Dance
Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum vision applies to all our young people, regardless of background, gender, sexual orientation or ability.
Our young people will develop a life-long love of learning through our rich, broad and balanced curriculum and expert delivery.
All students at Heworth Grange School are without exception entitled to a world-class education that is holistic, ambitious and aspirational.
It is vital that we prepare our young people so that they are empowered to become engaged positive and respectful citizens through a dedicated focus on professional development.
We are responsible for ensuring our young people are confident to pursue ambitious next steps in education, employment or training which will support their future careers.
Through our curriculum in Dance, students build knowledge through varied choreographic, creative tasks that explore their physical, technical and expressive skills. They develop self-discipline, confidence and build self-esteem during performance, both to peers and a wider audience. Communicating specific themes and ideas through varied dance styles such as Jazz, Urban, classical, contemporary, capoeira and commercial.
They will develop mathematical fluency in counts, and structuring choreography, understanding rhythm, beat and tempo across a variety of music genres including jazz, urban and classical. Students will have the opportunity for deep thinking and to get into their ‘flow’ analysing a range of professional dances works from established practitioners such as Christopher Bruce, who changed the perception of modern dance.
Dance offers opportunity to critically question and debate professional Dance performances in a wider community setting and classroom-based learning. Students will learn to self regulate during analysis tasks, developing critical thinking skills as an individual and as part of a team, working independently during solo tasks, as well as collaboratively in choreographic tasks and explore a range of choreographic and structuring devices. Through social and cultural schemes of work, students will learn the world around them, exploring diverse cultures including, Brazilian, Indian and Hip-hop and will understand the historical contexts within these topics.
Curriculum Overview
Click on the document at the bottom of this page to view an easy read version of the full curriculum overview
GCSE Dance
Overview
This course is for students who love to create Dance choreography and perform to others, whilst developing their theoretical knowledge of Dance as an Art form. This course will develop your confidence, motivation, and self-esteem. This will allow you to progress into a Dance or Performing arts degree or audition for professional dance companies and private Performing Art Schools to be a performer or a teacher.
Topics
Performing:
- Over the 2 years you will be able to develop your performance and expressive skills and support these with strong theoretical knowledge and understanding of Dance. You will have the opportunity to dance as a soloist and as part of a duet/trio. You will perform to a live audience and develop your performance skills through a range of dance technique training.
Choreographing
- You will be able to create your own original Dance choreography based on a given stimulus. This is a fantastic opportunity to be creative and showcase your own initiative and creative ideas, when exploring themes and ideas that interest you.
Theory - GCSE Dance Anthology
- You will study 6 professional dance works which vary in dance styles from hip hop to contemporary. You will explore the choreographic approach of the choreographer and the defining characteristics of each work, exploring key themes and ideas. You will have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of dance styles through practical workshops based on each professional work.
Course Structure
Component 1 - Performance and Choreography
- Performance (30% of GCSE, 40 Marks)
- You will perform 2 set phrases as a solo
- You will perform as part of a duet or trio, which will be choreographed by students and teacher.
- Choreography (30% of GCSE, 40 Marks)
- You will choreograph a solo or group choreography for 2 to 5 dancers, based on a stimulus.
Total Component 60%
Component 2 - Dance Appreciation - Written Examination
- Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
- Critical appreciation of own work
- Critical appreciation of professional works
Written exam 1 hour 30 minutes, (40% of GCSE, 80 Marks)
Additional Information & Who to Contact
- A review of the qualification pupils follow will be undertaken once the cohort of pupils has been identified through the preferences process. If it is felt that pupils have a greater chance of success following a BTEC course instead of GCSE this will be considered and communicated to parents in advance of commencing the course.
Click here to view the Dance Specification
If you require any further information or have any questions, then please contact Mrs Gatenby on heworthgrangeenquiries@consilium-at.com
