Resources · 5 min read
Ballet grades explained
What each RAD level means, roughly when a child reaches it, and how progression actually works.
Pre-school levels
Pre-Ballet, Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance cover roughly ages four to seven. The emphasis is on musicality, coordination and enjoying the room.
Grades 1 to 8
The graded syllabus runs from around age seven upward. Each grade typically takes a year or more, and there is no benefit in rushing — a secure Grade 3 is worth more than a shaky Grade 5.
The vocational levels
Intermediate Foundation onwards are for students who want serious classical training. They demand more hours and more stamina, and pointe work usually begins somewhere in this range.
How a student moves up
By readiness, not by age or by term. A teacher recommends a move when a student is secure in the current level; a child who needs another year gets another year.
Draft written from general ballet-education practice. Every paragraph needs Miss Chew’s review before publication.
Ready to start?
Classes at Orchid Country Club, Yishun, for ages four and above.