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KS4: GCSE Dance

Intent

  • To build up culture capital for all students, aiding their knowledge for further education and an appreciation of the wider world. 
  • To ensure the curriculum is rich in knowledge, content, allowing students to build the practical and theoretical skills and knowledge to allow them to achieve in assessments at each key stage. 
  • To give students fundamental skills for each of our subjects at GCSE and beyond.

Students are taught over 2 lessons a week

  • Module 1 – Safe working practices, mental skills, physical skills, technical skills and expressive skills. Choreography ASDR.
  • Module 2 – Action, dynamic, spatial content, relationship content, choreographic processes, form, aural setting and performance environments. Focus on communication of choreographic intent.
  • Module 3 – A Linah Curva and group performance composition.
  • Module 4 – Developing a solo/duet dance around Within Her Eyes.
  • Module 5 – Developing a small group composition collaboratively using the same stimulus as Infra (Infra choreographed by Wayne Mcgregor and performed at the Royal Ballet)
  • Module 6 – Consolidation of Choreography Pieces and performance dance. Rehearse and record the set phrases (Breathe and Shift) preparation for final recording. Feedback from exams and exam technique learning.

Students are taught over 2 lessons a week

  • Module 1 – Choreographic intentions through technical, physical and expressive skills. Creating dances including movement material and aural setting to communicate choreographic intentions.
  • Module 2 – Choreographic intentions through technical, physical and expressive skills. Creating dances including movement material and aural setting to communicate choreographic intentions. Ability to critically appreciate the work of others and of their own. Understanding of the choreographic processes and performance skills within professional works.
  • Module 3 – Choreographic intentions through technical, physical and expressive skills. Creating dances including movement material and aural setting to communicate choreographic intentions. Students will demonstrate a creative response to a choice of one AQA stimulus in a complete dance showcasing all subject knowledge.
  • Module 4 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills. Critically appreciate own works and professional works through making analytical, interpretive and evaluative judgements. 
  • Module 5 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills. Critically appreciate own works and professional works through making analytical, interpretive and evaluative judgements.

Implementation

Throughout Dance GCSE, students will be encouraged and guided to develop their independence and creativity through teamwork and critical analysis of performance. 

Impact

Students will be supported with a number of different types of assessment materials to ensure they reach their full potential.

What’s assessed

Performance

  • Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute in duration)
  • Duet/trio performance (three minutes in a dance which is a maximum of five minutes in duration)

Choreography

  • Solo or group choreography – a solo (two to two and a half minutes) or a group dance for two to five dancers (three to three and a half minutes)

How it’s assessed

  • Non-Exam Assessment (NEA)
  • Performance – 30% of GCSE
  • Choreography – 30% of GCSE
  • 60% of overall grade for Dance GCSE

What’s assessed

  • Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
  • Critical appreciation of own work
  • Critical appreciation of professional works

How it’s assessed

  • Written Exam
  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 40% of overall grade for Dance GCSE

Throughout years 10 and 11, students will be regularly assessed. This can take the form of short tests, exam style questions, classwork activities and/or homework tasks that have been set. At the end of year 10 students will sit a set of mock examinations in all subjects. Then in year 11, students will have two sets of mock examinations; one in module 2 and one in module 3.

  • AO1: Perform dance, reflecting choreographic intention through physical, technical and expressive skills.
  • AO2: Create dance, including movement material and aural setting, to communicate choreographic intention.
  • AO3: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills.
  • AO4: Critically appreciate own works and professional works, through making analytical, interpretative and evaluative judgements.

Exam Board Information