Dance
Who we are: - Naomi Harrigan (Head of Department)
- Sarah Swinfin (AST)
- Melanie Travis
- Tammy Seager
In dance, pupils think about how to use movement to explore and communicate ideas and issues, and their own feelings and thoughts. As they work, they develop an awareness of the historical and cultural origins of different dances. Students study performance, composition, appreciation and health and fitness. They explore a variety of dance styles including: Contemporary, Jazz, Rock and Roll, Street Dance, Salsa, Bollywood, traditional Asian and African.
We use a variety of themes to deliver and exciting and broad curriculum. The themes range from exciting everyday ideas, current modern films, political issues and friendship/bullying.
All our units are supported by professional dance works to demonstrate good examples and help develop appreciation skills.
Year 7
The Funfair, Puppets, World Dance, The Circus and Superheroes
Year 8
Charlies Angels, Take the Lead, Chance composition, Urban Identity and the Olympics
Year 9
Professional works: Swansong, Enter Achilles, Rooster. Composition workshops, exploring the different types of stimuli, and how to develop a composition successfully.
GCSE Expands on all skills acquired in Key stage 3. Pupils continue to develop technique, performance skills, compositional skills, appreciation skills and also develop a further understanding of Health and fitness.
Where a dance education can take you: - Professional dancer in the theatre.
- Choreographer
- Dance teacher
- Dance therapist
- Dance/theatre development officer
- Theatre house manager
- Choreographic assistant
- Stage manager
- Backing dancer on tour with musical artists
- Backing dancer in pop videos and on TV programmes
Accommodation: We have a new dance studio with a fully sprung dance floor, wall to wall mirrors, surround sound music system and air conditioning. Our second space is the David Sharpe Theatre - the main school theatre and assembly hall. The space has raked seating, sound, and lighting systems.
What we do:
Key Stage 3 Dance is taught on a carousel with the other performing arts subject - drama and music.
Yr 7 = 3, 100 minute Lessons per fortnight. 12 weeks split into 2, 6 week cycles.
Yr 8 = 4, 100 minute Lessons per fortnight. 12 weeks split into 2, 6 week cycles.
Yr 9 = 4, 100 minute Lessons per fortnight. 12 weeks split into 2, 6 week cycles.
Key Stage 4
We currently offer GCSE dance and are hoping to introduce a BTEC Performing Arts in 2008. GCSE Dance has three 100 minute timetabled lessons per fortnight.
Key stage 5
We are hoping to re-introduce an AS in Performing arts course in September 2008. By 2009 we will have targeted enough able students to deliver an AS in Dance.
Other skills the students acquire: - Improves organisational skills.
- Improves communication and social skills.
- Improves confidence.
- Helps us present ourselves well and be confident in our body language.
- Promotes our skills in working in a team successfully.
- Gives us confidence to be a leader.
- Improves fitness, health, agility and coordination skills.
- Develops spatial awareness.
- Broadens horizons, opening minds to new and interesting opportunities
- Teaches about different cultures.
- Develops creativity and imagination.
Extra-curricular
We run lunchtime and after school clubs using outside teachers and the expertise of the department.
We run trips to dance establishments for workshops and to live dance performances at the theatre.
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