Are you passionate about movement? Can you communicate an interpretation through your choice of movements? Do you love performing? Do you love watching dance? Do you want to develop the top skills that employers are looking for: communication skills, creativity, leadership skills and problem solving? Then this is the course for you!
In the first stages of the course, you will explore performances in a range of styles, looking at professional, existing works and creating your own performances in response to them. After this, you will take a performance from initial ideas to final production, working on briefs set by the exam board.
The course is made up of three areas:
Performance: You will complete a solo performance incorporating set phrases from the exam board. You will also perform in a duo/trio performance to showcase your physical, technical and expressive skills.
Choreography: You will be involved in the development and improvement of choreographing work as both a solo performer and as part of a group. You will take support and inspiration from other areas of the course to develop your skills to produce your final work.
Dance appreciation: You will study a range of choreographic and dance performances building knowledge and understanding of intent. You will learn how to apply a critical approach to not only your own work but that of dance professionals as well. You will watch and review professional performances.
Your performance and choreography components are internally assessed and filmed before being sent to the exam board for moderation.
Your performance assessment will be a solo and a duo/trio piece consisting of 30% of your qualification.
The choreography assessment consists of a solo or group choreography based on a particular theme and makes up 30% of your qualification.
The final 40% is an externally marked written exam and assesses your knowledge of professional works and your own practice in performance and choreography. It is 1 hour 30 minutes and will have long and short style questions to answer.
You will need to be suitably dressed for practical lessons: full PE kit is appropriate attire. Occasionally, you may be asked to provide items of clothing as costumes for your performance, though this will rarely be at any cost to you. You will need to demonstrate the following skills in all lessons:
Dance styles are extremely varied and cover an array of topics. We will study performances from a ranges of cultures and styles, including topics that may challenge your perspective.
Dance will help you become a confident member of society, celebrate diversity, achieve your aspirations through creativity and commitment and help you to secure a better understanding of your own values.
This course will offer a progressive route through to BTEC Level 3, AS and A-levels.
You may decide to study Dance further and follow a profession in any of the following; Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Dance Therapist, Dance Critic (reviewer); Community Dance Artist; Dance Education Officer; Dance Development Worker; PE Teacher; Primary School Teacher; Set Designer; Costume Designer, Lighting Designer.
For those students who are still undecided about their future, or are thinking, ‘I don’t want to be a dancer’ taking GCSE Dance will still benefit you because of the wealth of skills that you will learn from the experiences that you have with us. Many of the jobs that will exist in the next twenty years, do not even exist yet, as the rate of technological development moves apace every day. These employers will be looking for creatively minded problem-solvers who are confident and able to adapt in the face of change. This qualification will suit anyone willing to push themselves, whatever they might wish to do in the future.
