In Dance, students learn as artists and innovators by making and interpreting dance performances that communicate to audiences. They learn as audiences by responding critically to dance. Students develop skills in appreciating, creating, choreographing, performing, and producing dance, both independently and collaboratively, across a range of contexts. In Dance, movement is a knowledge. Students learn as they engage with the history, lineage, technical dance skills, theories, and concepts of dance, as well as with the choreographers and critics who came before them, becoming literate in the vocabularies and ideas of a range of styles and forms. Students can complete a Minor / Major, or a double Major, in Dance.
It is recommended that students who want to do Dance (T) have some prior dance experience. All students are expected to have a strong interest in dance and a commitment to Dance. The content of the T and A Courses is similar, but the depth of analysis and conceptual understanding expected in both the theory and practical work for students studying the T Course is greater. Dance (A) is designed for students with a keen interest in dance who would like to develop skills in a variety of dance styles without the tertiary assessment requirements. It is also designed for students aiming for future tertiary study where a background in dance is seen as an advantage, such as performing arts, teaching, community arts, and dance therapy.
The content of the T, A, and M Courses is similar, but the depth of analysis and conceptual understanding expected in both the theory and practical work for students studying the T Course is greater.
Creativity in Dance
Communicating Meaning in Dance
Dance in Context
Collaboration in Dance
Innovation in Dance
Leadership in Dance
Entrepreneurship in Dance
Interdisciplinary Inquiry in Dance
Independent Study
Prerequisites: It is recommended, though not compulsory, that students studying Dance (T) have prior dance experience.
Dance T/A/M can be studied as a Minor, Major, Major/Minor, or Double Major. Students will be offered a combination of units from both Dance and Specialised Dance to complete their course of study.
Students learn about the creative process. Students develop the ability to create dance works with intention, originality, and impact on audiences. Students develop their imagination and ownership of ideas and dance works. They engage with the history, lineage, technical dance skills and the creative processes of dance. Students apply the creative process, experiment with and refine techniques, and use problem-solving strategies to express their understanding of self, community, and the world.
Students learn about how meaning is communicated in a variety of dance forms and styles. They explore technical dance skills, stagecraft, and production elements to communicate their ideas to an audience and reflect on their success. Students apply their dance literacy, knowledge, skills, and understandings to communicate their arguments and insight into themes and issues. This unit provides students with the opportunity to say something and make something.
Students learn about how dance practitioners, over time and place, have embodied their knowledge. They explore the impact of dancers and choreographers from history and throughout the world, and how they have expressed their understanding of self, place, and themes. Students create Dance works that reflect an appreciation of techniques from diverse cultural, geographical, and/or historical contexts, observing ethical approaches and intercultural understanding.
Students learn about how to collaborate effectively to create and perform works that develop ideas and engage with the school and/or wider community. They explore the opportunities and challenges of collaborating with other dance practitioners and/or artists to create a performance that meets a design brief. Students apply technical dance skills, as well as creative, production, communication, technology, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, to create multifaceted performance works that engage with the community.
An Independent study unit has an important place in senior secondary courses. It is a valuable pedagogical approach that empowers students to make decisions about their own individual learning. An Independent study unit must be proposed by an individual student, be for their own independent study, and negotiated with their teacher. An Independent study unit requires the principal’s written approval. The program of learning must meet the unit goals and content descriptions as they appear in the course.
Students learn about innovative dance practice. They explore innovations in technique, choreography, digital platforms, technology, and criticism. They examine barriers to innovation, how it occurs, and how it can change perceptions of dance. Students apply knowledge of creative choices to engage in ethical and aesthetic issues as dance artists and audiences.
Students learn about leadership in the context of creating a dance performance. They explore techniques and methodologies for creating dance works. Students draw on pedagogical, choreographic, artistic direction, stage production, communication, and facilitation skills to lead a variety of dance activities.
Students learn about the connections between dance and business. They examine the business aspects of dance and the opportunities and risks in projecting their practice into the commercial arena. They explore the tension between the creative and commercial. Students apply their understanding of the dance industry to produce dance for a range of audiences.
Students learn how dance works and how it can be used to understand and embody concepts from other disciplines. They explore styles and techniques for interpreting and creatively representing information. Students apply inquiry skills and dance practices to create works that position an audience on the chosen concept.