Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary GCE Dance

Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary GCE Dance

Entry Requirements
GCSE Dance experience would be an advantage but is not essential. However, some formal experience in dance is required, as is competence in written English.

About the Course

This course is designed for students from any background (ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, modern) who wish to study dance in depth.
As a student of dance you will gain experience of performing, choreographing, and analysing dance. Technique classes will be contemporary-based but choreographic work will draw on students' own strengths. You should be interested in composing and performing solo work as well as group work, and should take every opportunity to see live professional dance. You will be expected to keep a choreographic diary, recording and analysing the compositional process. You will also be given the opportunity to join Youth Dance Furness in order to improve your performance skills. This will involve some time out of College hours.

Practical coursework for AS Dance will be marked by the tutor and moderated by a visiting examiner. The written examination will be held during June of Year 1. The A2 practical and written examinations will be held during the summer term of Year 2. The units are as follows.

AS

Unit 1 Understanding Dance 40% of AS marks
Written examination

20% of total A Level marks
Structured and essay style questions will be set on the dancer as a performer, the choreographic process and the significance of dances.

Unit 2 Choreography and Performance 60% of AS
Practical coursework

30% of total A Level marks
Section A
Students choreograph and perform a solo of two to three minutes, in response to questions set by AQA.
Section B

Students are required to perform a piece of three - four minutes in a duo/trio. The piece will be choreographed collaboratively by students and teachers and may be in any style which fulfils the performance criteria.

A2

Unit 3 Appreciation: Content and Context 25% of A Level marks
Written examination
Students answer questions on a chosen area of study within ballet, modern or jazz dance and another on the set work.

Unit 4 Group Choreography and Solo Performance

25% of A Level marks
Section A
Students choreograph a group dance of two to three minutes, in response to questions set by AQA.
Section B
Students perform a solo of two to three minutes, in the style of a specific dance practitioner, linked to the area of studies in Unit 3.