From the Grade 1 level onward, students will be encouraged to take ballet examinations in the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and tap and jazz examinations in ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) syllabi. This enables the dancer to work toward an attainable goal and continually improve his or her standard. Some levels may take two years to complete.

Annual examinations are not compulsory; nevertheless, for students, exams offer a challenge and a great sense of achievement; for parents, they give an indication of their child's progress, and for the teacher, they present proof of their expertise and professionalism. Examinations may also lead to professional accreditation and a career in performance or dance instruction. (In fact, two of the current faculty members are former CSD students who achieved Honours in Advanced 2 standard (the highest level) in their dancing and pursued teaching certification with the ISTD and are now registered ISTD teachers holding Associate status.)

Students may require additional coaching classes before exams, at a nominal fee. All examination entries are at the discretion of the Artistic Director, and the decision whether to invite dancers to participate in examinations is made with the full interest of the student in mind.

The Royal Academy of Dance was established in 1920 by five exceptional European dancers. Today, the Royal Academy of Dance is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organizations in the world. For more information about the Royal Academy of Dance, please visit their website: www.radcanada.org

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) is the world's leading dance examinations board. Formed in 1904, it is today a registered educational charity and is the only organization that covers the full spectrum of dance examinations on a truly global scale. For more information about the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, please visit their website: www.istd.org