Based in England, the Royal Academy of Dance has affiliations in 70 countries and trains over 250,000 children each year. As part of their classical training, RAD students may opt to take an examination, judged by an international examiner, to determine their proficiency.

Napa has a RAD affiliate, the Royal Academy of Ballet, located in the Native Sons Building on Coombs Street with four teachers and 80 students, ranging from 4-year-olds to teenagers. This year, 16 dance students took examinations this week.

"It takes a lot of motivation, for both our students and their parents, to take the examination," said Connie Vaughan, director of the Royal Academy of Ballet and an instructor for 32 years. "They have to make a commitment to put in extra hours and take additional classes to prepare for it."

Due to the amount of work involved, examinations are given only every other year. In years past, Napa students traveled to Benicia or Half Moon Bay because there weren't enough students taking the examinations to justify having a qualified judge travel to Napa and to pay an accompanist. So, local parents created a nonprofit organization to raise money for the accompanist who plays for both the practice and the actual exam.

"The examination can be difficult and is technical," said Vaughan. "... The exams are given at all different levels, but the standards are consistent. So if a student studies at a RAD summer school in another country or state, a Grade 5 would be the same standard there as it would be here."

On the pressure packed day of examinations, parents and teachers are barred from the studio. The students must enter the room, holding their shoes and garments in a particular way, and face their examiner. Judging is usually done in groups of three or four but if there aren't enough students being examined for a certain grade, a student may be judged alone.

"Some surprise you at how well they do," said Vaughan. "No matter what the outcome, we treat it as a positive experience. Sometimes it's a subtle thing, such as a short Achilles' tendon that limits movement."

Students who take the examinations are judged on Classical, which includes position and technique, musicality and dance quality; Free Movement, the line and ease of movement; Character, which is about rhythm and style, along with detail and sense of performance. The judgments are "Pass," "Merit," and "Distinction." The examiner's notes are sent to England and it can be several months before anyone at the school knows the results.

Although the students are often nervous, Vaughan said, the exams are not intended to be stressful. "The judges are very pleasant and smile at the students to put them at ease. The other students wish them well."

Laura Hadsell is the school administrator. Hadsell's two daughters have been involved with the Royal Academy, one graduated from the program and one is currently enrolled. "Students who are not ready to face examinations can still participate in an assessment and a lot of students do that. One of the things I like about the school is the character, or folk dancing, that's taught. For this, the girls have black skirts with colorful ribbon trim and special shoes. The Royal Academy not only gives them a technical base for ballet, but also an education base for other types of dance, such as modern dance."

The RAD grade syllabus ensures that each child at a certain age and strength isn't pushed beyond her abilities. "When a child appears strong enough to go en pointe (dance on the tips of toes), her feet are x-rayed to make sure the bones are ready," said Hadsell. "The instruction here is careful and conservative."

Several Napa graduates of the program have become dance professionals, including a soloist with the National Ballet of Canada and founders of the Diablo Dance Company. One young woman is in her second year of the three-year program of the University of Utah Ballet Division.

"The music is beautiful and is standard throughout the world. We let them learn about the music so they can listen and know the composers," said Vaughan. "It's very much musical appreciation."

The musical aspect was something that drew Hadsell. "Children don't get exposed to classical music these days," she said Hadsell. "This builds their awareness. They're also taught the proper terminology. There is discipline here but there's something for everybody."

"We have small classes and we have an expectation of our students," said Vaughan. "The child has to adhere to our requirements of dress code and hair. They are challenged. This isn't about being pretty; it's a higher education that gives children a foundation in dance. They understand ballet. It's a long process and parents have to understand that. Our program works for posture development, it's great exercise and gives children an appreciation of music."

Hadsell offered advice to parents who are deciding between dance schools. "I encourage them to go to all of the schools. They should watch a class and look at the quality of the program, whether the school uses exclusively classical music, if the students are taught proper terminology and if there's discipline. Nine times out of 10, after people watch our class, they want to join."