Hi!

I have a question! Can anybody tell me something about the current IDTA syllabus in Latin (and also in Ballroom)? Where can I find it on the internet? I mean the ISTD syllabus is easy to find because it is puplished almost evrywhere. But the IDTA syllabus is kept secret I think or I find an older version. Is there a possibility to find out?
Thnk you!

Babamm, Google " Walter Laird IDTA" .
The book costs 35 Pounds and can be bought online.

The Latin Technique adopted by IDTA is Walter Laird's, and the Ballroom Technique is Guy Howard's. Neither book contains the current syllabus, but you could not make a serious study of the syllabus content for professional examinations without these texts.

The current syllabus is not published online, as far as I know, but in a slim volume called "Profesional and Amateur Dance Syllabus". The current syllabus was revised in 2006, and copies cost 8 GBP, direct from the IDTA shop, and it is also resold through third parties (usually for more).

The IDTA does not use the Supplement by Walter Lairdany more. The figures are not in the syllabus. Why not? Does anybody know why they left it out?

The Fallaway Reverse Turn & Slip Pivot is described in the IDTA ballroom technique book but it is not in the IDTA syllabus. Does anyone know why?

What makes you think its not there? It is in the current Professional Syllabus (Fellowship) and is listed on page 15.

In the IDTA syllabus The Fallaway Reverse is not mentioned in the Tango or waltz, only in Foxtrott (Fellow).
It is mentioned in the book but how do I know if the figure is a Gold figure or Silver figur and so on.
Others are not even mentioned in the syllabus but mentioned in the book such as an Outside Change in Foxtrot. Same question: how do I know which level it is.

And what about the Supplement by Walter Laird? The IDTA does not mention it at all! Why? Is it not allowed to dance these figures? I think the figures in there are great!

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.