GCSE Dance

GCSE Dance

Examination Board: AQA Course length: 2 years Lessons per week: 3 Course Ratio: 60% Practical 40% Theory

Aim of the course:

This course seeks to emphasise the unique qualities and skills of Dance. Students must develop and apply knowledge, understanding and skills to perform a dance as a soloist and in a duet/trio. Students must learn how to respond creatively to an externally set stimulus, to choreograph their own complete dance. Through written communication and use of appropriate terminology, students must be able to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate their own work in performance and choreography and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of professional practice in the six set works in the GCSE Dance Anthology.

Course content and assessment:

Performance

Two set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute in duration)

Duet/trio performance (three minutes in a dance, which is a maximum of five minutes in duration)

· 30% of GCSE

· 40 marks

Choreography

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)

· 30% of GCSE

· 40 marks

Dance Appreciation

Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills

Critical appreciation of own work

Critical appreciation of professional work - Students study six professional works in their entirety and are prepared to describe, analyse, interpret, evaluate and reflect on the works in response to short answer and extended writing questions

· 40% of GCSE

· Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes

· 80 marks

Homework:

Homework is set on a weekly basis and provides the students with opportunities to research and prepare resources to support their controlled assessments.