Dance
Dance is the joy of movement and the heart of life. It is a subject we are thrilled to offer at Lipson. From our dance academy programme at Key Stage three to our BTEC Courses at Key Stage 4 & 5, our students are encouraged to develop as an independent, autonomous learner, growing in confidence and creativity to become future dance practitioners.
Students develop skills, imagination and new ways of seeing combined with the versatility, creativity and drive to meet the challenges of the competitive and demanding dance profession of today’s world.
Our Curriculum Learning Pathway
Key Stage 3
Students will get the chance to learn about various dance styles and techniques as part of their curriculum PE lessons and extra-curricular involvement.
In Year 7 they will study a 6 week scheme of work which explores social dance (street dance styles). They will also have the opportunity to take part in the Year 7 dance academy after school. In Years 8 and 9 they can choose to be a part of the Lipson Dance academy within their curriculum PE lessons. They will learn about other dance styles, such as contemporary and Jazz, along with group choreography skills.
Last year a group of Year 7 students successfully learnt and performed a dance piece for a virtual dance competition against other local schools.
There are many performance opportunities within the dance department to get involved in at Lipson. For example our dance shows and the annual musical production.
Key Stage 4
BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award in Performing Arts (Dance Pathway)
In Year 10 students can choose the dance pathway route for the BTEC Tech qualification. This is a very flexible award and allows students to develop their creative, performance and analytical skills in different styles of dance.
There are three components in the BTEC Tech award. There is no written examination for the BTEC Tech qualification however there is an externally assessed unit (Component 3) in which they will need to complete three pieces of written analysis along with a group dance performance.
Course Structure
- Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (Internal assessment) 30%
- Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts (Internal assessment) 30%
- Component 3: Responding to a Brief (External assessment) 40%
Component 1 – Exploring the Performing Arts (30%)
Students will develop their understanding of the performing arts by examining dance practitioners work and the processes used to create performance. They will then have the opportunity to develop this in their practical performance through workshop-based lessons. Students will need to provide a written presentation and analysis/research of the professional performances studied for this component.
Component 2 –Developing Skills and Techniques in Performing Arts (30%)
Students will develop their dance skills and techniques through the reproduction of dance repertoire and movement. They will study at least two different styles of dance, for example contemporary and jazz. Students will be required to rehearse, perform and analyse their own performance. They will also need to reflect and analyse their dance skills and set targets to improve.
Component 3 – Performing to a Brief (40%)
Students will be given the opportunity to work as part of a group to create a workshop performance in response to a given brief and stimulus.
The evidence needed for this component will be:
- The group performance
- Written ideas log (up to 600 words)
- Written skills log (up to 600 words)
- Written evaluation (up to 600 words)
What is next after BTEC Performing Arts (Dance)?
- Further education in AS/A Level Dance or BTEC Level 3 National Certificate/Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) at a college which may then lead onto a dance or performance degree at university.
- Performing
- Choreography
- Teaching and education role
- Admin roles within dance/performance company
- Admin or technical role within a theatre
- Dance marketing role