Skip to content ↓

Dance

The Dance Department at Wath Academy is focused on ensuring that all students have the opportunity to explore their passion and talent for dance through curricular courses and extra-curricular activities.

Dance offers students the chance to explore their creative skills through choreography, performance and technique underpinned by theoretical practice. Other skills such as team work, communication skills and improving self-confidence are also developed throughout dance education. Furthermore, Dance inspires and facilitates a student’s love for the performing arts and where necessary, prepares a student for further study at University or working within the Performing Arts industry.

Dance is offered in the curriculum at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, in addition to many extra-curricular activities and trips.

We also have our very exciting Dance Academy pathway which launched September 2019.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 Dance is offered to all students across two different courses; AQA GCSE Dance and BTEC Level 2 TECH Award in Performing Arts: Dance. Students study either course over 3 years with between 2 or 3 lesson per week. Both courses are centred around Technique, Performance and Choreography.

GCSE Dance

AQA GCSE Dance is assessed through a practical exam and a theory exam. The practical exams include one piece of student choreography and three performance pieces, all performed at moderation under exam conditions. The theory paper analyses six Professional Dance Works and also discusses choreographic, technical and performance skills drawing from a student’s own experiences.

In GCSE Dance students will complete three Units:

  • Performance: Solo and Group Performance
  • Choreography: A group or solo choreography
  • Dance Appreciation: Critical appreciation of own and professional dance works

BTEC Dance

BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts Dance is assessed through practical exams and controlled assessment coursework. The practical exam consists of solo performances and students creating and performing in a showcase based around a theme given by the exam board. The controlled assessment consists of three tasks; the application of skills and technical assessment, an improvement log and analysis of own and others work to bring about improvement. There is no theory exam paper for this qualification although student do complete timed written tasks under exam conditions.

In Applied Dance students will complete three Components:

  • Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (Dance)
  • Component 2: Developing skills and techniques in the Performing Arts
  • Component 3: Performance to a Brief

Sixth Form

Dance Academy

The Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma is a two year course with 10 lessons a week, which will give students the opportunity to gain the equivalent of 3 A Levels. The course is excellent in preparing you for a career within the Dance Industry whether that be performance, choreogphy, teaching or production. You will study many different dance styles, choreographic practices and professional dance works.

 Year 1

Unit 3: Group Performance Workshop (externally assessed)

Unit 5: Individual Performance Commission

Unit 6: (completed in Y13)

Unit 8: Classical Ballet

Unit 10: Jazz Dance

Unit 12: Contemporary Dance

Unit 22: Movement in Performance

Unit 25: Site Specific Dance

Year 2

Unit 1: Investigating Practitioners Work  (externally assessed)

Unit 2: Developing Skills & Techniques for Live performance.

Unit 4: Performing Arts in the Community

Unit 7: Employment opportunities in the Performing Arts

Unit 14: Choreography for Dance performance

Core Dance-Single option

The Level 3 BTEC Foundation Diploma is a two year course with 5 lessons a week, which will give students the opportunity to gain the equivalent of 1.5 A Levels. The course is excellent in preparing you for dance related work or further learning. You will study many different dance styles, choreographic practices and professional dance works.

Year 1

Unit 3: Group Performance Workshop (externally assessed)

Unit 10: Jazz Dance

Unit 12:  Contemporary Dance

Year 2

Unit 1: Investigating Practitioners Work  (externally assessed)

Unit 2: Developing Skills & Techniques for Live performance.

Unit 4: Performing Arts in the Community

Extra-Curricular Activities

Students can choose from a large number of extra-curricular opportunities within Dance.  There are weekly dance clubs available to all students including Y7 and Y8 Dance Club, Key Stage 4 Dance Company, Boys Only Breakdance Crew, Cheerleading, Ballet Club and Contemporary Technique. In addition to the regular clubs we create 3 whole school performances each year; Pantomime, Movement Evening and the End of Year Performance, which provide further dance and performing arts opportunities for students.

As Dance Educators we feel it is vital that all students have the opportunity to experience live dance in a variety of theatres and settings. Therefore students have the opportunity to attend Theatre Dance Trips, on average, every half term including a two day residential to London. Previous Theatre trips include Phoenix Dance Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, Moscow City Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Jungle Book, Billy Elliot, Les Miserables and Wicked. 

Facilities

The Dance Department have a dedicated studio classroom with interactive whiteboard, walled mirrors and ballet bars. We have ICT equipment in the classroom but also have access to the faculty iPads, video cameras, ‘flip’ cameras, movie greenscreen technology and video editing equipment. We also have a large library of DVDs of Professional Works and specialist computer software for use in specific units. In addition we have use of the school hall for all rehearsals, performances and exams and also use the Gym in PE which has walled mirrors and a sprung floor. 

39 Week Plans