Overview and Ethos of Dance:
The ethos of our Dance department is to ensure the inclusion and enjoyment of all members of the class. We strive for all dance classes to support a safe space in which students can build on their confidence and creativity.
The purpose of Dance within the curriculum is to build on students Creativity and Teamwork skills – learning how to work collaboratively with other members of the class and respond to stimuli in a creative way. Dance is also used to help build students confidence and commitment – transferable skills that can be used throughout the curriculum but also throughout students’ wider lives. Within Dance, students will develop their knowledge of health and safety to support their dance lessons, but also nutrition and hydration and technical skills to support students alongside their P.E lessons. The three fundamental areas of focus of development within Dance are based upon performance, choreography and appreciation.
All students study Dance in Year 7 once a fortnight as part of their P.E lessons and are taught by a specialist teacher. They will study three units over the course of the year. Students will have the opportunity to explore themes, express themselves and focus on building skills in composition, performance and appreciation of Dance. All the units taught over the year are designed to build skills within Creativity and Teamwork and develop students’ technical skills which will support them alongside their P.E lessons. Please use the link to take you to an outline of the Year 7 topics.
View outline of the Year 7 topics
All students study Dance in Year 8. Students will have Dance once a fortnight as part of their P.E lessons. Students will study three units over the year. Students will continue to develop their skills in composition, performance and appreciation of Dance, through a variety of different stimuli. Students will also continue to develop their Creativity and Teamwork skills as well as beginning to Problem Solve whilst choreographing in a more complex and sophisticated way. Please use the link to take you to an outline of the Year 8 topics.
View outline of the year 8 topics
In Year 9, students get the opportunity to opt between a full Dance or full P.E pathway for the year. During their lessons, students will learn skills in preparation for the Dance BTEC currently studied in Year 10 and Year 11. Students will develop their composition, performance and appreciation of Dance through specific technique and choreography units. Students will also get the opportunity to learn professional repertoire and explore different styles of Dance. Through these units, there is also a careers focus, looking at the different careers on offer within Dance as well as transferable skills such as the ability to research, as well as confidence brought from performing that students can use within other subjects, as well as in their wider life. Please use the link to take you to an outline of the Year 9 topics.
View outline of the year 9 topics
BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts (Dance) is currently offered in Year 10 and Year 11.
Component 1 – Exploring the Performing Arts: 60 Marks
This unit is marked internally.
In this unit, students will develop their understanding of the performing arts by examining the work of performing arts professionals such as Matthew Bourne, Itzik Galilli and Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy and the processes used to create performance. Within this unit, students will understand the requirements, roles and responsibilities of being a performer and choreographer and will explore different styles of dance including hip-hop, ballet and samba. Examined evidence for this unit includes writing a report/presentation on a professional work in relation to a theme as well as exploring different styles of dance and professional works practically.
Component 2 – Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts: 60 Marks
This unit is marked internally.
In this unit, students will develop their Dance skills and techniques through the reproduction and performance of a piece of professional repertoire. Working as a performer, students will develop their application of skills, techniques and practices that enable them to produce and interpret performance work. They will take part in workshops and classes to develop technical, practical and interpretative skills through the rehearsal and performance process as well as work from existing Dance repertoire, applying relevant skills and techniques to reproduce the performance. Examined evidence for this unit includes filmed rehearsals and workshops, a final performance to an audience and a review on students’ own development and application of performance skills.
Component 3 – Responding to a Brief: 60 marks
This unit is marked externally.
In this unit, students will be given the opportunity to work as part of a group to contribute to a workshop performance as a performer, in response to a brief and stimulus. Students will be given a brief by the exam board which will ask them to consider their content, target audience and venue and to start the creative process by using the stimulus included in the brief. Working as part of a group, students will develop ideas for a workshop performance, applying skills and techniques to communicate their creative intentions to an audience. This unit is marked by the exam board. Evidence for this unit includes planning, rehearsal and performance of students’ work as well as an evaluation of the development process and outcome in response to the brief.
Extra-Curricular offer
