About Commercial Theatre Awards in Dance and Drama

The Commercial Theatre Awards in Dance and Drama, offering examinations in primary and graded exams in Street Jazz, Cheerleading, Contemporary Dance and Musical Theatre.

The aim of the exams is to offer dance exams in areas of dance were examinations have previously not  been offered, and to provide a structured course for teachers of the above genres in dance.

It is the intent of the syllabus to help develop a feeling of  self worth for young people who may not have found success in other areas of education, and provided them with a focus for their own personal development.

Who created the Commercial Awards in Dance and Drama?

Richard Green, the principal of the Northern Academy of Performing Arts, wrote and developed this exam in response to a growing demand for a more structured approach to alternative dance.
Private Ballet, Piano, and Drama classes, Mr Green maintains,  have tended on the whole to be the exclusive province of the middle classes, providing their children with success and confidence from an early age. There is, however,  a huge grey area of children who gain no recognition for the work they do, and it is to these children that the Commercial Theatre Awards is aimed.

 The exams have been piloted in the city of Hull.  A city, like many other inner city areas, with its own social and educational problems.

The Academy has had a large take up on the exams in Hull,  from both schools and the private sector.

How does the sullabus work within the main stream curriculum?

 The Street Jazz and The Cheerleading courses work often as lunch time or after school clubs, were as the Contemporary  course is geared to support the GCSE dance course, preparing children from year 8 with a focused dance provision.