graded dance exams

[GEORGIEROSE]

Hi
may have talked about this before,but how important are graded dance exams for future musical theatre course,are the exams essential if you have done the lessons to that standard.
dd has done ballet exams to the book,but has mixed jazz modern tap etc over the years with all sorts of classes but not done exams-now applying to musical theatre courses and wondered if this be a disadvantage not having them on paper.
She has phoned round and so far none have minded and feedback was only required if wanted to teach,something she would hate to do,but ballet teacher always strongly advised she took them all-any views please would appreciate.

[Welsh Mum]

Aasked my DD and she said its how you perform in the dance auditions that count. They look for potential and performance. My DD is good at "selling" a dance, though technically she is not that strong, they seemd to like that. The only question she was ever asked about dance in an audition was about Irish (they were just interested). In her Mountview audition the panel criticised those who stopped perfroming because they couldn't remember the steps - my DD had made mistakes, but carried on perfroming and they commented positively about that. However, my DD has only auditioned at Arts Ed, MV, GSA and not the more "dance orientated" ones like Laines and Bird. Someone who has been to those places might have a different view.

Having said that, the graded exams are good as they push you and give you a solid foundation. So I would say do them, but don't get too stressed about them.

[GEORGIEROSE]

My dd sounds like yours Welshmum,she knows how to perform although on occasions technically she feels others are stronger,but feels it hasn't affected auditions for shows she hasbeen in at all-she prob wouldn't audition for Laines.
The ballet grades have been a challenge at time,but did them and thinks its enough for audtion purpose-it is just a whole new ball game to her,and she just wonders how lack of graded exams in other dance will hold her back.

[ballet pointe]

Having gone through the audition process last year with dd graded exams are not nessasary, they are still looking for potential all though they like you to be a certain standard- intermediate level, it is only if you want to apply to say the RAD for their degree course that you have to have you intermediate ballet. HAope this helps.