Dance
Dance Department
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Subject Leader Dance |
Miss H Page |
Dance at Knole Academy provides a broad and balanced dance curriculum that inspires and promotes creativity and confidence. Students enjoy their dance lessons in a safe and comfortable working environment where they can learn a variety of dance styles and how to devise their own creative choreographies. Students find their own creative voice and explore how the body moves in space. They gain skills which are highly transferable to the workplace beyond the world of dance, such as: confidence, communication, trust, problem solving, social skills and body awareness.
The department strives to create an equal curriculum where boys and girls can achieve success. As an Expressive Arts Academy, dance is compulsory at Key Stage 3 (years 7-8) and then a popular option for year 9 and GCSE, where students can further develop their understanding and appreciation of dance.
Key Stage 3
Years 7 - 8: What will my child be studying?
Contemporary dance and street dance styles with a focus to developing the following skills:
- Safe practice
- Transferable skills
- Physical dance skills
- Choreography skills
- Mental skills
Year 9
If students choose to take dance as an option for their last year of KS3 in Year 9, then they will assessed on the following:-
- Technical skills
- Expressive skills
- Mental skills
- Physical skills
- Safe practice
- Choreography
How will my child be assessed in Dance?
Practical lessons will continually be assessed as well as final performances at the end of each term. Dance theory tests will also be regular to assess mental understanding.
Key Stage 4
Years 10-11
If students choose to continue dance and take AQA GCSE dance as an option in year 10, then they will be assessed on the following:
What's assessed?
Component 1 Performance and Choreography
- Taught Set Phrases through a solo performance - 9%
- Collaborative Duet/trio performance 18%
- Mental skills during performances 3%
- Solo or group choreography by student 30%
Component 2 Dance Appreciation
Written Paper 40%
- Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
- Critical appreciation of own work
- Critical appreciation of professional works
How Dance GCSE is assessed?
Internally marked and externally moderated by AQA.
Extra-Curricular Dance Clubs
Knole Academy runs many dance clubs at lunches and after school. There are dance platforms for students to present their own work and auditions to participate in the weekly professional dance company training with Cascade Dance. Students sometimes compete at local competitions and have been successfully representing the school in competitions from 2019-2021. There are also trips to the theatre and ballet.
The Dance department annually stages a themed dance production in the Oaks Theatre; these are positively received by the school and the wider community of Knole Academy.
