Starting to dance! If a student is under 5, they will join the pre-school dance class. This is a weekly 35 minute class which includes ballet, mime and free movement. It involves imagination, story telling, props and musical instruments
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 50 minutes and are a mixture of ballet, free movement and mime. They are the first levels in the R.A.D ballet examinations.
The pre-primary presentation class is normally taken when the child is 6 years old; it takes the form of a regular ballet class, taught by the normal teacher. Primary is the first grade, examined by an external examiner and it is taken when they are at least 7 ½ years old.
Grade 1
These classes last one hour and include ballet, free movement and some national steps which are called “character”.
Grades 2 to 5
These grades last one hour and are taken twice weekly. Exceptions to this are made after discussion with the parent and teacher, when only one class can be made.
Higher Grades – Vocational grades 6 – 8
Grade 6 to 8 are primarily about the joy of dancing as expressed through performance and communication. Students can relate their class work to well-known ballets and present it in a much more theatrical way.
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 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 must be taken after the age of 11 and it includes pointe work for the first time.
Intermediate is the first of the compulsory exams for which the candidate must be 12 years old or older. The next levels are Advanced Foundation, Advanced I and Advanced II.
Once a student has passed their Grade 6 level or intermediate, they become Student members of the RAD. Following Advanced I they become full members of the RAD on payment of subscriptions
Classical
The classical work is the foundation stone and the most important part of the graded syllabi.
Free Movement
The free movement section incorporates movements in common with other dance styles such as natural movement, contemporary based dance and Greek dance.
Character
Character is the theatrical presentation of national dance using original ethnic dance and music which has been freely adapted for the theatre.
There are three styles – Hungarian, Russian and Polish. They were selected because of their historical importance in the development of the traditional full-length classical ballet.
Contemporary
This class offers an introduction to contemporary dance movement and street-infused expression.
Contemporary and Hiphop closely follows natural body movements and, as such, is fairly easy to pick up; extensive training is not essential! Any one from beginner to advanced dancers can participate. Various dance techniques come into the “mix” – ballet, jazz, African, Asian, hiphop, martial arts and more!
Contemporary involves a range of techniques and styles, which offers pupils the flexibility to create their own “house style”.
There are two classes:
Junior Contemporary Dance(ages 10 - 12 years)
da Dance Moves performance class (ages 13 - 16 years)
Modern ISTD Grades:
Develops co-ordination and rhythm through floorwork, travelling sequences and routines. Working towards ISTD exams.
Bronze Jazz Award 9-12 years:
This class develops the student’s core stability and flexibility with an increased understanding of jazz technique, working towards ISTD awards.
Teen Street Jazz 12 years upwards:
Learn music video-style routines using current chart music.
da Dance Crew performance class:
Dance Academy's "da dance crew" is a mixed group of 10 girls and boys, aged from12 years upwards, who represent the school as a performance dance troupe. Established in 2009, under the leadership of Jodie Collis, the group have a repertoire of dances and work as a performance based class.
Junior Street Jazz (boys only)
New street jazz dance class with a fresh athletic approach suitable for boys.
Tap age 4 upwards:
American-style tap. Rhythm based with a Fred Astaire flair, working towards routines using pop tunes as well as jazz and blues music.
Adult classes
It is never too late to start dancing and no matter what level you are there is a class to suit you!. You have a choice: modern jazz, tap, ballet or contemporary. Please enquire for details.
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