“Around the world, Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams are recognised for their quality, and each year, nearly a quarter of a million candidates across the globe choose to take their dance exams with us.” Royal Academy of Dance.
NSDA has an RAD examiner brought into our studios to hold our exams.
Your students train with RAD registered teachers who are eligible to facilitate the examinations, and RAD trained teachers with in-depth knowledge of the syllabus and training styles. Students need to be disciplined in attending all classes for the remainder of the year and keep working hard in the lead up. They are marked on their technique and performance ability.
We also encourage students to practice their exam work at home for confidence – there is a mobile app called “Royal Academy of Dance Video” on which you can purchase their syllabus music and videos.
Who is eligible:
If your child has been attending all available syllabus classes per week for the whole of 2025 (plus open class for Grade 4 upwards), they are eligible to enter the ballet exam.
The commitment required:
– As above, students need to be attending all the ballet classes for their grade.
– Attendance at the holiday exam classes.
– Practice at home where possible (parents can download the RAD Video app for the music and videos of the exercises)
– An understanding that RAD exams are incredibly difficult and require hard and work and dedication.
When and where:
The exams are held sometime between mid-October and mid-November at the start of Term 4 during the daytime school hours. They will most likely need to miss a few hours of a school day. The RAD controls the timing of the exams, NSDA doesn’t have any choice other than what we request. We will find out the exact date of the exam at the end of August.
The exams will be at the NSDA Uniting Church studio. We are very lucky that we are able to hold the exams at our studio.
Why enter your child into an exam:
Exams are an important part of your child’s ballet training and an enjoyable experience. They give the students the opportunity to learn to work towards a goal, and they provide individual feedback, receiving a certificate, a report, and a result from the RAD examiner. Students learn the skills of discipline, determination and diligence when undertaking ballet exams.
Compulsory classes:
If your child is entered in the RAD exam, they are required to attend the compulsory exam classes held during the day in the second week of the October school holidays. There will be a fee of $90 for the compulsory exam holiday classes included in the exam invoice for Primary – Grade 4. The fee will be $180 for Intermediate Foundation up to Advanced 2.
If holidays away have been planned, 2 or 3 30-minute private lessons must be arranged in lieu of these classes. These times have been on our website in your parent’s area since November 2024.
The holiday rehearsals are:
Primary:
Tuesday 7th October: 8.45am – 10.30am
Wednesday 8th October: 8.45am – 10.30am
Grade 1:
Tuesday 7th October: 3pm – 5pm
Wednesday 8th October: 3pm – 5pm
Grade 2:
Tuesday 7th October: 5pm – 7pm
Wednesday 8th October: 5pm – 7pm
Grade 3:
Thursday 9th October: 3pm – 5pm
Friday 10th October: 3pm – 5pm
Grade 4:
Thursday 9th October: 5pm – 7pm
Friday 10th October: 5pm – 7pm
Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2:
Thursday 9th October: 9am – 1pm
Friday 10th October: 9am – 1pm
We will additionally have private lesson times slots available for the holidays (more info to come).
The RAD exam fees (inclusive of the October rehearsals) are:
Primary: $210, Grade 1: $220, Grade 2: $230, Grade 3: $240, Grade 4: $250
Intermediate Foundation: $360, Intermediate: $370
Advanced Foundation: $380 for members and $570 for non-members of the RAD.
Advanced 1: $390 for members and $580 for non-members of the RAD.
Advanced 2: $410 for members and $600 for non-members of the RAD.
The fees cover the examiner, report and medal, pianist (we are lucky to have Grant Kennedy, head of accompaniment at the RAD, and NSDA faculty member play for us), studio rent, and the October school holidays rehearsals as above.
To enter:
Please fill out the below form to enter your child by the 1st July.
We will reply with confirmation of receipt at our earliest availability and after this we will send through the invoice.