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Student Medal Tests Details

Age Divisions

Examinations in this program are conducted in the following age divisions:
Juvenile Candidates under 12 years of age
Junior Candidates over 12 and under 16 years of age
Youth Candidates over 16 and under 18 years of age
Adult Candidates 18 years and over
Senior Candidates 50 and over

Syllabus of Examinations

Dance Achievement Awards

• A minimum of two basic figures should be demonstrated in each dance. The standard will not be technical and will not demand the Rise and Fall, Latin action or quality of movement required in the Medal Tests. Correct footwork is desirable, but will not be insisted upon. These are not graded exams and should be used primarily for beginners or at the dance program administrator’s discretion.
• Dances available: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Slow or Quick Rhythm, Viennese Waltz, Peabody, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, Jive, Swing, Mambo, and Bolero. Alternative rhythms available are Salsa, Hustle, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango and Lindy Hop.
• A candidate may choose from all of the rhythms above for their test. Those who already hold medals in Ballroom, Latin, Smooth, or Rhythm are eligible to take any of the DAA medals. The higher levels, DAA 2 and DAA 3,do not require a higher standard of dancing.

Scoring

Each dance will be marked Pass, Commended or Honors. A pass or higher in each dance will entitle the candidate to the Dance Achievement Award. The USISTD syllabi should be used as a guide for these tests.
Dance Achievement Award Level 1
Candidates will select three dances.
Dance Achievement Award Level 2
Candidates will select four dances.
Dance Achievement Award Level 3
Candidates will select five dances.

Medal Tests

General Information
• Candidates must pass the tests in strict sequence - Bronze upwards through Gold. Candidates who already hold the Bronze or higher medal of a recognized Society may commence with the Imperial Silver medal test.
• Candidates moving from one age division to another, Junior to Youth or Youth to Adult, may commence the next division with the Silver medal test but no higher.
• Candidates who have passed the Supreme Award in a division are eligible to commence in the next division at the Gold level, but no higher.
• Candidates may enter for both Bronze and Silver tests at the same session, but only one higher level test may be taken at any examination session in a single style of dance i.e.: A candidate may enter Gold or above Ballroom and Latin at a session, but not Gold and Gold Star Ballroom.
• Candidates who have passed their first multi-dance exam in the Bronze or Silver level are not required to take further exams within the same level. However, in order to ensure an even level of quality in their instruction they should be encouraged to take further exams in the remaining syllabus dances before proceeding to the next Medal level.

Medal Test Requirements

One Dance Tests

• One Dance Tests do not qualify a candidate to enter a Full Medal test at a higher grade.
• Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Gold Star Awards are offered in each of the following dances: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rhythm, Viennese Waltz, Peabody, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble, Jive, Swing, Mambo, and Bolero.

International Style Ballroom Medal Tests

• Candidates may chose from the figures listed for their grade. It is not necessary to dance all these figures, but no additional figures may be introduced unless otherwise stated.
• Dances available: Waltz, Tango, Fox Trot, Quickstep, Slow and Quick Rhythm, Viennese Waltz. The Viennese Waltz may be used in place of Slow and Quick Rhythm in any of the Gold Star tests. Candidates will be expected to show Natural and Reverse Turns and Forward and Backward Change Steps only.
Juvenile, Junior and Youth
Bronze: Choice of two dances.
Silver: Choice of three dances.
Gold: All four dances
Gold Star, Juvenile and Junior: All four dances
Gold Star, Youth: All four dances and Slow Rhythm
Adult and Senior
Bronze: Choice of two dances and Slow Rhythm.
Silver: Choice of three dances and Slow Rhythm.
Gold: All four dances and Slow Rhythm.
Gold Star: All four dances and Slow and Quick Rhythm or Viennese Waltz.
Rhythm Dancing
For the Rhythm Dance section of the Ballroom exams candidates are required to show their ability to dance to 4/4 music in a crowded ballroom. This section will be given the same importance in marking as the other syllabus dances.
Rhythm dancing is required of Junior Gold Star, Adult, Senior and Student tests. Choice of tempo within the given range of bars per minute is at the discretion of the teacher. Adult, Senior and Student will dance Slow Rhythm between 30-40 bars per minute and Quick Rhythm between 40-50 bars per minute.
Recommended figures: Quarter Turns to R and L, Natural Pivot Turn, Reverse Pivot Turn, Back Corte, Side Step, Promenade Walk and Chasse. Additional figures may be introduced if desired. Rhythm Dancing is described with more detail in "Teach Yourself to Dance", published by the ISTD, and Hodder and Stoughton.

Latin American Medal Tests

• Candidates may choose from the figures listed for their grade. It is not necessary to dance all these figures but no additional figures may be introduced unless otherwise stated.
• Dances available: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, Paso Doble
All Age Divisions
Bronze: Choice of two dances.
Silver: Choice of three dances.
Gold: Choice of four dances.
Gold Star: All five dances.

American Smooth Medal Tests

• Candidates may chose from the figures listed for their grade. It is not necessary to dance all these figures, but no additional figures may be introduced unless otherwise stated.
• Dances available: Waltz, Tango, Fox Trot, Viennese Waltz, Peabody (Bronze only)
All Age Divisions
Bronze: Choice of two dances.
Silver: Choice of three dances.
Gold: Choice of four dances
Gold Star: Choice of four dances

American Rhythm Medal Tests

• Candidates may chose from the figures listed for their grade. It is not necessary to dance all these figures, but no additional figures may be introduced unless otherwise stated.
• Dances available: Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Mambo, Bolero
All Age Divisions
Bronze: Choice of two dances.
Silver: Choice of three dances.
Gold: Choice of four dances.
Gold Star: All five dances.

Formation Team Tests

Details on these exams are in a separate booklet available through the USISTD Publications Department.

Candidate Dancing as the Opposite Sex

Candidates wishing to enter these tests must have passed the equivalent grade dancing first as their own gender. Application forms must include the appropriate wording ie: Dancing as Man/Lady. These tests must be taken in sequence, commencing with the Bronze level.

Student Member

Many students like to know the technique and theory available in the Pofessional Examination Program.
This category allows the student to prepare and enter for professional level examinations without requiring a change of status from Amateur to Professional.
The requirements for preparation and the fees are identical to the criteria listed in the Professional Examination section of this handbook.

These exams are available in International Standard, Latin American, American Ballroom and American Rhythm.
The candidate is restricted to the Student-Teacher and Associate level.
Should the candidate decide to become a Professional he/she may use their credentials after declaring a change of status to the Membership Services department.
Licentiate level examinations may be taken following the completion of the two year waiting period or with permission from the Examination Department.