Carol Henchie School of Dancing

Examinations

 

Every year students from the ages of 4 years to 17 years can take an International Ballet Examination or Demonstration Class through the Royal Academy of Dance London.  The Royal Academy of Dance sends an International Examiner in June each year to examine the work that the girls and boys do in their weekly ballet classes. 

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The Royal Academy of Dance offer an internationally recognised portfolio of examinations, demonstration classes, class awards, solo perfomance awards and vocational graded examinations all designed to motivate and encourage students of all ages and abilities.

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The exams are aimed at all levels, from beginners to those on the threshold of a career in dance, and from ages 2½ to adult. 

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The Royal Academy of Dance exams provide:

• achievable goals for any age

• recognition from the world’s largest ballet examination board, and

• qualifications accredited by UK regulatory authorities.

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The Syllabus constists of many levels which our highly trained teachers are all trained in and will put your son or daughter into the correct level appropriate for their age.

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Below are the different levels.

• Dance to Your Own Tune (Demonstration Class) is the curriculum for children from 2½ to 5 years.

• The Graded syllabus (Pre-Primary in Dance, Primary in Dance and Grade 1 – 8) provides a broad practical dance education and develops technical, musical and performance skills (age 5+).

• Vocational Graded Examinations (Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1, Advanced 2) provide an in-depth study of ballet and prepare students for a career in dance (age 11+).

• Solo Performance Awards - this is a form of exams that the candidate does 3 dances ONLY for their exam rather than the whole syllabus. One dance is made up by the teacher/student. the other 2 are syllabus dances.

• Discovering Repetoire - this is a new exam newly entered into the syllabus by the Royal Academy of Dance and covers some of the more famous ballet solos, like from Swan Lake, Coppelia, Pikita.  There are 3 exams to get the overall final certificate.  It is a fun syllabus for the older student who does not take Vocational syllabus.

• Silver Swans - this syllabus is for the more mature dancer who wishes to start ballet or who may have done ballet in years gone by and wish to take it us as a form or exercise.  We are currently looking into a licence to teach it at our studio.  Watch this space! 

• Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)- this is also a relatively new venture our studio has started with the Vocational dancers at present.  It is a revolutionary way for ballet dancers to gain strength and flexibility while not actually doing ballet.  We hope to introduce it to the lower grades in the near future.

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As you can see we start with the fun simple ballet moves with the baby ballerinas (3.5 years) and as they grow up and pass the examinations they are then able to move on to do many different avenues in the ballet and examination world, as we have many ballet avenues to offer.

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Starlight

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Starlight Dancing is as annual show that is put on by the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe in their grounds in Belgravia.  Starlight Dancing is to Showcase the older dancers from 13 years and above from each and every studio in Harare.  The show is set out doors on an erected stage, where you can watch the show having a picnic under the stars.  The show incorporates ballet, hip hop, contemporary, tap, acro, lyrical, jazz, modern.  The show is done towards the end of September beginning of October.  It is a fun entertaining evening out for the whole family in a causal environment.

 Junior Show (formally Stars of Tomorrow)

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This show is designed to showcase all the “budding ballerinas” between the ages of 5 years and 17years in Harare on the stage at Reps Theatre.  It is an annual event in November, that the Dance Trust of Zimbabwe holds for all the dance studios in Harare to partake in.  The children love this time of the year as they get to learn fun new dances, get a sparkly costume and put on make up and the best of all.... to dance on stage with bright lights with friends and family watching in the audience.  It is a fun time to be had by all choosing the theme for the studio, making up the dances, designing the costumes.  Then waiting patiently to see their costumes, to be tried on and finally danced in on stage.  All our costumes are made by our very talentand waiting for their costumes to be made by the talented tailors.