Dance_Scholar_London Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 I am doing an RAD Intermediate class and would like to take the exam next year. Are there any adults who are taking RAD syllabus classes (and passing the exam)? Would be delighted to hear about your experience... Quote Link to comment
wembley Posted October 7, 2004 Report Share Posted October 7, 2004 I am currently taking RAD Intermediate classes, but I didin't do the exam when the majority of people in my class did because I'd only been doing RAD for 5 months at that time. I don't know whether I will do the exam next year or not- on one hand I'm not really interested in doing exams, but if I'm doing the work I might as well sit the exam, but I'm worried about failing because I can't get my legs high enough etc.... So I'm sorry that I can't really help you! I would love to hear other people's experiences with this as well. Quote Link to comment
Guest Aleksander Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 Hello, Until now I have taken Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate. At this moment I am working on Advance Foundation. Actually it is not easiest thing to take these exams when you are not teens anymore, but still it is possible. Try to learn all exercises as quick as possible. Actually you can buy book with syllabus at RAD shop. It costs about 20£. After you have learnt all steps you would be able to concentrate about quality of steps. Quote Link to comment
balletowoman Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 I have sat all my upper grades and my vocational exams (not the foundation ones) while I was an adult. I moved to the UK from France, so had never studied the RAD method, but I had done ballet all my life before that. I was well in my 20s when I sat them all, but although (apparently ) I look younger than my true age at the time, I was well aware that the examiner wasn't fooled. She knew I was an adult, but I don't think it was a detriment. They mark each and every candidate fairly and irrespective of their age (but they will not necessarily accommodate the mark just because the candidate is very young, or older). Quote Link to comment
Guest BalletBrat Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 I passed my Intermediate last March, I want to do an RAD teaching course and this was part of the requirement. I enjoyed the experience so I am now working on Advanced 1. Don't worry too much about your extensions, if they are at a clean 90, that is fine, you won't fail just because your legs don't touch your ears! Good luck to you! Quote Link to comment
Guest mic31 Posted October 8, 2004 Report Share Posted October 8, 2004 I am currently taking RAD intermediate. There are quite a few people in my class who will be taking the exam in the next xouple of weeks. My teacher is demanding a very high degree of competancy before she will submit them for the exam. I think that Syllabus teaching system excel in the fact that your teacher is not your examiner, so it's kind of like an audit of your whole system of learning Quote Link to comment
balletowoman Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 Oh, by the way, not a lot of exercises in intermediate are at 90 degrees (you are specifically asked to do them at 45 degrees, in particular fondus). I can't really think of any in fact where you truly would want the leg as high as possible (in adage possibly, and in grand battement). It's true that a clean 90 degrees would be a clear pass at intermediate. You don't really need more. Have a look at the video (that helps a lot if you're not familiar with what the RAD expects in exams) and even there, you'll see that the girls aren't perfect. Quote Link to comment
Guest BalletBrat Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 Balletowoman, watching the video helped calmed my pre-exam jitters immensly! I highly recommend watching it. Of course, they are old and certain exercises are no longer examined, however it gave great insight to the quality of performance I should strive toward. I also liked how different dancers were highlighted to give a better sense of diversity and ease those "body concious" fears. The only exercises where I felt I needed a high enough extension were the grand battements and the adage, at the barre and in center, in both cases my legs were right at 90, as I knew for grand battement in center, I can get my leg high, but to maintain control I kept it at 90. As for the adage, again, your level of control is the most important, it is better for the leg to be "low" and maintain correct placement. The only real fears I had for my exam were pirouettes and the free enchainment. Thank goodness it was a turning day! LOL Quote Link to comment
Dance_Scholar_London Posted October 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 What did you have to do for the free enchainment? Quote Link to comment
Guest BalletBrat Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 Coupe fouette raccourci saute, pas de chat, soubresaut, repeat to other side with a changement instead of soubresaut, repeat all. I had a hard time changing my direction from the rocourcci to the pas de chat, it was just third to third, but I choked, after the exam was over I had it perfectly, hmm. One of the other groups had something more involved, so it could have been worse I guess! Anyhow, I have been working a lot this year on free enchainment in class, and choreographing things to work on at home, so I feel a lot more confident about that section for the next exam. I tell you, getting back those marks was so wonderful. I have really been able to focus on certain aspects of my dancing this year, and I have improved a lot. I think exams are so good for that. Quote Link to comment
Dance_Scholar_London Posted October 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 Are there fouettes in the RAD intermediate syllabus? HELP! Quote Link to comment
skip Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 dance_scholar_london, the free-enchainement exist of petit-allegro and allegro work that you should know by reaching intermediate + the steps that have been taken out of the exam, but you still need to know. i got the most easiest free allegro. something with soubressauts, assembles devant and derriere and dessus and dessous (the last ones battu) and a changement (battu or ordinaire) and if i remember correctly there was a glissade in there too.....mr. freeman style, lots of glissades, assembles and soubressauts/changements combined. they explain the enchainement over and over and usually there is enough time to repeat it several times before performing it for real.... as for adults passing vocational exams, yes, my second dance teacher passed her advanced foundation when she was 30 with commended. ~SKIP~ Quote Link to comment
Dance_Scholar_London Posted October 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 We have done the glissade combinations so far in class and assembles in several directions which seems to be not too difficult but I am sure there will be much more difficult combinations. In terms of turns, could you give me some examples what kind of pirouettes are in the syllabus? Thanks for your help - I really appreciate that Quote Link to comment
skip Posted October 11, 2004 Report Share Posted October 11, 2004 in the intermediate syllabus, there are single pirouettes en dehors from fifth position, double pirouettes en dehors from fourth position, pirouettes en dehors from second position for boys, single and double pirouettes en dedans and poses pirouettes en dedans en diagonal for girls. another sort of turn that is included for the boys is the tours en l'air. hopes this helps you a little!! ~SKIP~ Quote Link to comment
Kate B Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 Don't worry, Dance Scholar, coupe fouette raccourci isn't the same step as 'fouettes'. Quote Link to comment
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