Examination Board

We offer examinations in classical ballet suitable for everyone from young children starting out in dance classes to students aspiring to become professional dancers. There are no upwards age limits on any examinations or presentation classes and a syllabus has been designed for both male and female candidates at all levels.

The Royal Academy of Dance stresses the importance of every student having an achievable goal. This is measured either by an Examination for students studying the Graded or Vocational Graded syllabus or the option of a presentation class for Graded students.

Photo:Brian Slater

New Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance Syllabi

In January 2009, the Examinations Board launched two new syllabi, which have been devised to provide a strong foundation for future dance training, appropriate and relevant to young children today. Fun to do and rewarding to teach, Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance will help to develop children’s physical skills, stamina, creativity, expression and musicality.

The new syllabi will be examined from September 2009, full details on the content, general information and examining body rules and regulations can be found in the Specification: Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance.

Click here to read more.

The Graded Examination Syllabus

The Graded syllabus consists of three different components:

• Classical

• Free Movement

• Character

Click here for more information

on the syllabus

The Vocational Graded Syllabus

The Vocational Graded syllabus is the continuation of classical ballet from the Academy’s Graded Syllabus where pointe work for females is introduced for the first time.

This syllabus has been designed to give the necessary training to students wishing to study seriously with a possible view to following a career in dance or dance related subjects. Click here for more information on the syllabus.

New Solo Seal Award

The new Solo Seal Award will be examined from January 2010 and will replace the current syllabus, which will be phased out at the end of 2009.

Click here for the syllabus and the examining body rules and regulations:

Examination and Presentation classes
Examinations offer students a challenge to show their understanding of the work. They are open to all students studying the Graded and Vocational Graded Examination syllabi and are tests of knowledge in relation to the level in question. Click here for more information.

Pre-school Dance Curriculum Demonstration classes 

A demonstration class provides students studying the Pre School Dance Curriculum with the opportunity to perform to an invited audience that includes parents/guardians of the participating children as well as a Royal Academy of Dance examiner. Click here for more information

Qualifications
We have produced a framework to place our examinations in context of other qualifications, click here to read more.

Reasonable Adjustments 

The Royal Academy of Dance is an equal opportunities organisation and has a policy of open access to Examinations and Presentation Classes for all candidates. Students with a temporary or permanent disability/condition who require reasonable adjustments to be made to enable them to perform to the best of their ability, can contact the Examinations Department or their National Administrator who will where possible make these arrangements. Click here for more information

Click here to read more.

Preparing for an examination? Click here for more information.

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