Dance

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Why study Dance?

A Level Dance is an exciting new course first offered at AHS in 2020. It is ideal for those students with a passion for Dance or Performing Arts who enjoy and benefit from the challenge of a creative, practically based course.

You develop your technical skills through more intensive training in a range of styles, with a focus on Contemporary and Jazz dance. You will have regular opportunities to learn from professional artists, not only through the set works but also through workshops and theatre visits. You will explore and extend your understanding of the craft of choreography with the opportunity to showcase your work.

As a natural progression from GCSE, A Level Dance has a strong theory element and you will develop your skills in analysis, evaluation and extended writing. You will also learn about the history of Dance through studying the work of a range of professional dance practitioners, gaining a greater understanding of how dance today has been influenced by innovators of the past. The compulsory area of study looks at the progression of Rambert Dance Company from 1966 -2002 and how key practitioners such as Christopher Bruce, Richard Alston & Robert North influenced key developments. The second area of study looks at the evolution of American Jazz from 1940 - 1975, with specific focus on Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse & Jerome Robbins. 

A Level Dance is an excellent base for a university degree in Dance or Creative Arts and can lead to a career path in performance, teaching, Arts Management and Arts Journalism.

Destinations for AHS students who studied this subject are on display outside the subject classrooms

AHS students can use Unifrog to explore how this subject might be used in life after A Levels

Entry Requirements

It is preferred that you have studied Dance at GCSE level but is not a requirement and students with a background in Dance are welcome to apply. You should have attained GCSE English level 6 or above and should take at least one technique based dance class per week outside of school.

Special features of the course

Practical dance classes (technique and choreography) leading to a practical exam and end of year showcase; theatre visits; workshops with visiting dance artists; performance opportunities.

You will be taught alongside Y13 students who are in their second year of the course.

How is the course organised?

• Technique classes in Contemporary & Jazz 

• Performance workshops 

• The process and art of choreography

• The development of dance placed within an artistic and cultural context

• The study of Rambert Dance Company 1966 -2002 

• The study of one of, American Jazz dance 1940 - 1975

Assessment

Component 1: Performance and Choreography (50%)

• Solo performance linked to a specific practitioner within an area of study 

• Performance in a quartet

• Group choreography 

Component 2: Critical Engagement (50%)

• Written exam - 2 hours 30 minutes