At Saint George we are lucky enough to have a dance studio with a mirrored wall and sprung floor. The subject provides a stimulating and enjoyable classroom environment and includes lots of extracurricular opportunities, allowing pupils to express themselves across a number of different genres. It enables pupils to become more confident and creative in a safe and social environment while developing knowledge of a variety of professional work.

Key Stage 3

Dance aims to equip pupils with the necessary skills required for the GCSE course as well as to develop performance in a range of dance styles including: Bollywood, Contemporary dance, Capoeira, Physical Theatre and Hip-hop.

By the end of KS3 students should be confident in:

• choreographing dances from different forms of stimuli
• rehearsing and performing as a solo, duet or part of a group
• analysing and evaluating own and others work
• being familiar with dance terminology and how it can be utilised in their work

Key Stage 4

At GCSE, we follow the AQA Dance course with a ratio of 60% practical and 40% theory. The course consists of four units:

• Component 1 - Performance and Choreography (60% of GCSE)
• Performance
  • Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute)
  • Duet/trio performance (three minutes in a dance which is a maximum of five minutes in duration)
• 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)
• Component 2- Dance Appreciation (40% of GCSE)
  • Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
  • Critical appreciation of own work
  • Critical appreciation of 6 professional works