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Ofsted Good Rating

Dance

Introduction

Through carefully tailored programmes of study including choreography, performance skills, dance technique and analysis of professional dance works we enable students to discover styles and practitioners who engage and excite them. We firmly believe that watching and taking part in live dance performance is integral to teaching and therefore we ensure that there are regular opportunities to become involved in trips, workshops and the annual dance show.

Years 8 & 9 

What will I study?

In Year 8, you will study the following topics;

  • Jazz
  • Group choreography – Costa Concordia.
  • Bollywood

In Year 9, you will study the following topics;

  • Contemporary Dance
  • Safe Dance practice/ Professional Work Shadows
  • Group choreography – choosing and researching a stimuli 
What skills will I develop?

Year 8:

  • Physical skills: posture, alignment, co-ordination, balance, strength, flexibility, mobility and control.
  • Technical skills: travel, turn, stillness, floor work, transfer of weight, dynamic content, spatial movement, movement performed accurately and relationships.
  • Expressive skills: projection, focus, spatial awareness, facial expression, musicality, sensitivity to others and communication of choreographic intent.

Year 9:

  • Knowledge of nutrition and hydration in relation to a dancer.
  • Safe practice as a performer in relation to; elevation and landing, supporting and lifting and dancing in a group.
  • Knowledge of the defining characteristics of the professional work; Physical setting, lighting, choreographic style, stimulus/starting points, dance style, movement content, costume, aural setting and performance environment.
How will I be assessed?

Year 8:

Three assessment points all practical based on Jazz, Costa Concordia and Bollywood units focusing on physical technical expressive skills and the choreography process.

Year 9:

Three assessment points, two practical based contemporary dance and choreography from a stimulus and one theory assessment based on Safe Dance practice. 

Curriculum Maps 

Years 10 & 11 

What will I study?

Year 10:

  • Set Phrase 1
  • Performance in a Duo/Trio.
  • Set Phrase 2
  • Within Her Eyes / A Linha Curva.
  • A Linha Curva/ Emancipation of Expressionism
  • Emancipation of Expressionism/ Infra

Year 11:

  • Mock Choreography
  • Real Choreography
  • Recap over; Within Her Eyes, A Linha Curva, Emancipation of Expressionism and Infra.
  • Artificial things and Shadows
What skills will I develop?

Year 10:

  • Physical skills: posture, alignment, co-ordination, balance, strength, flexibility, mobility and control.
  • Technical skills: travel, turn, stillness, floor work, transfer of weight, dynamic content, spatial movement, movement performed accurately and relationships.
  • Expressive skills: projection, focus, spatial awareness, facial expression, musicality, sensitivity to others and communication of choreographic intent.
  • Mental skills: movement memory, commitment, concentration and confidence.

Safe practice as a performer within a group context: execution of movements, clothing, jewellery, hair, footwear.

Year 11:

  • Knowledge of the defining characteristics of the professional work; Physical setting, lighting, choreographic style, stimulus/starting points, dance style, movement content, costume, aural setting and performance environment.
  • To critically appreciate a professional work through describing, analysing, interpreting, comparing, contrasting, evaluating and reflecting on all of the works in response to short answer and extended writing questions
  • The meaning of the relevant terminology for choreography (also taught through practical);
  • Action, space and dynamics.
  • The process of choreography from a starting point and stimulus to the finished product.
How will I be assessed?

Year 10:

Three assessment points in the year based on two set phrases and one duo trio performance.

Year 11:

Practical assessment on choreography and final written examination which focuses on 6 professional works and dance theory.

Curriculum Maps 

Key Stage 5

What will I study?

Year 12:

  • BTEC L3 Extended Certificate Performing Arts – Dance
  • Unit 1 – Investigating practitioners work
  • Unit 2 – Developing Skills and techniques for live performance

Year 13:

  • BTEC L3 Extended Certificate Performing Arts – Dance
  • Unit 3 – Group Performance Workshop
  • Unit 12 – Contemporary Dance Technique
What skills will I develop?

Year 12:

  • Learners investigate the work of performing arts practitioners and develop critical analysis skills and contextual understanding of how practitioners communicate themes in their work.
  • Learners explore technical performance skills with a focus on developing skills and techniques in at least two performance styles.

Year 13:

  • Learners explore and integrate creative, physical and vocal skills and techniques, working collaboratively to create a performance in response to a given stimulus.
  • Learners develop their knowledge, skills and techniques with an emphasis on practical development, application and performance skills.
How will I be assessed?

Year 12:

  • Unit 1 -  2 Hour Examination based on theme that is released in exam year (externally marked)
  • Unit 2 – Log book, practical performance and presentation.

Year 13:

  • Unit 3 – 4 mile stone written analysis of process from given stimuli to evaluation of final performance (externally marked)
  • Unit 12 – Logbook, practical performance and written essay

Curriculum Maps 

Further Information

Dance Clubs

The new timetable for dance clubs are released every September from Years 7-11.

All clubs run from 2.45 - 3.45pm in the Dance Studio and you will need a full PE or dance kit to take part.

All afterschool and classwork dances are showcased in the Annual Dance Show. Check out photographs from the dance show in our website gallery.

Further Information for BTEC and GCSE Courses

GCSE subject information can be found here.
BTEC subject information can be found here.