Our students sit exams with The Irish Board of Dance Performance, these are certified exams and are a huge confidence boost for our students. We work with the Board as they, like us, focus on encouraging child-centered performances.
Completion of exams brings a sense of achievement to our dancers. We hold the exams in our studio where the students are comfortable in their surroundings. The students go into the studio in small groups and do a warm up, some floor work and a short dance piece for the examiner. They do the same movements several times so the examiner has a chance to see everyone. Before they go in, we use the studio next door to do a warm up and make sure everyone is comfortable and ready.
Each student will receive a Report Sheet from the examiner, they point out what the student did well and sometimes something they can work on. Each student will also receive a certificate and a medal, which are presented a few weeks after the exams take place. I will pop the grading system below. We don't focus on the results and don't announce them. It's a great boost for students and really gives them something to work towards, it's also good to get them started on the exam ladder if they want to go on to study dance.
Of course exams are not for everyone and we don't want anyone stressing, so the exams are optional and not everyone does them.
In 2027 our students will continue to learn the exam syllabus, to give new students a chance to catch up, we will not have exams for Ballet, Contemporary or our Saturday 11am students this year. Our Academy students will complete exams.