Caulfield School of Dance
Royal Academy of Dance Program
Vocational Grades:
Intermediate
Ballet, and for the “F” Syllabus, Pointe
Ages 12 +
Minimum age for Intermediate R.A.D. Examination: 12
Enrolment in Caulfield School of Dance R.A.D. ballet programs is by invitation only. Every R.A.D. ballet program is designed individually for each exam candidate.
To enroll in an R.A.D. program with or without the option to perform (see more information on Performing below), please contact us.
The 2020/21 Intermediate RAD Program consists of the following courses.
Required Intermediate R.A.D. Syllabus Courses:
Intermediate RAD
Saturday 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Intermediate Pointe RAD
Saturday 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Plus the following non-syllabus ballet technique courses:
Vocational Open Ballet Technique
Monday 2:00 – 3:30 pm or 6:45 – 8:15 pm
Vocational Open Ballet Technique
Tuesday 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Vocational Pointe Technique
Tuesday 5:30 – 6:00 pm
Vocational Open Ballet Technique
Thursday 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Vocational Pointe Technique
Thursday 5:30 – 6:00 pm
Students in the Intermediate R.A.D. program can also choose to have a Ballet Performing Course:
Vocational Ballet Performance
Monday 8:15 – 8:30 pm
Note: With the uncertainty of group performing due to health concerns, we have the chance in the upcoming months to focus on developing dancers in a way that focuses more than ever before on the advancement of each student’s skill and artistry. This will mean that when the possibilities for performing repertoire in groups are clear, our students will be ready to learn pieces quickly and perform in the best contexts we can provide.
as well as the optional Progressing Ballet Technique course:
Friday 4:00 – 5:00 pm
The Half Day Training option* is recommended for R.A.D. Vocational program students.
Also highly recommended/ required on an individual basis are courses at your child’s age in the following disciplines:
Jazz Technique
Acro Technique
Musical Theatre
Acting
Hip Hop
The days and times of these courses in the above disciplines are listed the Courses by Age Schedule pages. Please see further information in Program Composition below on training in the above disciplines (yes, even Hip Hop!) as part of career preparation in classical dance.
* Professional Training Division membership with or without the Half Day Training option is by audition only.
Limited Private and/ or Semiprivate instruction in Voice, Speech Arts, and any Dance Discipline available.
Information on the Royal Academy of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dance, or R.A.D., is the world’s leading organization for ballet instruction. Because of the international recognition of the Academy, success in the later examinations can be used towards B.C. Ministry of Education graduation requirements, and greatly enhances all dance career options.
Please see the Courses by Age Schedule pages for days and times of all non-syllabus ballet technique courses, open performing ballet courses, and courses in other disciplines.
Program Composition
Every R.A.D. ballet program is designed individually for each exam candidate.
All R.A.D. programs include at least one syllabus or “examination” class per week, non-syllabus ballet technique classes, plus Supplemental Exam Preparation instruction (see more information below). An R.A.D. ballet program will usually also include technique courses in other disciplines. A ballet performing course is optional.
Home practice is obligatory for all R.A.D. program students. A link is provided to all registered students to download music for home study. Examination candidates must keep a notebook in which to track home study, and record notes including vocabulary and corrections received.
Dance instruction hours on 6 days per week is the international standard for Vocational Level training. We have and will permit certain students to stand Vocational Exams on programs of less than 6 days per week, but lower examination and progress results should be expected. Students at the Intermediate level who wish to maximize success in their examination, pursue ballet into the higher RA.D. Vocational grades, and/or have a career in dance, will ideally take a program with technique courses in Ballet and Modern/ Contemporary, Jazz Dance, and Acrobatics. Students who take Tap have better musicality and rhythm than students who do not, and those who take Musical Theatre and/or Acting have better confidence/ stage presence and expressivity than those who do not. Hip Hop is now a necessary part of career preparation in dance, even classical dance.
Examinations
Students in full Vocational level programs are eligible for consideration to stand Vocational R.A.D. examinations which can be arranged for any point in the year. All candidates must participate fully in the prescribed course hours and have the approval of the signing instructor(s) to stand an examination.
Examinations provide a goal setting focus for training. While examinations are optional, all students in an exam program must work with the same level of dedication to improvement.
The School will collect and forward all exam fees to the Royal Academy of Dance. Exam fees are non-refundable even if a candidate is deemed unable to stand an exam due to inadequate preparation (i.e. home practice) or illness. (In case of missing an examination due to illness, a written request to the R.A.D. with a Physician’s note may result in a refund of up to 50% of an exam fee.) Any additional costs for examinations will be divided fairly amongst all candidates.
Supplemental Examination Preparation
All Vocational level R.A.D. examination candidates must take Supplemental Exam Preparation instruction equaling 2 hours of private/up to 8 hours of group instruction (usually at a minimum cost of $160). In case of group classes, cost will not be adjusted due to imperfect attendance.
Pointe Work
Only students who meet specific criteria can attempt pointe work. “Pointe work” is always optional; however it is a required element of all Vocational Level Examinations for “F” syllabi candidates.
Note: With the permission of the signing instructor, students can commit to examinations in either the “F” or “M” R.A.D. Vocational syllabi. While Pointe work is a component of only the “F” vs. “M” R.A.D. Syllabi, Pointe classes can be taken by female or male students in soft or pointe shoes for the conditioning benefits or to prepare for an examination/other pointe work goal. Sufficiently advanced students can take certain ballet technique classes en pointe with teacher permission.
Note: Character Dance and Free Movement are incorporated throughout the Vocational R.A.D. syllabi rather than examined as separate elements.
Performing
Students in full R.A.D. ballet programs can enrol in Ballet Performance courses which prepare at least one piece of repertoire each year for competition(s) and the School’s annual yearend stage production.
Basic Ballet courses, which include both technique instruction and the preparing a performing piece, are also open to R.A.D. ballet program students.
Performance pieces can be created drawing on the Classical Ballet (with or without pointe work), Character, or Free Movement elements of the R.A.D. syllabi.
Progression and Promotion
The R.A.D. program, when taken level by level without interruption provides a complete education in classical dance.
There is no examination prerequisite for the Intermediate examination. (Students can be promoted by their teacher(s) to the Intermediate level without a successful Intermediate Foundation, or any prior examination result.)
Students can be promoted by their teacher(s) to the Advanced level without a successful Advanced Foundation examination result, but must have achieved a successful Intermediate examination result.
For more information on progression in the Vocational Grades, please see the Vocational Grades page.