of the result.

Class Awards are the latest addition to the Academy’s portfolio of assessments, and are available at Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance levels. These are conducted by the teacher, and students are assessed by an RAD examiner through observation of performance of all exercises, and a dance. All candidates receive an Assessment Report, a Certificate, and a Medal from the RAD.

Presentation Classes enable teachers to offer all students in their school a target to work towards, irrespective of their physical ability or learning pace. Each Presentation Class is based on the work from the relevant Grade, and content is a reduced form of the Grade syllabus examination. Presentation Classes are of particular advantage to students who, for one reason or another, may be unable to prepare for a full Graded Examination.

Free-Movement is A classical dance style where postures are improved without the emphasis on a turned-out hip position. It focuses on free-movement qualities such as suspension/drop, swinging movements, a sense of breadth, and travel. Some grades use chiffon scarves for this section. Comparable to basic contemporary dance movement qualities.

Character Dance is a specific subdivision of Classical Dance. It is the stylized representation of a traditional folk or national dance, normally from a European country, and uses movements and music which have been adapted for the theatre.

R.A.D. Vocational Graded Examinations

(Intermediate Foundation – Solo Seal Award)

The Vocational Graded Syllabus is the continuation of Classical Ballet training from the Academy’s Graded Syllabus. However, it also stands alone as a full training regime, commencing from the age of approximately 9 to 12 years, and is geared towards those engaging in the serious study of Ballet. The first vocational level, known as Intermediate Foundation, is often followed by a graded level 4 or 5 level of study. 

At the earliest level, pointe work is introduced for the first time, and each syllabus has been designed to give the necessary training to students wishing to study seriously, with a possible view to following a career in dance, or dance related subjects.

Vocational Levels

There are six levels of Vocational Graded Examinations:

• Intermediate Foundation
• Intermediate
• Advanced Foundation
• Advanced 1
• Advanced 2
• Solo Seal Award

This last award is the pinnacle of the Academy’s examination system, taking the form of a performance before a panel of judges and an invited audience. Students perform a series of solo variations, and success is regarded as an indication of the candidate’s potential to work as a professional dancer in the corps de ballet of a professional company. Unlike Graded examinations, all Vocational level examinations must be taken in consecutive order.

These classes are for the more serious student, and include pointe work. For this reason, there is a higher technical standard for these exams. Successful completion of the Advanced exam awards the student with the A.R.A.D (Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance) accreditation, which can be used after their name. These classes are augmented by non-syllabus classes and the study of repertoire from classical Ballets. Three classes per week are required for these classes. Examinations are taken at another location.