EXAMS
Taylor’s Dance Company invites your child to take part in our next exam session.
Date: Sunday 17th January 2027
Time: 9am- 4pm (exact times being confirmed at a later date.)
Venue: Marks Farm Community Centre, Dunstable Drive, Braintree
Cost: As stated on your email. This includes the price of their certificate and medal/rosette. Fees are due Sunday 6th December. Please pay to TDC Show LTD. Account Number: 99231303. Sort Code: 60-83-71.
Please confirm whether your child will be taking their exam by Monday 1st November by emailing info@taylorsdancecompany.co.uk.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY?
On the day, the children will be dropped off and welcomed by our team. We will take them to the waiting area, where we'll ensure they are prepared and looking their best before their exam. When it is their turn, the children will enter the exam room and perform their dances in small groups, usually alongside other children from their class, in front of the examiner. Once they have finished, they will return to the waiting area until they are collected. The entire process is very straightforward, and children are typically with us for between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
WHAT WILL MY CHILD NEED TO WEAR?
MINIS
Girls - Black Leotard & Nude/Skin-Colour Ballet Shoes. (We provide a skirt & socks)
Boys- Black TDC T-Shirt, Black Shorts, Black Ankle Socks, Black Ballet Shoes.
Please wear a dressing gown, onesie, or something easy to take on & off.
Hair - High Ponytail, with fringes pinned/gelled back. Hair must be neat and tidy. Anyone with short hair please speak to the TDC Admin Team and we will advise. If you’re unable to do your child’s hair, please let us know in advance.
Boys- neat & tidy and away from the face.
PRIMARIES
Girls- Black Leotard. Ballet & Tap Shoes. (We provide a skirt & socks)
Boys- Black TDC T-Shirt, Black Shorts, Black Ankle Socks, Ballet & Tap Shoes.
Please wear a dressing gown, onesie, or something easy to take on & off.
Hair - High Ponytail, with fringes pinned/gelled back. Hair must be neat and tidy. Anyone with short hair please speak to the TDC Admin team and we will advise. If you’re unable to do your child’s hair, please let us know in advance.
Boys- neat & tidy and away from the face.
JUNIOR’S & SENIOR’S
FREESTYLE MEDAL EXAM
Girls- Black Leotard, Black Plain Leggings, Black Socks, Jazz Shoes.
Boys- Black TDC T-Shirt, Black Plain Trousers, Black Socks, Jazz Shoes.
Hair - High Ponytail, with fringes pinned/gelled back. Hair must be neat and tidy. Anyone with short hair please speak to the TDC Admin Team and we will advise. If you’re unable to do your child’s hair, please let us know in advance.
Boys- neat & tidy and away from the face.
TAP TEAM EXAM
Girls- Black Leotard, Black Plain Leggings, Black Socks, Tap Shoes.
Boys- Black TDC T-Shirt, Black Plain Trousers, Black Socks, Tap Shoes.
Hair - Bun, with fringes pinned/gelled back. Hair must be neat and tidy. Anyone with short hair please speak to the TDC Admin Team and we will advise. If you’re unable to do your child’s hair, please let us know in advance.
Boys- neat & tidy and away from the face.
BALLET TEAM EXAM
Girls- Black Leotard, Ballet Shoes (they will be provided with tights or socks, and skirt)
Boys- Black TDC T-Shirt, Black Plain Shorts, Ballet Shoes
Hair - Bun, with fringes pinned/gelled back. Hair must be neat and tidy. Anyone with short hair please speak to the TDC Admin Team and we will advise. If you’re unable to do your child’s hair, please let us know in advance.
Boys- neat & tidy and away from the face.
We ask for no make-up, jewellery, nail varnish or tattoos (minimal make-up to be worn for our older students).
We will be providing Socks/Tights and Skirts if not mentioned.
PLEASE ENSURE EVERYTHING IS NAMED.
WHAT WILL MY CHILD NEED TO BRING?
We ask everyone to arrive in their uniform, with hair ready. The children will only need to bring their dance shoes, a bottle of water, and an inhaler if needed. Please ensure all belongings are brought in a named bag. Please ensure everything is named!
WHAT EXAM IS MY CHILD TAKING?
The exams are taken with the International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA)
Rosette Exams- Freestyle, Ballet & Tap.
The rosette exams have been designed for young children to explore the various forms of rhythm and dancing in an exciting, fun and imaginative way. Children take the exam in small groups of approximately eight pupils, and they are assisted throughout the exam by their teacher. The children receive a colourful Rosette to attach to a banner. The children perform two very short and simple dances for each dance style. They take these in separate exams. Our Mini/Primary Students take these exams.
Freestyle Medals- the children will perform their dances in a small group of around 5 children. They receive a Medal Plaque. The higher level they become the more dances they need to perform. (One Dance= 1, Bronze=2, Silver=3, Gold=4)
Ballet & Tap Team- A ‘team’ exam is similar to a ‘show’ dance. Pupils must perform the correct choreography and technique, show patterns, keep in time with the music and each other, present the dance with a smile and show that they can work together as a team. There are 3 levels- bronze, silver and gold.
Adult Ballet & Tap Medals- Once the children complete their Gold Team Exams, they will go on to our adult medals. Each dance style has 3 different elements to perform in the exam.
WHY SHOULD MY CHILD TAKE PART?
Taking part in a dance exam is great fun! It’s a chance to have their dance and performance skills rewarded in a professional way. The children will build confidence in a fun way, learn to work as part of a team, as well as learning to work hard to achieve an outcome! Finally, it's a memory to treasure for a lifetime! In fact, most of our teachers still have their own exam certificates and medals. Please be reassured that we would never enter a child for an examination unless we believed they were ready. We work hard to prepare every pupil and give them the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
ARE EXAMS COMPULSORY or WHAT IF WE CANNOT MAKE THE DATE?
No! If you do not want your child to take part in the Exams, they are still very welcome and encouraged to continue to take part in classes as normal!
If you cannot make the date of the exam, that is no problem at all- there will be another chance to take exams later in the year.
WILL I HAVE TO STAY TO LOOK AFTER MY CHILD?
No! We will be asking parents to drop off their children and leave. The children will be approximately 30minute- 1hr so feel free to leave to do a spot of shopping (large Tescos less than 5 minutes away) There is plenty of parking at the venue, but we would always recommend sharing lifts! We understand the children may be nervous, but there will be lots of friendly faces to welcome and reassure them. The children will be in safe hands with our team.
HOW CAN YOU HELP AT HOME?
We ask you to encourage the children to practice at home, mainly on their performance- lots of smiles & stretched arms!!! If we haven’t sent videos to practice, we don’t think your child needs to practice at home!
HOW QUICKLY WILL THEY GET RESULTS?
The results can take 6- 8 weeks to be returned.
For any other questions or concerns, please email us at info@taylorsdancecompany.co.uk.