Our GCSE Dance course is AQA accredited and designed to meet their specifications. The below seeks to break this down to give you a better understanding of the specifications and what to expect as a student on this course.
Performance
Physical skills:
Alignment / balance / coordination / control/ flexibility / mobility / strength / stamina / extension / isolation.
Technical skills:
Action content / dynamic content / relationship content -timing content / rhythmic content / movement in a stylistically accurate way.
Expressive skills:
Projection / focus / spatial awareness / facial expression / phrasing / musicality / sensitivity to other dancers / communication of choreographic intent.
Mental skills:
Systematic repetition / mental rehearsal / rehearsal discipline / planning of rehearsal / response to feedback / capacity to improve. / movement memory / commitment concentration / confidence.
Safe working practices:
Safe execution / warming up / cooling down / nutrition / hydration.
Assessment:
Students perform two set solos (one minute) and a duet/trio (three - five minutes).
Choreography
Choreographic processes:
Improvising / selecting/ developing / structuring / synthesising
Structuring devices and form:
Binary /ternary /rondo /narrative /transitions /episodic / unity
Choreographic devices:
Motif / repetition / contrast / climax / unison / canon
Aural settings and how they affect choreographic outcomes:
Song / instrumental/spoken word/found sound/mood/structure/ relationship to theme
Performance environments:
Proscenium arch / end stage / site-sensitive/ in-the-round.
Communication of choreographic intent:
Mood(s) / meaning(s) / idea(s) / theme(s)/ style/style fusion(s).
Assessment:
Students learn how to respond creatively to an externally set stimulus to create either: A solo dance between 2 and 2.5 minutes in duration, or a group dance for 2 – 5 dancers, between 3 and 3.5 minutes in duration. They will also write a programme note of 120 - 150 words.
Dance Appreciation
Performance and choreography:
- the meaning of the relevant performance terminology.
- the meaning of relevant choreography terminology.
- the contribution of performance and choreography to audience understanding of the choreographic intent of the work being performed including the mood(s), meaning(s), idea(s), theme(s) and/or style/style fusion(s).
Assessment
Students study six set works in their entirety and describe, analyse, interpret, evaluate and reflect on the works in response to short answer and extended writing questions in a written exam.
Companies include: Stopgap Dance Company, The Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, James Cousins Company and Boy Blue Entertainment.
Share
