Talent examinations

For 2009/2010
department: dance

Date of examinations: March 25th 2009

►Basic preconditions for passing:

1. successfully finished 9th class of Elementary school
2. mark average ≤ 3,0
3. physical preconditions
4. health preconditions
5. dance preconditions
6. music and rhythmic feeling
7. visage
8. lean figure without obesity
9. focus on dance and personality

Notes:
1. The application for talent examinations send student in 9th class of elementary school. It is a law that a student from lower class is not allowed to be an applicant for study. The candidates are obliged to send an application form officially pressed by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic.
2. Assessment will cover student’s achievements during study at Elementary school.
3. Physical preconditions for dancing:
     -shape of lower and upper limbs
     -flexion and range of motion of hips
     -predisposition of lower limbs, plantar arch, instep
     -predisposition to jump
     -physiologically curved, flexible spine
     -general flexibility, balance, weight
4. A precondition for successful managing of a physically demanding study is good health of a candidate. These things are required to be sent with an application form.
     -detailed statement from GP about good health (both physical and psychical)
     -detailed statement from orthopaedist about physical ability of candidate
     -during examinations, candidate undergoes a complex orthopaedist inspection by our orthopaedist.
     -important aspects for entrance are dance performance, dance memory and ability to memorize some dance figures and variations as      well  as  to capture by dance feeling.
5. Music and rhythmic feeling: to feel music and rhythm in dance variations
6. Visage of dancer: clothing and behaviour
7. Lean figure without obesity – especially if you are candidate for classical dance or modern dance
8. Dance ambitions of a candidate, characteristic features like assiduity, sedulity and interest

►Criteria of entrance examinations:

The planned number of accepted candidates for academic year 2009/2010 is 13. A precondition for successful managing of a physically demanding study is good health of a candidate. These things are required to be sent with an application form:
1. detailed statement from GP about good health (both physical and psychical)
2. detailed statement from orthopaedist about physical ability of candidate
3. during examinations, candidate undergoes to complex orthopaedic inspection by our orthopaedist.

Notice: only candidate without any major health and orthopaedist problems are allowed to attend talent examinations.

Talent examinations in dance department are divided into three parts:

In the first part, all these physical preconditions for dance which were mentioned above will be evaluated (shape of lower and upper limbs, flexion and range of motion of hips, predisposition of lower limbs, plantar arch, instep…) This part includes also physical inspection by our orthopaedist who will compare candidate’s health with the sent statement.
In the second part the basis of movable skills in dancing techniques, coordination, rhythm, memory and ability to feel music and rhythm are tested. This part includes also a short improvisation.
The third part contains a short interview with candidates.

                          Requirement of talent examinations:
The candidate for studying at Conservatory will be tested of following techniques:
-classical dance
-folk dance
-modern dance
Each candidate will be tested of all techniques by the form of repeating of shown samples

Notice: examination is possible to be taken only in gym shoes, skinny dress and hair in a bun
Service charge for talent examination is17 €. Candidate has to pay the fees at the place on the day of TE. The result of TE will be published in 3 days after examinations at a school notice board, or on the internet on www.skke.sk
Detailed specifications will be sent to candidate based on the filled application form issued by the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic with the elementary school’s stamp.

System of evaluating:
-the number of points is determined by jury consisting of 4 members
-each member of the jury can give 25 point at most
-each evaluation of the jury will be counted
-the final evaluation is a resultant number of points
-the pass mark 70 and the maximum 100 points

► Some pieces of advice:

Dear candidates…..
…..let us give you some useful pieces of advice…..

1. Don’t forget to send detailed statement from GP and orthopaedist together with your application form. It is important for us to know your health, because you are choosing your future profession, which requires good health of each candidate.
2. Focus on the dispositions of lower limbs – the ability to do the splits, supination
3. Control of feet – pointing/flexing form
4. Back dispositions – straight back, shoulder´s position in a pose, control of lower back, flexibility of back, back bend, side bend. Keep in mind !!!: a dancer should have a feeling of his spine stretched upward in the starting pose (the vertical link is lengthen)
5. Revise work of abdominal muscles – dancer takes care of strong belly
6. Jump disposition – reflection, height of jump, fall –“plié”
7. Practise your dance memory – learn to follow your dancing partner’s movement, try to repeat given sample.
8. Practise the rhythm
9. Don’t forget about your visage
10. Do not be frightened nor nervous – you are choosing your profession as a result of what you will perform in front of the audience
11. Don’t underestimate the time of preparation