Page 14 - Dance Guide 2020

An assessment program is also available for children with disabilities.
MARKING AND ASSESSMENT:
Exams are held in all subjects. Students receive written reports and/or certificates, medals or trophies. There are five levels of credit, from pass to honours plus. Both classroom and public exams are available.
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS:
Teachers who have a teachers’ diploma from the Society use the letters CSTD together with the distinguishing letters for the particular syllabus, e.g. CSTD/CL (classical ballet).
Those holding Teachers’ Diplomas are also eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning in the ADi Certificate IV Dance Teaching and Management.
COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS:
The Society holds annual competitions in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. The Melbourne competition will be held for the 77th consecutive year in 2019. The event is open to all students, not just CSTD members, and culminates in the Commonwealth Classical Ballet Cup and the Commonwealth Theatrical Cup.
Scholarships and cash prizes are offered in all the States. In 2019 the Perth competition offered a return trip to Bangkok to compete in the Asia Pacific Dance Competition run by ComDance and the eventual winner won a trip to New
York, accommodation and a week of lessons at Broadway Dance.
Our International Competition, the Asia Pacific Dance Competition is held each year, which requires students to have undertaken a ComDance exam. This year sees its 22nd anniversary in Singapore.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
ComDance is an authoritative examining body whose high standards are internationally respected. Exams are offered not only in Australia but also in the South East Asian regions of Singapore and China (where they are government accredited), Malaysia, Thailand, India, Brunei, The Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Exams commenced in Canada in 2009 and Britain in 2013 International Summer Schools are conducted in various Australian states and in Asia.
Workshops and master classes are conducted regularly in all States in Australia and in our International centres. The Society offers syllabus workshop and a variety of workshops to enable teachers to develop their business skills, teaching methodology and safe dance practice.
ComDance is also a partner in Australian Dance Institute a leading Registered Training Organization offering Dance Certificates in the Vocational and Educational Sector.
Comdance’s ambassador Kelley Abbey says, “I have always valued my Comdance syllabus training. Not only did it give me solid technique, but it helped nuture my
ComDance works to promote the 5 ‘E’s. Education, Encouragement, Expression, Enjoyment and Empowerment.
performance con?dence, gave me great body awareness and also gave me a greater understanding of the education of dance in all styles. This is something that I continue to deeply appreciate. Comdance syllabus is engaging and motivating and moves with the ever changing times. It has been an important foundation in my dance life.”
PHILOSOPHY:
Our primary objective is to “encourage the art of dance”. The Society believes that teachers and the examination system should provide enjoyment, expression, encouragement, education and empowerment through dance.
Children should enjoy learning to dance beyond just moving to music. The syllabus embodies the belief that a child who is stimulated will learn more readily and perform better. ComDance teachers design their classes with this objective in mind.
The Society sees encouragement as an important element of dance teaching. Whether in class, in an examination or on stage, it is important to encourage pupils to give of their best to the level of their own ability without being seen to be in competition with unrealistic standards.
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