Dance

Dance is an integral part of the curriculum at KAA. All students in years 7-9 participate in weekly dance lessons and Dance is offered as an option for both GCSE and A Level students.

We promote creatively, team work and leadership as well as putting an emphasis of learning new skill in a fun environment.

End of Year Dance Exams 2019

Please find below your dance revision guide which will enable you to prepare for your End of Year Written Exam which is 50% of your overall dance grade. If you need any help with answering these questions please speak to Miss Grace or Mr Dunning.

To ensure you see the document in the correct format please click the revision guide you require, a new tab will open and then click 'Open with Google Docs' at the top of the screen.

Year 7 Dance Revision Guide.docx
Year 8 Dance Revision Guide.docx
Year 9 Dance Revision Guide.docx

Workshops

The Dance Department are very keen for students to be taught by a range of professional dancers and companies to give the a real insight in to the dance world, learn a range of styles and talk to those who have made dance into a career. The workshop we have offered this academic year are:

  • James Cousins Company - Year 9 and 10
  • Boy Blue Entertainment - Year 8 and 9
  • Rambert - Year 9
  • Wicked West End - Intrepidus Dance Company
  • Royal Academy of Dance GCSE Taster - Year 9
  • Royal Academy of Dance - Year 7 and 8

If you would like to participate in any upcoming workshops please speak to Mr Dunning or Miss Grace.

Trips

As well as our students taking part in dance it is extremely beneficial for them to watch professional productions on stage. We try and take our students to a range of performances in a range of different venues. The trip we have offered this academic year are:

  • An American in Paris - Year 10, 12 & 13
  • Cinderella - All Year Groups
  • Matilda - Year 7, 8 and 9
  • Pavement - Year 9
  • Rambert Triple Bill - Year 10, 12 & 13
  • Project Polunin - Year 12 and 13
  • Chicago - Year 12 and 13
  • Thriller - All Year Groups
  • Everyone's Talking about Jamie - Year 10, 11, 12 & 13
  • Hamilton - 'The Big Show' cast

House Dance

This year was our first house dance competition and was a great success. We saw Honeyball explore a haunted house full of dolls, Pankhurst took us on a journey of dance through the ages, Fraklin explored the idea of unity through contemporary and Hip Hop dance whilst Angelou created a robot vs human dance off. The competition was judge by the executive of the Royal Academy of Dance and form the hit West End Musical and American in Paris.

The Results 2017/18:

  • 1st place - Franklin
  • 2nd place - Honeyball
  • 3rd place - Pankhurst
  • 4th place - Angelou

The Results 2018/19:

  • 1st place - Honeyball
  • 2nd place - Franklin
  • 3rd place - Angelou
  • 4th place - Pankhurst

We are already excited for what next year has in store!



Intrepidus Dance Company

For those who have an interest in dance and would like to take part in performance opportunities we run the Intrepidus Dance Company every Thursday 3.45-5.00pm. The performances they have taken part in this academic year are:

KAA Christmas Concert - December 2017

The Great Big Dance Off - December 2017

Performing Arts Show Case - January 2018

Red Cross: Make Your Move Competition - April 2018

Little Shop of Horrors - July 2018

The Big Show - November 2018

The Great Big Dance Off - January 2019 (6th place)

KAA Art and Dance Show Case - April 2019

If you would like to join the Intrepidus Dance Company please see Miss Grace.

GCSE Dance

At KAA all students have the option of studying GCSE Dance in Year 10 and 11. The course focus on three stands and has a range of graded exams:

  • Choreography (30%) - students create their own choreography based on a stimuli of their choosing.
  • Performance (30%) - students will need to showcase their technical, physical and expressive skills by performing a duo/trio and 2 30 second set phrases.
  • Theory (40%) - students will complete an hour and a half theory exam which included question about choreography, performance, their own work and 6 professional works.

Please visit the KAA GCSE Dance website to find out more: https://sites.google.com/kensingtonaldridgeacademy.co.uk/aqa-gcse-dance/home?authuser=1

A Level Dance

Students have the opportunity to study A Level Dance in Year 12 and 13.

  • Solo performance linked to a specified practitioner - Students must perform as a soloist in the style of a specified practitioner. The practitioner must be selected from the choreographer of one of the prescribed set works located within an area of study or a named practitioner within one of the prescribed areas of study.
  • Performance in a quartet- Students must learn how to perform as part of a quartet. The quartet performance can be choreographed by the student, their teacher or a dance artist. The dance can be performed in any dance style.
  • Choreography - Students must create an original piece of group choreography, which lasts for a minimum of three minutes to a maximum of four minutes, for three, four or five dancers, in response to an externally set task based on a stimulus.
  • Written paper (2 hours 30 minutes) - Students must show knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of two set works within the two areas of study.

• Rambert Dance Company (1966-2002)

• Set work: ‘Rooster’ by Christopher Bruce

• American Jazz Dance (1940-1975)

• Set work: ‘Signin’ in the Rain’ by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly