Are two ballet lessons a week really necessary at Grade 1?

[GoogleyEyes]

Dd1 did Pre-primary last Xmas and is about to do Primary. So after Xmas she will move in to Grade 1, and her ballet teacher says that requires two 45 min classes each week. Is this really the case? It seems a lot for a 6yo.

I know her teacher is v keen they do well (eg will only put then in for exams if she's pretty sure they will get a distinction) and I was wondering if she perhaps is too pushy? Or is this standard for a good ballet school?

Dd1 loves ballet and would go every day if she could, the issue is more that I don't want to end up with something every day after school - not least because it's not much fun for her little sister to have to sit on a corridor for 45 mins.

[Vvvoom]

My dd did extra classes before the exam, but I think they were on a Sunday and for a minimal charge.

[AmeliaPeabody]

Thank you! I'll do that

[dancestomyowntune]

I love the Greek dancing. It's so pretty and a bit freer than the ballet. If you look on the ISTD website under the Greek faculty you might be able to find a list of registered teachers in your area.

[AmeliaPeabody]

I love the sound of the Greek, Dances. Though there weren't any local, or vaguely local, places offering this last time I looked. I might have another try to find somewhere actually.

[dancestomyowntune]

Yes my 5 year old does a lot, but she has always loved her dancing (she started aged 2) and started competing in festivals aged 3. She has older siblings all of whom dance and have done from the age of two.

[LittleRobots]

I've been more inclined to worry my daughter does "too much". We've certainly limited what she does and I know other parents still think its more than idea. Our areas must be very different!

[TheNightof400Rabbits]

Maybe it is a lot for a five year old, though the seven lessons a week are spread over four days, leaving three days free ( her older sisters do more dance and gym), she does competitions too and has done very well. And importantly she loves dancing and has naturally good feet. I also buy into strongly the idea of good quality early training, and lots of it if they're keen.

[LittleRobots]

Gosh some of your 5 year olds do a heck of a lot!!

[GoogleyEyes]

Taxi I have no idea whether dd1 has inborn ability - her teacher says positive things about her every six months or so (v busy, doesn't really talk to parents much) and she's in the front row which is clearly where she puts the ones who are doing best. But I've never done ballet, I have no clue what to look for.

Dd is dreaming of the Royal Ballet School, but that's standard six year old daydreams and I've told her that it's very hard to get in and it's not just about dancing but also about things she can't control, like body shape. She does love to dance, though, and I can't see that changing.

[taxi4ballet]

Are two Grade 1 classes a week necessary? Well... it depends. If you're dancing for fun and it is an enjoyable hobby, then once a week is fine. If you happen to find yourself landed with a dc with inborn natural ability, then as much good-quality early training you can get your hands on might turn out to be very important indeed!

[TheNightof400Rabbits]

The IDTA class is grade one...

[TheNightof400Rabbits]

I still agree the extra lessons make a difference (have name changed since).

My dd does one primary ballet class (RAD), one IDTA ballet class, one private ballet lesson, then one modern, two tap, and gymnastics. However, when parents have asked me how she is so good (cringe at saying that it sounds like stealth, or even outright, boasting) they ask how old she is, then if she has a private lesson (she didn't always have one) trying to work it out as she's the same age as their child.
The real answer is that she started formal dancing lessons at three years of age, so combined with the other lessons, is way ahead of the five year old children who have just started ballet and only do one weekly class

[dancestomyowntune]

My five year old does two primary ballet classes a week. Even at that age you can tell the ones that do more than one lesson a week. She also does modern, tap, street jazz, Greek and song and performance.

[JulieMichelleRobinson]

Pictures, that's why I was surprised when someone mentioned grade 6 on 30min lessons! If it's RAD and no pointe, less weird.

[dancestomyowntune]

My dd is grade 6, age 11 and does RAD. Ballet she currently does 1 grade 6 class and three Interfoundation classes a week and 2 intermediate classes too.

[AmeliaPeabody]

I know somebody doing Grade 6 ISTD and they do a little pointe work in class (45 min) but it is very little, so they have a separate pointe class.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

But my major concern for anyone doing pointe on just 1 lesson per week (& half an hour at that) would be that isn't enough time to build up the strength needed. I wouldn't have thought it was safe unless a child is going the exercises daily at home too. But that's risky too without a trained teachers eye on them.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Oh right.

In RAD there is no pointe work at all in the graded exams, only in the vocational grades.

[JulieMichelleRobinson]

(There's pointe work in grade 6 ISTD, we have girls doing the exam this term).

[LeapingOverTheWall]

sorry, hit post too soon.

yes, she'd have done better with additional lessons, and would have taken the exam sooner, but that was never her focus.

[LeapingOverTheWall]

those who are on pointe have an extra 15 minutes a week, but no pointe for exams (ISTD). The school isn't especially exam focused, although everyone who wants will do an exam of some kind at least once a year (although it's only 30 minutes of ballet, they also do 30 minutes of tap and 30 minutes of modern, so alternate which exams are taken). The ones who are taking it seriously (eg for a career, professional work) do extra private lessons, but yes, DD1 passed grade 6 ballet on 30 minutes a week of ballet.

[AmeliaPeabody]

Also amazed at grade 6 on only half an hour a week. I'm guessing it's a very small class in terms of numbers, or takes longer to be exam ready... Still very possible I suppose.

Back to the OP, am agreeing with whoever mentioned that you can see the difference the extra lessons and private lessons make.

[GoogleyEyes]

Julie I think the teacher may be aiming for at least some of them to take Grade 1 next Xmas, as there won't be any exams the following year. So that makes sense, thanks!

[Geraldthegiraffe]

The school my daughter will start at is only 30mins a week. They offer lots of other classes- modern tap etc but we do other hobbies so just want to do the ballet.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

There is no pointe in Grade 6 Julie

But Grade 6 on 30 mins a week, incredible!!!!!