Years 10 and 11
In this exciting subject your lessons will be varied but all highly creative in both theoretical appreciation and practical dance classes to enable you to fulfil your potential.
Students study either GCSE dance or BTEC dance.
GCSE dance
Component 1 performance and choreography (60% of the overall grade):
Within your work for component 1 you will learn a set series of individual and group choreographic phrases in a variety of styles. You will develop, refine and polish these ready for performance. The second part of this unit will require you to use your creative skills to develop a piece of solo or group choreography in a chosen genre. Again, you will develop, refine and polish this ready for performance.
Component 2 dance appreciation (40% of overall grade):
In component 2 you will focus on your understanding and appreciation of choreographic devices that you have learnt and explored in component 1. You will also study the dance anthology set by the examination board which includes six pieces of professional dance. Within this unit you will work on evaluation, appreciation and analysis of your own and professional dance works. Within the course you will have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular performing arts activities, workshops and join trips to see professional works.
BTEC dance
Component 1 exploring the performing arts (30% of overall grade):
During component 1, you will observe and reproduce existing repertoire, as well as explore: performance styles, creative intentions and purpose, performance roles, responsibilities and skills performance techniques, approaches and processes how practitioners create and influence what is performed. This will be assessed through a combination of practical workshops and written coursework. This is an internally assessed component.
Component 2 developing skills and techniques (30% of overall grade):
During component 2 you will: gain physical, interpretative, musical, dance and rehearsal skills during workshops and classes. You will apply your technical, stylistic and interpretative skills in performances. You will also reflect on your progress and use of skills in performance, as well as how you can improve. This will be assessed through two practical performances and some written coursework. This in an internally assessed component.
Component 3 performing to a brief (40% of overall grade):
Within component 3 you will: respond to the brief to create ideas for a performance. This unit builds upon the skills developed in components 1 and 2. You will correctly identify relevant skills and techniques for improvement during classes, workshops and rehearsals whilst reviewing the developmental process. You will perform your performance piece lasting 10–15 minutes (which is filmed) to your chosen target audience whilst reflecting on the effectiveness of your performance in an evaluation report.
Specification content
- Technique
- Performance
- Choreography
- Dance appreciation
Awarding Body
Assessment
GCSE dance students will achieve a grade 1-9. Component 1 is assessed internally through a combination of practical solo and group performance and choreography tasks which are all externally verified by the examination board. Component 2 is an externally assessed written examination assessing the dance anthology.
At BTEC students will achieve a grade of pass to distinction*. Component 1 and 2 are assessed internally through a combination of practical performance and coursework tasks. Component 3 is externally assessed by the exam board and is a combination of controlled assessment and practical performance.
GCSE and BTEC topics covered
Examples of dance genres including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, urban etc. Solo and group choreography skills and opportunities performance skills and opportunities
Dance appreciation of professional works such as Artificial Things, Infra, Within Her Eyes etc.
Recommended revision guides / course resources
