Guest rhythmicgymnast Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 I just have some questions on the Cecchetti syllabus, as I will be starting either Grade 4 or Grade 5 Monday week. How many grades/levels are there? Can you give me some examples of some of the requirements in Grade 4/5 exam? When is pointe introduced? Are there age reqirements in any grades? Is character dance studied? Are you required to wear such accessories as hip alignment belts? Thank you so much for your help and knowledge. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 15, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Jana, I do not have the information you are requesting, however you might be able to find it here: www.cecchetti.org Link to comment
Guest hesterlover1 Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Hi Jana! I study Cecchetti, and I can answer your questions, as I doubt you'll find the info on the site, unless they've updated it a LOT since I visited it! There are 4 children's exams, 1-4. Grades 5-7 are considered the "professional" exams. I'm working on 7 now. There is also a Diploma exam that comes after 7 that can be taken all together, or in two parts, A and B. Character dance isn't studied at all--it's only ballet. You don't need to wear hip alignment belts or anything like that--in fact, for your exam, I don't think you're allowed to. I've always been told to wear a flattering black leo and pink tights. And there are no age requirements for the exams--or if there are, I don't know about them! Hmm...it's hard to remember exactly now what is in the Grade 4 and 5 exams...I do know that for Grade 4, you have to choreograph a one minute dance--I had a lot of fun doing that!! Grade 5 is when pointework is introduced, but the pointe steps in that exam are pretty easy. In Grade Four, you are expected to do outward and inward pirouettes, tour jetés, bourrés couru, battements royales...those are a few that come to mind. Grade 5 has double pirouettes outward and inward, I believe, brisés, pas de bourrés ouverte, and some nice dancey allegro steps that combine lots of movements... I hope that gives you a general idea. What's hard about them isn't so much the steps but the fact that you are supposed to do them perfectly!! It's challenging, but I always improve a lot when I take an exam. I hope this helped answer your questions, and if you have any more, feel free to ask! Good luck with the method and have fun! Link to comment
Guest rhythmicgymnast Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Katie ( hesterlover1), thank you SO much for all that information! It was very helpful and gives me a good idea of what to be aiming for. You're right about the Cecchetti website, i already tried it and found nothing, so i asked here. Thank you for posting. Wow! Grade 7! You must have worked very hard to get to such a high level and I wish you all the best in ballet! Link to comment
Guest hesterlover1 Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 You're welcome!! I'm really glad I could be of help. I've been doing Cecchetti since I was about 8, and I'm almost 16 now...so all my knowledge about it is coming in useful!! LOL. Good luck with the method and with everything you do in dance...I hope you enjoy it!! Link to comment
Guest DaNsTa Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 Can you please help me..Im just wondering what is sooo different between Cecchetti and the other types (eg RAD)? Thank you Dan Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 Cecchetti method was the basis of RAD training. This was especially true when Dame Ninette de Valois was chairing the organization, as she had studied with the old Maestro. Since her retirement, the Academy has absorbed many influences from the French and modern Italian schools, , and has recently become more attuned to Vaganova and even some Balanchine practices, but still holds fast to the Cecchetti underpinnings. It is a distinctive school unique to itself. Link to comment
Guest DaNsTa Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 Thank you once again Master Mel Link to comment
Poppiedancer Posted August 24, 2002 Report Share Posted August 24, 2002 The Australian Cecchetti web site explains more about the style etc. It's www.cecchettiballet.org Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 24, 2002 Report Share Posted August 24, 2002 Thanks for the link, poppiedancer. I didn't know that was there and it has much better content about Cecchetti than most other worldwide sites. I'm bookmarking it. It is interesting to notice the subtle differences among the American, British, and Australian varieties of Cecchetti training (this site is affiliated with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing), as they have all been administered and edited by different people in different places over the years. The basic Cecchetti "squareness" (also found, by the way, in another form in present-day RAD) is still there in each, but the curriculum structure is somewhat different. Link to comment
Guest rhythmicgymnast Posted August 24, 2002 Report Share Posted August 24, 2002 Interesting fact from hardcover book "Life at the Royal Ballet School" by Camilla Jessel, dated 1979, page 68: When they [students] take the difficult Cecchetti ballet examinations, they know this is not only a means of weighing up their progress, but also excellent experience to dance in front of critical observers. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 24, 2002 Report Share Posted August 24, 2002 Good quote, Jana, and a good point! The Academy gathered its grading system and examinations format (which are not exactly strolls in the park, either) from its Cecchetti foundations. Link to comment
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