Unit 1

In this unit students explore the potential of the body as an instrument of expression and communication in conjunction with the regular and systematic development of physical dance skills. They commence the process of developing a personal movement vocabulary and also begin the practices of documenting and analysing movement. Through this work they develop understanding of how other choreographers use these practices. Students learn about relevant physiology and approaches to health and wellbeing, and about care and maintenance of the body. Students explore the choreographic process through movement studies, cohesive dance compositions and performances. They discuss influences on other choreographers and the impact of these influences on intentions and movement vocabulary in selected dance works.

Areas of study

• Dance perspectives

• Choreography and Performance

• Dance Technique and Performance
• Awareness and maintenance of the dancer’s body

There are four outcomes:

• Describe and document the expressive and features of other choreographers’ dance works.

• Choreograph and perform a solo, duo and/or group dance work and complete structured improvisations.

• Safely and expressively perform a learnt group dance work.

• Describe key approaches to wellbeing and health practices for dancers and essential aspects of physiology, and demonstrate the safe use and maintenance of the dancer’s body.

Unit 2

In this unit students extend their personal movement vocabulary and skill in using a choreographic process by exploring elements of movement (time, space and energy), the manipulation of movement through choreographic devices and the types of form used by choreographers. Students use the choreographic process to develop and link movement phrases to create a dance work. They apply their understanding of the processes used to realise a solo and a group dance work: choreographing/learning, rehearsing, preparing for performance and performing. Students are introduced to a range of dance traditions, styles and works. Students describe the movement vocabulary in their own and others’ dances by identifying the use of movement categories and ways the elements of movement have been manipulated through the use of choreographic devices. Students make links between the theoretical and practical aspects of dance across the areas of study through analysis and discussion of the way their own and other choreographers’ intentions are communicated, and through the ways movement has been manipulated and structured.

Areas of study

• Dance perspectives

• Choreography and Performance

• Dance Technique and Performance

There are three outcomes:

• Analyse use of the movement categories and elements of movement in selected dance traditions, styles and/or works.

• Complete structured improvisations and choreograph and perform a solo dance work.

• Safely and securely perform a learnt group dance work with artistry, and report on the realisation of the dance work.

Unit 3

In this unit students choreograph, rehearse and perform a solo dance work that allows them to execute a diverse range of physical skills and actions drawn from all movement categories. Students continue regular and systematic dance training and learn and perform a group dance work created by another choreographer. They continue to develop their ability to safely execute movement vocabulary and perform with artistry. Students analyse the realisation of their solo and the learnt group dance work, focusing on the processes of choreographing or learning, rehearsing, preparing for performance and performing. This analysis connects each student’s work as a choreographer to the work of professional choreographers. Students further develop their understanding of the choreographic process through analysis of two dance works by choreographers of the twentieth and/or twenty-first centuries. Students analyse how the intentions chosen by choreographers are developed through the use of choreographic devices and arrangement of phrases and sections. They analyse the dance design and use of movement vocabulary in the selected works and consider influences on the choreographers’ choices of intention, movement vocabulary and production aspects of the dance works. Students consider the influence these choreographers and/or the selected dance works have had on the arts, artists and/or society.

Areas of study

• Dance perspectives

• Choreography, Performance and Analysis of a skills-based solo dance work

• Dance Technique, Performance and Analysis of a learnt dance work

There are three outcomes:

• Analyse two selected dance works.

• Choreograph, rehearse and perform a skills-based solo dance work and analyse the processes used to realise the solo dance work.

• Learn, rehearse and prepare for performance, and perform a group dance work by another choreographer and analyse the processes used.

Unit 4

In this unit students choreograph, rehearse and perform a solo dance work with a cohesive structure. When rehearsing and performing this dance work students focus on communicating the intention with accurate execution of choreographic variations of spatial organisation. They explore how they can demonstrate artistry in performance. Students document and analyse the realisation of the solo dance work across the processes of choreographing, rehearsing, preparing to perform and performing the dance work. Students continue to develop their understanding of the choreographic process through analysis of a group dance work by a twentieth or twenty-first century choreographer. This analysis focuses on ways in which the intention is expressed through the manipulation of spatial relationships. Students analyse the use of group structures (canon, contrast, unison, and asymmetrical and symmetrical groupings and relationships) and spatial organisation (direction, level, focus and dimension) and investigate the influences on choices made by choreographers in these works.

Areas of study

• Dance perspectives

• Choreography, performance and dance-making analysis

There are two outcomes

• Analyse a selected group dance work.

• Choreograph, rehearse, perform and analyse their realisation of a solo dance work.