Dance Exams

[Markovka]

Hi Mums,

I am not from the UK, so I don't really know how this system works... Please talk to me. My daughter loves dancing, she has been taking classes in several disciplines this year (including ballet, tap, modern, acro, team, hip-hop). Now I've received 7 exam slips and the total price isn't low :( I asked the teacher if she has to do them all, and of course she said it would be desirable. My question is though if my daughter doesn't do these Grade 1, 2, 3 exams and when she is 14 she realizes she wants to be a dancer, will she be allowed to pass a Grade 5 exam if she continues classes? Thank you for any info.

You need a different dance school. One of my DC is a professional dancer and never did any. Taking dance exams with one of the major dance boards is culturally very common in the UK- and there can be good reasons for taking them - but there is absolutely no need to do them if you are progressing and have decent teaching anyway.

Right, I've done a bit of digging and found the document you need to read OP, (I'm a computer duffer so don't know how to post a link though!).

I eventually found it on the lovely Google - if you search for 'IDTA qualification specification May 2016' you will find it as a .pdf document.

On there it explains the graded examinations. It also sets out which dance styles have the medal tests, and all their other many awards.

Hope that helps.