Ten Top Tips When Taking a Professional Dance Examination. 

Taking any form of an examination will always be stressful, and a professional dance examination is no different.

Here are 10 of the most helpful tips to reduce stress and offer encouragement to get great results.

1.Knowledge:

It seems obvious to mention this, but it is so essential that it appears at number 1.

True, all you have to do is answer the questions correctly, but it is the accuracy and security you have in the figures that will result in not only a positive outcome but more than likely an excellent grading.

How do you achieve the right level of knowledge? Well, of course, you should first be able to dance all of the required figures or steps and movements with the correct technique.

You should answer questions confidently by describing how you dance the figure, rather than quoting the technique book from memory. In this way, you may forget what is written in the charts, but you can work out the required answer by analysing what you are dancing. Even under stress, a correct technical demonstration will always impress.

2. Solo demonstration:

Your examiner will select 3 Associate figures, arrange them into a routine for you to perform to music.  Take care not to rush your performance, be assured you are familiar with the figures and always take your time to dance using the correct rhythm. An examiner would much prefer to see a positive performance rather than a rushed and incorrect outcome. It is essential that you fully understand the figures requested. Examiners are happy to repeat their request rather than you dance them incorrectly. Once again, your dance style should be assured and confident.

3. Theory:

When following the technical charts or explanations, you will soon find that they have many dependable and repeatable features. Study each column individually and reflect the information in your dancing. Do not just learn the content of each section or figure parrot fashion without understanding the content thoroughly. You will soon start to fail in an examination if your understanding of technique was low, and you merely repeated the book.

“The beauty and pleasure of dances come from well-danced technique” Richard Hopkins

Study at a pace to suit your lifestyle and give yourself a realistic time limit to reach your goals.

4. Teaching Ability:

It would have been beneficial to have spent time assisting a teacher at some point in your dance journey, as this is excellent grounding to experience the joys and pitfalls of teaching. However, you don’t always need to have had this type of experience. It is entirely possible that through conversations with teachers and students, you can gain the required knowledge.

 It should be remembered that a successful and respected teacher will be able to instruct at all levels.

5. Presentation:

It is essential to wear something comfortable, suitable for dance and a style that suits you. The examination day is not the day to test out your new dance shoes, neither do we recommend an old and nearly collapsing pair of shoes. Of course, dance shoes are important. Take some time to wear them before entering the examination room.

6. Voice Projection:

Good communication between you and your examiner is essential; take your time to answer questions, and always use a positive voice projection. As you are taking a teaching examination, this is the way to show that you can teach a class and that your voice can be heard at a distance.

If English is not your first language, do not worry about your English quality, examiners are very patient and will always try their best to assist you.

7. General attitude:

At the best of times, it is always difficult talking to a stranger. Under examination pressure, it is even more testing. It is essential to respect your examiner while being as natural as possible. There are sections the examiner must complete, so very little time is available for general conversation; however, if asked a non-dance question, answer with friendly confidence.

8 . Confidence:

As mentioned earlier, the most significant confidence boost is knowledge. It is often said that an examination is a learning experience. You are not expected to know everything about technique – who does? Any observation made by the examiner are meant as constructive and not a criticism.

9: Result:

Unfortunately, you will not be told your result on the day of the examination. Paperwork and an examination report have to be completed by the examiner, then sent to Head Office. You mustn’t directly ask for the result or drop hints which might indicate it. It is a rule of examiners conditions that they do not disclose results.

10: Examiner:

Yes, there are two people in the room, and your examiner also has a difficult job. It is not merely a question and answer session; the examiner’s task is to make you feel as comfortable as possible and encourage the best from you. It is not their intention to prove to you how clever they are. 

As a general practice, examiners are very happy to repeat questions or phrase them differently. Overall they want to encourage you to continue to understand and respect the technical details of dance.