Cecchetti Grade 3

[spinbug]

Yeah! I just got back from taking my grade 3 exam yesterday and found out that I passed "with commedation". I think it is just one step below the highest level of "highly commended". I was a little surprised considering I just took Grade 2 in January and my preparation for this one felt like a whirlwind. Today my teacher said I could start on Grade 4 to take in Oct. as soon as I wanted to! Yippee! We'll see, if I'm not ready then I can still take it in the spring. Initially she did not think I should even try so soon for grade three but I talked her into letting me try. This time, though, I didn't have to ask, she just said to get ready for four in the fall.

 

It may seem strange in some eyes that I'm taking tests as an adult. I know I won't be a professional dancer ever. But having the challenge of testing helps me become a better and cleaner technical dancer now and I love that challenge. Maybe someday I'd like to teach. Then I'd have to start taking my teacher's exams. We'll see.

 

Thanks for letting me brag! Any other adults out there doing Cecchetti ballet and taking their exams? Incidentally, exams only go through 7 levels, I think, and then you graduate to professional level. It's different than RAD which seems to have many more levels than that. I don't know all the particulars but would like to hear from someone else who knows more.

 

CJ

[Dance_Scholar_London]

I am currently preparing for RAD Intermediate and it seems to be very loooooooong way for me. Congrats on your exam!! :-)

[wembley]

Well done! Cecchetti exams here are quite demanding, so a big congrats to you!

 

I studied Cecchetti grades 4 & 5 for a year (I had to change to RAD when I moved interstate, as there are very few Cecchetti teachers in my current location), and I felt that it gave me a really good technical basis, some of which I'd been lacking at the first studio I went to.

[Guest Aurelie]

Hello. Well first off congrats. I'm glad to know another adult is doing what i'm doing. I am going to take the grade 3 Checchetti exam next month and my instructor wants me to also try grade 4. I am really excited because this will be my first exam. I'm not sure what to expect. Can you tell me a little about the way the exam takes place.

Aurelie

[Avalon]

Good for you, spinbug!

 

I don't think it's "strange" at all; I think it's very brave and admirable. All my best to you!

[spinbug]

Hello. Well first off congrats.  I'm glad to know another adult is doing what i'm doing.  I am going to take the grade 3 Checchetti exam next month and my instructor wants me to also try grade 4.  I am really excited because this will be my first exam.  I'm not sure what to expect. Can you tell me a little about the way the exam takes place.

Aurelie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Well, first we get a curriculum book that contains all the material that we need to know for that grade; the barre exercises, terms in french, basic steps, body positions, porte bras and center floor exercises. The test is a combination of oral and demonstration in front of a set of examiners and it usually takes an hour until you get into grade five which is one and a half hours. All my exams have been with three or four other students. I'm sure if the studio were bigger they would have more students and possibly more examiners but I don't know.

 

Good luck working on your grade three. I didn't know you could start in the middle. I think my teacher really wanted me to start from the beginning since I had not taken ballet as a child and she is really strong on the basics.

 

I hope you do well. The benefit of exams is not just the "passing" but also the "preparing". So, even if you don't do as well as you would like it is worth it because of all of the hard work and discipline up to that time.

 

CJ

[Guest Aurelie]

Hello. Thanks for your reply. I have the book and my teacher made me a tape of the music so I can practice. I think as adults we feel more pressure than kids but i'm excited anyways.

Aurelie

[Redbookish]

Congratulations! Exams are very exposing - you can't get away with finagling the endings of steps, or landing pirouettes sloppily and so on. So good for you surviving the exam, and doing SO well.

Kate

[spinbug]

Thanks, all of you guys for the encouragement! So far, the grade four isn't much different from grade three, just a little more difficult. The steps are similar and build on each other. For instance, in gr. 3 some moves were "aterre" and are now "en'lair", some were stationary and are now turned, etc. So interesting how the graded system builds on itself this way. I think it develops confidence since you've already got a head start on that particular move because of what you've learned previously.

 

Fouette turns here I come! (Grade six, I think?!)

 

CJ

[Guest Aurelie]

Well the time has finaly come, I am going to take my exams today. My tummy has been hurting all morning, i'm not sure if i can go through with it. At this point I just want it to be over. Anyways, wish me luck.

Aurelie

[cassy]

sooo how did it go?

 

hope i will be able to take exams soon, maybe next year

 

let us know how it went aurelie?

[Guest Aurelie]

It went well but the air conditioner broke and it was 89 degrees in the room, at one point I thought I was going to pass out. Because it was so hot the judge let us take frequent breaks for water. I guess I'll find out next week how i did.

Aurelie

[cassy]

best of luck aurelie - bet you pass with flying colours!!