Ballet Grades

[Sparklymommy]

Hi, just a quick question re RAD Ballet exams. My daughter currently attends Grade 4 and Grade 5 RAD classes. Last summer she took Grade four IDTA (achieving an honours) but decided to study the RAD Grade four for the extra character work. However, my question is do you think she should take the RAD Grade 4 exam, and if so could she take the two exams (Grades 4 & 5) in the same session? I don't want her to be held back as she has done almost a year of grade 5 and already has a Grade 4 exam behind her, but having done the work it seems a shame not to do the grade 4. What are people's thoughts? She is 10.

Grade 4 RAD Is different to ISTD. I don't think she would be allowed to do both grades in one session

At dd's dance school the 10-11 year old year 5&6s are about to take Grade 3 RAD. RAD is very technical and this takes time to develop.

What does her teacher think? At our school students take the 'grade up' class too so in the situation you've described she would take the grade 4. However I know the 4 and 5 syllabus are about to change so her teacher might have her own ideas about what she will take when.

She is very advanced with her ballet, and has taken a mix of grades so far, she took RAD Primary, Grade 1, Grade 3 (which she took after six weeks of private lessons because she needed it to enter a competition, she passed with a merit of 67), Grade 2, 3 and 4 IDTA, and is currently, as I stated above, studying Grades 4 and 5 RAD and Interfoundation RAD as well as ISTD Grade 4. Her dance school switched from RAD in the lower grades a few years back as the IDTA syllabus was seen as a change and the examinations were not quite as expensive. They also offer a comprehensive set of awards and tests for children who maybe aren't bothered about exams or to complement the exams (my daughter has taken all 12 Rossette awards and is now taking the Stardance awards as she likes having something to show for her dancing!!!). She also studies tap, modern, Greek, jazz, street jazz and body con so she is not a "novice". I intend to speak with her dance teacher tomorrow, however we are just wondering if taking the Grade 4 will prevent her taking the Grade 5 exam when she 'should' by rights as she has worked so hard.