Dance
Subject leader: Mrs H Whitmore
Exam board: Pearson
Course Description:
This vocational course focuses on the study and performance of dance within the performing arts industry. The course is practical and work related, with students completing assignments based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. Students will develop technical and interpretive skills required for dance performance within a range of dance styles.
The Tech Award qualification attracts the same points as a GCSE grades 9-1.
Please note that BTEC Dance and BTEC Performing Arts cannot be taken together. Students wishing to take GCSE Drama alongside either BTEC will be considered on a case by case basis.
Course Units
Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (30%)
In this component you will develop a practical understanding of how professional dance is created. You will look at elements such as roles, responsibilities and the application of relevant skills and techniques. You will have the chance to explore practically the work of different dance professionals to develop an appreciation of the methods they use to explore a theme and communicate to audiences through their work. You will broaden your knowledge through observing existing repertoire and by learning about professional dancers’ approaches and how they create and influence dance material.
Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts (30%)
In this component, you will develop dance or design skills and techniques through participation in workshops and classes. You will be given the opportunity to develop technical, practical and interpretative skills through the rehearsal and performance process. You will work from existing dance repertoire, applying relevant skills and techniques to reproduce performance elements of the work. Throughout your development, you will review your own progress, consider how to make improvements and work towards these.
Component 3: Responding to a Brief (40%)
In this component, you are given a set theme and stimulus by the exam board from which you create dances and perform as part of a group. You will need to come up with dance ideas and develop these to ensure they fit the original stimulus and for a suitable target audience. Throughout this unit you apply your skills and techniques developed in Component 1 and 2 to communicate your ideas to your audience.
Assessment:
Component 1: Practical workshops and completion of an assignment set by the exam board which will include two written tasks, internally assessed and then moderated by the exam board.
Component 2: Practical workshops, leading to a performance of an extract from a professional dance repertoire. This will be in response to an assignment set by the exam board and will also include two written tasks. This unit is internally assessed before being externally moderated.
Component 3: There are three milestone assessments and practical performance, all completed under controlled conditions. This unit is externally assessed.
Why should I study this course?
Student Quote:
“Dance helps me to express my feelings and to escape from the world” Sackville dance student
“You can start late. Look different. Be uncertain and still succeed.” Misty Copeland
