Fall registration is upon us, and we are beginning to field many questions regarding advancement to higher levels, for students up to level 5 (children stay in level 5 until the instructor promotes them to level 6 or higher). Current students will receive letters regarding advancement, but essentially, the decision about whether a child should advance or not can come down to answering one question...
Are they among the top 2 or 3 students in the class? (Are they leading the others, and doing so with beautiful posture, turnout and foot articulation? Do they count and follow the music?) If so, then yes, they may advance.
If they are closer to the bottom level of the class (follows instead of leading, lack of turnout or foot articulation, does not count or follow music) then no, they should stay until the exercises that they are performing in class are polished. If they are in the middle, that's where you may need to ask the instructor. Most of the time the answer is "stay and polish", but for certain students in certain levels the instructor may wish for them to move up.
Remember, it is better to stay at a lower level and dance well, than to be in a higher level and flounder. Children can actually be pushed more in a lower level...They already (should) know the exercises and can focus on technique, rather than just trying to keep up with new and more difficult steps. When a child cannot keep up with the basic steps, the instructor offers little technique correction , because the child has too many other things to think about.
Happy dancing! :)
