LEARNING TO DANCE AT WOODBURY DANCE STUDIO!

INTRODUCTION
For ballet, Woodbury Dance Studio follows the examination system of the Royal Academy of Dancing whereby if a student progresses well, they can expect to take an exam every eighteen months or so.

RAD: REGISTERED TEACHERS
Only teachers registered with the RAD are able to enter students for RAD exams. These teachers have passed an examination that covers 3 year's  study and they  continue  to keep up to date  by  attending  courses  arranged  either nationally or regionally.
ARAD is a qualification used only by teachers  who  have   passed  their  Advanced Examination.

START TO DANCE!
If a student is under 5, they will normally join the "START TO DANCE!" class. This is a weekly half - hour class which includes ballet, mime and free movement. Some children come with older brothers or sisters who are already learning to dance.

PRE-PRIMARY and PRIMARY
If your child is 5 or 6 years old, she/he will be placed in the Pre-primary class and a 7 year old  will usually join the Primary class.
These classes last forty minutes, and are a mixture of ballet, free movement and mime. They are the first levels in the RAD ballet examinations. The Pre-primary Presentation Class is normally taken when the child is six years old; it takes the form of a normal ballet class taught by the normal teacher. Primary is the first "proper" exam  and it is taken when they are at least seven and a half.

GRADES 1 to 2
These classes last fifty minutes and include ballet, free movement and some national steps which are called "Character".

GRADES 3 to 5
These classes last an hour and develop the work covered in the earlier grades.

HIGHER GRADES 6 to 8
These classes are for the adolescent: long flowing chiffon skirts are worn and the romantic style of dance is studied.

MAJOR SYLLABUS
If at the age of 10 or 11, your child wishes to train more seriously, they may follow the Major Course of Study. This means at least an additional 2 classes per week on top of their current grade level.

The first course is Intermediate Foundation, designed to last about 2 years for the average student . This examination, which is optional,  must  be  taken after the age of 11 years. The first of the compulsory exams  is  Intermediate for  which the candidate must be 12 years or over. The next levels are Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2.
Once a student  has passed their Intermediate, they become student members of the Royal Academy of  Dancing, and following  Advanced 1 they become full members of the society on payment of subscriptions.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Contemporary  dance is now well established. Pre-Contemporary  is  suitable for children aged 7 and above, Contemporary 1 is for those who have either covered the Pre- Contemporary course or who are in Grade 3 ballet or above. Contemporary 2 is for those who have completed Contemporary 1 and who are in Grade 5 ballet or above.

ADULTS CLASSES
Ladies have  a  choice: Modern  Jazz or ballet / Contemporary.  For  the  non dancer, the Modern Jazz would be the most appropriate starting place but the advanced jazz dancer is catered for as well. For those adults with some previous experience of  either modern or ballet, the ladies' contemporary dance class might be suitable. There is a reduction  in price  if both classes are attended.

PERFORMANCES
There is usually a show every year. A performance will be held at the Exeter Phoenix on December 6 and December 7.

 

Woodbury Dance Studio
Woodbury, Devon, UK
email: marygriffiths@hotmail.com

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