Caulfield School of Dance
Royal Academy Of Dance Program
Lower Grades:
Grade IV
Ballet, Character, & Free Movement
Age 9 +
Enrolment in Caulfield School of Dance R.A.D. ballet programs is “closed” which means that enrolment is by invitation only.
To enroll in an R.A.D. program with or without the option to perform (see more information on Performing below), please contact us.
Please see listings in the Courses by Age Schedule pages for Technique and Performing course times of courses in disciplines other than ballet and non-R.A.D. Ballet courses.
Performance Training Company membership and Professional Training Division courses are by audition only.
The Half Day Training option is recommended for R.A.D. students.
Limited Private and/ or Semiprivate instruction in Voice, Speech Arts, and any Dance Discipline available.
Program Composition
Every R.A.D. ballet program is designed individually for each exam candidate. All R.A.D. programs include ballet technique classes (listings of ballet technique courses are on the Courses by Age Schedule pages), and at least one syllabus or “Examination” class per week, plus Supplemental Exam Preparation instruction (see more information below). An R.A.D. ballet program can also include technique courses in other disciplines.
Students at the Grade IV level who wish to pursue ballet into the RA.D. Higher or Vocational grades, will ideally take a program of 8 or more hours of Ballet/ Modern/ Jazz/ Acrobatics per week to develop core strength, flexibility, jumps, and turning skills. 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 a necessary part of career preparation in dance, even classical dance.
Home practice with parental assistance is obligatory for all R.A.D. program students. Practice music will be provided by digital download for all enrolled students. Examination candidates must keep a notebook in which to track home study, and record notes including vocabulary and corrections received.
Supplemental Exam Preparation
All Grades I through V R.A.D. exam candidates must take 6 additional hours of Supplemental Exam Preparation instruction at a total cost of $75 before tax. This cost will not be adjusted due to imperfect attendance. Additional private or semiprivate instruction may also be required of candidates at a cost of $75 per hour.
Examinations
The Royal Academy of Dance, or R.A.D., is the world’s leading organization for ballet instruction. The syllabi are progressive, expressive, and complete.
Examinations provide a goal setting focus for training. Examinations are optional – promotion in the Lower grades is by examination or instructor assessment – but all students in the program must work with the same level of dedication to improvement.
Some years, Grades I through V will be examined by an R.A.D. examiner. R.A.D. examiner examined examinations provide candidates with a numerical score, and if successful, a certificate. 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 home practice or illness. All candidates must have the approval of the signing instructor(s) to stand an examination. Any additional costs for examinations will be divided fairly amongst all candidates.
In-house R.A.D. examinations provide candidates with a written assessment from at least 2 Ballet professionals, a numerical score, and if successful, the option of a certificate. In some years Grade I through V students are eligible for consideration to stand in-house R.A.D. examinations. All candidates must have instructor approval to stand an in-house examination. All costs for examinations are divided fairly amongst all candidates. Once parental consent is received, In-house exam fees can be waived only with a physician’s note and more than 1 week’s written notice.
Character Dance, Free Movement, and Pointe Work
Grade I through V students learn “Character Dance” which is unauthentic European folk dance, and “Free Movement” which is Modern/Contemporary based dance, as part of their syllabi. All students require Character shoes. Please see your Guidebook for more information.
Female students require a C.S.D. Character skirt for class work and examinations. There is a $15 per year fee for all Grade I through V R.A.D. students which covers rental of all required rental items such as Character skirts for girls and bolero vests for boys.
Only the Vocational R.A.D levels include pointe work, however, some male and female Grade IV students are given pointe courses in their programs to take in soft shoes for the conditioning benefits and/or to prepare for pointe work.
Performing
Students in the R.A.D. program are able to enrol in closed Ballet Performance courses which prepare performance pieces for competition(s) and for our annual yearend stage production. Students in the R.A.D. program are also able to enrol in Basic Ballet courses which include both technique instruction and the preparation of a performing piece.
Performance pieces can be created drawing on the Classical Ballet, Character, or Free Movement elements of the syllabi.
