Words of wisdom on ISTD exams?

P

pygmalion

Well-Known Member
Hi folks.

I'm getting ready for my first-ever ISTD exam next week
(full bronze student-level), and I would appreciate input
from any of you that have been through the process.

Any words of wisdom on how/what I should do to prepare?
At the moment, I'm practicing footwork drills for smooth,
spin and turn drills, and specific choreography. Am I missing
anything important?

Thanks for the help. :)
 
Be ready to expalin:
Time Signature, Hold; Counting in Rhythm; Counting in Beats; Counting in Beats and Bars; Positions of Feet; Alignment and Direction; Amount of Turn; Rise and Fall; Footwork; Sway; C.B.M.; Description of Forward and Backward Walks; give descriptions of the Heel Pulls and a Heel Turn.

For a given figure, be ready to explain the above.

For a given figure, be ready to give at least 2 precedes and 2 follows.

Hope this helps. :)
 
Ummm...unless I'm wrong, at the full bronze student level, no such explanations are required – that sounds more like the instructors examination. Best I know a demonstration of syllabus patterns is all that's required in a student exam.

As far as the exam itself make sure your crystal clear on alignments, directions, amount of rotation, etc., (as DanceMentor notes) – precision and technique are the name of the game.
 
ISTD Exams

Thanks for the input, guys. The way I see it, regardless of the outcome, this is a great way for me to get some input and feedback on the level of my dancing. Of course, I'm going to study and practice like crazy til next week.

And from the sound of things, it looks like I can be ready by then.

Wish me luck.
 
DanceMentor said:
Be ready to expalin:
Time Signature, Hold; Counting in Rhythm; Counting in Beats; Counting in Beats and Bars; Positions of Feet; Alignment and Direction; Amount of Turn; Rise and Fall; Footwork; Sway; C.B.M.; Description of Forward and Backward Walks; give descriptions of the Heel Pulls and a Heel Turn.

For a given figure, be ready to explain the above.

For a given figure, be ready to give at least 2 precedes and 2 follows.

Hope this helps. :)
Click to expand...
DanceMentor,
Why not do a weekly or bi-weekly article on going over the ones you mentioned . . . one-by-one???

I know and do most of these, but may not be able to clearly expalin them.

Do a poll . . . find out who/how many are interested???
 
My ISTD Exam Experience

JUst finished my ISTD exam. What a blast. I had heard that the examiner is really tough, and I'm sure she didn't miss a trick, but overall, everything went very well.

I'm quite confident that I, and the other couple girls from my studio, passed the exam.

I took two exams -- American Smooth, and American Rhythm.

Basically, it's just like a studio freestyle exam -- the student dances most of the figures from the syllabus at whatever level they're taking the test, and gets an overall score based on the demonstration of technique. Then, after the exam, if you pass, you get a certificate, a medal, and a written critique.

Wow! What a great feeling. I highly recommend it.

I'm going to go drink a bottle of champagne. :lol:

Check ya later.
 
By the way, for those who are interested in maybe taking these exams, here's a little more information. Bear in mind that I was in a nervous fog the day of the exam, so there may be a few holes in my memory.

I took American Style Smooth and Rhythm, but you can also take International Style Standard and Latin. Each of these exams requires that you demonstrate two dances.

You can also take a single dance test, if you wish.

The levels are dance achievement ,pre-bronze, bronze, silver, gold, gold star, and I think there's a higher category, but I don't remember what it's called.

The student exams require only dancing the figures. From what I understand, the professional teachers' exam has a pretty stringent theory requirement, as well. Check out DanceMentor's post earlier in this thread for an idea, if you're interested in the pro exam.
 
Good luck with your exam, MissAlyssa.

I've heard from my coach that the teachers exam is definitely a test to take seriously. I don't know how much detail is required, but my coach can quote the dance manuals verbatim -- ( e.g. next step taken with the right foot -- side and slightly back) for every pattern, both male and female parts. It's amazing.
 
Actually my coach is a very well-rounded person with lots of interests. He's just obsessed with excellence, which is a good thing for a coach. And while verbatim probably isn't required, it does look like you have to have some really in-depth knowledge of the syllabus to have any hope of passing the test.

And man, oh man, the examiner knew what she was looking at. Brutal.
 
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