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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

extra cost of taking grade 1&2 tap&modern exams

17 replies

ssmile · 18/05/2015 15:13

My DD is 8yrs old been dancing just over year at lessons has done two shows and doing really well in her class. Teacher wants to enter them into exams but has asked for5 extra lessons on top additional exam fees for both tap &modern this totals £100. Lessons are very reasonable £3 for half hr but I'm puzzled whats the point of the lessons if you not learning what you need to know to pass the exam? Is this an excessive extra cost? My DD is so/so about doing the exams and really enjoys the dancing, different set if friends and loves doing shows so I'm not pushing fir it at all as it feels just too much extra £ s. The teacher asked me why I wasn't entering her and I was honest but she didn't come back with any other comments.

OP posts:

morethanpotatoprints · 18/05/2015 15:21

Hello OP, this is normal I believe.
At my dds past dance school they did some exam syllabus steps in the saturday but this would stop once they started the show dances.
Exam classes were during the week after school and the more advanced you became the more classes you did.
It can become quite expensive, but the exams are certainly worth it and even at grade 1 you are accumulating points for UCAS.
I suppose it depends on what you want out of it.
Most of dds friends did the exams because if you didn't obviously you stayed in the same class as the others moved up, after passing the exam.
I'm not sure how it works at your school but something you may need to bare in mind if your dd has a set of friends in her present class.

taxi4ballet · 18/05/2015 16:07

By the time they get to grade 2 the classes really need to be more like 3/4 hour long in order to fit all the exercises in every week. If the classes are only half an hour long then yes, they will need extra lessons before the exam otherwise they won't be able to learn all the syllabus.

Eastpoint · 18/05/2015 16:18

I think UCAS points only start once you're grade 6 but as she's doing 2 exams & each will need an accompanist together with the extra classes it doesn't seem unreasonable. Your daughter's lessons seem good value to me (but we are London).

morethanpotatoprints · 18/05/2015 16:51

Eastpoint

I'm pretty sure that primary was a level 2/ GCSE equiv grade d-g
Grade one was level 2/ GCSE equiv grade A-C

Of course, silly me level 2/GCSE aren't UCAS

Sorry OP, completely wrong, but GCSE level is still good if they are only youngsters.

Original poster

ssmile · 18/05/2015 17:29

Thanks for input. Dd is only 8 these would be her first exams so doubt it will count against any GCSEs now . The cost of classes is comparable with others locally as its SW where wages are t lower than SE. I suppose I don't remember my mum paying for extra classes when I did these and I see it as abit of fun on a Sat morning for her as she enjoys the shows. I Hadnt considered It holding her back in terms of going Up a class as last time she just moved up on age and she is one of the better ones in her class as she listens to the teacher when sometimes the others don't. I think I will talk to the teacher again as I know she pushed the date back because she didn't get enough agreeing to do them in the summer.

OP posts:

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 18/05/2015 23:39

DD2 doing ballet and modern exams this weekend, with same dance school. Ballet exams, both grade and medal were prepared in class, no extra classes needed, but children are older, and were less involved in recent show (had just one dance in it). Modern grade exam required extra class per week for a few months. Class focused on show and medal award.
DD has friends in several other dance studios. Extra classes for exams seems to be normal practice.

Finally, I think the exams are well worth doing. Most dance schools only put forward children who will pass. It is great for their confidence to put the work in and be successful in the exam.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 18/05/2015 23:43

Forgot to add, exams are optional at our studio. Children move up based on ability, not based on exam results. This is not standard, so worth checking with studio.

And there is always next year! Let the teacher know you are not ruling out exams in future if you decide not to do it this year...

Teacuptravells · 18/05/2015 23:50

MIne just does ballet - similar price per week. I'd been thinking of adding modern or tap (she's 6) but its all the extra costs (exams, show costumes, different shoes) that I think would make it really expensive!

She's just done her first medal/exam though (we have an odd school, is BTDA) and was so proud, I'd want her to have the chance to do them.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 19/05/2015 00:10

teacup, my Dd started with just ballet at 3, didn't do modern until she was 9. I'm sorry I didn't start her in modern at 6 or 7. For shows, etc, there is so much more opportunity with modern.
Many dance schools will allow you buy additional uniform gradually. And exams may be optional, if so, you could alternate them.

Biggest cost is the dance lessons...

Teacuptravells · 19/05/2015 00:14

Mine's started at 6, so her first show this year. She loves it though. She also does gymnastics so I dont want to overwhel her (she does every thing she ca as she wants to do everything!)

Timetablewise its modern/tap/ballet, so although modern is what I would choose (and I wouldnt have to buy shoes!) I couldnt put her in for modern, pull out for tap and back in for ballet.

Has starting modern at 9 been tricky then? Doesnt her ballet background help... is she back iwth little ones or has she picked it up quickly....maybe I should rethink!

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 19/05/2015 01:38

Starting at 9 with all the ballet, she had picked it up pretty quick, and is one of the better dancers in her class. But in auditions, she can't really compete with the very good ones who have being doing Modern for years.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 19/05/2015 01:41

Oh, and she does gymnastics since she was 5. Her ballet training gives her a lovely elegance to her moves, and she has fab flexibility. Lacking in core strength and control yet though.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 19/05/2015 01:44

If you can afford it, I'd recommend to do gymnastics, ballet plus modern or tap. Assuming your DD enjoys all.

Original poster

ssmile · 19/05/2015 06:50

Thanks for comments. DD does tap modern and ballet plus gymnastics and swim (&4wk of tennis recently). This is also one of the reasons I was reluctant to add in another after school activity with extra exam class. My youngest DD starts school in Sept and currently does nothing so I need to consider her needs too. I will have a chat with the teacher she when the next opportunity to take them will crop up and we will decide.
To help teacup my DD didn't start all three classes until she was 7. We tried a few times other places but she didn't stick at it as too anxious at being left on her own but suddenly blossomed at late 6/7yrs wants to do everything and loves being in shows. Hence why I've not started my youngest yet as she just enjoys copying her big sis doing "shows" at home

OP posts:

Groovee · 20/05/2015 08:55

When my daughter danced, exams were optional.

But the extra costs were 2 extra classes with a different teacher who would check everything had been taught right and correct things. The extra costs also included the pianist for the exam, the studio hire at the exam and the exam entry fee.

Oakmaiden · 23/05/2015 14:19

£100 for both exams, or £100 for each exam?

My daughter was entered for tap and modern recently, and I think just the exam cost was over £80. And they did at least an extra hour a week in each subject for the 4-8 weeks before the exam.

I think it is good practice to offer more lessons prior to exams?

Fizrim · 23/05/2015 22:41

DD has done pre-primary and primary dance exams, both with extra lessons and the ballet ones have a special session with the pianist so they can get used to the music. As well as covering the syllabus, they also have a lesson in the groups that they'll be in for the exam.

The exams are optional in DD's school, and the teachers will move them up a class if they feel they have reached the standard.

DD has enjoyed the lessons and the exams that she has done so far!

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