Dance school doesn’t do gradings or exams and say they are unnecessary

[Poormiddlechild]

Is there any truth in this? DD has been doing ballet for 4 years now but I haven’t a clue what stage/level she is as they say that they aren’t necessary.

DD is happy at the school but reading other threads it sounds less professional maybe?

I agree, and if the teaching is excellent then exams don't matter.

The issue arises when some schools don't do exams because they know why their students wouldn't get decent marks. If you get my drift. I know of one round here that does that.

What are the teacher's qualifications? Are they registered with a reputable organisation? IDTA? RAD? Do they have first aid/safeguarding training etc??

It would concern me that the teacher doesn't have the correct qualifications to teach my child properly. Leaving them open to injuries and incorrect techniques.

It's very easy to set up a 'dance school'

A school that has highly-qualified expert teachers teaching excellent dance technique through a carefully-staged progressive programme, but with no exams -absolutely fine.

A school that has unqualified teachers leading classes that have no emphasis on technique and no structured progression, and hence no exams - fine for little ones for fun, for simple dances. Harmful to potentially dangerous for more complex dance techniques or moves - ballet beyond the basics or acro.

The exams are a way of assessing the teacher.

One would also hope that any teacher (whether putting their students in for exams or not) is themselves fully qualified to teach (and ideally with a professional performance career under their belt as well), and that they are following a properly structured programme when training their students.

No the long term destination of their students is the best assessment of the teacher if they have students going to ISTD, Bird, Urdang and Conti they are doing a good job.

Pass plus. Aka “did not wee on the floor.” I was a pass plus girl. 😂

Became a competitive gymnast instead.

It probably depends where you live. Here training is pretty much non ex8stant so if a dance school got one person into professional trainung it would be a major achievement. Having their students assessed by a third party is your best chance of knowing they are doing a good job teaching.

No exams is quite unusual unless it is a just for fun club. I would want to check out the dance teaching credentials of the teachers, and see the general quality of dancing in the school at an annual show or fete. It depends what is important to you and your child. For me I'd be looking for expert teachers, quality training and performance opportunities. Exams I can take or leave as the focus on a set syllabus can get repetitive and boring. However, I would be wary of a school with no exams. A friend's child went to a non-exam dance club for years and years and her dance level remained very very basic.

I would want to check out the dance teaching credentials of the teachers, and see the general quality of dancing in the school at an annual show or fete.

It isn't all that easy for a parent to check credentials unless they have sufficient knowledge and know what to look for. How can you assess the quality of dancing in a school show unless you are experienced and know what you are looking at? Some dance schools teach their kids really impressive routines that look great to the uninitiated, but the quality of the technique can be severely lacking in many areas. That is not the dancers' fault, they are doing what they have been trained to do. If they are dancing recreationally just for fun, all well and good. Otherwise, you have a problem waiting in the wings if they want to take it seriously.

Credentials such as being registered with a
reputable exam board such as IDTA or RAD. Exam pass rates and marks.
What previous pupils have achieved and what professional schools they go onto etc.
it’s not much different from looking for your child to go to school…….

Some techniques from untrained dance teachers can be damaging to children and in the long term.

Vaganova schools in the UK do not do exams, at least not RAD, and the teachers are not necessarily registered with British boards. They usually teach technique thoroughly.

It's not really that straightforward in ballet.

It is quite easy for a dance school's website to make staff bios and student achievements sound far more impressive than they actually are.

I think it depends what you’re after. DD’s dance school doesn’t do exams, but they are heavily focussed on competitions/festivals. As dd gets older it seems like they’re more concerned with winner trophies and social media posts than actually teaching the children to dance. For example, there is no jazz tech class. Dd enjoys the competitions and has friends there, and they win lots. But I’m getting more and more disillusioned with it. It’s brutal, and kids are pulled out of sections without a second thought. They are shouted at and It’s not at all nurturing. Is your dance school like this, or is it very relaxed and fun?

@DanceMumTaxi If your dc has any ambitions at all in the way of performing arts as a career, get her out of that toxic environment and into a school that prioritises the teaching of good technique over all else.

If she doesn't have dance career ambitions, I'd get her out of there anyway and send her somewhere that values and nurtures all their students, not just the insta-ready competition winners.

@taxi4ballet thanks, I’ve been thinking for a while we might need to move. It’s a difficult decision to make though. Dd doesn’t want to leave and has friends there. It’s a difficult place to leave. It’s also where to go to?

@DanceMumTaxi What sort of dance styles does she enjoy? The sort of place to look for really depends on whether she is keen on a career in dance or just views it as a hobby.