Dancing skills assessments

Enjoy Scottish dancing, want to improve your dancing skills and receive something to show that you are developing? No problem! the RSCDS offers many ways to become a better dancer and gain certificates or badges to show your progression.

The Dancing Achievement Awards, open to anyone aged 12 and over, are offered at three increasingly challenging levels; Intermediate, Advanced and Very Advanced. DAA courses are regularly offered at the RSCDS Summer School, but also by an increasing number of Branches around the world. Course tutors give you personal critique and help you improve individual aspects of your dancing, before the assessment.

Watch different levels of DAA dances performed

Young dancers are offered a wider range of accreditation opportunities. The Primary School Accreditation Programme encourages schools to get their pupils dancing. This can start small, perhaps with an after-school club, aiming for Bronze. Get more of the school community involved, learn more, and achieve Silver. Offer every pupil the chance to learn SCD and your school can go for Gold and every dancer gets a badge!

Dancing can form part of other youth award schemes, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and badges offered by the Scouts and Guides. The RSCDS offer a Youth Leadership Award for dancers from age 12 and you can learn more by visiting the young dancers section.

For keen young dancers, the Medal Tests provide a chance to shine individually. Medal Tests are aimed mainly at dancers aged 7-16. Through the levels, you build up performance skills and knowledge of steps and formations; strathspey step is introduced in Grade 5.

Some schools, clubs and Branches organise demonstration teams. They may participate in dance festivals; some offer the chance to display team prowess; others are competitive, with trophies for the teams most highly rated for their perfect dancing or imaginative choreography.

Assessments require assessors and competitions need adjudicators. The RSCDS is keen to encourage experienced teachers to undertake these roles, periodically offering training courses, as well as helpful information.

Schools

Start SCD at your school and go for Bronze Accreditation; gain Silver through increased involvement; get the whole school dancing and go for Gold!

Medal Tests

If you’re aged 7-16 you can gain medals attesting your dancing skills, at six progressive levels to build your knowledge of steps and formations.

D.A.A.

Take a short course to perfect your dancing skills (at three challenging levels) and the associated award test to demonstrate your success.

Competitive festivals

Join dancers from all over the world and demonstrate that your team is the best skilled and most imaginative!

Become an assessor

Experienced teachers are encouraged to join the ranks of those assessing Medal Tests and DAA and adjudicating at festivals.

Get sponsorship

RSCDS scholarships assist many young dancers to participate in events and courses where they can improve their dancing skills and undergo assessments.

Young dancers

The Youth Services Committee is bursting with ideas for young dancers to improve and be accredited for their dancing skills.

RSCDS events

Have fun with like-minded people as you learn new dances and hone your dancing skills with top teachers at RSCDS and other events!

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Join an RSCDS Branch & receive member benefits

There are 159 RSCDS Branches and over 300 Affiliated Groups in more than 50 countries around the world, located on all continents (except Antarctica).

They organise and run classes, dances and other social events in their own areas and are committed to helping develop Scottish Dance and Music for future generations.

We encourage you to try Scottish Country Dancing for yourself to see just how much fun it can be, so please come along and learn how to 'Dance Scottish'. 

Wherever you are in the world there is most likely Scottish Country Dancing.

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