Overview

Dance is a powerful and expressive subject that encourages students to develop their creative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacity, whatever their previous experience in the subject. 

This course recognises the role of dance in young people’s lives and students will study a range of dance styles. They can choose any style to perform and choreograph in, providing it meets the assessment criteria.

 The study of the anthology of professional works will develop their ability to critically appraise dances of different styles and cultural influences and provides a springboard for engaging practical tasks.

This specification focuses on the aesthetic and artistic qualities of dance and the symbolic use of movement to express and communicate ideas and concepts through the interrelated processes of performance, choreography and appreciation. 

Dance is an effective form of nonverbal communication and it is both physical and expressive, which makes it similar to and different from other art forms and physical activities. Dance develops creative, imaginative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacities. Whilst many students will bring some previous experience of dance, others will have very little. 

This specification aims to value and build on whatever experience they have. GCSE students will study a range of dance styles that acknowledge aspects of the repertoire of dance for theatre that can be seen in the United Kingdom today.

Topics covered

Assessments

Performance - Internally marked and externally moderated Performance worth 30%. 

1. Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute in duration)

2. Duet/trio performance (three and a half minutes in duration).

Students Dance a group performance and two solo dances in year 11 (only to the teacher as examiner in the Hatfield Theatre, no other audience). We have two years to work on performance skills to showcase in year 11. You can perform these at showcase evenings if you would like to.

Choreography - Internally marked and externally moderated worth 30%

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)

We have year 9 and 10 to develop your choreographic skills and then you showcase your choreography to your teacher as examiner in the Hatfield theatre (no audience). You can perform these at showcase evenings if you would like to. You don’t have to perform in your own choreography. 

Dance Appreciation – 40%

Final written exam year 11 – 1 hour 30 minutes. The exam is split into three sections.

These are the skills we will learn and develop in our lessons as dancers over the three years.

• Section A – students will answer questions demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performance skills.

• Section B and Section C – students answer questions relating to the critical appreciation of their own work and of professional works.

FAQs

Do I need to have lots of experience in dance already?

No - we welcome all abilities. We would, however, encourage you to attend a co-curricular club to enhance your dance technique and movement vocabulary.

Do we have to perform a solo?

Yes - Component 1: Performance is made up of a solo as well as a duet/ trio. Don’t worry though - we teach you the solo and give you lots of time to practice before your practical exam!

I’m really good at street dance, but not at ballet - should I take the course?

Awesome - we welcome dancers from all styles! The course can be flexible around your style, as long as you ensure you still fit the assessment criteria (i.e. include all the choreographic devices etc) within your chosen style of dance.

I’m worried about taking dance because none of my friends are taking it.

One of the great things about dance is how it brings people together - the course will help you to make new friends and work as a team in creating dances together.

How much practical/ theory is there?

Most of the work we do is practical - we want to keep lessons as active and fun as possible. There is a written element to the course though, so expect to be able to write about dance in class and as homework.

Will I be expected to perform in front of others?

Yes, absolutely. It’s one of the key aspects of the subject. But we understand that this can be daunting for some students, so it’s something that we will support you in doing. Ultimately to pass the course you don’t have to perform to an audience. 

I complete my dance grades outside of school, so there’s no point in me taking GCSE Dance, is there?

The course teaches you how to choreograph, exposes you to professional dance works and companies that you may otherwise not know, gives you additional performance opportunities and is very different to taking dance grades. You build skills that are greater than just being taught repertoire. 

Should I look at taking the Dance Leaders course through PE Core too?

If dance is something you are passionate about, definitely! The Dance Leaders course is very different, as it focuses on the teaching/ leading element of dance. This course supports and complements the Dance GCSE, but stands alone as a separate course. We can not guarantee to run this. 

Will there be coursework or work to do outside of lessons?

No coursework but you will be organising your rehearsals for your choreographies outside of lesson time. This means you will have to put in some extra hours other than in lesson.

What else could I do in order to prepare me for the GCSE Dance course?

It’s great to be proactive about this - there are lots of things you can do to put you in the best position for GCSE Dance. Work on your dance technique, join a dance club, attend any dance trips offered in school, watch lots of dances online and in different styles, practice writing about dance by writing short reviews, take any opportunity you can to watch live dance in the theatre… immerse yourself as much as possible!