Frequently Asked Questions
Think swimming badges, think gymnastics badges…well here are the dance badges. We don’t quite know why no one’s ever set about creating them before, but we’re excited to be putting them out there into the world of aspiring dancers to get that much needed pat on the back as they work towards the grade with their dance association.
We’ve put together a list of FAQs for you to answer some of those burning questions you have, but if you don’t see the answer to your question below get in touch and say hello via our Contact page and we’ll be only too glad to answer it for you.
What are the International Dance Rewards (IDR)?
The IDR are a scheme of badges & certificates to recognise each and every achievement along a child’s journey in dance. From their very first bend and stretch in an adult & child setting to a solo performance at age 16. They are assessed by a simple tick sheet method at each stage by the class teacher or principle and certificates and badges rewarded to the student and the end of each term or half term. Simple and inclusive, recognising and rewarding attendance, discipline, and effort.
How Does It Work?
- Download the Progress Record Cards from our downloads section for the desired class, one per pupil. Premium Record Cards can also be ordered from the shop.
- Tick the boxes achieved in the coloured section you are working towards. You can use your own free work, other exam work or festivals and show pieces to assess students as the achievements do not include set work, but are more general so fit a variety of work. Some teachers do this throughout a term, others have an assessment day.
- Go online to order the specific colour Badge & Certificate combo for each child who has gained that award.
- Alternatively just offer our Show and Graduation awards.
Can I use the IDR along side my usual dance syllabus (IDTA, ISTD, RSL etc)?
Yes, our writers have years of experience with numerous boards, IDTA, RAD, ISTD and UDO. Our IDR learning objectives and outcomes have been written with these in mind. So for example if you’re teaching Grade 1 ballet then our level 1 badges should correspond. Check out our downloadable Progress Record Cards for more information. Equally we work for schools who do not follow an examine syllabus.
Do I need to become a member of the IDR?
Whilst membership is available, you do not need to be a member for your school to participate in the scheme. All certificates and badges are available from our shop and our assessment sheets are available as a free download to be printed at your home or studio. We have deliberately chosen to make things simple and affordable. However schools which do become members have many benefits – including a 10% discount.
Membership
Although you do not have to be a member to follow or use our badges we have recently introduced a membership option. This is a great benefit to our regular schools. Alongside other benefits they can save 10% off all our products all of the time, without having to wait for a promotions. Check out our membership page for more details.
Do I need to take a teaching qualification with IDR to use the scheme?
No, we do not have a specific IDR teaching qualification as we are not an examination board we are a reward scheme. If you join as a member we will require you to complete the form with your qualification details.
How do I teach IDR within my classes?
You can continue to teach your classes as you always have, our Progress Record Card should fit right in. Tick off the points as you take a class or run an ‘Assessment class” Perfect for little ones in preparation for exams in years to come.
How are the students assessed?
Similar to swimming and gymnastic badge systems, IDR are assessed in house by the Teacher or Principal. Our awards are designed to reward dedication, effort and passion not just technique and ability so are inclusive and accessible to all.
How often can I assess my class?
It’s at your discretion how often you assess your students, each level has a suggested time frame alongside the file download for the Progress Record Sheet.
How do you maintain your standards of your students and teachers?
We believe all dance teachers want the best for their students. We give teachers the structure to offer a national award for their student’s efforts and enthusiasm. We are an inclusive rewards programme and not a traditional examine board who offer qualifications and marks based on technique and performance. This is why we believe IDR work so well along side examination boards. We also try to familiarise ourselves with our dance schools and have a teachers code of conduct we expect members to adhere to.
I've noticed that some of the points repeat across the levels, is that correct?
Yes, some learning objectives appear across several levels; as students progress they must portray learning outcomes with greater confidence, conveying more depth of emotion and skill than the previous level. In the same way as a demi plie remains constant in all ballet grades. Other points such as class etiquette are important to revisit so that they are always at the forefront of a students mind. Dance is a discipline after all and students should value this aspect of their tuition as much as any other.
How it Works
IDR is a beautifully designed badge reward system for your dance classes offering a structured progression through all aspects of dance; from technique and performance, to manners and uniform. Fun and inclusive because we believe regular, stress free, in-house assessment and, most importantly, rewarding achievement are the key to developing happy, motivated and inspired students.
Use it to reward and encourage students on route to their next exam, or for those whom exams are not necessarily the correct path. IDR are a great way to nurture the training and achievements of every student and every step. From toddlers to grade 5 level with
no annual subscriptions, hidden charges or minimum orders to satisfy we offer you the ultimate flexibility in rewarding your dancers.