The Cumbrae School of Dancing
F.A.Q.'s
What is the R.A.D.
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The Cumbrae School of Dancing is an officially registered Royal Academy of Dancing (R.A.D.) school. We follow the syllabus for ballet grades Primary through Advanced 2, including the higher grades. The RAD Society is one of the largest and most influencial dance education and training organizations in the world with over 15,500 members in more than 82 countries. This progressive examination syllabus is taught to over a quarter of a million students worldwide.
RAD is one of the most commonly used classical ballet syllabi in professional academies and college dance programs throughout Canada and the U.S. The National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto, recognizing the benefits and global reach of the RAD Society, introduced the syllabus to its teacher training course in 1996.
Additionally, all eligible Ontario students of the RAD can apply for two credits, one in Grade 10 and again in Grade 12. This procedure is called Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.
When are R.A.D. examinations and why should my child take them?
Firstly, it should be understand that there are three types of R.A.D. examinations: the grades, the higher grades, and the vocational level examinations.
Graded:
Exam Dates: TBA (late March, early April)
Dress Rehearsal: held the Sunday prior to examinations
These exams are for students in Primary through Grade 8 ballet. If your child is enrolled in Grade 1 ballet through to Grade 8, it is with the intention that he/she is working towards said examination in the spring. We offer Open Ballet classes for those students not eligible or interested. These exams are held at our St. Joseph Blvd. location anywhere between February and April. Dates are given to us by the R.A.D. office and are not within our control.
Ballet examination attire is generally just their classroom attire. Primary candidates must have the R.A.D. approved skirt and pink bodysuit. Students in Grade 1 and above, in addition to their navy blue bodysuit and pink tights, will require a character skirt and character shoes, and higher grades will also need a chiffon skirt and scarf.
At our studio examinations are mandatory for students wishing to proceed to the next level. Additionally, taking an exam and passing gives a student a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction in knowing they are improving each year. They also receive a certificate to show for all of their hard work. Although exams can be quite a nervous time for students, they are only doing what they have practiced every week, all year, in class.
Vocational:
The vocational exams are for Intermediate Foundation level and above, and these higher level exams are usually taken off site at a different R.A.D. studio. There are fall (November/December), winter (January), and spring (April/May) examinations. Students taking vocational exams can expect to be in their exam with dancers from other schools. They should also understand that these exams are much more demanding, and therefore students often spend two years working towards each of these levels. There is a great deal more unseen work, solo work, and expectation of technical and performance ability. Also, at the vocational level, pointe work becomes a mandatory part of the examination.
For more information regarding the R.A.D. and it's syllabi, please refer to their website http://www.radcanada.org
What is the B.A.T.D.?
The British Association of Teachers of Dance (BATD) is a UK based dance examination board, with it's head office in Glasgow, Scotland. The officially recognized date for the formation of the society is November 30th, 1892, making it the first professional dance organization of it's kind in the United Kingdom, and the second oldest in the world.
For more information regarding the BATD, please refer to their website http://www.batd.co.uk
When do BATD exams occur and why should my child take them?
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Exam Dates: TBA in February/March
Rehearsals: There is one mandatory exam rehearsals approximately 3 weeks prior to exams.
If your child is in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, or hip hop, they are currently following the curriculum of the BATD syllabus in their classes. We offer both grade examinations and medals dependant on the child. We also offer courses in BATD teaching certifications for eligible advanced candidates aged 16 and up, based on teacher's assessment. BATD exams are generally held in March.
Once again, it is a requirement for those students wishing to move up to the next level with their peers to partake in examinations. We also feel that the younger they are taking their first exam, the better they become at preparing for, and handling pressure not only in dance, but in all future endeavors. The sense of accomplishment that is taken away from sitting and succeeding at these exams is a wonderful feeling for students of all ages.
Additionally, as you (or your child) get older and are applying for part-time jobs, universities, and full time work, you can include these exams on your resume. This will have a great effect in showing your commitment and seriousness to an extra-curricular subject.