exams v stage time

[mygirlsmum]

Can anyone tell me what is better to have higher dance exam grades or more stage time? I'm not sure which is best to get into a good dance college....does anyone know what we should prioritise? thx

[GypsyMumNot!]

No-brainer - stage/performance experience is far more use.
Places at dance colleges are allocated purely on audition. They are really not interested in paper qualifications, however fantastic they may look written down.

[islandofsodor]

I would say the higher exam grades purely becasue they mean that more time has been spent on technique rather than just rehearsing for shows.

Whether or not the exams are actually taken does not matter but the technical work is very beneficial.

[songbird]

Its the training that counts - not the paper - so dont assume stage performing alone will be enough for dance college as often for a show the work is not as intensive as the training ... if they have had good trainging and are pushed to their best it does not matter if they have an exam behind them its the work done that counts .. we know kids who were always winners at festivals for instance who did not get into top dance colleges because although their prepared work peices were excellent - put in a big group and ask them to quickly pick up a new routine they faltered because their work to date had not been varied enough ... if you have a child wanting to get on a top based dance college then see if they can do some summer schools or associate classes as it does them good to see the talent standard out there - sometimes a child who is top at their own school ie big fish little pond benefits from seeing the national standard ... of course performance experience is important too .. thats why in our house with two performing kids we often pick up from dance training and drive straight to our theatre group for show rehearsals so it is feasible to do both if not a little exhausting a times and thats just for the driver ..

[GEORGIEROSE]

Bit of both,but what training can be better than getting up there,feeling it,and doing it,and being an all round performer.
Silly comparison probably,but a bit like training classes to be a mum,but not being one-not how I want to describe it lol but maybe someone will twig what i am trying to say
dd was encouraged very much to do ballet grades,so she did,and cost me a fortune! but now realise not essential unless wanted to teach ballet,can't imagine something further from dds mind-I would encourage dance classes of some form though if finances allow,as will give you head start.
I know dd would say,what she has learned most from,was beeing in productions,with an audience,be it pro ,amdram,helps with confidence and you learn so much from people you work with,and get directed by-has been exhausting at times trying to squeeze it all in.