The reason its called the Rev. Techn. is because certain figures go out of favor.... its nigh impossible to include each and every figure that would qualify for a given level.

If you are not sure.. ask your teacher.. and, different Soc. may have slightly different syllabi .

In addition, updating with "new" books is not always a practical and financially viable option on a yr to yr basis.

As to Fallaway, most figures of that calibre are going to be in the same level.

The IDTA Amateur Syllabus for adults (Medal Tests), no longer specifies ANY figures at ANY level. If you make a comparison with the ISTD Syllabus, you will see that there you get a clear correspondence of figures at Bronze, Silver & Gold levels with the Professional Syllabus requirements for Associate, Licentiate & Fellow.

However, for IDTA Medal tests, the only actual requirement is that a minimum number of figures be presented, within the capabilities of the candidate. Five figures are required at Bronze Level, and six at Siler. By Gold, only a "selection of figures" is required - so not necessarily more than six.

It might be tempting to continue to match the IDTA Professional Syllabus requirements of Associate, Licentiate & Fellow with Bronze, Silver & Gold, and then find some small differences between the two Society's lists, but to do so would be missing two important points:

Firstly, the standard required in an Amateur Medal Test is nothing like that of the corresponding Professional Exam. If you get a "Highly Commended" in a Bronze Medal, you are NOT suitably prepared for the Associate Exam (although your dance performance MIGHT be of a suitable standard), and the holder of a Gold Medal, is in no sense the equal of the holder of a Fellowship in a Teaching Society.

Secondly, the association of the two systems might lead you to think that a Gold Medal is more than it is. It is not uncommon to think Bronze = Beginner; Silver = Intermediate and that Gold = Advanced. Actually, I think that Gold rounds off the beginner phase of dancing, the intermediate phase is represented by the Gold Bars & Stars, and perhaps the advanced phase, the President's Awards and beyond. The IDTA offers medal tests at twenty levels, Gold being the third.

The descriptions from the Amateur Syllabus bear this out:

All the way up to to 3rd Gold Bar (Level 6): "a selection of figures demonstrated to a higher standard of technique"(ie progressively higher than Silver); up to 5th Gold Star (Level 11): "... a higher standard of technique showing good poise, deportment and characterisation"; and for the President's Awards: "... a selection of figures ... performed with continuity, fluidity of movement and musical interpretation".

Can you be an advanced dancer without those things?

And why did the IDTA drop all the figures that were included in Laird's Supplement? No supplement-figure is included in the IDTA syllabus.

"The IDTA Amateur Syllabus for adults (Medal Tests), no longer specifies ANY figures at ANY level."

Most of the interest in what is on which level of which syllabus has nothing to do with medal tests, but instead to do with restricted competitions.

That might be true for competitors - in which case they will get no help from the IDTA syllabus - but it is not true for Medalists, who outnumber competitive dancers severalfold.

"That might be true for competitors - in which case they will get no help from the IDTA syllabus - but it is not true for Medalists, who outnumber competitive dancers severalfold."

On the contrary, the opposite is true. Competitors in restricted divisions substantially outnumber those studying for medal exams.

Hi Babamm,
The 'Latin Supplement' was written by Julie Laird (not Walter) and its purpose was to cover the figures recommended by the British Dance Council...

Anyway, if you are still interested then I suggest you read the Preface in the Supplement Book.

I can email both books

@dance-with.hiruni

which editions do you own?

I have bought both the 1994-reprint of the 1988 edition of Walter Laird's Technique, as well as the 2003 edition (revised in 2006).

What I'm still looking for are the Supplement, but even more: the edition called the "Green Book" (I think it's from the 70s), I would be grateful for any hints where I could get those from:

simon_suchocki@hotmail.com

Thanks in advance!

The 'Green Book' has been out of print for some time and is unlikely to reappear. I also understand that the IDTA have also acquired the copyright to the Laird Technique, and that a revision is in the pipeline. It remains to be seen whether the title lives on, but the recent revision to Howard (while mangling significant parts of the text to the point of absurdity) retained the name.