A friend has asked me to post the following question:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"do you know what RAD grade one students are suppose to know/what is expected of them for passing exams or where i could get that info?"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

the RAD syllabus is very carefully graded to build up patterns/habits of correct execution from the very beginning. <P>in this it is like the vaganova system: slow and cumulative (well - all syllabi ARE cumulative, but these two are well analysed, with the logical progression very clearly VISIBLE in the levels of dificulty and skill acquisition).<P>the RAD syllabus is age-appropriate, unlike many of the 'cheap and nasty' approaches in use by untrained teachers, or teachers of jazz or tap who just throw in 'a bit of' ballet.<P>there are two levels which precede the grade 1 which you ask about. approximately age 8 is an appropriate age for this work.<P>when it comes to exams, the examiner is looking to see CORRECT execution - not just knowing the steps, and being able to mimic an approximation.<P>placing is important. so is rhythm and varied dynamics/'feeling the music'. good posture should not be emphasised TOO much at this age, but it may be mentioned as something to aim for. confident self-presentation is important. here is an outline of the syllabus. hope it helps. it would be good to get some feedback from your friend...<P><BR><B>RAD Grade 1:</B><P>Barre:<P>parallel rises<BR>demi-plies in 1st & 2nd<BR>very simple battement tendus to side<BR>simple ports de bras (arm movement)<BR><I>that's it!</I><P>Seated Exercise:<P>leg rotation and foot flexion<BR><I>(this is VERY good - i use this at much higher levels too.)</I><P>Centre:<P>3 'free movement' exercises (for relaxation)<BR>run and pause (pose)<BR>2 simple ports de bras<BR>demi-plies and tendus using 1st, 2nd and 3rd position<BR>classical walks<P><BR>Allegro:<P>sautes in 1st<BR>echappes sautes to 2nd<BR>petits jetes from 3rd (sometimes innacurately called 'coupés')<BR>spring points<BR>soubresauts<BR>galops<BR>skips<BR>pony galops<P>A short Polka dance/study<P>1 or 2 Character steps.<P>Grade 2 is a very good progression from this, requiring more control, using more 'ballet' moves, and having more complexity of combinations (still simple, though).<P><BR>

The RAD also publish their expectations for each level in a pamphlet called 'Standards Prospectus'.<P>

i haven't seen that, twiglet: thanks.<P>charlene, you may also like to know (thanks for your second email) that the RAD have a website at<BR> <A HREF="http://www.rad.org.uk" TARGET=_blank>http://www.rad.org.uk</A>

twiglet: just checked the site and found that the Standards Prospectus is available there, but as a zipped download, which my computer is not presently accepting...somehow...or they are not sending...but i'll look forward to reading that, when i can get it.<P>charlene, the RAD site has frames, so i can't direct you to specific pages, but if you click on the photo square for 'Students Training' you will get some options that will interest you : Grade Examinations, The Role of the Parent, that sort of thing...

thanks for all the info guys it helped us to see that the ballet class was doing the right things for grade one. <BR>charlene

As a little addendum to Grace's description of the Royal Academy Grade 1 Syllabus I thought I ought to say that from January 1999 the number of exercises that are examined was reduced to accommodate students who are only able to take class once a week, though it was recommended that those exercises not to be examined would continue to be used as training exercises.<P>The examination now consists of the following.<P>Skip change of step (like a parallel polka step taken around the room)<P>Barre<BR> Exercise for feet with rises (in parallel)<BR> Demi-pliés (in 2nd and 1st)<P>Centre<BR> Port de bras (through 1st to 2nd)<BR> Transfer of weight (through 2nd without plié)<BR> Battement tendus with preparation for grands battements (taken devant)<BR> Classical walks (separate exercises for boys and girls)<BR> Sautés (in 1st position)<BR> Sautés and échappés sautés (from 1st to 2nd)<BR> Spring points and petits jetés<BR> Skips and pony galops (around the room)<P>Studies<BR> Polka (girls)<BR> Hornpipe (boys)<P>Free Movement<BR> Exercise for poise (lifting arms with a lift through the body)<BR> Run and pause with rise (a development of the poise exercise)<BR> Swaying and spinning (rhythmical transference of weight with turn)<P>Rhythm And Character Steps (Taken in a simple Hungarian Peasant style)<BR> Rhythm in 2/4 time (Heel toe steps and claps)<BR> Rhythm in 3/4 time (Claps on -23 and knee bends on 12-)<BR> Picked up runs (sharp pick up of foot at back to rhythm 1&2)<BR> Dance (Performed by both boys and girls in pairs on the same side)<P>A candidate for the Grade 1 examination should be over 7 and under 19 years of age, although the recommended upper limit is 12.<P>Although I mostly teach RAD majors I am conversant with the Grades so if any further information about them is required please do not hesitate to contact me.<BR>

thanks tuk - good to have up to date info.<P>as i am not teaching the grades in this syllabus, my reference source is the videotapes (which are so good, but a few years old now). <P>char104 has just changed her daughter's ballet school, and was wanting to assess the different work her 8 year old is being given.