Physical Education | Performing Arts - Dance

Performing Arts - Dance - AQA

GCSE Dance focuses on the aesthetic and artistic qualities of dance movement. The content of the course will be chosen in order to enable students to develop knowledge and understanding in interpreting ideas/concepts embodied within dance vocabulary and movement. Pupils will learn and appreciate a variety of dance styles. This will involve skills such as the presentation of dance choreography; skills in film-making and dance media analysis; and dance theory – all to gain understanding of artistic and social contexts.

Assessment

Candidates are assessed in the following areas:

A written paper (2 hours – 20% of the total marks). In preparation for this exam pupils are required to appreciate and analyse up to 5 professional works. The main professional work to be studied in 2008-2009 is ‘Bird Song' by Sobhian Davies.

Other questions are based on safe practice, movement vocabulary, choreographic devices and elements of performance and appreciation.

AQA have set a practical study which ALL candidates must learn and perform as a solo in the internal moderation and then to an external moderator in Summer Term Year 11.

Candidates are required to perform in a group dance either as a result of a professional workshop and /or with specific teacher guidance.

Candidates are to choreograph one solo/group/duo dance for a duration of 2 – 3 minutes. The dance must be a result of a study of art, literature or a social issue. This is to be shown as part of the annual ‘Move To The Left' concert in March. In addition a programme note must be submitted explaining their choreography. This must be produced by using ICT, have good use of standard English and use specific dance vocabulary.