| I've
been dancing for 10 years now and still get nervous in exams,
I think its more to do with the dance school I was with
before I was rushed through exams and didn't do very well
and then feel bad because I let my teacher down.
Now I'm in a new dance school which I love and I'm just
about to take my exams my Modern and Tap and propebly Ballet
and I'm really scared I've been working really hard as I don't
want to let my dance teachers down. Also my exams now cost
so much my friends is taking her grade 4 Modern and Tap and
its costing her £70
Kaylie
(aged 16) Hampshire
I
did ballet from the ages of 3 and I adored it and worked hard.
I made it to grade 3 with top marks then had to stop. I have
been doing highland dancing since I was four and although
I am not necessarily that good I live for the exams because
they challenge me. I am glad that I have because I always
pass and have run out of room for awards. Dancing rox and
I do freelance stuff at school.
Kerri
(aged 14) Scotland
Hey!
i'm taking my first majors on saturday! my itermediate tap
and inter-foundation modern! i'm so exited! i love going into
the exam room and showing the examiner what i've learned and
spent so much time trying to perfect! i know i'll be nervous
on the day but its so worth it!
Ceri
Winrow
I
love my dance exams!! There soooo much fun. I am a young Ballroom
and Latin dancer and i see it as a chance to show what I can
do. I suppose I have extra support though because I have to
dance with my male dance teacher! I have been very successful
in all my dance exams because I've went in with a big smile
on my face and knowing that I am a great dancer (this may
sound big headed but I see it as a coping stratagy!) I think
the best advice to anyone just starting exams is to just have
fun and enjoy the experience.
Joanne
Newall (aged 16) Scotland
"I'm
doin an exam on sunday. I've been dancing for 9 years and
Im 11 years old. Ido loads of things in dancing and I think
exams are cool. I've won more then 500 trophies!"
Jemma
Page (aged 11) Mansfield
"I
have been dancing for 5 years and I have done 18 exams, the
experience is nerve racking and exciting simultaneously but
I have managed to come out with top marks in 16 exams!"
Michaela
(age 11)
"I
have been dancing since the age of 4 and up untill the age
of 9 I did Tap, Ballet and Character, Disco, Rock and Roll
etc which resulted of 3 or 4 examinations a year. Now I do
Disco, Ballroom and Latin American and Street Jazz examinations.
I do 2 exams a year and I enjoy them very much. I do get nervous
sometimes but I try not to worry because the examiner is always
very nice and once its done its over! My dancing is my life
and nothing will ever change it and I know that exams will
always be the way to success!"
Kirsty
Samwell (age 15) Kent
"I
take ballet and tap exams all the time so I don't get nervous
about them any more but i took my first modern exam the other
week and got really nervous it turns out I got top marks so
now I know what its like I won't get nervous anymore. I also
do linedancing competitions! I've been doing them years now
so I don't get nervous but I didnt get nervous at my first
competition either because i know all i can do is dance my
best and if the judges don't like it then thats up 2 them
but so far the judges have liked the way i dance! im also
a urdang academy associate and im in the English Youth Ballet!
and i did a show for urang the other day in a west end theatre
and i didnt get nervous because im a confident person. So
my advice is be confident dance your best and dont worry what
other people think your a good dancer in your own way and
go and have fun enjoy yourself! "
Charly
(age 13) Nottingham
"I
recently did an exam and my mouth went dry, when I had to
say good morning it came out as a bit of a croak. I've taken
about 10 exams but I get nervous everytime. I always get good
marks so I know I don't need to worry. All the examiners are
really nice so my advice is try to stay calm and enjoy doing
what you do best. I also do festivals and get nervous at them
too but when I get up there I really enjoy it so have fun!"
Charly
(age 12) Portsmouth (Tap, Modern, Ballet and Jazz)
"I
know a lot of people also worry a lot when they are taking
the GCSE and AS exams because they are also challenging like
most performance exams. Theory is the most differcult to master
but once done, is quite an effective tool. The trick is, when
you are writing in the exam, remember - to refer back to past
repetoire from choreographers and dance companies, examine
ALL aspects of the dance including costume, set, lighting
and characters, use SIMPLE sentence (marks aren't lost but
aren't gained if you babble on) and remember to enjoy what
you learn. What you write in the exam, shows what you've learned
and that you are committed! Good luck in your written exam
everyone."
Alex,
Colchester, Year 12 AS Dance (Contemporary)
"Exams
are kind of scary, as you don't know what it's going to be
like. You don't know the examiner. I took my first exam (pre-bronze
medal) in rock n roll back in November and I passed with honours
and a mark of 96. Exams aren't scary when you've been there
before, you know what to expect. So I can't wait till the
next one. So if you are thinking about taking an exam, just
go for it, the only thing holding you back is your imagination
of how scary they are. When you have passed that level, it
gives you something to do until the next level exam, work
towards it. Good luck."
Sam
"I
took an exam, from grade 5 to grade 6, about 2 weeks ago and
I really enjoyed it! The examiner was really nice, and in
one exercise our whole grade started frappes in 1st instead
of 5th, but because our whole grade did it, she didn't mind
and she corrected us and didn't take any marks off, because
that's what we had been taught. She said it was obvious to
her we knew the work and that we were good and ready to go
on pointe next year. I was really thrilled at her saying that."
Hayley
(age 13)
"As
long as you enjoy dancing and know what you're doing you'll
do great. When I was younger my dance teacher rushed us through
exams and I got so nervous I would always forget was I was
doing, and end up with 'pass-plus'. However, since moving
to my new dance school, Ii feel that I enjoy the lessons so
much more, and have got 'honours' in my last four exams! Practise
is the key, and if you know what you're doing, as soon as
you step into the room, you'll feel fine. Just make sure you
perform your best to the examiner, and don't forget to smile!
If you look like you're enjoying yourself, your grades will
increase, trust me!"
Jenny,
Surrey (age 15)
"Taking
exams is scary but once you start dancing for the examiner
your nerves go away. I always enjoy exams because you don't
have a Ballet teacher shouting at you and you just do it the
best you can! I have just taken my Grade 5 Ballet and I was
really nervous especially as I was at the front of the barre,
I was worried about forgetting something! I now think that
being at the front is best because the examiner knows that
you can't be copying anyone else and that you are confident
in the syllabus! Just do the best of your ability and ENJOY
yourself!!"
Sophie
Ford, Kent (age 12)
"I
think exams are good because it gives you experience and confidence!
I am about to take my Grade 1 exam for Ballet and Primary
Tap exam. Exams also make you feel you have achieved something
for all the hard work and effort throughout the year. I get
nervous at exams but you have to dance your best. Once you
have started you start to enjoy it and take no notice of the
examiner watching and writing about you. Just show them what
you CAN do."
Chloe
(age 8)
"I
really like taking exams. I think it's fun. I took my last
exam on my own at a different school than mine, it was a bit
scary at first but once I got started it was OK. I did well
and passed with an A. I am looking forward to taking my next
exam, it will be Grade 2 Tap."
Helen
Goddard (age 10)
"I
think exams are really scary but some people don't let exams
get to them. I have taken lots of exams in Ballet, Modern,
Tap and Jazz but I also do extra lessons like Greek and singing.
I also do lots of local festivals and I enjoy doing them.
The thing about exams is don't let them get you worried, just
think there's no-one else in the exam with you and dance the
way you want to dance, don't try to do the same as the person
in with you just let them do their thing! Good luck to everyone
doing exams, hope you just enjoy yourself."
Luisa,
Brighton (age 13)
"I
am just about to take my grade 5 exam in ballet. I still get
really nervous because I always want to improve on the result
I got the time before. Sometimes I get so nervous I start
thinking I've pulled a muscle in my leg and it is really painful
to walk, but recently I have moved ballet schools and my teacher
said that it is a psycological thing. It's like when you really
don't want something to happen, your body makes it feel like
it's happening so I have to take lots of deep breaths and
splash my face with water. But when I get in there I'm fine
and I really enjoy it! So anyone who is really worried about
their exam, don't be, you will be fine. Just enjoy it!"
Bryony
Carpenter (age 14)
"There
is no reason to be scared/worried about exams. All you need
to do is take a deep breath, go in and dance your heart out.
Even if you are nervous try your best not to show it by smiling
and charming your examiner. I can't remember my first exam
because I was only 3! I have just taken my RAD grade 4 ballet
exam and am waiting for my results."
Bethany
(age 12)
"I
have taken so many exams that the nerves don't seem to bother
me as much as they used to. A few nerves is a good thing though....it
gets all the adrenaline pumping, and helps u to work your
hardest to impress your examiner. I find waiting for the results
is almost the most nerve racking part now, as i'm waiting
on my modern exam results now...fingers crossed for anybody
else taking an exam or waiting for results."
Suz,
London (age 16)
"I
used to get really scared when I took my exams in Ballet.
I used to keep imagining myself messing up completely and
feeling like a real dummy! I am now 13 and in my exams I don't
get nervous at all. I just treat it like a normal Ballet lesson
but work a bit harder than I usually do. I think the more
you are nervous, the worse mark you will get because you would
be thinking too much about what mark you would get. So, don't
worry about the fact that you are being examined, just dance
your best - that's all you can do!"
Christabel
(age 13)
"I
am now thirteen and have taken exams in ballet, tap. modern,
national and Jazz. I was five when I took my first dance exam.
It was ballet and I was so nervous! My Mum had forgotten the
'wand' for the dance and it arrived at the last minute! Not
the best start but the exam went well. However, the more exams
I have taken, the easier it has become. It is great to be
able to show the examiner how hard you have worked. Even if
the exam does not go as planned it is important that you feel
that you have done your best."
Danielle
Meehan, Holyhead (age 13)
"I
like taking exams because it gives you a chance to perform
to the best of your ability. When you take exams it's a very
nail-biting moment. When you are waiting, all that goes through
your mind is that you hope that you get the exercises right.
When the examiner rings the bell you instantly smile and put
on your dancing mode. All the time when you are in the exam,
the examiner is staring at you head to toe pleasantly, while
she is writing your results. By the end of the exam you are
very worn out and hot. When the music plays for the curtsey
or bow, you say thank you. The examiner smiles once again,
as you run out of the room. When you are in the changing room
your dance teacher is asking you whether the exam went well
or not, or did you go wrong, while you are sitting down resting.
Then you have a target to reach for your next exam."
Jessica
Pye, Norwich (age 12)
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