Aims
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To develop pupils knowledge of the social and
historical context of dance and the choreographic
process.
To develop pupils technical dance skills in a range
of dance styles.
To develop pupils knowledge in rehearsal and
performance skills.
To develop pupils ability to evaluate their own and
peer groups performances and use this information
to improve.
Key Stage 3
Pupils in Key Stage 3 have a 1 hour dance lesson per week.
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Each pupil will experience a range of dance
styles.They will be looking at how dance has
developed through the work of professional
choreographers and at the start of every lesson the
will watch a short section of dance and they will be
asked to respond to this.
Pupils will be encouraged to experiment and develop their own practical skills to create dance
for themselves and their peers.
Pupils will be encouraged to experiment and extend their own personal movement vocabulary
while responding to different stimuli.
Each pupil will be asked to choreograph in group situation every term and the will also be
expected to perform their work in front of others.
Throughout this process they will be encouraged to evaluate their work and set appropriate
targets in order to improve on the quality of their work.
Learning Outcomes
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Be able to apply physical skills in class:posture:alignment: placement of feet,legs,arm:
awareness and use of centre: coordination, ability to reproduce movement accurately, whole
body participation, isolation, application of dynamic range, spatial awareness, timing,
rhythmic awareness, use of breath, use of gravity, suspension.
Be able to absorb and reproduce patterns of movement, formal exercises, combinations of
movement material, simple traveling sequences, short dances in social dance unit.
Accurate reproduction of: order, body actions, body shapes, timing, phrasing, rhythm, use of
personal space, dynamics.
Movement memory training, repetition, breakdown and build up of phrases.
Be able to demonstrate individual technical progress, review, self assessment, strengths and
weaknesses, peer observation;teacher feedback. Improvement, identification of targets,
rehearse, repetition, re-evaluation.
Know social and historical contexts in the development of dance e.g. popular
culture;ritual;audience. Dance styles, contemporary, ballet, ballroom, urban;folk, African,
Latin American.
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Be able to respond to the choreographic process, space, action, dynamic, timing, group size,
selection rejection of material, unison, canon, motif development.
Be able to evaluate their own work, selection of movement, interpretation of stimulus,
working relationships, time management, rehearsal, strengths and weaknesses.
Key Stage 4
BTEC First Certificate in Dance
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In the BTEC First Certificate all units of work are internally assessed.
Each pupil will study 3 units of work in the 3 year course.
All assessment for the BTEC First Certificate is criterion referenced,based on the achievement
of all the specified learning outcomes.
Each unit within the qualification has specified assessment and grading criteria which are to
be used for grading purposes.A summative unit grade can be awarded at Pass,Merit,or
Distinction.
To achieve a Pass the pupil must have satisfied all the pass criteria.
To achieve a Merit the pupil must additionally have satisfied all the Merit criteria.
To achieve a Distinction the pupil must additionally have satisfied all the Distinction criteria.
Grading criterion is focused on four main areas of learning.
o Application of knowledge and understanding
o Development of practical and technical skills.
o Personal development for occupational roles
o Application of generic skills
Units of work 1.
Performing Arts Production Process.
The aim of this unit is to develop pupils understanding of the essential processes required for staging
a performance,including all technical and administrative procedures.It also fosters the need for
teamwork and cooperation.
Learning Outcomes.
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Planning: agendas, minutes, action plans, contingency plans, job allocation and interview,
planning instructions and meetings, organisation of production period, identifying health and
safety requirement, communication methods, technical requirement of equipment, venue
requirements, target audience.
Planning requirements for marketing: target audience, marketing strategies.
Product: artistic intention: eg performance, play, physical theatre, street theatre, community
theatre.
Development: rehearsal, exploration of performance material, research into performance
material, choreography, technical rehearsal, dress rehearsal.
Technical: Venues eg theatre, arts centre, school hall: venue resources : eg entrances, exits,
power supply, auditorium space, seating, stage layout: responding to cues and instructions;
safe working practice, communication with team members, transit of equipment, get-in, setup, get-out technical rehearsal, dress rehearsal.
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Production team: team meetings, planning, schedules, health and safety, communications,
preparations.
Evaluation: strengths and weaknesses, effectiveness of rehearsal/production process and
techniques, professional relationships, use of recourses, individual contribution, team
contribution, audience response;suggestions for improvement/development.
Unit of work 2.
Performing Dance
This unit is about rehearsing and performing choreographed dances.Pupils must undertake regular
classes, learn different dance styles, absorb choreography made by others, and rehearse and take part
in performances.
Learning Outcomes
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Application: suitable dress, concentration, response to direction.
Structure: warm-up, dance ideas choreography, refining material into performance pieces,
rehearsal.
Range of styles: eg jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, street dance.
Physical skills: posture, alignment, coordination, balance, ability to accurately reproduce
action/dynamic/rhythmic/spatial content, movement memory, awareness of and relationship
to other dancers in the performance space, spatial awareness.
Physical features appropriate to specific style, posture, use of the whole body, dynamic range,
movement quality, movement style, facial expression, focus, awareness and appreciation of
sound accompaniment.
Evaluation:self evaluation, peer observation, teacher feedback.
Improvement: acceptance of constructive criticism, identification of targets, rehearsal,
repetition, re-evaluation and improvement.
Unit of work 3.
Contemporary Dance
This unit is about developing technical dance skills in the contemporary dance style.Pupils will take
regular technique classes and have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in class and in
performance.
Learning Outcomes
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Application: suitable clothing, hair tied back where appropriate, commitment, self-discipline,
application of instruction, correct alignment, evaluation, correction.
Structure: warm-up, centre, floor exercises, travelling, movement phrases, combinations, cool
down.
Movement vocabulary:contraction, extension, five positions of the spine, arm and foot
positions,floor work,rolling, swings, plies, use of feet, tilts, use of torso, shifting body weight,
turning, stepping in different directions, elevation, travelling phrases.
Physical skills to be applied:posture;alignment;placement of feet, arms, legs, awareness and
use of centre, coordination ability to reproduce movement accurately, whole body
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participation, isolation, application of dynamic range, spatial awareness, use of breath;use of
gravity, suspension.
To absorb and reproduce patterns of movement:formal exercises, combinations of movement
material, simple travelling phrases, short set studies.
Accurate reproduction of: order, body actions, body shape, timing,phrasing, rhythm, use of
personal space, stage space, dynamics.
Movement memory training:repetition, breakdown and build up of phrases, practise.
Review:self -assessment, strengths and weaknesses, peer observation, teacher observation
and feedback.
Improvement:identification of targets, rehearsal, repetition, re-evaluation.