Dance 497

Exams go long distance

Malcolm Hill, Head of Faculty Development, caught up with two new associates in Australia.

As professionals, we spend a great deal of time studying and rehearsing the presentation of the technique in preparation for the technical assessment section of our examinations. This is usually done via in-person lessons and tuition in a studio with a hands-on approach. However, during the pandemic, as with everything else, we had to adapt to a virtual medium to continue training for this important examination.

I very much missed the studio sessions with the training professionals, and as great as it was to continue training online, it did not quite reach the same level of interaction as when in the same room as someone. Regardless of how the training was achieved, the expectation of knowledge and precision of demonstration in the examination remained the same.

I’m excited to commence the next part of my exams with the ISTD.

Candidates adapting to a new way of learning was key, and ensuring that there was real clarity through everything that was presented was even more important in the new digital age of dancing online!

I was very excited to be asked to examine for two new associates in Australia, which were the first to be conducted for dancesport in the country, and had gone through this process of training, resulting in an online examination.

We hear from both candidates on their experiences leading up to and including their examination.

Alex Kadamani of You Can Dance Studio, Melbourne, Australia, reflects on his examination experience.

Primarily, I would like to thank PaulDaniel Fennell, Louise Sampson and most importantly, Malcolm Hill for giving me the opportunity start my accreditation in Latin American.

I have been dancing for 10+ years, so when thinking about doing this, I thought ‘walk in the park’. Boy, was I incorrect. Having one of the roughest lockdowns here in Melbourne, Australia during Covid helped tremendously though.

As I usually teach female students, saying and doing what the follower does comes with ease. The time away from the world helped me to articulate exactly what the leader is doing.

The exam went well. We all say we could have done better. It’s easy to become nervous and get a little overwhelmed, to forget a thing or two, like saying “you just ‘kind of’ step sideways”, instead of verbalising “diagonally forward!”

I now understand why my students laugh when they get something incorrect,

or they forget to include some crucial information. Even though Malcolm's tone was extremely calm and professional and he was very easy to talk with, and my instructors prepared me for the exam very extensively; I couldn’t help the nerves or showing the jittering in my steps!

To see and understand what it is like with the shoe on the other foot was a great experience and one I enjoyed immensely. I’m excited to commence the next part of my exams with the ISTD.

My recommendation to anyone thinking about taking an exam for the first time – relax, slow down and just breath! I’d like to say that wasn’t told to me. But I can’t!

Natalie Finn, a Dance Instructor at You Can Dance Studio in Melbourne, shares her exam perspective.

I guess I have to thank Covid and the world being locked indoors, as it forced us to adapt to other means of communication. This, in turn, opened up a world of opportunities for work and education.

I’ve always dreamed of sitting my exams with the ISTD but the possibility was slim due to the distance! I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, I’ve been training and teaching Ballroom in Australia for two decades and the opportunity was an honour.

The lead up to the exam was quite nerve wrecking… I was petrified, hoping my past knowledge and training over the years with Paul was enough to pass.

However, once I started online training with Louise she gave me the confidence in myself, which was the boost I needed to get me to exam day.

When it was time to sit the exam I was beside myself. I’ve been dancing for 42 years, and I have never been as nervous as that day.

Malcolm was great and really calm, which put me at ease. It was nowhere near as scary as I’d thought and I learnt a lot from the process – I am looking forward to my next exam!

Contact

Malcolm Hill

Head of Faculty Development for Latin American, Ballroom, Sequence

latin@istd.org

ballroom@istd.org

sequence@istd.org