Dance A Level

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This course is an exciting choice if you are interested in studying Dance in depth through the creation and performance of choreography, and the analysis of dance repertoire. You do not have to be pursuing a career in dance to take this course, and the skill-set gained from analysing dance repertoire, developing essay skills and taking the role of both a choreographer and performer in a practical setting provide a range of favourable skills for both employment and university. It should be stressed that this is an academic subject, with 50% of your time and assessment on practical, and 50% on written theory. The subject is not purely a practical one.

You do not need to have studied GCSE or BTEC Dance before, but having prior practical experience is essential. Practical is predominantly in the contemporary style, and students are required to already have competent technique in dance on admission. You should also make sure to attend the Wyke Start practical audition workshops in order to be accepted on the course.

Teaching staff in the dance department include Toni Knight (Head of Dance and Theory teacher) and Laura Bulless (Teacher of 1st and 2nd year practical), alongside extra-curricular teachers Julie Lovewell (Head of Dance at NAPA) and David Danville (founder of Skyline Studios). The department uses a rehearsal and performance space that has a fully sprung dance floor, mirrors, sound and lighting facilities. It has access to the college Library and classroom facilities as well as the state of the art College ICT facilities.

You will have four lessons a week which are split into 2 practical, 2 theory. Practical lessons are a mixture of technique and choreographic tasks. Theory lessons are split into the history of Rambert and in-depth analysis of ‘Rooster’ (Bruce, 1991). Extracurricular rehearsal time will be required in addition to timetabled lessons to produce and practice practical exam work.

COMPONENT ONE

PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY (50% OF A LEVEL)

SOLO PERFORMANCE IN THE STYLE OF A PRACTITIONER (2-3 MINUTE)

The focus of this piece is to accurately reflect the choreographic style of a practitioner in terms of technical and physical skills, spatial elements, dynamics and interpretative performance skills such as musicality and projection.

PERFORMANCE WITHIN A JAZZ OR CONTEMPORARY

QUARTET OF 3-4 MINUTES

The focus of this piece is based on your physical and technical skills, spatial awareness, and interpretative performance in relation to the chosen genre of dance.

GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY (3-4 MINUTE)

Create an original piece of choreography for 3-5 dancers in response to an externally set task. The question will take the form of a question (poem, picture, sculpture, historical figure, etc.) which will need to be researched, developed and communicated in your choreography.

COMPONENT TWO

CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT (50% OF A LEVEL)

This is the theory part of the course, and includes both the detailed analysis of two dance works, and an understanding of other choreographers and repertoire that are influential within their corresponding areas of study:

SECTION A

The Set Work ‘Rooster’ (1991) by Christopher Bruce, and the contextual setting of the Rambert Dance Company (1966 – 2002)

SECTION B

The set work ‘Sutra’ (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, 2008) within the context of the Contemporary Dance Scene 2000+

50% Practical Exam, 50% Theoretical Exam

Information on course specific and pathway specific entry criteria can be found on our website.

This is an ideal course choice if you are pursuing a career in Dance. However, you do not have to be pursuing a career in dance to take this course, and the skill-set gained from analyzing dance repertoire, developing essay skills and taking the role of both a choreographer and performer in a practical setting provide a range of favorable skills for both employment and university.