For most students studying dance, taking exams is an integral part of training. An exam is an opportunity for students to perform the syllabus which students will have been practicing and refining over a period of time. 

Dance Exams are an excellent way for students to be guided through a syllabus which provides them a goal to work towards and the building blocks necessary to achieve that goal. Dance exams allow your dancer to delve deeper into the world of dance and provides accountability to their training and help motivate and reward students of all ages and abilities. Our focus is on creativity and musicality, providing opportunities to progress and achieve. Students will also develop improved physical training, goal setting, respect and discipline as well as confidence.  It’s not just professional or young dancers who take our exams; age is no barrier to success. At any stage of your life or career you can develop your fitness, musicality and artistry. Our candidates range in age from 2 to 60+!

Accountability: 
The exam process allows your dancer to be graded by an outside examiner and compared to an international standard of dance technique. At CMA’s we are proud to offer examinations in jazz and tap through the I.S.T.D. The I.S.T.D (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance), in ballet through the R.A.D (Royal Academy of Dance) and in Acro A.A (Acrobatic Arts) all are recognised for their quality around the world. The syllabi offer more than 100 years experience of progressing quality dance education for all levels of dancers. Examinations progress students through a goal-setting syllabus of strong technical dancing alongside artistic expression. The syllabus is continually updated in order to offer the most current and up-to-date standards. This allows students to not just receive the best foundations for their dance technique but will also allow them to always be on trend in an every-changing dance world. By using an outside syllabus, you know that your dancer is being graded against an international standard of dance technique rather than the teacher’s personal likes/dislikes.

Improved Physical Training:
Dance exams allow your dancer the ability to improve their dance technique and their artistic expression. By allotting more training hours your dancer will develop the ability to implement corrections quickly, have a better understanding of their technique and increase their flexibility, core strength and power. When more attention is directed into class, the results will speak for themselves.

Goal Setting:
There is nothing more gratifying to see then when a student finally masters their goal. Dance Exams allow dancers to make a clearly defined goal for themselves within their training. The use of a set syllabus enables the use of all of the primary foundations of technique to guide the dancer into their goal without injury or delay. By setting clearly defined and measurable goals, your dancer will be soaring through their dance exams! Once exam tours are complete students will receive report cards and a certificate and for the R.A.D syllabi a medal - Gold, silver or bronze medals are awarded depending on the result of distinction, merit or pass.
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Respect & Discipline:
It’s no secret that our dance exam students are some of our hardest working, most dedicated students in the studio. These students attend class twice a week in proper dress code and hair neatly tied back, always on time and always with a smile on their face. Our exam dancers have a deep respect for their chosen genre of study, for the teachers and for themselves. They come to class with a “Can-Do” attitude and work outside of the studio to perfect their technique and study their theory for the following lesson.

Confidence:
Children who sit dance exams gain a greater sense of confidence and determination not only in their dance training but in their personal lives as well. Dance Exams allow dancers the opportunity to learn how to speak to strangers (their outside examiner) and present themselves in a professional manner. These skills will come in handy when it is time for a job or university interview for your dancer! Dance Exams also highlight to your dancer the importance of showing up and putting the work in. It is not possible to just “wing” a dance exam. Dancers must put their time in, in order to be adequately prepared for their examination. Dancers love being able to work together as a part of team to build one another up for their dance exams.