Ballet
Ballet Division – About
Anyone who has trained in dance knows that ballet is the most beautiful, artistic, and yet challenging of all dance forms. Usually ballet misses out on receiving Overall Awards because it is marked so critically. Often judges do not have adequate background in ballet so quality critiques are lacking. In order to address these concerns we offer the follow:
* Specialized ballet judges are brought in to give fair and astute critiques in this category
* NINE overall awards are reserved for ballet numbers alone. (see awards page for details).
* Division of levels that students compete at is determined by their level of dance in a ballet syllabus (R.A.D, Cecchetti or Russian). Entering by age is an option if a ballet syllabus is not practiced at your studio.
Whether you are a hard core ballet studio or a regular studio that has a few ballet number that you enter every year, our ballet division will give your ballet entries a greater chance of winning an overall award than any other competition in Ontario! It's Win/Win!!!!
Ballet Division – Entry Guidelines
| Ultimate Dance Connection Level | R.A.D. Equivalent | Cecchetti Equivalent | Russian Equivalent | Age |
| Level 1 | Pre-primary | Pre-ballet (~ age 5) |
Pre-ballet (~ age 5) |
5 |
| Level2 | Primary | Pre-ballet (~ age 6) |
Level 1 | 6 |
| Level 3 | Grade One & Two | Grade One (approx age 6) |
Level 2 | 7 |
| Level 4 | Grade Three | Grade Two | Level 3 | 8 |
| Level 5 | Grade Four | Grade Three | Level 4 | 9 |
| Level 6 | Grade 5 & Intermediate Foundations | Grade Four | Level 5 & 6 | 10,11 |
| Level 7 | Novice Teen Ballet | Novice Teen Ballet | Novice Teen Ballet | Age 13 to 16 recreational students |
| Level 8 | Grade 6,7,8 & Intermediate | Grade Five | Level 7, 8 & Pre-Elementary |
12 - 14 |
| Level 9 | Advanced Foundations & Advanced 1 | Grade Six & Elementary | Elementary & Intermediate | 15 – 16 |
| Level 10 | Advanced 2 | Intermediate | Advanced | 17 - 18 |
| Level 11 | Solo Seal | Advanced | Pre-Professional | 19 |
DIVISION OF ABILITY
We offer this chart as a means of helping you to group your students accordingly. We prefer that you use ballet grade levels to enter your students, but if they are not presently studying a ballet syllabus, please use the age category as a means of entering your students.
The Ultimate Dance Connection does not divide categories solely according to age so birth certificates are not necessary. We rely on the integrity of the teachers and the students who attend our festival to be honest about the level at which they are currently dancing. We trust that you will respect this facet of our competition and enter your students honestly in the appropriate category. Students should be entered in the dance level in which they are currently studying.
DANCE DISCIPLINE DEFINITIONS
CLASSICAL BALLET
Must include traditional classical ballet steps and movements
CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Must consist of innovative and more modern based ballet technique
CLASSICAL POINTE
Most include traditional pointe technique in pointe shoes
CONTEMPORARY POINTE
Must consist of innovative and more modern based pointe technique
DEMI CHARACTER
Must portray a character or theme using ballet technique
