GCSE Dance

Exam Board: AQA

Dance is an exciting and diverse subject.

GCSE Dance is a powerful and expressive course which encourages students to develop their creative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacity, whatever their previous experience in the subject.

The specification recognises the role of dance in young people’s lives and students will study a range of dance styles and style fusions.

The gap between GCSE, AS and A-level Dance has been bridged to give students the skills and experience to better prepare them for the demands of AS and A-level if they choose to progress with their study.

The practical component of the course enables students to study dance by ‘doing’ and the exploration of professional works will provide a springboard for the development of creative and engaging practical tasks. The study of the professional dance works will facilitate the development of students’ skills in performance and choreography as well as broadening their knowledge and understanding of dance and the ability to critically appraise dances of different styles and cultural influences.

Three core areas of the course are:

• performance
• choreography
• appreciation of professional dance works

Assessment

Component 1: Performance and choreography (60% of final grade):
Assessment task 1: Performance
Solo Performance (12 marks)
Duet/trio Performance (24 marks)
Assessment task 2: Choreography
Solo or group Choreography (40 marks)

Component 2: Dance appreciation – 40% of final grade:
Written Paper 1 hour 30 minutes

Enrichment Opportunities

Yearly Dance Showcase, Christmas Cabaret Performance, Summer Show, Trips to ‘Move it!’, Regular theatre trips to London as well as local theatres, External workshop activities, Trips to London for workshops, after school and lunchtime Dance Clubs in a variety of styles, Rehearsal space and sessions, Support sessions, termly dance competitions

Links

• AQA Exam Board
• A Level Dance at The Canterbury Academy
• The Performing Arts Pillar