Students will be expected to have met St Paul’s entry requirements of 2 Grade 5’s and 4 Grade 4’s. A minimum of grade 4 in English and Maths is essential for all courses.

The Course

A Level Dance provides students with the opportunity to acquire experience of performance and choreography and to engage in critical thinking about dance. The context allows students to study a subject which can be extended through higher education and promotes a healthy lifestyle through an awareness of the importance of exercise and training.

What you will study:

· Contemporary Technique Classes (involving Ballet, Graham, Cunningham and Release)

· Jazz Technique

· Choreography and performance

· Dance analysis

· Dance history

Course Outline

Component 1: Performance and Choreography

What’s assessed?

· Solo performance linked to a specified practitioner within an area of study

· Performance in a quartet

· Group choreography

How it’s assessed

· Practical exam

· 80 marks

· 50% of A-level

Component 2: Critical Engagement

What’s assessed?

Knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of two set works.

· One compulsory set work (Rooster) within the compulsory area of study (Rambert Dance Company)

· Analysing the set work ‘Singing in the Rain’ and corresponding area of study (American jazz dance 1940-1975)

How it’s assessed

· Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes

· 100 marks

· 50% of A-level

Assessment Board: AQA

Dance is suitable for anyone wanting to pursue the arts or dance in Higher Education, or as support for any course requiring good communication and group work skills. In addition to performing, choreographing and teaching, this course might lead to such diverse careers as dance therapy or journalism. The combination of academic, collaborative and creative skills required to succeed in Dance is considered important by Higher Education institutions and employers. The accent on practical work in lesson times contrasts well with more intensively theory-based lessons.

You should choose to study A Level Dance if:

· You enjoyed Dance at KS3 or 4;

· You enjoy a combination of practical and written work;

· You are interested in the possibility of following a performance-based career;

· You would like to develop your understanding of Dance and/or your technical skills;

· You want to enhance your UCAS reference by extending the range of your communication, analytical and evaluative skills.

A natural progression after studying A Level Dance would be to go onto University to study dance, choreography or musical theatre at degree level. A Level Dance is also a useful addition to your A-level choices helping you gain teamwork, confidence and listening skills which in turn could contribute to degrees such as counselling, midwifery and nursing, psychology and education.

Careers directly linked with Dance include Arts Administrator, Choreographer, Community Arts Worker, Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Dancer, Teacher and many more.