Royal Academy of Dance exams experience

From the ringing of the bell to patiently waiting for your results, experience an RAD exams day from the perspective of a student, teacher and Examiner.

[@avesraggiana]

Damn...they're still ringing you in with that darn bell. I took my last RAD exam (Grade IV), 43 years ago. The ringing of that bell will stay in my memory all my life. Those exams shredded my nerves every time.

[@myrsinisemeli9959]

Aves Raggiana waiting for that bell to ring was absolutely the most nerve-wracking time on exam day lol

[@eusthetic]

Aves Raggiana same it was a nightmare and it was always on my birthday

[@a.k7889]

Yes - waiting outside to hear the bell ring was the worst! Also I disagree about coming out of exams and wanting to do it again! (I danced RAD syllabus from 1995 - 2017)

[@nukapuka]

They should have not. If you have Christ in your life you put others first, so no stress. Simples. And by putting others before you and seeking the kingdom of God first and it's rightousness; God gives you the desires of your ♥️.

[@White-tq3si]

They don’t use the bell in my place

[@micklejuiice3364]

Whatever they’re saying about a comfortable, enjoyable environment isn’t working. It’s always hella stressful.

[@peanutgallery2417]

Exams usually are - I don’t think anyone has ever been completely relaxed going into a school exam, unless they don’t care, and dance is no different. They are, however, a lot less stressful than they used to be. You can see that these days the graders are putting on a friendly disposition, look less threatening and the system feels more relaxed.

[@micklejuiice3364]

peanut gallery that’s true, I guess we are lucky the examiner at least smiles! In one of my exams we were waiting for her to make notes and she kept telling us to ‘relax’ but we didn’t at all. We were still pulled up and turned out lol.

[@peanutgallery2417]

ItsLittleMissMikayla _31 haha that’s good! I’m glad she was nice. It’s probably also good in helping you learn to control your nerves, so that one day you’ll be able to perform on stage even though you may have stage fright ☺️

[@micklejuiice3364]

@@peanutgallery2417 yes, it's good training! Though I don't usually get stage fright since I'm also a public speaker, ballet is a different thing and I'm grateful nonetheless!

[@squiggle.64]

IKR!!!

[@camtudo8366]

"I havent had one child coming out of the exam room not being excited and overjoyed" How come drama exams aren't that easy

[@maggie9251]

cam tudo that part was 100% a lie lol

[@juliac4974]

Every ballet exam I’ve taken I’ve come out more stressed then I went in (witch started off as extremely stressed)

[@camtudo8366]

@@juliac4974 yeah for my first drama exam the examiner told me to leave the room and come back bc I looked terrified and then she says "That was not up to standards compared to the others" I mean she wasn't wrong tho

[@juliac4974]

cam tudo my most recent ballet exam i ended up having to go in alone rather then as a group of 4. I had a panic attack and couldn’t breathe witch isn’t great when your supposed to dance for 45 min straight😂😂

[@camtudo8366]

@@juliac4974 those things are more stressful than school exams I swear

[@imsohawtomdzii5869]

0:23 she is clearly a doctor

[@shaylexus8550]

Imsohawt Omdzii i was waiting for someone to comment about her hand writing😂

[@bradford6333]

Rhianna yes sis it is a joke

[@hanbigim]

MAYBE

[@anyatindall5678]

400th like :)

[@rwys4721]

Imsohawt Omdzii I can barely understand it

[@armytiny-xq8fv]

My mom was going to go to Juilliard when she was a ballerina, but she injured her ankle and found out she has short Achilles tendons, and was told if she ever wanted to walk again she would have to stop dancing. She wouldve never met my dad if she had gone to Juilliard but sometimes i wish she wouldve been able to do what she loved

[@sarasaravi3702]

Annabeth Bearden that's so sad

[@stephanieg8545]

Everything happens for a reason😊

[@vavacadoz]

That would’ve been so horrible.. to know u can’t do what you love ever again.. I’d rather die

[@Sofia-wk1jp]

🥺🥺🥺

[@thatone6913]

Annabeth Bearden the same thing happens with my mom. she was going to dance in new york and everything but when she hurt her knee she just did wat the doctor told her and decided to settle down. it’s my dream of being a dancer but sometimes i feel bad because i feel like i’m doing it poorly and i want her to live out her dream in me

[@soupyweb]

I always wanted to do ballet, but I started growing up I thought I had no choice but to let that dream die. I'm 16 now and found a school for people around my age who are starting out aswell and I couldn't be more excited to join in November!

[@irmakdoganay393]

omg same I always wanted to dance but I’m 15 now and I have let that dream go

[@mandyp7777]

good for you!! I started dance at 13, now I'm almost 16 and I'm with a professional dance company. you just have to be really dedicated and learn really fast

[@vanessai.5756]

Same, I'm 16

[@sarahvlh4127]

Omg that’s sooo cool, happy for you ❤️

[@danorose9746]

SOPA it’s never too late to start! If you want something work for it!

[@DiamondRose]

“All the nerves go away” Not true, you just channel it into what your doing and let it flow though you

[@ied005]

I always come out and cry

[@iii.metanoia5963]

Izzy Dykstra this year our examiner is sooo nice, everyone comes out with a happy face! We’re really lucky I hope you get her one day because I bet you’lol be coming out happy with her as examiner

[@eusthetic]

Izzy Dykstra same

[@paulinhalopesgracia8528]

Edemais ,😎

[@paulinhalopesgracia8528]

Naodeixami🥰🤐🤩😴🥶🤢🎅🤶🦸‍♂️😜🙃

[@lenamuller6012]

Izzy Dykstra Same, because I'm nervous

[@ultimabolachadopacote1088]

Dang, this is giving nostalgia. The most difficult part wasn't the dance itself, but speaking english to the exam lady. Im portuguese, and imagine 10 year old children speaking another language to a lady that we don't know, and its from another country.

[@patsydf]

I hated that bell, wanted to run in the opposite direction! in my day we had to go in one at a time, very nerve wracking

[@laurenhastie4976]

I’ve just had my exam and I was 10 seconds out of the music for my first bar exercise and my first dance I messed up my feet

[@rawlyroo5975]

Good luck with results

[@micklejuiice3364]

Barre, right?

[@ghostceleste9195]

@@micklejuiice3364 yes it is spelt barre

[@sofi-jl5rb]

I go to the royal academy too and the examinador was smiling at me when I danced and because I was full of joy and thinking about what I would get I MESSED UP and the smile I was so happy about disappeared (I still don’t know if I got distinction, merit or pass but if I was doing good that definitely messed up my scores)

[@kcheer212]

I love that they make it for the kids to enjoy it, that’s wonderful

[@christy8586]

This clip isn't really like reality. In reality you just get so stressful. I myself have been dancing for 8 years

[@mayap8191]

Regina Christy Jayadi yeah, it’s total bs

[@adaharrisonn]

@@mayap8191 those four kids at the end clearly weren't pretending to be that happy 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@penelopelisenbee8298]

In South Africa we had RAD Exams; at one exam I had my days and started bleeding down my pink pantyhose during the exam . I was excused and not allowed to finish.

[@freddieismychampion5494]

Did they like let you pass the exam?

[@penelopelisenbee8298]

@@freddieismychampion5494 No I had to repeat the exam.

[@freddieismychampion5494]

@@penelopelisenbee8298 well that's a shame 🙁

[@Amber-gl9zq]

Oh my god I feel sorry for you 😮hope everything went well in the end ❤️

[@tijay8507]

Why didn't you put a pad on or tampon in if you were on your period?? they are ballet tights btw

[@almond1865]

it’s so darn stressing. i swear.

[@ginajones1003]

Ann your teacher was obviously awful

[@erpollock]

Such a cultural difference between the English RAD exams and the Vaganova school. The Russian teachers are tough and merciless, from what I've observed. The English teachers are kind and humane. Are Russian children supposed to get used to suffering? The English children are just as talented yet they are never abused. They are taught with kindness.

[@maria_kryukova]

I moved to Canada from Russia when I was 4 years old and since I did not know how to speak in English or French my parents sent me to a old Russian lady who was apparently teaching ballet but after a year in that dance company I left cuz I was so stressed and I would always leave recital to go cry in the bathroom since I was scared of the teacher. I am so glad to be dancing in a good dance company now

[@a.k7889]

I'm Australian and I danced RAD for 13 years with a teacher who was a former Principal Dancer and refugee from Russia... she didn't take bulls**t but she wasn't abuse either. If you didn't work hard or go through pain/effort to try and 'improve yourself', she would pretty much ignore you lol

[@adaharrisonn]

The history of cold and rigid and near abusive if not straight up abusive discipline and authority in Russia is a looooong and complex timeline, lol. Basically that the country as a whole is ingrained to be that way. It's the same in several eastern European countries like that.

[@user-uj5mu4os1g]

@@adaharrisonn teach as you will .the Russians have their own system and it justifies itself

[@user-uj5mu4os1g]

because the English don't have their own school .and this is not ballet but Amateur performance

[@bumbleb3310]

When did purple leotards start I always had to light pink leotards

[@user-ec1pg2pd1y]

Brooklyn Ferretti In mine the youngers wear blue and olders wear black 😂

[@a.k7889]

I did exams from Primary to Advanced Foundation and Grade 8 (during the years 1996-2007). - Pre-Primary and Primary wore pink. - Grades 1-5 wore navy leotards and blue ribboned character skirts - From memory, once you started the Grades where you wore pointe shoes, you could wear your own choice of a plain black leotard. - From 'Advanced Foundation' onwards, you had to wear 'demi-pointes' instead of ballet flats. For Grade 6,7 and 8 the school can usually choose the colour, but the leotards must have sleeves on the shoulders. We danced in maroon. (I think in the new syllabus, in Advanced Foundation they now get you to wear a tutu in your solo performance?)

[@markcarruthers3665]

Mine was lilac then magenta for 2 years now its teal and I dont know what's next

[@ballerinacentral1672]

I have to wear purple leotards lol

[@pinkifigh]

I have my grade 8 exam in a few hours and I’m so nervous! Last year during the exam something just clicked within me and the nerves completely disappeared. I felt so at ease and not that I didn’t care but I just thought who cares about results this is for fun, and I got my best marks ever! trying to do the same thing today! 🤞

[@idiotontheinternet5880]

how did it go?

[@Maria-mu4ol]

Yeah how did it go!?

[@pinkifigh]

@@Maria-mu4ol omg totally forgot I ever said this HAHAHA hmmmm well it went hahahha. it was not good vibes at all and my balance was not it. maybe cause it was my last exam ever so I was extra nervous I’m not sure 🤷‍♀️ anyway thanks everyone for the interest :))

[@smallyellowgirl4276]

3:15 Oh no that was the Temps leve one in grade 4 i screwed up.

[@auroraengland9655]

Oh my god that I messed that one up soo bad...

[@rynabel]

I didn't but I was nervous

[@julianafrith6964]

omg my grade 4 exam is tmrw. welp sucks for me

[@julianafrith6964]

oof did my exam. control didnt even exist

[@iii.metanoia5963]

Am I the only person who did pretty dang good

[@husticiero4673]

Oh i really wish I was a dancer but my parents would never let me :(

[@calimc4520]

Aww you could always train at home xx 💕💕

[@andpar6941]

Hus Ticiero there are many ways to train if you still want to accomplish that dream! be careful though. I’m a competitive dancer at the moment and while dancing is something I would like to peruse, there are just as many consequences as there are benefits.

[@kaylathompson1919]

And Par what do you mean consequences?

[@megan_7086]

@@kaylathompson1919 pain,stress,broken friendships

[@andpar6941]

Hus Ticiero such as injuries, a loss of passion etc.. but that’s rarely happens unless you’re under extreme pressure, Dance is an amazing art and sport!!!

[@fluffy2807]

They make it look so enjoyable... Wish that music exams were like this!

[@a.k7889]

Rosie207 as you get older these ballet exams are DEFINITELY more nerve wracking than enjoyable!

[@felicitydargis]

Ikr? Music exams are always so awkward and your hands shake (and you need them to play lol) and get sweaty and the examiners always remind me of either Disney characters or Putin

[@joyce1343]

@@felicitydargis ooff yeah I always did unintentional vibratto on my violin cause my fingers kept shaking and my bow trip kept slipping

[@alice_in_wonderland9997]

RCM exams hahaha

[@oasd540]

It was never enjoyable.

[@helenpaton1309]

My daughter took her last RAD ballet (Grade 7) successfully, but knowing how painful her feet hurt and how nervous she always was, she is now pursuing a very wonderful career in music theatre.

[@surlywithfabshoes]

Helen Paton Excellent choice. I wish more dancers would realize that if you dance through pain, it can have long-term consequences. It’s easy as a teen to push through it, but have no way of understanding what is going to happen 20-30 years down the road when dance is a distant memory. Arthritis and complications from old injuries can’t really be predicted by a young person.

[@jordanburton7054]

As soon as I saw the bell being rung the terror I used to feel in the pit of my stomach just before running in came flooding back. That’s bizarre as I haven’t felt it in years!

[@slygirl0213]

Havnt heard that damn bell for over 15years and i still got that stomach drop feeling just hearing it in this video.

[@rawlyroo5975]

My exams were all such a great foundation for life in dance and outside of dance

[@MusicforBalletClass48]

Beautiful spot for the Royal Academy exams! Jo Ward is one of the best teachers I've ever had the pleasure of playing with. Thank you for posting this.

[@vivienne4934]

Grades was an exciting and wonderful experience, the examiners smiled the whole way through the exam, and your report always had words of encouragement and praise alongside gentle critique. Majors was a different story - stressful.

[@birdyfilovingheart6365]

I remember being terrified of my examiners! This was back in the 70s and early 80s so perhaps things are a little more relaxed now.

[@carmyeil1345]

Them: Yay exam time! I want to do it all over again! Me: AAAHHH NOOOOO! I'm gonna die! I can't feel my face! I never want to do this ever again! This is the most stressed I've ever been in my life!!!!

[@kwokkit3633]

Same😂

[@nirenoodlexd6220]

The black exam skirts and shoes take me back to when I did ballet. Couldn’t continue but I’m glad that I did it

[@nataliedantas8590]

I love this. The only thing I hear in dance is how stressed all the kids are. It feels good to hear kids enjoy dance. Because we don't dance to get stressed but to relieve stress and tell a story.

[@themunkeegurl]

Brings back soooo many memories.

[@tilly-gracedorking1035]

My examiner always has a weird accent so I can't understand them lol

[@margomazzeo1680]

Adorable..the sense of fun..pride and achievement! I studied ballet from ages 3 to 12..all through my childhood..my body is still flexible..now Im 65..💝🎈🐦🐦

[@Maspets]

That's your genes, like everything else. Had jackshit to do with your training.

[@elainelaranjeira2734]

When I took ballet classes, I took this same exam here in Brazil, and the dance is the same, I thought it was the teacher who created 🙈🙉

[@NeilDolanDance]

Haha, I always dreaded the sound of the bell 🔔 it’s lovely to see the tradition stand the rest of time.

[@beetlerob]

Thing is, the nicer the examiner, the more relaxed u get, the more marks u lose but honestly I’d rather have that then some grumpy man or lady coz then my heart would be pounding

[@kwokkit3633]

My examiner is old and when the bell rings I felt a cold shiver over me 😅 I came out crying and felt sooo emotional 😅😅😅

[@jballetmad]

Jacky Ferguson was my teacher when I passed the old Intermediate (at 6th attempt!) in 1975. Lovely, lovely lady. But I have to say, having taken 11 music exams since then (piano, flute and viola) they are FAR more nerve-racking!

[@user-zo5lz1gw8o]

Не понимаю языка но скажу родители этих детей вкладывают огромный труд в их развитие дай бох удачи ,здоровья всем.

[@leonieh.8820]

wow to all you dancers in thw comments saying they screwed up in their exams I hope you know what you can do is incredible and fascinating and people like me look at you with respect and admiration. I used to be in ballet classes, then stopped as a high schooler because I didn’t have that much fun anymore and then a year later I was diagnosed with a slipped vertebra in my lower back. They had to do surgery and now there’s a pole and screws stabilizing and holding it together but I can’t dance with it anymore. Wish I could :(

[@kitkaty3]

Once I went into an exam, examiner said "Hello girls, do we have [name], number one?" but we didn't... number one and number two had the wrong numbers on... we had to leave the exam to switch the numbers !! It was so stressful.

[@mgkawaii8708]

I do ballet and I do exams at the Royal Academy Of Dance and it’s so nerve racking!

[@zixiong681]

All of the comments: I took the exam and I messed up/ stressed/ cried! Me: *sobbing on flats as a 13-year-old that just started pointe, lives half a world away and doesn't even know how to speak their language* I'm jealous

[@sofiyagladka6370]

A tip is to learn the names of the dances and exercises to actually know what to do I've made the mistake

[@j_4985]

3:15 ..... i cried after my exam because of that dance omg

[@MN-jd3ib]

Hey, what grade are you now? Cos I'm only gonna have my grade IV exams this year and I'm terrified lol

[@Judy-kd3bi]

Qué danza bailaste?

[@Hailey-zo8nz]

Today I came home balling my eyes out after dance beachside my dance teacher chose the whole class except for me to do the exa

[@Dad_-le9wp]

My mum had a dream to be a ballerina but it got destroyed by a stupid hight rule and she hasn’t had the confidence to dance since

[@vixymixy7840]

My mama was a ballerina when she was super young and danced till she was like 17?? 18 maybe? But basically it was the thing she most loved. Sadly her ankle broke into pieces while riding a bike and she couldn't ever dance again. I'm so joyful to see little kids dance and express their passion though. Great job!

[@jonnarobinson7541]

I studied Cicchetti ballet. We had exams. I am so grateful that we did have exams. We had to know the names of the steps in French as well as the physical part of the curriculum. I feel it is important for children to learn the names of the steps and a little bit of the history of ballet.

[@amelierolland5830]

I remember all those dances that they were doing. Ballet Is my literal life

[@Maria-mu4ol]

Damn I came here again and see all the comments I liked this time last year. I have my intermediate exam in four days. AAAHHH. I can't wait for reverence!!! Edit: Just did it! It went really well!

[@untitleddocument512]

1:04 I remember performing that exact same dance with a similar skirt!

[@opalocean7477]

I nearly threw up during a mock exam that’s how stressed I was. So don’t even say that it is fun XD

[@Maria-mu4ol]

I still remember the feeling of being boiling hot, ears red, looking up at the window and my arm in second shaking during barre - tondues I think - in my inter found exam (which I did ALONE)

[@ranranwashere]

1:05 O-o I remember when I did that! I miss the old times...

[@markcarruthers3665]

I think it could only be my dance studio but my dance teacher sings the moves to the dance so when we do it we can picture her singing it's really helpful

[@tencanhaveallthestarsinthe6671]

i remember every examination i went through and i CANT remember any exam i’ve not felt nervous as Hell shejjendnsjsks

[@vizelleG]

I RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE DANCESSSS AWWW

[@chris9879]

3:37 Nah I won't do it all over again especially for vocational exams. The 2 grades I don't mind doing again are grade 7 and 8. Loved the syllabus 💕

[@tayamiranda]

i remember the bell oh my gosh... nostalgia

[@llyyrr6065]

No,the nerves do not go away😂I had these exams until 6th grade and each were nerve racking until you get the results

[@n0tava1labl3_]

My ballet studio has the same dances, I’m in grade 4 currently, my sister is in primary, Some of the dancers in this video is also in the RAD (royal academy of dance) app which is really cool because they are now older :)

[@luvtaia]

oh they are that’s cool

[@explicitlyme9102]

I stopped ballet but Im still quite traumatised from when I forgot my solo

[@ami._.chealsy1376]

I know when i did one of those... I was so excited!

[@vallybaskar]

How exciting...when the bell rings...if you can dance your heart out...just saying that’s how it looks from the outside 🥰 #notadancer

[@ulisespachecosanchez5058]

in my case in part is an excellence in technic and part of training, so only my special point is about the cost...(for each exams)

[@susanfarmer9999]

thank you - loved it!

[@laylafahmi5997]

watching this 2 days before my intermediate exam!!

[@tijay8507]

The young children are lucky as we always had to go into the exams alone, i would have felt much better going into the exams with my friends, saying that i always got extremely good grades so it didn't hold me back and i had completed all my exams by the time i was 14...

[@lorraineperrin6231]

Me too! You always went in alone didnt you !!

[@lovablc6059]

I used to do this and it’s really nerve racking

[@unicorncupcaketv901]

On My grade 1 exam the first thing I said when I came out was "when can I do another one?"

[@naamsainatalie]

I remembered i was hella stressed and i almost forgot a move. But i got merit anyway. And i remember the grade 2 flower waltz

[@JenInOz]

I have a certificate saying I failed grade 3 in 1974. I'm doing Grade 4 later this year. Using the same tambourine for my Tarantella. Wish me luck!

[@messyfool5403]

wish you the best!!

[@surlywithfabshoes]

Oh the bell. Wanting it to ring to get it over with, while at the same time theres a tiny part of you that doesn’t want it to ring. and peeing a 1000 times while you are waiting for the student before you to finish. I don’t hear that kind of bell often but when I do, even 25 years later it transports me back.

[@yourlocalwhore8751]

Wish me luck for my grade 4 exam! Love from Switzerland

[@bumbleb3310]

I honestly don’t miss taking these exams

[@sergico777]

Меня стали умилять дети - неужели я постарел...

[@harrietbrown6415]

The bell is definitely the worst part of the whole experience. If they would take that out, exams would be perfect.

[@dazzlingdiys6737]

I just had my RAD grade 6 exam yesterday! It was so stressful! But still, i enjoy dancing so :)

[@oops6451]

Eek I’m having my first vocational exam in September!!

[@gemfromvenus7088]

I miss this so much

[@lauradavis1947]

2:30 I think I’ve cried after every single one of my dance exams 😂😩😂

[@myawilliamson4410]

Nah nah nah I’d come out crying every time

[@junesharkowo]

i miss those days...

[@taliahani6237]

Lol why they be acting like it’s such a free and amazing experience nah that shit makes me so nervous😭😭

[@caitlynnpeng8747]

Lol, I just had my online exam on dancing and I was sooooooooooooo nervous, I hope I can get to the advanced group!

[@esmewolverson8713]

I’m from Lisayne ballet school and we do the exact same cause I think our ballet school and rad are in a partnership

[@pairikaneversleeps3807]

My mind keeps comparins it with dance moms, the american show!

[@lindavulfs1474]

I danced from 1965 to 1975. I'm now 62yrs old. I STILL recall the bell, the preparation, the nerves and the results. When they were excellent I still recall the comment of "So why can't you dance to that standard in class?" It killed my passion for dancing getting constant criticism instead of encouragement. Reverse psychology destroyed my confidence so I quit. But my night dreams kept me in anxiety for decades. Having positive teachers who could inject enthusiasm and joy into classes was the model I followed when I was allowed to teach classes myself. The refreshingly positive results in feedback and lifted standards only produced jealousy in my teacher. The day I quit dancing at the Solo Seal level I was given the parting comment of..."Well I expected that from you!" I had no regrets but interestingly my exit opened a gate of departures by my example. I was surprised that the School survived!

[@sweetnspicy1014]

Its funny seeing kids do the dance i know i did for my grades

[@j_4985]

Omg the nostalgia when i saw this on my recomended 😱

[@shwetapatwardhan82]

We are taking our exam very soon after showcase in RAD

[@ultimabolachadopacote1088]

I remember that when i was like 10 or 11, i was doing a jumping exercise (i dont remember which one) and just run straight to the barre, the exam lady was trying not to laugh and i just wanted disappier

[@margaridamonraia7993]

I once came in with the worst cough and had to go out to have a drink and then go back in, I felt so bad lol

[@aportgirl]

They are talented and ever so sweet

[@thefinalhashiraangrysag415]

Nerves don’t go away until I see the results

[@meowkkk3065]

These always bring me anxiety TT

[@fatimacanche9081]

La mejor academia del mundo ,en Mexico hay algunas

[@kimsihyeon4163]

i have ballet exam next week and this is making me nervous for no reason

[@shippermd]

Wow. In the USA, we do not have Exams in our Ballet Schools. Well, except for actual Performance Art Schools like Julliard. But not at our Ballet Centers where anybody at any age takes Ballet and other Dance Classes at.

[@royalacademydance]

Hi shippermd. Thank you for your comment. It is possible to take Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams in the USA, at any age. You can find out more information here > www.radusa.org/exams/

[@nicolehavekost6594]

There are many schools in the United States that teach the R.A.D syllabus and offer the opportunity for their students to take these exams. I grew up in such a studio and took many years of exams with the Royal Academy of Dance here in Florida.

[@auroraengland9655]

My school teaches the syllabus as well as Cecchetti

[@isabellao3870]

Omg I when to that exact ballet school in Battersea and now this is bringing back so many memories 😢😢❤️