Medal Tests

The Johnson School of Highland Dance provides  their students with the opportunity to take Highland, National and Theory exams once each year through the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. Dancers who take part in B.A.T.D. Highland Theory exams may be selected by the examiner to participate in the B.A.T.D.'s annual North-American Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships.  To respect B.A.T.D.'s copyright on its exam syllabus it can only be viewed by accessing the Member's Area of the website.

What are Medal Tests?

Each year students in the school participate in exams following the syllabus of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. An examiner accredited by the B.A.T.D. who travels across Canada on a yearly examination tour adjudicates these exams.  Medal tests are a great opportunity for students to learn new Highland and National dance technique. Each year students learn new steps as they progress through the B.A.T.D. syllabus. By learning the new steps required for medal tests, students expand their repertoire at a rate that is appropriate to their level of dancing. Upon successful completion of Medal Tests each dancer receives a written evaluation from the examiner, a certificate, and either a medal, plaque, or trophy depending on the level of exam.  Dancers look forward to adding to their collection of medals each year.

Once students become more experienced dancers they can choose to work towards their Associate Certificate with the B.A.T.D. This certification is the first step towards having full membership and teacher qualifications from the B.A.T.D. We encourage our students to work towards completing all their exams which we feel prepares them to be more versatile and educated dancers.

Students are notified well in advance of what exams they are eligible to enter each year and what is required for each exam. After the dancers are given their personal exam information they are expected to practice their exam material for several weeks at home. The exam syllabus is posted on the web site. Fees for exams are due on a date set by the teachers. All exam fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. If fees are not paid by the deadline the dancer will not be permitted to participate in exams.

B.A.T.D. Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarships

Dancers who take Highland Theory exams may be selected by the B.A.T.D. examiner to take part in the Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarship competition. Dancers must score a grade of Honour's on their Highland Theory exam in order to be recommended by the examiner.  The scholarship competition is only open to dancers registered with a teacher who is a Member of the B.A.T.D. The scholarship competition takes place each year in a major Canadian or American city. Dancers from across Canada and the Unites States compete for the scholarship. During the scholarship weekend  selected dancers must write a theory paper, perform a solo choreography, and participate in a master class led by an examiner of the B.A.T.D. The scholarship candidates are evaluated by a panel of three B.A.T.D. examiners and winners in various age categories are announced at the end of the weekend. In conjunction with the scholarship competition, the B.A.T.D. hosts workshops for dancers and teachers throughout the weekend event. 

© Johnson School of Highland Dance Inc. 2004

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