Street Dance Grade 5
Grade 5 candidates will have the ability to sustain their technique, performance and focus at an intermediate level throughout the examination. Candidates will exhibit a greater proficiency and fluency including a strong ability to combine a sense of style or theme appropriate to the exercise and performance piece. There should be evidence of thorough preparation resulting in a secure performance piece.
Estimated Exam Duration: 30 Minutes
Technical Skills
The Technical Skills assessment will take the form of a pre-choreographed solo. Each candidate must perform for sixteen bars of music. The examiner will choose one of four styles (House, Locking, Popping or Breaking). All the technical moves from the chosen style must be embedded into a combination, transitioning from one move to the next. The examiner will select one musical track for the candidate to perform. The teacher should prepare three pieces of music for the examiner to select from – all tracks must be appropriate for all styles and be the same selection of music for each candidate in the examination. Each piece of music should be contrasting in style and tempo and labelled into tracks A, B and C.
Please Note: the Technical Skills video should be used as an aid to the examination only. Candidates are encouraged to interpret the technical moves in their own creative way. Any steps that are a variation should be artistically choreographed and enhanced to be challenging, building on the basic fundamentals of the technical move.
The examiner will select one style and the candidate will perform all the technical moves from the given style. A video demonstrating all the technical moves can be viewed here
| Locking | House | Breaking | Popping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz Split | African Step | Top Rock – Hip Twist | Frensno (Single, Double, Pop) |
| Knee Drop | Ground Sweep | Top Rock – Indian Step into Spin Down | Leg Roll (Boog Style) |
| Stop and Go with Turn | The Farmer | Footwork – CC Rock | Romeo Twist |
| Scoo-Bot Hop (Variation) | Knee Drop | Footwork – Back Sweep | Old Man (Boog Style) |
| Whichaway | Feel/Groove | Power Move – Windmill | Puppet Style (Dime Stop) |
Freestyle
The Freestyle assessment is conducted as a solo performance within a group setting and allows the candidate to dance freely, choosing any moves or style to perform. Candidates are given an unknown piece of music (provided by the examiner and played by the music operator in the exam). Candidates have one minute to familiarise themselves with the music before improvising. The music will run without stopping during the assessment; candidates will enter the dance space and perform for approximately sixteen bars of music. Once a candidate has finished their Freestyle, they will leave the space and the next candidate will enter at the next appropriate place in the musical form. During the Freestyle, candidates have the opportunity to utilise their skills, knowledge and technical ability in order to create a solo routine. Candidates are encouraged to interpret the given music and express their sense of individuality, whilst exhibiting style and technique at the required level.
The Performance
The Performance
Two contrasting group performances should be prepared at Grade 5; each performance should last approximately two minutes. The content, including style and theme, is of free choice and teachers are free to include any genre, style and tempo for the performance. The performance piece should give each student an equal opportunity to exhibit their dance skills at the appropriate level.
Guide to Choosing Music for The Performance
The selection of music is the teacher’s choice and should allow the candidates the best opportunity to respond to phrasing, dynamics and atmosphere. The style and the mood of the music should allow for as much expression as possible, creating a performance that fulfils requirements for technique, musicality and communication.
Grading Criteria
LEARNING OUTCOME 1 (Technical Skills)
The learner will perform movement sequences showing an awareness of technique in Street Dance
| Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insecure evidence of technical accuracy at an intermediate level. An inability to demonstrate the following: - Coordination - Control - Dynamic values - Line - Projection - Fluency | Evidence of technical accuracy at an intermediate level. To include the following some of the time: - Coordination - Control - Dynamic values - Line - Projection - Fluency | Evidence of technical accuracy at an intermediate level. To include the following for the majority of the time: - Coordination - Control - Dynamic values - Line - Projection - Fluency | Evidence of technical accuracy at an intermediate level. To include the following throughout: - Coordination - Control - Dynamic values - Line - Projection - Fluency |
LEARNING OUTCOME 2 (Technical Skills)
The learner will be able to perform movement sequences demonstrating musicality in Street Dance
| Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insecure evidence of musicality at an intermediate level. An inability to demonstrate the following: - Timing - Musical Response | Evidence of musicality at an intermediate level. To include the following some of the time: - Timing - Musical Response | Evidence of musicality at an intermediate level. To include the following for the majority of the time: - Timing -Musical Response | Evidence of musicality at an intermediate level. To include the following throughout: - Timing - Musical Response |
LEARNING OUTCOME 3 (The Performance)
The learner will be able to show a sense of performance in Street Dance
| Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insecure evidence of a Street Dance performance at an intermediate level. An inability to demonstrate awareness of the following: - Expression - Communication - Technique - Projection - Interpretation - Atmosphere | Evidence of a Street Dance performance at an intermediate level. To include the following some of the time: - Expression - Communication - Technique - Projection - Interpretation - Atmosphere | Evidence of a Street Dance performance at an intermediate level. To include the following for the majority of the time: - Expression - Communication - Technique - Projection - Interpretation - Atmosphere | Evidence of a Street Dance performance at an intermediate level. To include the following throughout: - Expression - Communication - Technique - Projection - Interpretation - Atmosphere |
Assessment Criteria
| Learning Outcome — The learner will: | Assessment Criteria — The learner can: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Be able to perform movement sequences showing an awareness of technique in Street Dance | 1.1 | Demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of Street Dance vocabulary |
| 1.2 | Demonstrate secure technical skills at an intermediate level | ||
| 2 | Be able to perform movement sequences demonstrating musicality in Street Dance | 2.1 | Demonstrate an understanding of a range of rhythmical sounds, accents and timings |
| 2.2 | Demonstrate an understanding of musical interpretation through: a) Phrasing b) Dynamics c) Atmosphere |
||
| 3 | Be able to show a sense of performance in Street Dance | 3.1 | Demonstrate the use of expression and performance skills appropriately at an intermediate level |
| 3.2 | Communicate appropriately with the audience | ||
Additional Information
Aims and Broad Objectives
The aim of the Street Dance qualification is to provide a flexible, progressive mastery approach to the knowledge, skills and understanding required for Street Dance. The purpose of RSL’s graded qualifications is to motivate and encourage candidates of all ages and levels through a system of progressive mastery to develop and enhance skills, knowledge and understanding in a safe and consistent way. The qualifications are beneficial for learners wishing to progress at their own pace through smaller steps of achievement. These qualifications are suitable for learners in the Under 16, 16+, 16-18, 19+ age groups.
Entry Requirements
There are no entry requirements for these qualifications. However, learners should be aware that the content at the higher grades will require a level of knowledge and understanding covered in previous qualifications.
Progression
Graded qualifications provide a flexible progression route for learners. They are a positive means of determining progress and enable learners to learn the necessary techniques to gain entry to FE and HE courses. Graded qualifications operate according to a well-established methodology of ‘progressive mastery’. They tend to be more rigorous than other types of exams and for that reason industry professional are confident that achievement at the highest level gained by candidates of graded qualifications will have the skills necessary to work in other areas of the business.
Qualification Structure
A graded qualification consists of a range of both practical and knowledge-based tasks which are based on detailed requirements outlined in the relevant syllabus.
Therefore, requirements for each grade will be set out in detail in the Unit Specifications and the Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria for each unit will require knowledge, skills and understanding of these syllabus requirements to be demonstrated at the grade entered
Assessment Methodology
The graded examinations in Street Dance are assessed using two distinct components:
- Technical Skills
- The Performance
Expectations of Knowledge, Skills and Understanding
The graded examination system is one based on the principle of ‘progressive mastery’; each step in the exam chain demonstrates learning, progression and skills in incremental steps. Successful learning is characterised by a mastery of the fundamental skills demanded in each grade. Learners will be able to complete a set of practical tasks and be tested on their underpinning knowledge (the complexity and variety of tasks are determined by which qualification is being attempted), which allow them to demonstrate Street Dance knowledge, skills and understanding relevant to the grade. These technical skills set a firm platform for further technical and creative development by the learner.
Quality Assurance
All RSL examinations and graded qualifications are standardised according to the processes and procedures laid down by RSL.
Uniform for PAA Examination
A uniform for the examination is not prescribed but should be appropriate to the style and genre. Candidates must present themselves appropriately for an examination and adhere to
health and safety regulations. Teachers must ensure the following:
- Hair is neatly tied back.
- Dancewear is appropriate and allows examiners to see the body, line and form clearly.
- The choice of dance shoes or bare feet is appropriate to the style.
- All jewellery is removed.
- Any costume or props used during the performance are carefully considered.
Examination Levels
PAA Street Dance examinations are offered at three levels:
- LEVEL 1: Grades 1–3
- LEVEL 2: Grades 4–5
- LEVEL 3: Grades 6–8
The Value of RSL Qualifications
RSL advocates an open-access approach to qualifications, providing a range of syllabi, designed to accommodate a wide variety of candidates of different ages, experience and levels of achievement. RSL is listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in England and Northern Ireland by the Office of Qualifications and Examination Regulation (Ofqual). RSL Awards are committed to maintaining and improving its reputation for excellence by providing high-quality education and training through its syllabi, examinations and resources.
RSL and UCAS
For students applying for work or university, many potential employers see Graded Performance Exams in a very positive way. Recognised qualifications demonstrate an ability to dedicate commitment to extra-curricular activities, providing evidence of versatility which many students find beneficial within UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) applications and for university entrance interviews. Our qualifications carry allocated points on the UCAS tariff. For full details relating to the allocation of points for our qualifications, please see: www.rslawards.com/about-us/ucas-points
Supporting Audio and Video
In addition to the syllabus specification, we have also provided supporting video to give teachers and candidates additional help and guidance when studying for a PAA exam.
Supporting Videos
Download the PAA Syllabus
Download the full PAA Street Dance Syllabus here:
Street Dance Syllabus SpecificationDates & Fees
Next exam period:
26 February 18 - 30 March 18
Entry Deadline
All applications must be recieved at least 6 weeks prior to the exam date
View All Exam Dates