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CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BALLET TIMETABLE >
Our focus in Year 3 is to continue to instil the love of the art form – developing a solid foundational ballet knowledge with an introduction into steps and sequences with some complexity. In their weekly technique class, the dancers will endeavour to learn and master their junior ballet syllabi in preparation for the annual ballet exams, held early in Term 3 (all students are entered). This year is the dancers’ first exam without their tutor in the exam room – at this level each dancer is expected to independently know their barre and centre exercises, and short dances, and perform as best they can.
Year 3 dancers have two ballet lessons a week – a technique and a lunchtime class. In addition to their own year level weekly technique class, they join with the Year 4 ballet dancers for a weekly lunchtime session that aims to reinforce technique and introduce performance training (including group dances and ballet mime). Dancers are given time to change and eat lunch at the start of the lunch session (in the studio).
Annual Examination
The Annual Examination is our primary focus for the first half of every year and just prior to exam time extra lessons are held to help the dancers prepare and learn exam etiquette. These extra lessons are held in the last two days of the July School Holidays and are called our ‘Ballet Exam Preparation Camp’, with dancers attending an intensive exam preparation class per day (approximately 60–70 minutes). Please hold those dates. After the exams are completed, each student receives a report, certificate, and medal, with an optional blazer badge. Dancers gaining the top grade of ‘Gold with Excellence’ also receive the school ‘Ballet Honours’ blazer badge at an End of Term school assembly (further information on exam dates is emailed home in Term 1).
Extension Classes
Dancers have the opportunity to join our fun lunchtime ‘Junior Jazzers’ class. Open to dancers in Years 3–4 only, this fun class introduces jazz steps and combinations, with stretch and conditioning work too. This class helps build dance knowledge, musicality, and presentation. Dancers may wear skort and ballet t-shirt with school socks, or their ballet uniform. The cost is $100 per term. Extension classes are not held during Term 4 due to production.
Our annual production is held near the end of Term 4 (dates assigned by the College) with production work beginning in all ballet sessions once the annual exams are completed. Dancers experience a professionally produced ballet production, and perform in four or five shows. A small number of additional weekend rehearsals are held in Term 4. It is important that it is clearly understood that all rehearsals must be attended. Further detailed information is emailed during the year.
Each week dancers are required to follow our homework programme, using our short videos of their ballet exercises for home review. The homework task is simply to practise with the videos, with the goal to learn each exercise and perform the steps correctly. Each student should aim to practice at home for 15–20 minutes, twice a week. This small effort significantly helps student’s ballet progress (further information once classes starts). A small logbook is supplied to each student to record their homework effort. A small incentive award is given in Terms 1–2 for the dancer demonstrating the most consistent homework effort.
The ballet uniform is always required for ballet class.
Almost all uniform items are from ‘Dance Pacific’ (corner of Colombo Street and Stanley Street). Please ask their staff to assist you in selecting the correct St Andrew's College regulation items – they have our information on file. Take your child to get the uniform and shoes properly fitted. Some items (such as the tracksuit) may need to be ordered in for you, so please visit the shop early.
Every item must be named. Add name tags if necessary and write your child's name inside both shoes.
To view our available second-hand stock, please visit the St Andrew's College Second-hand Uniform Shop. The opening hours for the Second-hand Uniform Shop can be found here.
A ballet bun is compulsory on ballet lesson days (unless hair is too short). A commitment to ballet is a commitment to correct uniform and hair. Please consider this to be just as necessary as goggles are to swimmers, or boots to a rugby player. Parents/caregivers will be emailed if dancers do not show up ready to dance on time or in correct uniform. We wish our dancers to use their time in class to the maximum. Tutorials of how to make a ballet bun can be found on YouTube and our own one is on our Moodle site. If anyone would like a demonstration on how to make a correct and secure ballet bun, feel free to email our Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns at ballet@stac.school.nz to arrange a time.
YouTube links (note: we use ballet hair pins, not bobby pins):
Short Hair Bun Tutorial >
Long Hair Bun Tutorial >
Ballet Class Bun Tutorial >
Technique Class (Thursday – Mrs van der Bent, Friday – Mr Leota) – Dancers wear their ballet tracksuit to school (with their ballet t-shirt*). Dancers change into leotards just before ballet class at the Ballet Studio, and back into their t-shirts and tracksuits straight after class.
Wednesday Lunchtime Class – Dancers must wear to school their full school uniform to school. Dancers change from school uniform into ballet wear* at the start of lunchtime, and then back into either their full school uniform or ballet tracksuit for Period 5 (the last period of the day).
Junior Jazzers (Monday Lunchtime) – Dancers must wear to school their full school uniform to school. Dancers change from school uniform into ballet wear* at the start of lunchtime, and then back into their full school uniform at the end of lunch.
*At lunchtimes, girls are permitted to wear their ballet t-shirt, ballet skort and black College socks for ease of quick changing.
All students should have a small named ballet bag suitable to hold their ballet uniform items. Dance Pacific sells our St Andrew's College Ballet bag, however this is at your option. Whatever bag you decide on, please put only the student's ballet related gear in it (this helps the tutor to speed up changing) and ensure it has a name tag. Please name everything.
Please do not send a draw-string style of bag – the cords often get wrapped around feet, necks, etc.!
Email is used to communicate all information (please be sure the College has your current email). We endeavour to answer emails as quickly as possible but due to full teaching days this may not always be possible – we ask for your understanding if we are delayed. The College expectation is that a teacher responds to emails within 48 hours. Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, can also be contacted via the College telephone system. Please call reception on +64 940 2000 to be put through.
Ballet tutors private cell phones are not to be used as a means of contact – unless in an emergency, or by prior arrangement.
Parents and caregivers are very welcome to view their child’s technique class on the last week of Terms 1–2. A reminder email will be sent closer to the time.
Private lessons are available on a limited basis. You may request private lessons, or a tutor may suggest it if a dancer needs some help in their technique.
Please email Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, at ballet@stac.school.nz if your child will miss a class for any reason.
After a hiatus due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to recommence the Performance Awards. This is a special event held for dancers who wish to extend themselves with a stage performance experience (a minimum of two full years of ballet training is required to enter). It challenges the student to learn, master, and perform, a new dance in just four weeks. It is not a competition but an individual challenge; an opportunity to strive to perform to their personal best. Dancers may take part at any level from Years 3–8 (e.g. there is no requirement for dancers to have begun in Year 3 to enter).
Four Week Program: the student learns a new dance at lessons held over three consecutive Sundays. A short dress rehearsal practise is also included. Then, all dancers perform at the Performance Event before an examiner and a small audience of family members. Following the event, each dancer will receive a short written report and a blazer badge. They will also be awarded a certificate at a school assembly. To complete the experience, dancers perform in costume. No make-up is required for students in Years 3–5.
Year 3: 9.30am–10.10am
Year 4: 10.15am–10.55am
Year 5: 11.00am–11.40am
Please note: these times will be altered in the event of no entries into a particular year group or if another slot is needed for a year group. If only two register in a year group, the time will be reduced to 30 minutes. Times will be set once the registration period closes, with the aim to hold these sessions in the morning. Do not register if this does not suit or if you will be away for a weekend – missed lessons can’t be made up due to the short timeframe and tutor availability.
Years 3–5: dancers attend three Sunday group lessons (40 minutes, max of 6 dancers per class). Please note a parent/caregiver will need to attend the last 5 minutes of each Sunday lesson to video the dance for home practise. On the fourth weekend, a dress rehearsal and Performance Awards will be held. The dance style for each group will be selected by the tutor. At the Performance Awards, Years 3 and 4 dancers will perform on stage in a duo or trio, while Year 5 dancers may elect to perform solo or in a duo.
The fee to enter the Performance Awards is $175–$220*.
This cost includes three private lessons ($15.00–$30.00 per lesson)*, dress rehearsal ($20.00 per person), costume fee ($25.00), admin fee ($25.00) and Performance Award entry fee which includes an individual examiner report, certificate and badge ($60.00).
Lesson fees will be determined once registrations close. The cost will be $30.00 per person if there are two people in a lesson, $20.00 per person if there are three to four people a lesson, and $15.00 per person if there are five to six people in a lesson.
Please note: All entry fees must be paid prior to lessons beginning.
If the event is on-site at the College, there will no audience attendance fee. If held off-site, a small attendance fee will be charged.
Refunds: if withdrawing from the event before lessons commence, a 80% refund is returned. Once lessons have commenced, no refunds are given unless due to illness, with a medical certificate provided (as we have booked studio, tutor times, and badges based on registration numbers).
Please note: Registrations close on 1 March.
How to register: Register via email to Dr Cairns at CCA@stac.school.nz. Please state your child’s full name and year group. We are limited to one examiner session so enrolments will be accepted by date of registration until we reach capacity per year group. Once registration has closed, and if places allow, I will send each parent out the confirmed cost and the year group times.
Each dancer is required to practise their dance at home in between their Sunday lessons. This ensure that when they arrive for their next lesson, the prior knowledge has been secured and the tutor can move to finish the dance, and then polish it. Please attend the last 5 minutes of their lesson to video record the final run through. This way, each dancer has both the music and choreography for their home practise.
Another helpful hint: Dancers can use car travel time for self-study by either watching their dance video or just playing the music and ‘dancing it’ in their head (this works great for ballet exam work too!).
Year 3 Ballet