Vocational Exams :"What are they?"
Vocational ballet is very different from the grades. It consists of 5 grades;
- Intermediate Foundation
- Intermediate
- Advanced Foundation
- Advanced 1
- Advanced 2
It means a serious, structured study of classical ballet - there is no free movement or character.
If you do this
it is assumed that you are hoping for a career in dance and that is
how examiners assess you. You don't do it for fun or because your mum
says - you have to really want to do it.
Most things like a tendu or even a saute have to be re-learned as not
even a tiny fault is allowed which can be pretty frustrating, especially
if you think you are good at ballet.
You have to be quick and intelligent as each grade is very long - about 60+ exercises, and you are also given free work that you have not prepared which you not only have to pick up fast but be able to perform as if you are on the stage.
Two classes a week
are the absolute minimum - in countries like Australia and South Africa
who are producing the best ballerinas in the world dancers attend at least
four times a week for ballet alone.
You must never miss a class and you must be prepared to practise seriously
through the holidays.
Your progress will depend on how much you care about your dancing. If you take a correction home with you and carefully practise it all week you will have made progress. You have to treat major ballet like a musical instrument: your barre work is your scales and your centre work your pieces. If you don't practise them between lessons you will make very slow progress, if any. You only move on as an individual, when your teacher thinks you are ready, and if you are showing us that you are working hard. We always know who is practising and who isn't, and we won't waste our time on people who don't care enough, even if they are the best dancers in the class.
You have to be prepared to give up serious sport as it is not compatible with classical ballet at this level. Unfortunately, good dancers are usually good at sport and have to make a choice. Sport creates muscle bulk where we don't want it and makes dancers prone to injury which hinders their progress. It is a difficult decision for some children but ballet dancers have to be single-minded. Swimming is O.K. and good for you, especially your upper body and back.
We do insist that you continue with your grade classes as well, as you will find them more easy and enjoyable and you still get to do free movement and character. Character is important for a dancer because if you went into a ballet company you would spend most of your first year promenading round the stage in boots and character costume. Fees for these classes are greatly reduced for students already doing majors. If you think you would like to be a teacher it is extremely important that you don't miss out any of your grades, as this syllabus will be with us for the next twenty years at least. If it turns out that majors are not for you, you will always have your grade class to continue with without having to drop back to where you left off.
You will have to dance on pointe. You have to listen hard to your teacher and treat pointe work with great respect. You will not be allowed to start until we think you are ready, it doesn't matter how old you are. It will not harm your feet if it is taught properly and you only do as you are told.
Other things you have to think about:
Diet - you must follow a healthy diet and not let yourself put weight on. If you are overweight you risk damaging your feet and back on pointe, and you are unlikely to be able to dance your allegro well. You also, I'm afraid, don't look nice, which is important if you are trying to make classical lines.
Smoking - this will not be tolerated by us. If we know you smoke, we give up on you - it is as simple as that. If you abuse your body, please don't expect us to care about it. Believe me, we know when you are smoking, you can't fool us.
If, at any time, you feel that you no longer want to continue with vocational training, you only have come and talk to me or your teacher. If you decide it is not for you after all that is O.K., as long as you have given it your best shot. I would probably try to persuade you to carry on as sometimes when you find something really difficult you just feel like giving up. Often, this means that you are nearly about to master it and move on to the next 'level' and you only need a bit of encouragement, but, if not, you can return to grades and carry on dancing until you leave school, no problem. Vocational training is not for everyone, even if they are brilliant dancers, so if you give up you have not failed. That is why you must continue with your grade classes as well.
For girls, the uniform is the navy thin-strapped leotard with a 1" black elastic belt which must always be worn. Pink tights and hair properly done in a bun with no fringe and - please - no scrunchies : you should get out of the habit of wearing them. A clean leotard and pair of tights must be worn for each lesson - you must never wear tights more than once, it is unhealthy. When pointe shoes are needed, girls are expected to learn to darn and prepare them themselves.
Important: I expect a different attitude from vocational students. They should never be late for a class - they should be at the barre warming up when the teacher arrives in the room. I should never have to even mention hair, removal of earrings etc. Hands should be washed before class and uniform and shoes clean and impeccable – no ladders in tights, no holes in shoes. I should see a much more mature attitude in class as regards talking and behaviour. We are watching you all the time for these things and we notice them. I hope you will all realise how privileged you are to be able to all this - I know it requires many sacrifices from your parents, not just in money but in their time, and they do not have to do this for you. It is your responsibility to repay them by working your hardest and always doing your best, and trying to help out by being responsible for all your kit - it is very expensive and needs to be treated with care. Remember that you are always on trial - if we do not think your attitude towards this work is right you can be asked to return to grades at any time. Vocational training is hard work for the teacher and we won't waste time on people who don't do their bit.
Finally, if you do vocational classes you are really learning to dance. It is the closest you will have been to the real thing - nothing compares with it. It is the best feeling in the whole world to finally turn a double pirouette and the worst when you fall over for the 100th time. Remember - your teachers have all done these exams, we struggled with them too and we know what it is like. We are always here to have a chat with you if it is getting you down and we will always be available to give you a bit of extra help if you ask.