Professional Examinations:
STUDENT TEACHER
Candidates must be of 16 years of age or over.
Successful candidates gain no qualification in the society, but are permitted to attend teachers seminars on production of their Student registration card and a payment of the appropriate admission fee. The objective of these examinations is to provide experience for the candidates in preparation for their Associate examinations.
ASSOCIATE
Candidates for the Associate examination must be 16 years of age or over.
This examination may be taken in Modules.
LICENTIATE
Candidates for the Licentiate examination must be over 18 years of age and must have had 2 years teaching experience immediately prior to their application.
FELLOW
Candidates for the Fellowship examination must have held their Licentiate as full members of the Freestyle Branch concerned for at least two years.
Duration of examination minimum 30, maximum 45 minutes.
The examination to be taken in seven parts and may be taken in any order, at the examiners discretion.
All basic steps and actions should be performed with rhythmical body action and personal interpretation.
Part 1 – Demonstration (Demonstrate to Music)
- Exercise routine suitable for general limbering (min 32 bars)
- Isolation routine (min 32 bars)
- A 16 bar dance routine using own creative ability
- A 16 bar routine suitable for basic bronze class work
Part 2 – Explanation and Exercise
Explain :
- Theory of warm up and cool down
- Limbering routine as demonstrated
- Basic bronze routine as demonstrated
- Controversial movements – Heads and Knees etc
Part 3 – Anatom
Briefly Define :
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
Candidates must have a knowledge of Directional chart
Part 4 – Definitions in alphabetical order
Define the following accompanied by music where necessary:
| Accent | Non Locomotive action |
| Balance | Pattern |
| Beats | Poise |
| Expansion | Posture |
| Footwork | Rhythm |
| Freestyle dance | Rhythmical expression |
| Locomotive action | Routine |
| Middle body action |
Candidates must have knowledge of Directional chart
Part 5 – Steps and Movement in alphabetical order
Demonstrate and give technical descriptions of the following:
| Ball change | Point |
| Bouncing | Pressure step |
| Brush | Run |
| Chasse | Scuff |
| Hop | Spin |
| Jump | Spring |
| Kicks | Stamp |
| Knee lifts | Step |
| Leap | Tap |
| Plie’ | Walk |
Candidates must have a knowledge of Directional chart
Part 6–Arm and Hand Movements in alphabetical order
Demonstrate and give technical descriptions of the following:
| Clap | Opposition |
| Diagonal | Point |
| Flick | Parallel |
| High V | Shake |
| Low V | Snap |
| Horizontal |
The candidate will be required to demonstrate methods of dancing a minimum of three steps or movements with arm and hand movements.
Part 7–Teaching Ability
Explain:
Method and approach to conducting a class
Duration of examination minimum 1 hour, maximum 1.5 hours.
The student teacher syllabus, including dance and exercise routines, will be included in this examination at the examiners discretion.
The examination to be taken in seven parts and may be taken in any order, at the examiners discretion.
At all levels teaching ability will be assessed on the basis of presentation, knowledge of faults, their causes and correction, teaching methods, voice production and clarity of explanation.
All basic steps and actions should be performed with rhythmical body action and personal interpretation.
This examination may be taken in Modules.
Part 1 –Demonstration (Demonstrate to Music)
- Exercise routines suitable for general limbering – (min 32 bars).
- Isolation exercise routine — (min 32 bars).
- A 16 bar (or more) dance routine using own creative ability.
- A 16 bar dance routine suitable for silver classwork.
- Two separate 8 bars dance routines of contrasting tempi or rhythms suitable for intermediate or silver classwork.
- A 16 bar routine – 14/18 bars per minute in 4/4 timing (Slow dance)
Part 2 –Explanation and Exercise
Explain and discuss：
- The theory of warm up and cool down.
- Limbering exercise routine as demonstrated.
- Isolation exercise routine as demonstrated.
- Silver routine as demonstrated.
- Two separate 8 bars routines as demonstrated.
- Explain and discuss all dance routines as demonstrated (including Student Teacher).
- Injury prevention.
- Breathing exercises.
Part 3 –Anatomy in alphabetical order (As Student Teacher – Plus)
Briefly Define :
| A | Skeletal system | |
| The Skeleton | Joints | |
| Functions of the Skeleton | Synovial fluid | |
| Bones | Cartilage | |
| B | Muscular System | Muscles:- types of |
| C | Nervous System | Motor sensory nerves |
Candidates must have a knowledge of Directional chart
Part 4 –Definitions in alphabetical order (As Student Teacher – Plus)
Define the following accompanied by music where necessary:
| Accented movements | Tempo |
| Counting in beats and bars | Time signature |
| Phrasing | Syncopation |
Part 5 –Steps and Movement in alphabetical order
Demonstrate and give technical descriptions of the following:
Basic steps, actions and movements
| Body bending | Shake |
| Body ripple | Spiral |
| Body stretching | Sway |
| Contraction | Switch turn |
| Cross turn | Turn |
| Leap | Twist turn |
| Lunge | Whisk turn |
| Open turn |
Candidates must have a knowledge of Directional chart
Part 6–Arm and Hand Movements in alphabetical order
Demonstrate and give technical descriptions of the following:
Arm Movements
| Arm circles | Hand rolls |
| Arm swinging | Pulling |
| Clenched fist | Pushing |
| Contemporary | Wrist circles |
The candidate will be required to demonstrate advanced methods of dancing a minimum of three steps and/or movements with arm and hand movements.
Head Positions and Movements
| Erect | Raised |
| Head roll/half circle | Turned |
| Inclined | Turned inclined |
| Lowered |
Part 7–Teaching Ability (As Student Teacher – Plus)
Explain:
Approach to choreography for:
Solo routine
Pairs Routine
Duration of examination minimum 1.5 hours,
maximum 2 hours.
The student teacher and associate syllabi, including dance and exercise
routines, will be included in this examination at the examiners discretion.
The examination to be taken in seven parts and may be taken in any order, at
the examiners discretion.
At all levels teaching ability will be assessed on the basis of presentation,
knowledge of faults, their causes and correction, teaching methods, voice
production and clarity of explanation.
Part 1 –Demonstration (Demonstrate to
Music)
- Exercise routines suitable for general limbering – (minimum 32 bars)
- A 32 bar (or more) isolation exercise routine
- A 16 bar (or more) dance routine using own creative ability
- A 16 bar (or more) routine suitable for gold standard
- Two separate 8 bars dance routines of contrasting tempi or rhythms suitable for gold classwork
- A 16 bar routine – 14/18 bars per minute in 4/4 timing (Slow dance)
Part 2 –Explanation and Exercise
Explain and discuss all the routines above, as demonstrated, plus the following：
Warm up
Warming up in various ways according to the age and ability of your class.
A complete knowledge of warm up and components.
Cool down
A complete explanation of cooling down in various ways according to the age and ability of your class
Part 3 –Anatomy in alphabetical order (As Student Teacher and Associate- Plus)
Briefly Define :
- Skeletal system ((as for Associate- plus)
Types of bones and joints - Muscular System (as for Student Teacher and Associate- plus)
Types of contraction
Types of movements - Circulatory System
- Breathing / Respiratory system
- Digestive system
Food and energy
Part 4 –Definitions in alphabetical order (As Student Teacher and Associate- Plus)
Define the following accompanied by music where necessary:
| Amount of turn | Pelvic action |
| Balance/Centring | Positions of feet |
| Hip action |
Part 5 –Steps and Movement in alphabetical order (As Student Teacher and Associate- Plus)
| Arabesque | Pivot |
| Attitude | Releve |
| Attitude jump* | Ronde |
| Box split* | Scissor kick* |
| Box split jump* | Scissor leap* |
| Develop | Splits Half* |
| Drop or Hitch kick | Splits Full* |
| Jete | Splits Leap* |
| Merengue action | Star jump* |
| Pirouette | Stag leap* |
| Tour Jump |
NB All figures marked thus * need not be performed but candidates must be able to give a clear description.
Candidates should understand the type of movements suitable for :
Beginners through to medalists and competitors (all ages).
Under 8’s, Under 12’s, Under 16’s.
Slow routines
Adult social Freestyle exercise
Part 6–Arm and Hand Movements, Head Positions and Movements in alphabetical order (As Student Teacher and Associate- plus)
Candidates should have a good knowledge of all arm and hand movements, head positions and movements.
Part 7–Teaching Ability (As Student Teacher and Associate- plus)
Explain approach to:
Approach to choreography for
Safety
Slow dance routines
Team routine
Competitive training
Duration of examination minimum 2 hours, maximum 2.5 hours.
The student teacher, associate and Licentiate syllabus, including dance and exercise routines, will be included in this examination at the examiners discretion.
The examination to be taken in seven parts and may be taken in any order, at the examiners discretion.
Candidates for the fellowship examination of any corporate member of the British Dance Council must have been a full member in the freestyle branch for at least three years.
Candidates should be able to discuss and /or demonstrate ways of developing the routines in the demonstration section to suit
The high grade medalist
The competitive dancer
At all levels teaching ability will be assessed on the basis of presentation , knowledge of faults, their causes and correction, teaching methods , voice production and clarity of explanation.
Candidates of a mature age will be permitted to use a demonstrator, trained by the candidate for the advanced routines. When demonstrators are used the candidate will be expected to analyses the complete routine in depth.
Candidates should have an awareness of current musical trends and dances and discuss them.
Written notes are to be submitted for 8 bars of one of the 16 bar routines.
The examiner will provide the candidate with a written routine to be spontaneously analysed.
Candidates should have an awareness of rules concerning competitive Freestyle/Street dance.
Candidate will be required to explain their approach and structure to training
- Student Teacher
- Associate
- Licentiate
- Fellow
GENERAL INFORMATION
Routines:
- Routines should include a combination of locomotive and non-locomotive actions and isolation movements.
- Teachers should have an awareness of contemporary musical trends and current dance movements when choreographing the routines.
Dress:
- Dress is of the candidate’s choice, but should be appropriate to this form of dance. i.e. Dress/Skirt is not suitable
- Shoes suitable for this dance form may be worn.
- Not to be danced in bare feet.
Number on Candidates:
- It is recommended that a maximum of four candidates be examined at one time and that they wear numbers to assist proper identification and examination.
- When entering Freestyle couples for examinations, teachers should clearly write ‘Couples’ on the report form.
- All Amateur examinations must be taken in designated order.
- For children under the age of 8 years, they must take RAINBOW AWARDS 1 before RAINBOW AWARDS 2. The Rainbow Award is an extreme attractive composite award for the children under the age of 8.
- Candidate should achieve the following seven colours in order to complete each RAINBOW AWARDS.
RAINBOW AWARDS
- Violet
- Indigo
- Blue
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
For children over the age of 8 years, beginner can take POPULAR DANCE TEST PART 1, 2 & 3 and then proceed to GRADE 1, 2 & 3.
Children can enter to the following examinations when they satisfy the following age requirements. Those who do not satisfy the age requirements but are interested to enter the following examinations should seek their registered teachers’ recommendations and approval.
All candidates under age of 16 years should attain GRADE 1, 2 & 3 in the appropriate branch to take the follow examinations first except with special permission from Hong Kong Ballroom Dancing Council, then they can start from ONE DANCE TESTS
| JUVENILE (under 12) | JUNIOR (12 to 16) | ADULT (over 16) |
| ONE DANCE TESTS | ONE DANCE TESTS | ONE DANCE TESTS |
| BRONZE | BRONZE | BRONZE |
| SILVER | SILVER | SILVER |
| GOLD | GOLD | GOLD |
RAINBOW AWARDS (For Children under the Age of 8)
This is an extremely attractive composite award for the under 8 years’ age group. There are seven colours to be taken to complete each of the RAINBOW AWARDS (please indicate which Dance is to be taken and each award MUST be taken in the following order)
- Candidates may dance Freestyle, line routines or any new dance forms in vogue, either solo or with a partner.
- The Examiner will assess the candidate on co-ordination, posture, poise, balance, rhythmical expression, musical interpretation, use of arms, legs, feet, head and body.
Tests are conducted in five divisions:
- Freestyle: Rainbow Awards, Pot of Gold
- Juvenile division: for candidates under 12 years of age.
- Junior division: for candidates of 12 and under 16 years of age.
- Adult division: for candidates of 16 years and over.
Tests are as follows:
- Freestyle Rainbow Awards, Parts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, Pot of Gold
- Popular dance tests, Parts 1,2,3
- Grades: 1,2,3
- One dance tests at bronze, silver and gold levels
- Medal series: Bronze, silver, gold, gold cross, gold bar.
RAINBOW AWARDS
Two dances must be shown in each test. A minimum of four actions or movements should be demonstrated in each dance. Moving in time to the music is of primary importance.
POPULAR DANCE TESTS
These are introductory tests at beginner level. Candidates of any age may enter.
A minimum of four figures must be shown in each dance. Technical perfection is not expected. Moving in time to the music is of primary importance.
Those who already hold medals in any of the branches may take any of the popular dance tests.
Part One: One routine minimum 8 Bars
Part Two: Two routines minimum 8 Bars
Part Three: Three routines minimum 8 Bars
GRADE
These act as a link between the popular dance test and the more technical tests which follow.
| Grade 1 | One dance routine, a minimum of four actions and/or movements. | Minimum 8 Bars |
| Grade 2 | Two dance routines, a minimum of four actions and/or movements. | Minimum 8 Bars |
| Grade 3 | Three dance routines, a minimum of four actions and/or movements. | Minimum 8 Bars |
| Bronze | Two dance routines, a minimum of four actions and/or movements and a higher quality of performance. | Minimum 8 Bars |
| Silver | Three dance routines, a minimum of six actions and/or movements and a higher quality of performance. | Minimum 8 Bars |
| Gold | Four dance routines, a minimum of eight actions and/or movements. | Minimum 16 Bars |
NOTE: One of the routines should be danced to slow music
For Gold & Above: One of the routines must be danced to slow music. 14 Bars to 18 Bars per minute.
Party Dances are not considered appropriate at this level.
COUPLES TESTS
Two candidates may be entered as a couple. Couples fees would then apply and the partnership would be marked as a couple. A report form, certificate and medal would be issued to each candidate. Candidates need not have taken the appropriate medal individually.