Ballet and Dyslexia

[BobbleHatDay]

Hi,

Hoping someone can help, my DD is dyslexic and battling to remember the (french) names for the ballet exercises/moves. She is likely to do her grade 2 exam over the summer and her ballet teacher says that they can apply for "something" due to her dyslexia, but I am wondering what that looks like in practice and what we should be asking for? (She doesn't need to do the exam but would like to! Happy for any other dyslexia-dance advise too!)

For background she did other non-ballet exams last year, but the names were in English which helped - although remembering names took a while. She doesn't know the names of the month in order, but then other things she remembers much easier!

Thanks!

[citrinetrilogy]

Darcey Bussell is dyslexic.

And yes, some examining bodies do have a way of making a 'reasonable adjustment' for dancers with different abilities. I think that's what the RAD calls it anyway.

[ilovesushi]

I am guessing it is not RAD because they don't seem to introduce the French terms until a bit later. My DD dances and has dyslexia. She find remembering terminology quite hard both for dance and music. Have you tried her saying it out loud as she does the action. So "tendu, tendu" and pointing her foot. Then saying the translation and doing the same action. Might help embed it by associating the physical action with the word and the meaning.

From experience of having two teens with dyslexia, I would say give it a bash but don't flog it to death. You and she might just need to accept losing a few marks in that section, but even if she does it is no drama. When my DD does music exams we always know she will take a hit on the scales because of poor memory for sequences. It takes away the pressure and she always surprises herself.

[citrinetrilogy]

The whole point is that you don't have to translate the word at all. It is what it is.

Nobody translates brie or baguette, there is no need. An arabesque is an arabesque, you don't have to translate it at all.

They are just words.

[ilovesushi]

@citrinetrilogy I had understood they needed to give the translation for the exam. I remember many many many years ago we were tested on the terms for the lower grades. Agree with you that the most important thing is to know what it means in terms of movement of position.

[citrinetrilogy]

@ilovesushi

@citrinetrilogy I had understood they needed to give the translation for the exam. I remember many many many years ago we were tested on the terms for the lower grades. Agree with you that the most important thing is to know what it means in terms of movement of position.

No idea what examining body that would be - DD went all through the RAD grades and was never asked questions like that by the examiner.

[Comefromaway]

Is it BBO?

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[ilovesushi]

I think IDTA also have a set of verbal theory questions as part of the exam, but I am more familiar with RAD and ISTD.

[BobbleHatDay]

Sorry, life got in the way! It's ISTD and she doesn't have to translate them but needs to remember name and move. Sounds like it might be repetition and more repetition!

Definitely no pressure from us, but quite a bit from herself!

[citrinetrilogy]

How does she remember other words and their meaning in day-to-day life? Ballet terms are no different to any other words. Do you think that knowing they are 'French' words is a sticking point?

[MomOfTwoGirls2]

My DD is dyslexic, and had same problem when she was younger. Repetition, repetition, repetition is what worked for her.

Teacher wrote out the names of all the exercises for her, with a description of the exercise. DD did lots of practice at home to memorise the exercise to the name. This was 15 years ago, she is now at dance college. It was only a problem for a few years, but was quite difficult for her for first 2-3 exams.

RAD has recordings of all exams available for purchase. Perhaps ISTD also does this?

[dancinfeet]

Definitely have her teacher apply for reasonable adjustment- this way her dyslexia can be noted to the examiner and taken into consideration.

[Yarple]

Dance teacher here, the ISTD have a reasonable adjustment process, whereby additional needs would be taken into account in the exam room. They make no difference to the eventual result, but would be taken into account in the exam, amd assistance offered if needed. Examiners are generally very supportive and kind, and will not let a child struggle if they need help. I will often draw attention to this sort of thing while chatting with the examiner, as well.

There are some good resources online, which may also help, but I wouldn't let this put her off taking the exam. She will likely make lots of progress over this next term, in the run up to the exam