Curriculum Spotlight

Curriculum Spotlight Issue 23: 6 March 2020

Dance Miss Bonsall

The fundamental objectives of the dance department at Highfields School are based on a profound belief in the importance of dance both as an academic and vocational discipline within the school curriculum, and as an important foundation stone for living a confident and healthy life beyond the confines of education.

We believe our dance curriculum at KS3 sets students up well for GCSE dance and this is something we are always looking to assess, improve and develop to ensure we stay up to date with curriculum developments under the new specifications.

The skills and knowledge required are not only developed practically but also, academically through written assessment, quizzes and note taking across all key stages.

Whilst building skills, it is also important that the students develop a love of learning in dance and inspiring a passion that is shared by our whole department, whether it be Mrs Hollinrake’s love of Street Dance, Miss Hendry’s eye for contemporary movement or Miss Bonsall’s obsession with Musical Theatre.

It is our aim to allow students to be creative, expressive and inventive, as well as gaining inspiration from theorists, choreographers and practitioners. We also hope that students continuously develop life skills such as critical thinking, evaluating, analysing, empathising and communicating; there are very few jobs that do not require these skills. Lessons will equip them with the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to succeed not just in written and practical examinations but beyond the classroom; creating well rounded, empathetic, considerate students who are confident in meeting the demands of modern life, as they able to understand the world around them and the people they share it with. Students will experience trips to the theatre, dance classes/conventions, workshops on and off school site and can partake in extra-curricular activities at lunch-time and after school, should they wish.

Currently, year 7 are exploring Sport Dance to develop movement from a stimulus while recapping the skills sets, they have used in dance so far. Year 8 are developing movement material from a stimulus – technology and including choreographic devices such as fragmentation while recapping the skill sets used in dance (physical, mental, expressive, choreographic). Year 9 have learnt set phrases from the GCSE dance anthology piece ‘A Linha Curva’ and are now developing movement material to create a performance (using the choreographic process) before they also begin to explore the features of production in ‘A Linha Curva’ to understanding the other tools used in a dance performance to communicate to an audience. Year 10 are adding to their knowledge of the dance anthology pieces though looking at ‘Shadows’ choreographed by Christopher Bruce while also developing their practical repertoire and learning the set phrases from AQA. Year 10 are learning the set AQA dance phrases ‘Shift and Scoop’, they have fragmented these into a piece ready to perform at the ‘evening of dance’ later in March. Year 11 are completing their choreography using the choreographic process to fine tune their pieces in preparation for the exam at the end of the term. They have also worked on their expressive skills ready to perform their trio dance ready for their final practical exam. They are also working through past paper questions and developing their exam technique ready for the theory paper.