The Grades below are fun and energetic with new combinations of steps, challenging the dancer and providing them with a good knowledge of ballet technique.
Ballet Grades 1 to 3
7.5-12yrs
These classes follow the RAD Grade 1 – 3 ballet syllabus & prepare the children for an examination or class award. This syllabus was updated recently and now allows the students to dance to recorded orchestral music and it is inspiring in its approach.
It follows a set pattern which shows a natural progression from one grade to another, building on the exercises learnt in the previous grade. It’s focus is on a strong technique as a solid foundation to work from.
It introduces a freedom of movement & expression that will help with the child’s performance skills by learning individual dances with their own style of pure classical, contemporary based, stylised & character.
Ballet Grades 4 and 5
12-15yrs
These classes continue the RAD Grade 4 – 5 ballet syllabus & prepare the children for an examination or class award. This is the latest syllabus to be updated and continues to allow the students to dance to recorded orchestral music, which is both inspiring in its variety & challenging to the dancer.
Again, it follows a set pattern which shows a natural progression from the other grades, building on the exercises already learnt. It continues to focus on a strong technique, introducing a mature approach to the student’s training. The individual dances give the student the chance to show off with their own style of dance with either, pure classical, contemporary based, stylised & character choices.
Ballet Grades 6 to 8
15-18yrs
These classes are called the higher grades & have a different approach to Grade 1 – 5. The students continue to follow the RAD syllabus to examination level, but they are much more focused for the child who wishes to do ballet once a week as a hobby.
The music returns to piano & the style is much more guided towards performance than technique. Each grade has its own style from the classical ballets of the Romantic era, such as Giselle & La Sylphide.
The syllabus incorporates classical ballet with movements in common with other dance styles such as Natural Movement and Contemporary, it also has a Character section- national dance as performed in a theatre. There are three main styles – Hungarian peasant & court, Russian and Polish – although not all are covered in each grade.
Body Conditioning
12 - 18yrs
Body Conditioning is recommended for students in Grade 3 ballet and above.
It helps to improve core strength and fitness, improve flexibility and stamina which all help with their graded ballet work.