A Level Dance Course

The coursework provides students with the opportunity to acquire experience of performance
and choreography and to engage in critical thinking about dance. The content 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.

For the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) award the focus is on:

• solo choreography
• performance of own choreography
• performance within a duo/trio
• training, technique, health and safety of the dancer
• analysis of choreography and performance within professional repertoire

For the Advanced Level award, students have the opportunity to develop skills and extend and apply knowledge gained at AS level.

For the Advanced Level award the focus is on:

• group choreography
• knowledge and understanding of a specific area of study related to the development of one of the following: modern dance, ballet, jazz dance
• performance skills related to one of the specific areas of study or to a choreographer of one of the set works
• training, technique, health and safety of the dancer
• the analytical study of one set work and its cultural and artistic context

The revised AS award has become more flexible because the set work has been removed
and students can now choose the genres and styles for study. This will encourage students to broaden their knowledge and understanding of dance, by looking at a range of dance works and choreographers from a variety of genres and styles, in order to inform their own work and their appreciation of dance as an art form.

Study at AS Level provides a sound foundation for Advanced Level, where students have the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of specific study areas and professional works as well as connecting areas of practice with their own developing skills and theoretical understanding. This provides a suitable foundation for study in higher education and for employment.

For the Advanced Level award students can choose from three areas of study related to the
development of modern dance, ballet or jazz dance. The choice of set works reflects the repertoire within these three areas.

AS Award 1231

Unit 1 / DANC1
Understanding Dance
40% of AS, 20% of A Level

Two sections:
A structured questions
B two essay questions
Available in June only

Unit 2 / DANC2
Choreography and Performance
60% of AS, 30% of A Level
Practical coursework (internally assessed)

Two sections:
A solo choreography and performance
B performance in a duo/trio
Available in June only

A2 Award 2231

Unit 3 / DANC3
Dance Appreciation: Content and Context
25% of A Level

Two sections:
A one question on chosen area of study
B one question on set work studied
Available in June only

Unit 4 / DANC4
Group Choreography and Solo Performance
25% of A Level
Practical examination (externally assessed)

Two sections:
A group choreography
B solo performance
Available in June only

The A Level is awarded upon the successful completion of all four units, i.e. both AS and A2 unit.