Dance
| Staff | Miss. Suzie West | - Head of Dance |
Statement about Dance
You have all experienced dance in some way. You are all creative and dynamic people. Dance at KCC is for everybody and is provided at every level.
At present Dance is taught at Key Stage 3 within the PE curriculum at Year 7 or 8 and at Year 9. Dance is explored through performance, composition, appreciation and health / fitness. In Key Stage 4 there is an option to take the creative strand with arts leadership award. This unit involves fitness to music, gymnastics and dance in various formats. The leadership aspects involves leading groups through aerobics, composing and performing dance or gymnastics and taking projects for primary school students.
GCSE Dance and AS – A2 Dance are options at Key Stage 4 and 5. With these courses students perform, compose, learn about professions and view professional works. There are theory exams about you as a dancer, dancers training composition and profession work.
GCSE Dance Overview
This course is for anyone interested in dancing and creating, watching and reviewing dance.
You do not need past experience but you will need plenty of commitment and energy. There is practical and theory based work with an incorporation of theory into practical, every week. You will be required to wear appropriate dance kit and bring your dance book and journal every lesson.
As well as developing skills in contemporary dance you will also be taking a ballet lessons with Linda Goss and experiencing other dance styles in workshops. During the two years you will collect evidence of being involved in the Arts, e.g. Dance, Drama, Music, Art. This evidence will help you to achieve a Bronze and Silver Arts Leadership awards.
Year 10
| You As A Dancer | In this unit you will learn about yourself as a performer, how to train your body and lead a healthy life style. You will also begin to research different dance styles and performance artists. |
| You As A Dance Critic | In this unit you will learn appreciation skills, analysing and studying the 4 professional works. In response to the set work you will write a power point, research booklet and also compose a group dance piece. |
| You As A Choreographer - Solo and group mock choreography coursework |
This unit will give you help and ideas to choreograph a solo and a group piece using a range of starting points including a professional work. This will be a mock coursework. |
| - You as a company | Performance Coursework Inspired by a contemporary, ballet or jazz piece we will create a dance piece for you to perform and be assessed in. This will be rehearsed next year and assessed finally in March 2008, but you will be given a mock grade before the summer. |
Year 11
| Dance Film & Photography - Set Study - Solo choreography |
You will be reviewing your performances from last year and improving this using digital technology and Dartfish. In this unit you will complete the solo composition and also learn the set study, another piece of coursework.During this time you will also study some professional works to help you understand your role as a dancer. There will be photographic opportunities too to make your own biographical gallery. |
| You as a choreographer -Choreography Coursework |
This must be a solo/group piece must be between 2-3 minutes long. |
| Examination Time
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In March 2010 you will perform all coursework in a Preview Show and spend the rest of this time revising for your exam. |
Core PE
The creative strand within the Key Stage for curriculum offers an opportunity to develop strength, flexibility, fitness and performance and composition skills. The course gives students a chance to develop their own skills in one or more areas:
| Aerobics Yoga Pilates Circuit Training Cheer Leading Dancing Gymnastics |
They are all required to share their skills with others by leading short sessions, teaching skills, composing movement and leading primary schools workshops. All of this work is then collected as evidence for an Arts Leadership Award.
A-level Dance
A-level is an AQA course in performance, composition, dance analysis, dance notation and anatomy and physiology. Split into AS and A2 students will be required to create and perform practical coursework and complete written exams.
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Dance history |
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Technique classes in contemporary, ballet and jazz |
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The anatomy & physiology of a dance |
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Analysis of ‘Revelations’ by Alvin Ailey |
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Choreography and performance of a solo and a group piece |
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Performance of a solo and group dance |
It is advised that A-level dance students attend the organised trips, perform in the school productions and / or become involved in The Tanz Co., a Key Stage 4 & 5 dance company that choreographs and performs its own work across the South West.
Extra Curricular Dance
Extra curricular dance is very popular in school and offers more opportunities to work as a dance company, try out new styles and perform in schools and platforms. These clubs are run by the teachers, visiting practitioners and also students at the school.
Club timetable
Year 7 Dance Club
One lunchtime a week for anyone who wants to dance, work together to learn and compose a dance piece for assembly and school productions. An early lunch pass is provided. Led by Miss West and KS4/3 students.
Year 8&9 Dance Club
One after school a week for students who want to develop their dance skills and create pieces for local shows. Led by Miss West and KS4 and 5 students
Kd3 Dance Co
For Year 9, 10 & 11 students who would like to dance and perform in school and also in public shows. Working for an hour after school to develop skills, create and rehearse dances of varying styles. Led by Miss West and Alex Waller, a Yr 12 student.
Tanz Co.
For Yr10, 11, 12, & 13, this company re-auditions frequently to work as a dance company in a professional framework. Dance practitioners come in and as a company you perform for schools and platforms in the local area. Led by Olli Hornsby Sayers and Sigourney Mayer, two Yr 12 students.
Kit & Injury Information
Dance clothing must be black or navy trousers or shorts with a black t-shirt top. Kingsbridge Community College provides dance clothing including black fitted cotton trousers £12, black t-shirts £12 and black cotton hoodies £20 all with the KCC Dance logo on.