Ballet class for 6 year old- too advanced?

[Cranberry2020]

Hi

My summer born 6 year old (so not 7 until until next end of July) is doing grade 1 RAD exam next summer. It just seems incredibly rapid to me and I wondered what other folk were doing? Is this too advanced? She’d be taking her exam in early July before she’s 7.

thanks
cranberry

Sounds about right.

My daughter who is 8 did her grade 1 ballet exam at the beginning of this year. So yes your daughter will be about the correct age next year to take this. If you don't feel she is ready you could speak to her teacher.

I think that sounds about right - my DD was 7, closer to 8, but this was right after she'd had a lengthy period off lessons due to lockdown. So probably would have been a little earlier in normal circumstances. Teachers won't put kids in if they don't think they're ready as they always like to have great statistics to use to sell their school!

Par for the course in our local ballet schools. As long as she enjoys ballet, she'll be absolutely fine. The examiners are very friendly and reassuring these days, as far as I've experienced.

About right. My DD did it at similar age

My daughter did it at 7 and she started dance quite late.

It’s quite young for Grade 1 RAD (is she doing the full graded examination or the shorter class examination?) but not exceptionally so.

@Cranberry2020 The RAD recommends age 7 for the Grade 1 exam although it is not an absolute requirement. They are expected to reach that minimum age by the 31st December of the year in which they take the exam. So it is possible to take it when you are still 6.

The majority of dance schools have exams annually. It could be that your dd's dance school moves the entire class up a grade together, so she would have to remain another whole year in that grade if she doesn't take it with the others.

Maybe speak to the dance teacher if you would like reassurance. They wouldn't be suggesting she takes it unless they thought she would be able to pass.

Why do you think it's too advanced? The content? The exam process?

The dance teacher won't put her in them if she won't pass as it would impact their passrate.

My daughter is 9 and doing grade 1 RAD in summer when she will be 10 but they haven’t done exams in a couple of years as focused on shows . Her big sister did it at 8 .

Quite normal. Why do you feel it’s too advanced for her, is she struggling to keep up?

Well it depends if you think dance exams are a good thing or a bad thing, and what you think dance is FOR.

My DD started dancing when she was about 4 or 5, ballet, tap and modern, the school ethos was about confidence, and having fun, and working as a team to put on a show. There was no taking exams or doing grades or having to wear specific clothes or have your hair a specific way. Once the girls got older *(like 11 or 12) they could start doing a separate exam/grade prep class if they wanted.

Thousands of wee girls and boys do dance classes. Hundreds of thousands probably. Very few are ever going to be a professional dancer or apply to some sort of position where a Grade 1 in ballet is of critical importance. However old they were when they passed it.

Really do not understand why parents are so keen that very small children put themselves through dance exams. Utterly pointless.

Thanks but my daughter will not be 7 when she takes the exam? Then will take grade 2 before 8…

@TiramisuCheesecake Dance exams (or music grades or swimming levels or whatever) are not pointless. Teachers don't force the kids to do it, and don't put youngsters in for dance exams unless they know they will pass, and it gives the children a sense of achievement. The content of each grade is specifically designed for the age group, their physical & mental development and so on, and one follows on from another.
It also shows the parent that they are getting value for money and their child is receiving a reasonable quality of teaching.

Trust me I don’t think dd will be a dancer as her life’s choice… I’m certainly not keen, in fact I’m posting as I’m concerned but I asked the school and they said it was fine as they needed to be able to do pointe work at 11… I’m worried it’s too much

Because when I asked the teacher they said as long as she’s 7 when she does the exam but she’s not, she’ll be 6. I looked at other schools and they do grade 1 from 8+
I’m not an expert so wanted to understand what the norm was. I don’t want her doing loads of exams whilst still in infants at school. (She’s done pre primary and primary). I’m just on a fact finding mission

Thanks this is what I thought might be more usual. My dd is still in infants and will be doing grade 1 just before 7. I’m worried it’s too much

dd is in infants class at school (year 2) and is the youngest in her class. She looks smaller/younger than the 7+ year olds and I’m worried it’s too much. It’s just concern as she’s so young

Thanks that’s helpful to know.

At that age almost all of them think of the exam as exciting. As long as you treat it as a bit of fun, she's unlikely to get bothered by doing it.

At the school mine were at, year 2 was the typical age for grade 1, and so some were 6yo, as they often did it in the Spring term.

If you don't want her doing it, then say to the teacher (they're normally quite expensive - exam fees, new ballet shoes etc) and I expect they'll be happy for her to go up with her friends to the next group anyway.

I just checked and DD did grade 1 RAD when she was just 7 (by a few weeks), so sounds about right - there are a few girls in her class a little younger, some a year or so older and they've been in a class together since they were tiny. All progressing steadily and now in Grade 4.

My daughter did that exam at the same age and she summer born...she then informed me that the ballet teacher had her favourites and wanted to do tennis instead.. she got the ballet exam but never returned to ballet

Sounds about right as dd is ten and doing grade 3. Everyone moves up together and no one needs to have grade one or two to be in grade 3 class. I don't think anyone has failed any of the grades anyway.

they needed to be able to do pointe work at 11…
This is a bit of a red flag for me.
I'm not a dancer myself but my DD went to full time dance school and is now a teacher so I have been around the dance world for many years and do know a bit.
Nobody "needs" to be en pointe at 11. 11 is at the very youngest end of the age range that most good teachers, dance physios, pointe shoe fitters etc would consider a child ready to start pointe (in the UK anyway, they do things very differently in some other countries but that's a whole different conversation!). And it should be an individual decision based on assessment of the particular dancer's physique technique and aspirations.I know my DD sometimes agonises over the decision of when her pupils start pointe class as she is acutely aware of the long term damage getting it wrong can cause. Many, probably most, recreational dancers would not be pointe ready at 11, and I'd go so far as to say there is no real benefit to many of doing pointework at all, ever.
Entering a not quite 7 year old for grade 1 wouldn't particularly surprise me, if they are ready and enjoying it, but the idea of whole classes being pushed through things at the same time and pointe as standard at 11 would have me asking a lot of questions and quite possibly looking for another teacher. I think it is a bit odd to even mention pointe as an aspiration at this stage to be honest and it certainly shouldn't be a justification of what exams a 6 year old is doing. I don't think you're unreasonable to be asking questions OP.

My dd does AAD so their grading is very slightly different to RAD.

They do not allow children to undertake exams until they are 7. So even if they are 7 the day after the exam date they would nit be allowed to take part.

Also. Pointe is absolutely not recommended at 11. Their feet are still growing. To force pointe at that age is reckless and irresponsible imo.

I would be considering whether this school is the correct fit.

My dd gas danced since she was 2. All at her own request. I was not and am not a dancer. But she saw her cousin dona class and fell in love. She whinged for a good 4 months before I caved and let her try out. The first school did did 9 months at was RAD and I hated the attitude of staff and parents ao moved her.

Her current school is amazing. She gas been there from being 3 and is now 11.5. She has done her medals and grading exams in ballet, tap and acro and does exceptionally well. But there is no pressure to take the exam if the kids don't want to do it!

If it doesn't feel right @Cranberry2020 then it isn't right!