The course includes the study of the GCSE Dance Anthology - six short professional dance works (12-30 minutes long), which form the focus for critical analysis of professional dance works. The Anthology encompasses:
- different dance styles and fusions of style
- a selection of established and emerging choreographers
- different numbers and combinations of dancers
- a variety of choreographic approaches
- different choreographic structures
- a variety of types of performance environment
- a variety of aural settings
- inclusive dance
- dance influenced by other cultures.
Drawing on this study, you will develop your own performance, creative and choreographic practice.
The course content is split into three components:
- Performance - including physical skills, technical ability, expression, mental skills and attributes, and safe working practices
- Choreography - including action content, dynamic content, spatial content, relationship content, different choreographic devices, aural settings and performance environments
- Dance appreciation - including critical analysis, interpretation and evaluation of your own work and in response to the six dance works in the GCSE Dance Anthology.
- Assessment Component 1: Performance and choreography
- Solo performance (12 marks) - live and approx. 1 minute in length
- Duet/trio performance (24 marks) - live and 3-5 minutes long
- Choreography - demonstrate a creative response to a set brief based on a stimulus such as a poem, image, prop, feature of the natural world or an event. Either a solo dance (2-2.5 minutes) or a group dance (3-3.5 minutes) - (40 marks)
- Assessment Component 2: Dance Appreciation
This component is assessed through a written examination (1.5 hours) covering choreographic processes and performing skills, critical appreciation of your own work and of professional works (from the Dance Anthology). (80 marks)