DANCE

“Dance is vital, an activity both exhilarating and liberating
to watch or do.  The instinct to dance is fundamentally
joyous and no matter how hard you try you can’t get away
from that for long.  It can also be a huge force for good,
effectively drawing people together and levelling everyone
through sheer hard work.  It can speed up your heart rate,
it can enliven your being, it can change your life”

Richard Alston CBE

 

Aims   Department    KS3     KS4     GCSE     A LEVEL  Extra Curricular      

AIMS

The study of dance as an art form contributes to students’ aesthetic and social development.  As a physical activity it promotes fitness and well-being.  Dance also supports learning across a range of subjects.  As performers, students develop confidence and self-esteem.  They develop self and body awareness as well as sensitivity to others and team-working skills.  Effective performance requires physical effort and the determination to succeed and improve.  As choreographers, students employ the skills of problem-solving and creativity.  Effective choreography requires imagination and the ability to synthesise a number of elements.  In directing others, students develop their interpersonal and communication skills.  As critics, students make informed decisions about the dances they see.  They articulate their knowledge, opinions and preferences.  Viewing professional dances fulfils students’ cultural entitlement and broadens their artistic experience. 

THE DEPARTMENT

The Dance department consists of three female teachers.  Miss S Bajwa is the Head of Dance and is responsible for the Dance curriculum at key stages 3 and 4, and for all of the examination subjects at GCSE and A Level Dance.  Miss M Gibbs and Miss C Davies also teach Dance at key stage 3 as part of the PE curriculum.

 

THE CURRICULUM

Key Stage 3

Students in years 7-9 follow two units of Dance in their PE lessons.  Each unit is based on a professional work and opportunities are available to perform, choreograph and evaluate, focussing on the three strands of performance, composition and appreciation which is developed upon at GCSE.  Students begin the unit by learning a short dance focussing on the key actions of the work, followed by choreographic tasks giving students the opportunity to be creative and work with other members of the class.  Within the six weeks, the students work towards creating a dance between 3-4 minutes and the unit is completed with a performance to the class.  The students thoroughly enjoy the dance units and always produce some outstanding pieces of work.  The units the students are currently following are:

YEAR	UNIT 1	UNIT 2
Year 7	Troy Game	‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Cafe
Year 8	West Side Story	The Car Man
Year 9	Charleston & Lindy Hop	Physical Theatre

Key Stage 4

At key stage 4, Dance is offered through the curriculum as a health-related exercise unit, where students have the opportunity to work on dance performances as well as following health and well-being classes in the form of Pilates, Tai Chi and Yoga.  These classes are very popular and have been a great way for the students to de-stress from the pressures of examinations.

GCSE Dance

GCSE Dance is also offered, to both boys and girls, and follows a two year course focussing on the aesthetic and artistic qualities of dance and the use of movement to express and communicate ideas and concepts through the interrelated processes of performance, choreography and critical appreciation.  The holistic study of selected professional dance works provides the context for learning through performance, choreography and critical appreciation and enables students to experience different cultural influences and styles of dance.  It also enables students to develop a broad vocabulary and enrich their own artistic achievement.  

Aims

• Actively engage in the process of dance in order to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
• Develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of a range of dance styles through the interrelated processes of performing, creating and appreciating dances.
• Develop physical, technical and expressive skills through which they are able to communicate choreographic intention and develop their individual qualities as performers.
• Develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of choreography through which they are able to communicate ideas, thoughts and meaning drawn from a range of dance styles.
• Develop a critical appreciation of dance in its physical, artistic, aesthetic and cultural contexts.
• Develop their knowledge and understanding of health, fitness and safe working practices relevant to performing and choreographing dances.

The course is divided into 4 units, with 80% practical emphasis and 20% theory.  Students are expected to perform and choreograph their own dances for either a solo or group performance, dance in a duo or group as part of their performance and learn and perform the set dance, as part of their examination.  The theory component requires students to complete a 1 hour exam focussing on 2 professional works studied during the course.

 

This course will enable students to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of dance as choreographer, performer and critic through:

• Applying and adapting a wide range of skills and techniques effectively in performing and choreographing dance, including the ability to improve.
• Creating dances for a range of purposes and in response to different stimuli.
• Developing the ability to analyse, evaluate and appreciate dance.

A Level Dance

The A Level course provides students with the opportunity to acquire experience of performance and choreography and to engage in critical thinking about dance.  The content allows students to study a subject which can be extended through higher education and promotes a healthy lifestyle through an awareness of the importance of exercise and training.

Aims

• Develop and extend the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to participate in and communicate through dance, in a variety of contexts.
• Foster imagination and creativity and promote personal and social development.
• Engage in appreciation of the diverse, dynamic heritage of dance, promoting spiritual, moral and cultural development.
• Encourage life-long learning and provide access to dance and dance-related interest and careers.

Students undertaking this course have the opportunity to either study at an AS level which only takes a year, or to complete the full A2 course within the 2 years.

AS Examinations

At AS Level, pupils will focus on the development and performance of own choreography and performing within a duo/trio.  They will receive training on technique and the health and safety of the dancer.  They will also begin to develop critical skills for the analysis of choreography and performance within their own work and in professional repertoire.  Unit 1 focuses on theoretical aspects of dance and the dancer and unit 2 focuses on the practical aspects of choreography and performance.

 

A2 Examinations

At A2 Level, the focus of choreography is shifted towards group dance.  Pupils will develop knowledge and understanding of a specific area of study related to the development of one of the following: ballet, modern dance, jazz dance.  Performance skills will be developed in relation to one of the specific areas of study.  Pupils will continue to receive instruction on technique and the health and safety of the dancer.  Pupils will make an analytical study of one set work and its cultural and artistic context.  Unit 3 focuses on theoretical aspects of dance styles and professional works and unit 4 focuses on the practical aspects of group choreography and solo performance.

 

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Dance is a thriving activity in the extra-curricular calendar and is popular amongst boys and girls of all ages from year 7 through to year 13.  The students who attend the club have the opportunity to perform at school events which includes the Christmas Concert, the Summer Show, Achievement Evenings, assemblies and recently this year, the school Musical.  All that is required is that the students make a commitment and attend their weekly rehearsal which takes place after school.  The only show that requires an audition is the school musical where students are expected to sing, dance and act.  In these clubs the students are taken through a vibrant warm up, work on technique and then are taught a dance in a variety of different styles.  This ranges from contemporary, jazz, tap, street and even ballet.  No experience is required but giving lots of enthusiasm and enjoyment is a necessity!

Students involved in the examination subjects also take part in school performances and productions, in particular the Evening of Dance, where students perform their dance works to their parents and friends.  Some Year 9 and 10 students are also selected to participate in the Year 11 examinations, which requires a lot of after school and weekend rehearsals, with examinations taking place in April.

The students always receive a good reception and Dance is well supported throughout the school.  This is only due to the amount of hard work and commitment the students put in.