BALLET @ SCD

Assessment Date - Academic Year 2026-2027

Ballet Assessments are held at SCD in Studio 1. The assessment is filmed and students complete their assessment in groups of 8 or less, alongside their teacher.

Level 3 - Progress Award (Fee £40)

All children will be invited to take part in the assessment appropriate to their level. Some children will be offered the chance to take part in a Progress Award. Progress Awards are an assessment option for students who, for whatever reason, don’t meet the assessment criteria or would find the graded system unnecessarily stressful. Candidates will be presented in the same class format as their peers, in the same session. 

Progress Award students participate in every aspect of the assessment. It is integral to the programme that all students feel a strong sense of belonging and achievement. Staying with their peer group is mandatory. The assessment will not differ from a regular assessment procedure beyond appropriate differentiation.

Level 3 - Assessment (£50)

The RBS Assessment for Level 3 is split into 3 parts.

1. Class Demonstration - Vocab
2. Solo Composition
3. Repertoire Study

1. Class Demonstration - Vocabulary
Dancers will be filmed in a class with Gemma and their classmates and must demonstrate the following vocabulary:
- Plié (to bend)
- Relevé (to rise) and Plié Relevé (to bend and rise)
- Battement Tendu (to stretch)
- Passé par Terre (passing along the ground)
- Rond de Jambe par Terre (rounding the leg on the ground)
- Battement Fondu (to melt)
- Relevé Lent (rising up slowly)
- Grand Battement Jeté (to throw a big beat)
- Cou-de-Pied (position of the foot resting on the ankle) and Retiré (to draw up)
- Arabesque (one leg stretched behind)
- Transfer of Weight
- Chaîné Action (turn on both feet)
- Sauté, Soubresaut and Changement de Pieds (Jumps)
- Tour en l’air (jumping turn in the air)
- Glissade (gliding step)
- Assemblé (to assemble/join together)
- Walks
- Skips (Gladiator Hop)
- Posé Temps Levé (a small hop on one foot)
- Pas de Basque (transfer weight from one foot to the other)
- Leaps

CLICK HERE FOR THE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST WITH ALL VOCAB MUSIC IN ORDER

2. The ‘Solo Composition’

Theme:
TBC

Research:
TBC

Thoughts:
TBC

Music:
TBC

The Solo:
The solo will be created and performed by you in a location of your choice - a studio, hall or space that you think might help to portray the intention of your piece. You are not expected to use lighting, stage design etc. but can choose to use a costume or prop if integral to the choreography. Length of solo should be approx. 1 minute 30 seconds.

You should arrange for a parent/guardian or teacher to record your solo in landscape orientation . The recording should begin with a short introduction to your piece to the camera, maximum length of 30 seconds, in which you should introduce yourself and your choreographic intention.

Assessment Criteria:
You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate:
Structure: the ability to explore new movement ideas, develop and structure movement motifs through simple choreographic devices and dance elements. The piece should have a clear beginning, middle and end.
Intention: the ability to express intention through the selective use of dance movements and elements and any chosen design features (props, costume etc). The ability to express and respond sensitively to music (synchronicity, rhythm, phrasing, and dynamics) to convey intention.

Recordings:
Recordings should be sent via SCD WeTransfer or airdrop to Gemma’s phone no later than Saturday 31st May 2024.

3. Repertoire Study Task

For this section of your assessment you should submit a presentation reviewing a ballet performance, either through attendance or from a screening, and also research into an artist (choreographer/composer/performer) featured in the ballet. 

You should use appropriate dance and context terminology to describe and review the choreography and any theatrical aspect you choose. The presentation can be in one of the following formats: a written review of a performance (400-500 words) and research into an artist featured in the ballet (400-500 words) or a filmed verbal/audio-visual presentation (3 minutes maximum). The completed presentation should be sent to us via the SCD WeTransfer account or WhatsApp, no later than 2 weeks before your assessment in July.

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your ability to research and review:
- Theatrical aspects: the chosen ballet’s choreography and one theatrical aspect such as narrative, characters, music, and design elements etc.
- Theatre artists: an artist of your choice (choreographer/composer/performer/designer) from the chosen ballet, detailing what you thought effective and why.