Performing Arts (Dance) - Year 12 :: Queen Elizabeth High School

BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Dance – Year 12

The course is taught by Sarah Morgan and provides candidates with the opportunity to acquire experience of performance and choreography and to engage in critical thinking about dance. Students will gain in depth knowledge of Contemporary and Jazz dance techniques and will study a range of professional dance works and choreographers in these genres. This enables students to connect areas of practice with their own developing skills and theoretical understanding.
This is a physically demanding and highly practical course with a focus on training in technique, choreography and performance.
Students on the course are encouraged to audition for Youth Dance Tynedale to benefit from extra dance training and the opportunity to work with professional dance artists.

Half Term 1 (September - October)

Unit 45: Developing Contemporary Dance Technique

This unit is about developing contemporary dance technique giving learners the opportunity to gain a solid foundation of skills in this style of dance. Students take part in weekly technique classes in order to develop the physical and performance skills required for Graham and Cunningham techniques.

Unit 54: Dance Appreciation Professional Work 1

This unit enables students to gain a deeper knowledge of professional dance works by way of learning practical performance of repertoire, choreographic investigation and underpinning theory. Students will learn repertoire from professional work 1 which will be assessed in class.

External Assessment: No
Internal Common Assessment: Yes
Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A
Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 2 (November - December)

Unit 45: Developing Contemporary Dance Technique

Continued development of technique in weekly classes which link to professional work 2.

Unit 54: Dance Appreciation Professional Work 2

Learn repertoire from professional work 2 in a contrasting style and explore choreographic methods in relation to the work.

External Assessment: No
Internal Common Assessment: Yes
Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A
Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 3 (January - February)

Unit 54: Dance Appreciation

Solo choreography based on professional work 1 or 2 which must be between 2 – 3 minutes.
Extended essay question to compare and contrast professional works 1 and 2.

External Assessment: No
Internal Common Assessment: Yes
Coursework Deadline this H/T: Critical essay 3000 words
Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 4 (March - April)

Unit 38: Dance Performance

In this unit learners will explore and perform dances, getting a taste of the real world of the working dancer, one where talent, technical ability, aesthetic sense, fitness and stamina combine.
Continue to develop solo choreography and rehearse all performance pieces with a focus on development of performance skills.

External Assessment: No
Internal Common Assessment: Yes
Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A
Field Trips/Visits: No

Half Term 5 (May - June)

End of year showcase in the QEHS theatre.

External Assessment: No
Internal Common Assessment: Yes
Coursework Deadline this H/T: N/A
Field Trips/Visits: No

Suggested Reading List
Textboooks
Goodman Kraines M and Pryer E – Jump into Jazz: The Basics and Beyond for Jazz Dance Students, 5th Edition. (Mcgraw Hill Higher Education, 2004) ISBN 9780072844047
McWaters D – The Fosse Style (University Press of Florida, 2008) ISBN 9780813031538
Stearns M and Stearns J – Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance, 2nd Edition (Da Capo Press, 1994) ISBN 9780306805530
Wessel-Therhorn D – Jazz Dance Training (Meyer and Meyer Sports Books, 2000) ISBN 9781841260419
Ashley L – Essential Guide to Dance, Third Edition (Hodder Education, 2008) ISBN 9780340968383
Auty J and Harrison K – Dance Ideas for Teachers, Students, Children (Hodder Arnold, 1991) ISBN 9780340427705
Blom L A and Tarin Chaplin T – The Intimate Act of Choreography (Dance Books, 1995) ISBN 9781852730109
Copeland R and Cohen M (editor) – What is Dance? (Oxford University Press, 1983) ISBN 9780195031973
Humphrey D – The Art of Making Dances (Dance Books, 1997) ISBN 9781852730536
Minton S C – Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation, Third Edition (Human Kinetics Europe, 2007) ISBN 9780736064767
Smith-Autard J – Dance Composition: A Practical Guide to Creative Success in Dance Making, Fifth Edition. (A&C Black, 2004) ISBN 9780713668247
Websites
www.dance.about.com - About.com Dance – Dance resources
www.jazzcotech.com - Jazz Cotech Dancers (Old Skool Jazz dance)
www.jazzjiveswing.com - Jazz, Jive Swing resources