Dance and Drama

Subject

Dance and Drama

Course details

The Drama and Dance units of work aim to develop skills and understanding of the processes involved in performance. These processes include planning, devising/ choreographing, participating, performing and evaluating across a range of activities.

Students should develop the ability to:

(a) use appropriate vocal and physical skills with clarity, fluency and control;

(b) interpret and develop a role and character;

(c) work within a group, socialise and build confidence;

(d) express and communicate feelings and ideas;

(e) evaluate a performance while using appropriate vocabulary;

(f) use appropriate props and costumes, and design a simple set.

The Areas of Study include:

Dance - where students learn to follow set steps and also create their own dances by experimenting with a variety of styles and skills. They also cover the basic technical skills in movement.

Improvisation - where students learn to use appropriate acting skills and create a scene to illustrate an issue, theme, character, situation or text.

Acting from a script - where students will learn to use appropriate voice and movement skills when working from interpreting a role.

Programme of study Y7

Musical Theatre: An introduction to the genre, using the Musical 'Matilda', in which students learn basic skills including acting through song and dance.

Greek Theatre: Drama unit of work that introduces students to this genre.

Trestle Masks & Comedy: Drama unit of work based on Trestle masks that introduces students to performing with masks. Through this unit, students will learn to communicate more effectively using their physicality. Comedy SOW will introduce students to this genre.

Matthew Bourne: Dance unit of work in which students learn features of the work of choreographer Bourne and learn an extract of repertoire.

Programme of study Y8

Voice and Characterisation: An acting unit that develops a wide range of Drama techniques. Students are introduced to the practitioner John Godber and they learn about developing characterisation and rehearsing a script.

'Hillsborough disaster': Dance scheme of work in which students learn the key elements of dance and choreograph a piece based on the chosen stimulus. Students are introduced to written analysis of Dance performances.

Devised Thematic 'Social Media': A devised thematic unit based on Social Media in which students learn a range of explorative strategies that they can use when devising their own pieces. In this unit, students are introduced to written evaluation of Drama performances.

Programme of study Y9

‘Five Soldiers’ and ‘Swansong’: Dance unit of work based on interrogation and war. Both pieces are used for a number of activities including repertoire tasks.

'Crime and Punishment': Drama unit of work based on the topic of ‘Crime and Punishment’. It will look at the theme from many different angles and it is important to explore how this theme can be presented to an audience.

Dance and Drama theory and practical activities to prepare for students going into GCSE: Free project task based on chosen stimulus: ‘The Evacuation’, ‘The Gray Drape’ painting, Thailand Tsunami, ‘Still I Rise’ poem

Assessment

Assessment records are kept for each unit of work based on skills, commitment and conduct. 

Homework may be of a practical nature (eg. rehearsing a phrase of movement, learning a short script or preparing simple props and costumes), or consist of a research task or an analytical/appraisal written exercise.