A Welcome Minor Revision to Grades

A welcome change has been made in the National Dance Grades. Teachers will be delighted to learn that this does not necessitate attending a course. The change will be optional from January 2013 and compulsory from September 2013.  

The Warm Up sequences will no longer be required. Instead, the candidates will be expected to dance individual steps to the current ‘warm up’ music. Background knowledge in the form of a very basic discussion will be re-introduced but will not be marked.

Details of the individual steps are as follows: 

 

Grade 1

England (Taken to the warm up music)

Skips across the studio en diagonal – one by one  

Skip change of step en diagonal – one by one

France  (Teacher’s choice of one of the following – taken to the warm up music)

French runs across the studio en diagonal – one by one

Gallops sideways en diagonal – one by one

 

Grade 2

Wales (Taken to the warm up music)

Reel Steps, en diagonal - one by one

Denmark (Taken to the warm up music)

8 Hurree steps to the right and 8 to the left

 

Grade 3

Isle of Man (Taken to the warm up music)

Manx Reel Step en diagonal – one by one

Austria (Taken to the warm up music)

Polkas turning en diagonal – one by one

 

Grade 4

Scotland (Taken to the warm up music)

Skip change of step en diagonal – one by one

Setting – one by one

Czech Republic and Slovakia (Taken to the warm up music)

Heel and Toe Polkas forward en diagonal – one by one

 

Grade 5

Ireland (Taken to the warm up music)

Jig Promenades en diagonal – one by one

Jig Seven and two Threes

Portugal (Taken to the warm up music)

Portuguese pas de basque, straight or turning, en diagonal – one by one

 

Grade 6

Italy (Taken to the warm up music)

4 runs and 2 pas de basques, en diagonal – one by one

Greece

Basic Kalamatianos sequence, sideways on diagonal – one by one

 

Background Information

Each candidate presents their own choice of one of the following for each country (but this will not be marked).

1. Style

2. Costume – Man and Woman

3. Music

4. Traditions

5. Steps and patterns

6. Geography/history relevant to country

Please note that there is no change to the Primary level.