Sunday, November 18, 2018

CSTD Examination 2018



Exams are significant events in every student’s life. Historically, students more often than not end up associating exams with “stress”. That may be true when it comes to conventional tests in school and college, but we at LDAB take pride in the difference we make in the lives of our young ballerinas by not causing an iota of stress throughout the exam process.



Over 80 students from LDAB shall be appearing for their Pre-Ballet, Primary, Grade 1 and Grade 2 examinations,taking place on November 28 and 29, 2018. The Examinations are being conducted under the programme designed by the esteemed Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD), headquartered in Australia. We at LDAB are proud to announce that this year the examinations shall be graded by learned instructors flying in from CSTD headquarters. It’s an honour for us to host these renowned personalities in Pune and we believe this will be an equally exciting and enriching experience for our ballerinas as well.

As part of the abovementioned approach to exams at LDAB, we’ve collated a list of things we expect from our bright exam-takers, which if followed to the T, will ensure that it’s a complete joyride from the start to the end. We urge parents and students to carefully go through the entire article below.

Preparation




Our classes for November shall be majorly geared towards getting students exam-ready. Neha Suhjani, our Creative Director, shall be giving out important tips and tricks pertaining to the syllabus, the important exercises etc. needed to ace the tests. We emphasize that attending all the sessions this month is the best way to prep.

Exam Day Attendance

The students shall be taking their exams in groups of 2-3. The Exams are spread over 2 days: 28th and 29th of November, 2018. The Time-Table has been already shared with the students.

The students must arrive at the centre dressed in their complete uniform at least 20 minutes prior to their scheduled exam time. Changing into the uniforms after arriving at the centre shall not be allowed.

Attire


We expect the students to be presentable. This is an important factor in the grades awarded.

Hair: It should be tied in a neat and tight ballerina bun only. Care should be taken that no
  strand of hair stands out. Use of hairspray is advised. Only black hairbands can be used. 
Jewellery: It is advised that no piece of jewellery such as long earrings, necklaces and bangles
  are worn. However, small earrings are allowed.
Makeup: We urge that no makeup of any kind should be worn by the students.
Uniform: Uniforms are colour-differentiated based on the Exam. Please ensure that the
   student wears the uniform in accordance to the exam for which she is appearing.

Exam
Uniform (Leotard)
Skirt Needed?
Pre-Ballet and Primary
Royal Blue
Yes
Grade 1
Violet
No
Grade 2
Grey
No

Stockings: They should be pink. Please ensure they are washed and not ripped.
Shoes: Ballerinas should wear well-fitted soft ballet slippers (leather/satin). Pre-Ballet
  and Primary     exam students do not need ribbons. However, Grade 1 and 2 students
  need ribbons and they should be properly tied and tucked in so as to avoid any
  incidence of them unravelling during the actual exam.
Props: Students appearing for Pre-Ballet examination are required to carry a small
   teddy-bear with   them, and students appearing for Primary examination are required
   to carry a small basket. These   props are required for them to execute their character dance.

Exam Protocol



The examiner shall ring a bell, which will mean that the next batch of students should enter the exam room. The ballerinas should run into the studio smartly with their heads held high. They should greet the examiner warmly. A “Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening” with a bright smile shall suffice. Then the students should proceed to perform the exercises as required by the examiner. While performing, the student should respect the examiner’s space not encroach upon it.

The students should perform in the chronological order of their roll-numbers only.

After the exam concludes, the student should do her curtsy bow as a gesture of respect to the examiners, then proceed to thank the person in-charge of the music, and then run out smartly from the studio. Demonstrating confidence throughout the interaction is the key.

In the Grade 2 examinations, the examiner shall test the ballerina’s knowledge by setting an exercise on the spot, which is then required to be performed by the ballerina. In case, the student is confused in regards to what is expected from her there, we encourage her to get it clarified from the examiner, so as to avoid making a mistake which could be potentially avoided.

Concluding Remarks




Exams at LDAB are meant to be enjoyed and it’s important that the student has fun throughout the whole process. The abovementioned pointers will ensure that the student is well-prepared and presentable on exam day. This in turn shall take care of any anxiety issues one might face before the exams. We want this entire process to be a comfortable one.

And the most important rule: Always smile. No serious faces allowed. There’s a provision for extra marks for a beautiful smile!