An approaching Ballet exam can be stressful for everyone involved. Teachers, students and parents alike all seem to be sent into an excited panic at this time of year.
So to help you tackle your next ballet exam with confidence, I’ve written a survival guide for you! (If you’re a teacher reading this thinking ‘hey what about me??’, feel free to use this as a resource for to print out for your students. Particularly helpful if it’s their first exam, or those that just seem extra nervy!)
Ballet Exam Survival Guide
Have your ballet uniform out and ready to go the night before
I highly recommend checking your uniform the night before to avoid any unnecessary stress the next day. This includes making sure your leotard is clean, there are no ladders in your tights and that your bun net isn’t going to break on you! No-one wants to have to do a last minute dash to Bloch because you found a hole in your ballet tights the morning of the exam.
Get there with plenty of time
This might seem like a given, but it is so important to give yourself plenty of time to get ready so that if something does go wrong on the way, you have plenty of time to remedy the problem. Even if you end up allowing too much time, the earlier you get to the studio, the more time you will have to warm up. Also, keep in mind that it will probably take you longer to get ready for an exam than it does a normal ballet class…you want that ballet bun to be pristine!
Go in with a smile on your face
If you look happy to be there, the examiner will be happy to watch you. Nerves are completely normal, and everyone understands this. However, it’s far more enjoyable to see a dancer who looks excited-nervous, rather than my-knees-are-about-to-give-way-nervous. So even if you have to fake it till you make it, whack on a smile. Plus, I also recently read an article that said faking a smile causes a release of dopamine and serotonin (the hormones associated with feelings of happiness and reduced stress).
If you make a mistake it’s not the end of the world
Examiners are there to asses your technique! If you happen to accidentally bring your arm to a nice fifth position, when it was meant to be in first, they’re not going to punish you harshly. A mistake only becomes a problem if you let it ruin the rest of the exercise by pulling a face, or getting flustered and forgetting what you’re doing. If a mistake happens, take a breath and keep going, you’re doing fine and there’s no need to get upset about it!
A beautiful performance can mask any technique struggles
We all have that one exercise that we struggle with, or just simply dislike (batterie enchainment, I’m looking at you). Even though your teacher might know that a certain exercise is a weak point for you, it is important to know that the examiner does not. Therefore you have every opportunity to dazzle him or her into thinking this is your favourite. My teacher used to say, if you don’t want your audience to focus on your feet, distract them with a smile, beautiful arms, and extra epaulement!
Have fun!
Exams are an opportunity to perform after all, so enjoy it! One day you will look back on ballet exams with such fond memories. It’s okay to be nervous, but just try to focus on what a privilege it is to dance (if you need a little reminder of why you should be so grateful to be dancer, read this).
Go and celebrate afterwards
My best friend Darcey and I had a long running tradition that after every ballet exam we would go to an Italian restaurant with our parents and order this massive chocolate mousse we could never finish. It might sound like a daggy ritual but we loved it, and it was a reward for all our hard work. Even though you won’t know how you performed in the exam yet, it’s important to celebrate the fact that you did something that was nerve wracking (and survived). That in itself is an accomplishment to be proud of, no matter the final result you receive on a certificate. Doing something fun afterwards can also help to prevent over thinking what happened in the exam…..that soubreseaut you forgot in the grand allegro is ancient history!
If you are really nervous about a dance exam, always remember that your teachers are there to help you. Let them know what you’re worried about, and they can suggest what to do to make this the least stressful experience for you.
Last but not least, chookas for your exam and have fun!
Until next time,
Happy Dancing! xx
