A Taree ballet dancer has accomplished a rare feat, receiving a 100 per cent distinction for her grade five RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) ballet exam.
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A perfect score is extremely difficult to achieve in ballet exams and 12-year-old Jasinta Birchall said she felt happy and excited when she heard the news.
“I started crying. I love dancing and ballet!”
She has earned a 90 or higher in her previous ballet exams.
A student of the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance in Taree, Jasinta has been dancing since she was four and takes classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz and does a demi-solo, character and modern.
The grade five exam saw her perform barre work, grade five level centre work and two solos, a classical and a character, which are set solos of the RAD.
I started crying. I love dancing and ballet!
- Jasinta Birchall
The criteria under examination included four elements of technique, as well as music, performance, dance – technique, dance – music and performance, character dance and reverence – technique, and character dance and reverence – music and performance.
Dance school principal Andrea Rowsell said receiving a perfect score for each element of the criteria was a very special result.
“There are four technique sections which are placement, turnout, alignment and musicality and how they respond to the music, so if the performance is suited to the style and if the piece softens they respond to the music and perform appropriately. Then there’s the technique of the dance. It’s the same for the character section.”
Andrea said there’s only been three occasions where a student of hers has achieved 100 per cent in an exam.
“I once asked an examiner, how do you get 100 per cent? She said, when every element comes together.
“I think Jasinta worked really hard and grade five was the grade that everything came together, and for that examiner to sit here in Taree and say that is a 10 out of 10 for everything, for her to witness that and to see someone so exceptional.”
Jasinta has always enjoyed dancing.
“I love that you can express yourself and I like pushing myself a lot, and it’s really fun to do and you get good corrections to help you.”
It’s another big year for Jasinta, who is about to enter her third year as part of The Australian Ballet’s Intrastate/Interstate/International Training Program.
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