Analysis of selection criteria in the access tests to official Dance studies

Abstract

Access to official studies are performed by Dance aptitude tests in spanish Professional Conservatories of Dance, by Dance Teachers who evaluate rhythmic, expressive and psychomotor skills and doctors who perform an assessment of the physical characteristics. The selection of students is based on the results of these tests, and we want to discuss in this paper which are the main features governing the qualifications. The assessment committee is made up of professional dance teachers, and we want to find out if there are differences between different dance specialties when they come to qualify. There are no specific studies about the assessment. The article discusses the items in the aptitude test as faculty in Dance pedagogy as having different specialties regarding the element of evaluation. To complete the objectives of the study, quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the administration of a test (n=27). The results indicate that, while the classical dance teacher qualifications prioritized weight/height, foot morphology and leg flexibility, teachers of Spanish dance and flamenco granted greater importance to the evaluation of the morphology of the legs and aspects of rhythm and expression, while specializing in contemporary noted for giving more importance to the characterization of morphology of the spine and pelvis. In line with these results, differences in the distribution of scores for certain evaluation items were found among teachers of all educational specialties.