Dance
Curriculum Intent:
In the dance department at Marshalls Park Academy, we intend to ensure that students can perform, choreograph and critically appreciate the work of professional dance practitioners as well as their own work. Practical activity is at the forefront of the dance curriculum. This is to provide the maximum time available to develop skills, knowledge as well as an opportunity to apply their learning. Across KS4, dance intends for students to belong within a safe working space, believe in their own skills and become an expert of knowledge in all aspects of performing, choreographing and critical appreciation.
We endeavor to provide students with experiences of an array of professional dance work, styles and concepts. This allows all students to be exposed to dance from different cultures, experiences and opportunities. Concepts are built upon weekly, practically and theoretically, to ensure connections are made, ensuring the knowledge of the topic is embedded. Students develop their technical skills throughout the dance curriculum and utilise this through movement.
As well as the physical benefits of the dance curriculum, the subject provides an abundance of transferable skills; resilience, teamwork, communication, cooperation and creativity. All beneficial skills which prepare students for an increased opportunity to succeed in their future careers, whether that be within the performing industry or not.
Students are exposed to a vast number of workshops, trips and productions which increases their confidence and opens them up to opportunities within the school. As well as the benefits of opportunity, students learn how beneficial exercise can be for their physical and mental health.
Year 10
In year 10, students that have selected Dance as a GCSE option will develop the skills and knowledge over the course of the year, whilst learning about movement, intent and the freedom of expression through dance. Students create work reacting to a variety of stimulus’ over the course of the year, as well as learning set phrases decided upon by the AQA exam board.
Year 11
Students embark on a journey of contemporary dance and choreography. They delve into the different ways in which dance can be expressed and, in turn, seek to understand how to perform and express themselves through movement.
In the beginning, students learn about their own strength and techniques within dance. They learn how to refine movement and perform technically accurate sequence in accordance with the AQA exam board. Movement and techniques are explored practically and theoretically through practical dance rehearsals and theory lessons, which allow students to critically appreciate work by other professional practitioners.
Once technique and application to movement are instilled, students begin to learn a choreographed piece which creates part of their component 1 assignment. This is created linked to a stimulus of our choice, but must tell a story through technical, expressive, mental and physical skills.
Students rehearse choreographed piece alongside set phrases established by AQA. Then, students practise exam style questions in relation to both pieces. This gives students a chance to understand their rehearsal process, performance process and explore how choreography can be created through use of a stimulus.
Finally, students plan and perform their work so far from component 1 and reflect on their rehearsal, performance and theoretical knowledge of dance.
In year 11, students begin with recapping their knowledge of component 1 movement in the first term and then these will be filmed ready for submission in the second term. Component 1 require students to follow much the same structure as year 10, allowing them to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding they have built throughout their dance journey so far and begin to specialise in areas that interest them most.
Students then receive their final part of component 1; choreography. They have the opportunity to create a dance built from a set stimulus sent from the exam board. This is a chance for students to perform a piece entirely of their own accord, which tells a story through movement whilst exploring the technical, expressive, mental and physical skills of dance.
We endeavour that all students complete their course with great qualifications, confidence creatively and personally and with a deeper understanding of how dance can be expressed in a variety of ways, styles in a studio or on the stage.
