THE TECHNICAL APTITUDE EXAMination (EAT)

The PESMD Bordeaux Aquitaine is a National Examination Centre for the Technical Aptitude Examination (EAT) that gives access to the training in preparation for the State Diploma of Dance Teacher.

Enrolment to the course is subject to the candidate having previously passed the Technical Aptitude Examination – EAT.
This exam allows the candidate to prove that they possess the technical and artistic competencies/skills required to start the training for the State Diploma of Dance Teacher:

• Bodily control and precision (the construction of the body, precise execution of technical aspects, noting of dynamics, nuances and the use of space)
• Command of timing, musical timing and musicality
• Artistic sense (amount of commitment in the movement, interpretation, performance, presentation)
• Ability to articulate technical elements related to the option chosen
• Command of the arrangement (accuracy, originality, creativity)

So, for each option covered by the exam (ballet, contemporary dance, jazz dance), the level required corresponds to the level attained by students of the national conservatoires of the region or the national schools of music and dance at the end of the secondary cycle (Curriculum A).
With this qualification, students of the Technical Aptitude Examination are equal to the level defined by the ‘inspection de la creation et des enseignements artistiques du Ministère chargé de la culture et de la communication’ (the governing body for arts teachers in the Ministry of Culture and Communication) for the final tests of the cycle.

The Technical Aptitude Examination 2017

Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary
Session 2017

You can obtain the application file at DRAC of your region or directly online here.

Please take note: due to the new mapping of regions, Auvergne is now part of the Rhône-Alpes region. Candidates must send their application file to IsdaT at Toulouse.
For candidates resident in a different region, contact the DRAC of your region for further information.

Deadline for registration: Friday 10^_th February, 2017, postmarked on or before.
Sending address :
PESMD Bordeaux Aquitaine
EAT Service
19 Monthyon Street
33800 Bordeaux

Please take note: in accordance with the Decree of 20^_th July 2015 on the different paths to the profession of Dance Teacher, there will now be only one session per year and a catch-up session reserved for eligible candidates.

Contact the DRAC of your region for more information or the EAT service of the PESMD Bordeaux Aquitaine in + 33 (0)5 56 91 36 84.

The Registration Procedure for the EAT

Seasons

The EAT is organised in two seasons within the calendar year (in the spring and the autumn) and the test is taken in designated examination centres (designated by the Minister for Culture).

EAT examination centres.pdf

Arrêté du 20 Juillet 2015.pdf
Art. 5. – "L’examen d’aptitude technique est organisé en une session d’examen et une session de rattrapage par année civile dans des centres d’examen dont la liste est annexée à la décision d’organisation de l’examen du ministre chargé de la culture.
Chaque centre d’examen est habilité à délivrer l’attestation de réussite à l’examen.
Deux mois avant la date de l’examen d’aptitude technique, le candidat adresse au centre d’examen dont il relève une demande d’inscription sur un formulaire type.
Sont déclarés reçus les candidats ayant obtenu une note au moins égale à 10 sur 20.
Seuls les candidats ayant obtenu une note au moins égale à 9 sur 20 à la première session de l’exercice sont admis à se présenter à la session de rattrapage."

The candidate’s application:

The application file of the candidate is to be submitted to the regional direction of cultural affairs (DRAC) local to where the candidate lives: List of DRAC centres.pdf
Or
The candidate can fill in their pre-registration form to receive access to the downloadable application file.

The candidate must in all cases fill in the paper application file in capital letters and send it along with all other documents required by their local examination centre, postmarked on or before the deadline shown on the application.

Please take note:

• only complete applications submitted by the deadline can be accepted for submission
• candidates must submit a complete application for each option they have applied for (in the case of multiple applications)

Required documents:

• a Photocopy of a piece of valid identity R/V - front and back (CNI – national identity card, passport or driving license)
• a original medical certificate dated within the last three months
• an official ID photo
• an enrolment fee of 50€ made payable to PESMD Bordeaux Aquitaine
• a guarantee cheque of 76.50€ made payable to PESMD Bordeaux Aquitaine – returned on the day of the exam

Each document should be duplicated in accordance with the number of applications per candidate.

After receiving the application, the exam centre will:

• send the candidate a registration certificate, a DVD and a CD of the set variations
• cash the registration fee

Convocation:

The examination centre will send the candidates a notification letter at the latest 15 days before the set exam dates for the candidates region and chosen option.

Cancellations:

The cancellations registered up to a month before the start of the tests are accepted. After this period, cancellations can only be accepted in exceptional circumstances and official documents must be provided as proof (medical certificate, official or administrative document…) and sent within 48 hours to the examination centre.

Whatever the reason for the delay and reason for cancellation, candidates are reminded that at the reception of the application, the examination centre cashes the registration fee. The cheque for 50€ is therefore not returned.

If the candidate wishes to cancel their registration and re-register for the second season, their cancellation must have been registered. It is therefore imperative that the candidate sends a letter to the examination centre containing the following items: the DVD and the CD, a letter of cancellation and valid proof for the reason of cancellation in exceptional circumstances.

Reimbursement of the deposit:

• the guarantee is returned to the candidate on the day of the exam when the CD and DVD have been returned
• in case of acceptable cancellation, the guarantee is returned on the return of the CD and DVD which have been on loan
• if the candidate does not attend the exam without having cancelled following the guidelines, the guarantee will not be returned

On the day of the examination:

On the day of the examination the candidate should present himself at the date, time and place detailed on the confirmation letter, along with:

• the certificate of registration
• the confirmation letter
• a piece of identity
• the DVD and the CD of the set variations

Results:

The candidates’ results are posted at the end of each season in the exam centre.
The list showing the candidates who have passed is displayed in each regional department of cultural affairs (DRAC), which is linked with the examination centre. 

The examination centre sends each candidate 15 days after the end of their examination:

• a transcript of their mark
• where applicable, a certificate of success
   

The Structure of the EAT Examination

EAT information.pdf

Ballet, contemporary, jazz:

1 - Set variation: chosen by the ‘inspection de la creation et des enseignements artistiques du Ministère chargé de la culture et de la communication’ (the governing body for arts teachers in the Ministry of Culture and Communication), lasting from 1 minute 30 seconds to a maximum of 3 minutes, executed or demonstrated in detail by the candidate (Coefficient 3).
The candidate chooses one set variation from two choices set out by the governing body.
In addition, the head of the examining panel may ask the candidate to re-demonstrate one or more technical elements or choreographed sections from the set variation.

2 - Own Composition: The candidate demonstrates their own composition lasting between 30 seconds and 1 minute, to be prepared in advance with the candidates choice of music, and using the technical elements of their style (Coefficient 2).

3 - Improvisation: The audition panel chooses one or more technical or artistic elements related to the candidates style or an aspect from the set variation. The audition panel will give them precise instructions, and with both these elements, the candidate must improvise a short sequence, lasting between 30 seconds and one minute, with music chosen by the panel. The possibility of improvising in silence may be allowed with the agreement of the panel. (Coefficient 1).

An interview with the panel is part of every audition process; it allows the candidate to explain their choice of dance.

Total Length of the audition: 15 minutes

The possibility of demonstrating the sequence rather than performing it is open to candidates aged forty and over.

Within the ballet option, candidates aged thirty and over have the option of performing on ‘half pointe’ in the variations marked ‘on pointe’.

However, these possibilities are open to any candidate, regardless of age, in the case of an accident, injury or illness which would prevent the candidate from exerting themselves. In this case the candidate should provide a medical certificate outlining the exact nature of their condition.

Temporary conditions are not taken into account in the case that the candidate is able to complete the exam on the day under normal circumstances.

The demonstration should be realised as a dance with less extension, but carried out to a high quality, with precision and clarity, especially at the level of co-ordination, also with attention to musicality, interpretation, nuances, dynamics and style.

There is a possibility that virtuosic movements may be simplified but overall, the sequence should conform as much as possible to the original variation presented.

Requirements for exemption from the EAT

Candidates in possession of any of the qualifications below are exempt from the EAT test (extract from the annex of the modified decree of 11^_th April 1995): 
Exemption from the EAT.pdf