Contemporary dance exams

[RedCabbageStains]

Does anyone know anything about contemporary dance exams? My dd has done quite a few ballet exams and is going to do grade 2 (I think) contemporary. I was wondering whether its the same type of marking scheme (out of 100 with pass, merit and distinction) or what. Google isn’t helping, and I figured there would be some experienced dance mums on MN.

From what I’ve heard, the hair requirements are much simpler, so that’s a relief. I can do a ponytail (I can’t French plait, no matter how hard I try, and the only way I can get Heidi plaits to stay up is with industrial strength hairpins and gel. And much swearing).

Do you know which awarding body sets the exam? NATD? BBO? RAD doesn't do them, nor does ISTD at the moment I don't think?

If you know that, the board's website will usually have syllabus, mark scheme etc.

Hair requirements are dance school specific, not from the exam board (within limits - so hair up is normal for ballet, for example). So DD has always done ballet exams with a plain bun, and others with anything from a 'spiky bun' to a French roll. So if your dance school says crossed plaits, or French plaits, that's their decision, not the exam board's.

NATD, I think. Their website isn’t that useful, this is all I could find when I googled earlier.

And bother about the hair. I’ve never even heard of a spiky bun. Dd was saying it would just be a pony tail. I’ll cross my fingers that her teacher chooses that.

Oh, that's a pain.

It looks as if NATD sell their syllabi to members see here whereas most other organisations simply publish them on their websites.

However, the handbook Marking Scheme shows that it is a standard out-of-100 system - see p85 for Grade 2.

ISTD are introducing it in the fairly near future I believe but there are only a few boards offer it currently from what I can see. I would presume most boards work on marks out of 100 but as for criteria etc I think you would have to ask the teacher.

oh i see cantkeepawayforever has already found you the marking scheme - quite interesting to see a different board

Thank you both! I keep thinking I’ve got this dance stuff sorted, and then there’s a new thing I need to know / do.

Hahaha!

DD has been dancing for over 11 years now (taking Advanced Vocational exams at the moment) and I'm STILL encountering things that I never knew and need to know!

You’re several years ahead of me - dd is 10 and has been dancing since she was 3 (in fact, she is currently spinning around the kitchen). I fear the next thing I’m going to have to learn about is pointe shoes, so I’ve been doing my research and there’s quite a lot that’s googleable about fit, sewing them etc. The contemporary stuff seems to have less written about it.