Literacy Dance Word Bank

Dance at Mark Rutherford

GCSE Dance

This is an increasingly popular subject that gives students the opportunity to keep fit and learn about an area that they enjoy. Students should choose this course if they have a keen interest in Performance and Choreography. The course primarily studies contemporary Dance and looks at a range of other Dance styles both practically and theoretically. You must be willing to work and perform in both in groups and solo situations. You will also be expected to analyse and appreciate existing dance works. Extra Curricular activities are essential to student’s development in this course as you will be expected to attend rehearsals outside of lesson times. We also provide a lot of support for further development in the course as we attend numerous theatre productions and at times have had outside practitioners in for workshops.

Unit 1 is a critical appreciation of Dance. This will be a written paper which is worth 20% of the GCSE.

Unit 2 is a solo performance worth 20% of the GCSE

Unit 3 is a performance in a duo or group and again is worth 20% of the total GCSE.

Unit 4 covers choreography where you are expected to choreograph both a solo and a group piece and this is worth 40% of the total GCSE Mark.

Useful books for this course would be Dance Sense by Linda Ashley or The Essential Guide to dance also by Linda Ashley.

 AS/A2 Dance

AS and A2 Dance aims to develop a students understanding of Dance as an art form. The practical elements of the course give students the opportunity to develop their choreography and performance skills. The course also requires pupils to analyse and interpret professional dance works as well as their own work.

The Advanced award is comprised of two compulsory units from the AS scheme of assessment and two compulsory units from the A2 scheme of assessment, these are:

AS Dance:

Unit 1. Understanding Dance

This unit is a written examination worth 40% of total AS marks. The paper comprises two sections, section A is made up of structured questions and section B is made up of two essay questions. Questions are set on the dancer as a performer, the process and craft of choreography and the significance of dances.

Unit 2. Choreography

Performance

 Unit 2 is Practical coursework and is worth 60% of total AS marks. Again there are two sections to this unit. Section A is a Solo Choreography and Performance. Candidates are required to choreograph and perform a solo dance of two to three minutes.

Section B is a Performance in a duo/trio. Candidates demonstrate

performance skills within the context of a duo/trio dance.

A2 Dance:

 Unit 3. Dance Appreciation: Content and Context

Unit 3 is a written examination worth 25% of total A Level marks. The paper comprises two sections. Candidates answer one question from Section A on a chosen area of study and one from Section B on the set work studied.

Unit 4. Group Choreography and Solo Performance

This unit is a Practical examination worth 25% of the total A Level marks. Section A is a Group Choreography worth 45 marks. Candidates choreograph a group dance, of two to three minutes duration, in which they do not perform.

 Section B: Solo performance 30 marks. Candidates present a soloperformance, of two to three minutes duration, which demonstrates an understanding of a performance style linked to a specific practitioner from the areas of study prescribed in Unit 3.

Would I be suited to AS and A2 Dance?

This course would suit students who have a keen interest in dance as an art form. Students need to have the confidence and willingness to perform in a variety of situations as well as show imagination and creativity in their practical work. You will also be expected to attend performances and workshops to develop your own independent learning.

Do I need to have a GCSE in Dance?

Students considering this course should have achieved a GCSE in Dance, at Grade C or above or have a strong dance background. Students who do not have a GCSE in Dance should see Miss

Caddick to discuss the possibility of taking the course.

How will AS and A2 dance

benefit my future?

AS and A2 Dance can open the door to a variety of careers including:

Teaching or lecturing,

A Choreographer,

A community dance worker,

A performer in a Dance Company,

A Dance critic and review writer,

Creating Dance resources for teachers,

Costume, lighting and set designer

Or even a backing dancer in a music video!