PICTURES: Inverness ballet students at TFX Academy pass first virtual Royal Academy of Dance exam
DANCE students in Inverness were delighted to receive their official certificates and medals months after they took their first virtual exam.
Fourteen ballet students from TFX Performing Arts Academy were among the first to be examined by the Royal Academy of Dance online, only a few days before lockdown was announced in March.
With the awarding process slowed down by the unexpected circumstances, the group finally received their certificates and medals last Monday, and all were delighted to be awarded high merits and distinctions.
Dance teacher Maxine Machado-Anderson said: “It’s the first time in history that the Royal Academy of Dance gave the opportunity to take the exams virtually, as the examiners’ trip was cancelled because of the pandemic.
“The pupils were amazing, they adapted very well and rose to this new challenge.
“I am very glad the certificates have finally arrived – in the past few weeks I have had at least one pupil each lesson asking me if their certificates had arrived yet!”
The students took exams from Grade 1 to Grade 4 and, after passing, are now studying at more advanced levels.
Ms Machado-Anderson added: “When the results arrived, I could only deliver them over the phone and I wasn’t able to see their reactions, so it was wonderful to see them so happy to receive their official results.
“They have all been working very hard towards the exams and this is really a great satisfaction for everyone.”
