The Syllabus

The "syllabus" refers to the curriculum in which the various disciplines are taught.  Our syllabi used at the Drewitz School of Dance are the Royal Academy of Dance, Associated Dance Arts For Professional Teachers', Canadian Dance Teachers' Association and Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance.  These are recognized syllabi throughout Canada and internationally as well.

• RAD
• ADAPT
• CDTA
• SDTA

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The Royal Academy of Dance

The prime purpose of the Royal Academy is the maintenance of standards of dance teaching a purpose which is of growing significance as our society increasingly recognizes the importance of dance in national culture.

The Royal Academy of Dance traces its origins to 1920 when the Association of Operatic Dancing was founded under the inspiring leadership of five distinguished teachers, each representing a different school: Adeline Genee (the Danish School), Tamara Karsavina (the Russian School), Lucia Cormani (the Italian School), Edouard Espinosa (the French School), and Phyllis Bedells (the English School). This was a truly historic event, for it was the first occasion on which teachers of theatrical dancing had banded together in a combined effort to raise the standards of their profession. 

The important and unique role of the Association was recognized in 1928 when the late Queen Mary became its Patron, and in 1935 it was granted a Royal Charter by which it became the Royal Academy of Dance. Upon the death of Queen Mary in 1953, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously consented to be the new Patron, and when, in 1954, Dame Adeline Genee retired as President, she was succeeded by Dame Margot Fonteyn. In 1991, after Dame Margot’s death, Antoinette Sibley CBE was elected President.

The continued progress and growth of the Academy since its inception convincingly demonstrates how far it has gone to achieve its aims. It began its work by setting syllabi and by conducting examinations. Today the Academy sends examiners to over 64 countries and has active centers in North and South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Hong Kong, Japan and Europe. In 1995, the Academy celebrates its 75th Anniversary year with special events world wide, including banquets and tea parties, gala performances, a special edition history book and a worldwide dance-a-thon.

The Academy feels that its program of carefully graded ballet instruction is the ultimate service I can render to ballet students and their parents. Furthermore, in our modern transient society, a major advantage in Royal Academy work is that a student, having commenced training in one part of the world may, upon moving to a new location continue his or her studies without interruption.

The Royal Academy of Dance is not a ball school in the usual sense of the term. Rather it is an international organization whose basic aim is to provide a service to teachers of classical ball by offering them courses in the art of teaching carefully graded syllabi which serve as a frame work upon which to structure their classes; and regular examinations for children, students and teachers.

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ADAPT Syllabus

ADAPT is an acronym which stands for: "Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers". ADAPT is a certified syllabus which offers yearly examinations in the dance disciplines of Tap, Jazz, and Ballet. The Syllabus system is taught by over one hundred Canadian dance teachers from coast to coast. ADAPT represents an elite group of dance teachers who follow the ADAPT Syllabus and enter their students in the yearly examination process. ADAPT dance teachers are leaders in quality dance training. They teach the love of dance and movement not only to the elite student, but to the recreational dancer as well.

Brian Foley "Choreographer, Director, Teacher" and DANCE AMBASSADOR TO CANADA began the ADAPT system in 1979 as a dance teacher’s guideline, and is based on more than thirty-tive years of his professional and personal teaching experiences.

Well known across Canada, United Stales, and England, Brian Foley’s high standard of excellence and dynamic energies are only two ingredients that enhance the ADAPT SYLLABUS and help to create a strong, solid, artistic foundation for all DANCE TEACHERS.

Syllabus grades in TAP and JAZZ plus an accreditation for Assistant Teachers offer the student steady progression, not only technically and emotionally, but stylistically, musically, and mentally.

The dance terminology and introduction to new steps and variations are challenging, yet allow the student to progress at a rate that is consistent with his or her own abilities.

The year to year examinations are a memorable experience and evaluate the participating student on a regular basis.

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CDTA Syllabus

The Canadian Dance Teachers' Association was founded in 1949 and has branches in the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
One of the first ventures financed by the newly formed CDTA was to sponsor the cross Canada auditions for promising ballet students who formed the nucleus of the now internationally renowned National Ballet of Canada and the National Ballet School.

The CDTA syllabus was developed to ensure that students are taught by a qualified instructor in accordance with nationally recognized standards and a proven programme of instruction.

Ballet
CDTA respects and cherishes the legacy left to us from the classical traditions of the great masters of the past. The CDTA syllabus was developed utilizing training techniques from all the methods of ballet. Examinations on this syllabus are offered to students of CDTA members

Stage
The Stage Division is comprised of two dance disciplines

Jazz
Jazz thrives in our society today. The CDTA syllabus is an intensive programme of technique for teachers to work with for the overall development of their students. The examinations are well rounded and extremely beneficial for teachers and students alike.

Tap
The CDTA counting technique is beneficial to the overall development of the teacher and student. The use of rhythms, choice of music and the knowledge of the history of tap is taught and examined in the CDTA syllabus.

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SDTA - coming soon...