Adult Ballet - Passing Vocational Exams - Intermediate Foundation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- In November 2018, I took my first Royal Academy of Dance vocational exam - Intermediate Foundation - and received 67/100 earning myself a merit.
Here I talk about how my exam went and my results. As usual, it also involves me complaining about pointe.
I'm Gemma and I'm an adult who has been dancing ballet for just over three years after an 8 year break and started pointe in August 2017. I created this channel to show all the opportunities that are available for adults who want to dance and to encourage those who think they've missed their chance to take lessons, get out there and put their dancing shoes back on. The only person stopping you from dancing is yourself.
This review of the exam process is really appreciated. Thanks for being so honest about it all. I am taking this exam at the end of the year - all being well - and I think it's assumed I know all the things you say. But as an adult dancer who never danced before, never mind taken a ballet exam, I don't know the process at all so your video is really helpful.
Best of luck Emily! I'm sure you'll be fab.
I am so glad to have found your channel! I am also taking ballet as an adult and found the RAD program/syllabus. I am currently taking RAD G5 and have not taken RAD before this. Your posts are helpful and informative. It makes me have more courage now because I am going to try for the exams for the first time. Just taking the school exams this year but I might try the official RAD for G6. I would love to hear more about your pointe experiences and any tips you have for adults going on pointe. My class is just going to start exercises and strengthening for pointe. Please keep on posting!:) Its so nice!!!
Thanks Ariel, I always love hearing from other adult ballet dancers. Good luck with grade 5 and preparing for pointe! If you're nervous about taking exams, you could always do a presentation class first - the examiner still watches you do all the exercises but your teacher would lead the session and you'd get a certificate of completion without have to stress out about marks. It still costs a bit of money but may get you used to performing in front of an examiner in a lower pressure setting. However, if you're comfortable with your school exams, I say go for the official exam. I'm sure you'll be wonderful. It's a great way to track your progress and improvement.
As for pointe, I've made a few videos about my experiences although I apologise they're mainly about me moaning how much my feet hurt but that's a good idea about doing a video for tips for adult beginners.
Off the top of my head:
1. Take it slow, don't rush to get your pointe shoes and really make sure you have the required foot and ankle strength or you won't be able to do anything.
2. Go and get professionally fitted. Do not try to guess your size and buy online to save yourself a tenner. It won't work.
2. When you get fitted, tell the fitter exactly how your feet feel as any rubbing or pain is going to be 1000 times worse once you're dancing in the studio.
3. It's okay to leave the dance shop without any shoes. Don't buy a pair that don't feel right just so you can say you have a pair of pointe shoes.
4. When budgeting for shoes also factor in the cost of ribbons, elastic, toe pads or other padding, darning them etc.
5. Expect it to be uncomfortable but if it's super painful, you're probably in the wrong shoe.
6. You probably won't be able to do a lot for a while, it is slow going and quite repetitive.
7. It is an entirely new sensation and your brain will take 10 times longer to process what your feet have to do.
8. You will get frustrated thinking about what you can't do. Focus on what you can do and aim to do that nicely.
9. Your teacher will probably push you just a little bit outside your comfort zone so even as you improve, everything will still seem just slightly out of reach.
10 Pat yourself on the back for reaching the next step in your ballet journey! If at any point you feel discouraged and that you're never going to get anywhere watch videos of professionals on youtube - both to see how gorgeous pointe work can look when done well and also at how messed up their feet are to show even the best in the world still suffer.
(I apologise for the long ramble. I could talk all day about ballet. Improving your pointe work can definitely be slow, painful and frustrating but the a-ha moments when something finally clicks are so worth it.)
Thank you for taking the time to reply and for your honest and truthful reply. I really appreciate it. :) Thanks! Very helpful.