1.
Year 11
Btec Dance
Unit 1
Revision Pack
Discovery
What is your theme?
Letter Introduction
How would you introduce a letter? Have a look at these below pick one and expand on it with details
about yourself.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to apply for a place at your dance school (say why you want to go to that school).
Dear Madam,
I saw your advert in my local newspaper for auditions for a place at your school. (Say what you want to
do in the future and why this school is ideal for you)
Dear Madam,
I am a 15/16 year old Btec dance student and I would like to apply for a place on your dance course.
(Why?)
What do you know about ‘The theatre School’ or the course from the advert?
What dance experience did you have before you started your Btec?
If none give a short positive reason why you wanted to do dance and take this course.
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2. What have you done on your Dance BTEC that has given you new skills and/or experiences?
Classes/workshops/performances/theatre visits. This progression opportunity asks for ‘performance
experience). Can you list at least three things below:
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3. What is it that you love about dance? This is where you write about your ‘enthusiasm for dance’ – as
written in the exam paper.
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4. What are your dance strengths? Give a short example of when you used them.
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5. What do you want to do in the future within the dance world? (Think about the application)
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6. If you haven’t already said – why do you want to do THIS course at THIS Theatre School?
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YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED
THESE. GO BACK THROUGH AND CHECK FOR
SPELLING, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR
AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SAID ALL
THAT YOU CAN SAY!!!
Unit 1: Individual Showcase
Sentence starters Part 1
1. Why are you responding to the advert?
I am writing in response to your job advert…
I wish to apply for a place on your performing arts course at your well known Theatre
Company…
I wish to apply because
I would be honoured if you considered my application because
2. What experience have you had?
I have been involved in (style of dance) since I was…
I have had plenty of experience in numerous styles of dance…
Although (style of dance) is my strongest dance style, I have had plenty of experience in other
styles such as
I have attended (name of dance school) since I was… participating in (dance styles)
I have taken (name of exam) and been awarded (grade)
3. Experience from your Btec course
I have taken Btec dance as an option at school and I have…
Throughout my Btec Dance course at school…
My Btec Dance course has given me plenty of opportunities…
4. Why do you love to dance
I love to dance because…
Dancing is my main hobby because…
I have been dancing since I was 5 because of how much I love dance
I have a passion for dance because
Dance has always been my biggest passion because
5. Strengths relating to dance skills
I have many technical dance skills strengths, these are…
Some of my main technical dance strengths are…
An example of one of a dance skill that I deem as a strength is…
A second dance skill that I would consider a strength is…
6. What would you like to do in the future?
In the future I would like to…
As dance is my biggest passion I would like to pursue it as a career…
I would like to continue with dance as a part of my career..
I would like to continue performing dance professionally as a career because…
Discovery
Style? Are they different styles
Music? How are you using it?
Tempo? Rhythm?
Meaning?
Describe the Movements used
Skills used – what are your showing
‘off’ in an audition?
What ideas came from the theme of
discovery?
How are they different from each
other?
Solo one
Solo two
1. Introduce your two dance pieces. E.g I have created/I am presenting/ I have rehearsed two
contrasting solos for your consideration. Give them a name/title and quick description (could be
styles/music/costume)
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2. Describe three movements from your first solo and say why the movements came from the
starting point 'discovery'. This could also be how you have used space, a costume, lighting etc.
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3. Describe how the 2nd piece is different/contrasting from the first piece.
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4. Describe one phrase of movement that you feel clearly is about discovery.
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5. What skills are you showing in your solos that you want the Theatre School to see? E.G. Styles?
Rhythm? Performance skills? Musicality?
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Sentence Starters Part 2
7. Name you two dances
I have attached two pieces for your consideration, the first is called… the second is called…
My first choreographed piece is called… because…
My second piece is called… because…
I have choreographed my first piece about… and so I have named it…
8. First piece
My first piece follows the theme discovery because…
In my first piece I have followed the theme discovery because…
I have related my dances to the theme discovery by…
My first dance shows movements such as... which relate to discovery because…
The movement that I perform in the floor section of the dance relates to discovery because…
When I perform (name movement) it represents discovery because…
I have performed many movements that all represent discover… the first is…
9. Introducing the second piece
My second piece follows the theme discovery because…
In my second piece I have followed the theme discovery because…
I have related my dances to the theme discovery by…
My second dance shows movements such as... which relate to discovery because…
The movement that I perform in the floor section of the dance relates to discovery because…
When I perform (name movement) it represents discovery because…
I have performed many movements that all represent discover… the first is…
10.Why are the two pieces contrasting?
Both of the dances are different because…
My first dance uses… whereas the second piece uses…
I have ensured that both of the pieces are contrasting by…
My first piece is different to the second piece because…
11.Conclude the letter
I thoroughly hope you consider my application…
I would like you to consider my application…
I look forward to hearing from you soon…
I feel that I would be an asset to your theatre company…
Dear Madam,
I saw your advert in my local newspaper for auditions for a place at your school. I would like to apply for
a place at your theatre school so that I can further train in dance as I would like to dance in musical
theatre shows when I leave.
I have been in a youth dance company for 2 years and we train in contemporary dance every week. I
have performed at the UDance platform alongside other youth companies. I have also done workshops
with several visiting professionals including Rambert Dance Company and street dance. I have also been
in the school dance club for four years where we choreograph our own group pieces for assembly. On
my btec course we have taken classes in contemporary and jazz dance regularly. We also had a
workshop from a visiting Jazz teacher that taught us a musical theatre routine. We performed our skills
dance to a group of invited people in our dance studio and we are preparing for an end of term show
that will be performed in the school theatre. I am learning three dances each in a different style.
I love to dance because it keeps me fit and well as being creative. I enjoy moving to music and I like
performing to audiences knowing the hard work has paid off. I also love watching dance at the theatre. I
am very quick at picking up new movement and also paying attention to corrections. I work well in
groups and I get on well with all the other dancers in my group. I have good posture and I am quite
flexible. I listen to music and can hear the rhythm and I project my dance out to an audience. I would
like to go on to dance in musical theatre where I can use my acting and singing skills alongside my dance
skills. I am learning tap outside of school and I enjoy the jazz classes we have in school.
I have created two solos for the audition the first is called ‘Shadow’ as I discover my shadow on the back
wall and the second is called ‘Rhythm’ which is where I encounter a piece of music that makes me want
to dance. In the first solo I am discovering what my shadow looks like on the back wall. I make shaped
with my arms using the rhythm of the music first as a macho man but I also explore moving away from
the shadow. The second piece is a contrast as it is on a different style, which is led by the music. It uses
isolations of my hips and head so it has jazz dance moments. I perform this to the front as the other solo
is performed facing the back. This 2nd solo also travels across the stage where the first solo is quite on
the spot.
One moment in the 2nd piece that is about discovery is where the rhythm of the music is in my head but
starts to grow in my hips and my knees. My body is discovering how it wants to move to the music and I
stop and look around as if I am not in control of these discoveries. I have a strong sense of rhythm and I
am projecting out to the audience more in the 2nd piece as this faces the front. The shapes that I make
with my body are clear.
I am a hardworking student and I would be an asset to your school.
Yours faithfully,
Grading Criteria
TOP TIPS:

Read over your letter continuously for mistakes
 Get someone else to check through your letter for
mistakes
 Ensure you have answered every questions
 Use the sentence starters to help structure your
sentences
Re-write your letter over and over so that you remember
it
Get someone at home to read through your letter and
give it a score out of 12
Grading Criteria: Dance
How well you
perform the dance
How well the dance
relates to ‘Discovery’