Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 5/13/2008

Question
My son is currently doing Grade 1 RAD ballet (+ jazz & tap and has done contemporary). It looks like where we move to next year offers only Cecchetti ballet. Can you please tell me the difference between them generally and for boys.
Regards,
Jenny

Answer
Hi Jenny. Cecchetti grades work is considered a very good syllabus. The allegro has a lot of Bournonville style footwork and it is good training for boys. I think your son will enjoy it if he gets advanced in Cecchetti. It is challenging and the advanced work builds a good level of strength.

I did both RAD training and Cecchetti - the Cecchetti grades seemed more demanding to me, and definitely were more technically useful for becoming professional.

I think Cecchetti has more technical demands then RAD and lays a foundation for students to learn other ballet techniques as well, if they wish to or have the opportunity to.

All the best with your move, and your son's dancing!

Hi Jenny. Let me add a little more to this. I trained early in RAD, before I went to The National Ballet School of Canada. It got me started but I had to re-train some basic concepts later. Cecchetti was used as a syllabus at NBS, and was a lot tougher than RAD. However, years later when I was training for my teachers' exams, Cecchetti changed and downgraded, in order, I believe, to compete with RAD for more regional studio use. The technical accuracy demand remained the same, but the combinations required for exams were much easier. I didn't like to see that happen, but it was a survival move for The Cecchetti Society.

Specifically, turnout is taught more effectively in the Cecchetti method, as it would translate into developing a professional line. The positions of the body as taught in Cecchetti are derived from classical choreography and as such are more useful to students.

And, as I mentioned earlier, the allegro in the advanced grades are also more classically derived, and therefore more useful to students, especially boys.

All in all, I think your son is taking a step up in starting Cecchetti.

All the best, Dianne