Ballet examinations for Silver Swans and Seated Swans
taught live on Zoom, available internationally
Ballet examinations for Silver Swans and Seated Swans
Silver Swans with Johanna, as seen on
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BBC Two's Darcey Bussell: Dancing to Happiness,
ITV Tonight: How To Age Well?, BBC North West Tonight, BBC Radio Manchester, That's Manchester TV, Woman's Weekly, The Connexion, The i Newspaper, Breathe Magazine, World Ballet Day, The Times, The Telegraph, Daily Express, RAD@Home, Caters News and the Radio Times |
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Working towards ballet examinations provides a goal that many of our dancers thoroughly enjoy working towards. Taking ballet examinations as a Silver Swan or Seated Swan enhances your dance class experience, rewarding all of your hard work and boosting your confidence. It also provides the opportunity for feedback from a fully qualified ballet examiner.
We want to emphasise that ballet examinations are completely optional for all our dancers – if you don't want to take an exam, then you certainly don't have to! However, if you feel that this is something that you would value doing, then we are there to fully support you.
At the Janet Lomas School of Dancing, we work hard to provide opportunities for our students that are the same as they would experience at a face-to-face ballet school. We firmly believe that dancers should not be limited by geographical location or the options available locally to them.
We want to emphasise that ballet examinations are completely optional for all our dancers – if you don't want to take an exam, then you certainly don't have to! However, if you feel that this is something that you would value doing, then we are there to fully support you.
At the Janet Lomas School of Dancing, we work hard to provide opportunities for our students that are the same as they would experience at a face-to-face ballet school. We firmly believe that dancers should not be limited by geographical location or the options available locally to them.
Who can take ballet exams?
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At our school, ballet examinations can be taken by any dancer of any age – our oldest exam candidate so far is aged 79! We offer examinations to our children's school, adult ballet dancers, Silver Swans® and Seated Swans.
Our ballet examinations can be taken by dancers from anywhere in the world, all taught via live online classes. How do ballet examinations work for Silver Swans?
The exam work is a piece of solo choreography that has been taught in our live group Silver Swans and Seated Swans ballet classes.
Will it affect my weekly group Silver Swans/Seated Swans class if I take an exam or not?
Whether you decide that you'd love to work towards an exam, or recoil in horror at the thought of taking an exam, it doesn't affect your group class in any way. Your group classes will continue to run completely as normal. Examinations work as an optional 'add on'.
If you choose to take an exam, then you will begin by selecting a piece of choreography you have learnt in your group classes. You will then be invited for an online mock examination separate from your group class time. Your solo exam time will also be at a completely separate time and date from your group classes, too. All exam entrants also have the option of additional private classes to boost confidence and preparation for the examination. |
“Nerve-wracking? Yes. Exhilarating? Absolutely. For a ballet dancer the goal is to perform, so taking this exam gave me the opportunity to perform a wonderfully choreographed piece. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me recognise my achievements and celebrate how far I’ve come. And when it’s over? Relief, pride, satisfaction and happy I did it!” |
Performance Awards
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The ISTD Performance Awards are an inclusive qualification, designed to recognise confidence, musicality, and performance skills. These awards offer a fresh and flexible approach - without the pressure of set choreography or syllabus requirements.
Performance Awards are flexible examinations designed to support every dance learner in developing their performance skills. Offered across six progressive stages, they encourage dancers to grow in confidence and artistry, with each level building on the last to refine expressive and interpretive abilities. The examinations celebrate individuality and creativity in dance, tailoring the experience to suit personal learning journeys, helping to deepen a student's engagement with dance. |
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Examination options:
Remote examination
The examined solo is taken from choreography that has been taught in our live group Silver Swans/Seated Swans ballet classes. For those who opt to take an examination, in advance of your examination, you will be fully prepared with a compulsory mock examination and we also provide the option of additional private classes to boost confidence and preparation for the examination. The dancer has to also be prepared to put in extra practice in their own time to secure their learning so that they can take the exam with confidence.
Results:
Exam entrants receive a report with number mark, grade bracket (Unsuccessful, Pass, Merit, Distinction), written feedback from the examiner, certificate and badge
Remote examination
The examined solo is taken from choreography that has been taught in our live group Silver Swans/Seated Swans ballet classes. For those who opt to take an examination, in advance of your examination, you will be fully prepared with a compulsory mock examination and we also provide the option of additional private classes to boost confidence and preparation for the examination. The dancer has to also be prepared to put in extra practice in their own time to secure their learning so that they can take the exam with confidence.
Results:
Exam entrants receive a report with number mark, grade bracket (Unsuccessful, Pass, Merit, Distinction), written feedback from the examiner, certificate and badge
"I never expected to do my first ballet exam aged 62! My first thought was that it would be a challenge but my second thought was that this was the very reason to do it, and I'm glad I did. I still don't seem to be able to make my body look anything like the graceful picture I have in my head but I'm really enjoying trying."
- Ranu, Silver Swan
Examination FAQs
How do I know which pathway option is best?
Our teachers will recommend which pathway is best for you. Some of our students study multiple pathways in order to receive the benefits of all syllabus options.
When do I know if I'm ready to take an exam?
Please speak with your ballet teacher and discuss with them about your readiness for an examination.
Can anyone take examinations?
Yes, if it's your goal to take a ballet exam, then we will fully support you in achieving your goal.
Our teachers will recommend which pathway is best for you. Some of our students study multiple pathways in order to receive the benefits of all syllabus options.
When do I know if I'm ready to take an exam?
Please speak with your ballet teacher and discuss with them about your readiness for an examination.
Can anyone take examinations?
Yes, if it's your goal to take a ballet exam, then we will fully support you in achieving your goal.
Taking my ISTD exam online has been wonderful. I loved learning the dances, and it was a real treat to be able to perform them for an examiner. This level of accessibility has made it possible for me to be involved. Thank you, Johanna.
– Hilary, Seated Swan
Want to know more?
This exam was an amazing challenge and fun, too. It was lovely to look in detail at a piece of beautiful choreography.
I felt it made me closer to the group even though we are dancing separately in our own homes. I look forward to doing more.
I hate exams but this was different. There was no pressure from anyone only lots of support and encouragement and Johanna with her calm instructions and advice made the whole process enjoyable and doable.
Thank you Johanna and your team at Janet Lomas School for making this possible. I would definitely recommend this as you will be buzzing with a true sense of achievement. I can personally say that at almost 70.
It is a wonderful feeling and opportunity to be encouraged to challenge myself... and be supported through the process.
- Denise, Silver Swan
Janet Lomas School of Dancing
Est. 1978
Est. 1978
Online international ballet training to the highest standard.
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