STAGE 6 DANCE
Overview of COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The aim of the Stage 6 Elective Dance Course is for you to experience, understand, value and enjoy dance as an art form through the interrelated study of PERFORMANCE, COMPOSITION, and APPRECIATION.Â
During the next two years you will be performing, composing and appreciating your own dances, the dances of others and dances as works of art in the public domain. In the HSC you will be required to complete:
1. Core Performance
2. Core Composition
3. 2 x Appreciation Essays
and
4. Your CHOICE of Major Study.
COMPONENTS OF THE DANCE COURSE
PERFORMANCE
Dance is an art that is meant to be performed for an audience. Dancers need to apply dance technique and performance quality to communicate an idea to the audience. This is a performance. A performance can be an informal or formal presentation of a classroom sequence, student composition or a choreographed dance.Â
You will study a generic dance training, which is described as ‘dance technique’, this is based on the fundamentals of classical ballet and modern dance techniques through which you will acquire appropriate strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance and skill. You will learn safe dance and basic physiology of the human body as it applies to the dancing body. All students will complete solo performances and in the HSC have the chance to performing in which ever style suits their strengths.
PRELIMINARY DANCE
PERFORMANCE 40%
Learn and develop your dance technique
Studying the human body/anatomy
Learn about Safe Dance Practices and about individual Capabilities and Limitations
Learn about how to utilise Performance Skills
2 x Performance Dance is created by the class teacher, with student input
COMPOSITION 30%
Creating choreography and recording the process
Creativity to create your own dance movements. The compositional process is designed to develop your individual creativity, to compose movement that communicates intent.
Your Dance teacher will help you through with scaffolds, compositional activities and help with the process of choreography by taking you through step by step.
APPRECIATION 30%
Learn how to analyse movement, describe movement and break down how choreographers create meaning through movement.
Watch prescribed professional dance performances and learn the skills of analysis
Understand dance as an art form
Learn how to write in a structured essay format.
ASSESSMENT PERIOD 1
Part A: Performance and Instructional Video
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Part B: Take Home Essay Prescribed Work 1
ASSESSMENT PERIOD 2
Part A: Major Performance
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Part B: Composition Work in Progress
ASSESSMENT PERIOD 3
Part A: Composition
Part B: Essay (Prescribed Work 2) and Extended Response Exam
HSC DANCE
PERFORMANCE
Learn and develop your dance technique
Studying the human body/anatomy
Core Performance Dance is created by the class teacher, with your input
Compulsory 20%
​
COMPOSITION
Creating choreography and teaching others your movement
Creativity to create your own dance movements. The compositional process is designed to develop your individual creativity, to compose movement that communicates intent.
Your Dance teacher will help you through scaffolds, compositional activities etc
Compulsory 20%
APPRECIATION
Watch prescribed professional dance performances and learn the skills of analysis
Understand dance as an art form
Analyse the works in terms of meaning and how they communicate meaning through dance components in a structured essay format.
Compulsory 20%
ASSESSMENT PERIOD 1
Take Home Essay Prescribed Work 1 10%
ASSESSMENT PERIOD 2
Part A: Core Performance 20%
Part B: Core Composition Work in Progress 10%
ASSESSMENT PERIOD 3
Part A: Major Study Work in Progress 20%
Part B: Essay Exam Prescribed Work 2 10%
TRIAL EXAMS
Part A: Major Study 20%
Part B: Core Composition 10%
HSC DANCE EXAM COMPONENTS
CORE PERFORMANCE
20%
The Core Performance is a compulsory component of the HSC course and is taught by the classroom teacher. Students are assessed on their dance technique, safe dance practices and performance quality.
This exam will take place in the HSC Practical Dance Exam period. Weeks 4 or 5 of Term 3. (August)
CORE COMPOSITION
20%
The Core Composition is a compulsory component of the HSC course and is choreographed by the HSC student on a younger Dance student from the school. Students are assessed on their use of Elements of Dance and how they manipulate movement to communicate a concept or intent.
This exam will take place in the HSC Practical Dance Exam period. Weeks 4 or 5 of Term 3. (August)
APPRECIATION
20%
Appreciation is another compulsory component of the HSC where students will study two Choreographers and their works. Through the study of analysis student will break down the meaning behind the choreography and write an essay on both works. Students will be assessed on their essay writing skills.
This exam will take place during the HSC Exam period in October/November
MAJOR STUDY
40%
Students can choose what they want the major study component of their HSC to focus on. Usually it depends on their strengths and capabilities. There are four options:
Major Study Performance - students can choose to perform in what ever style is their strength. We have had students perform contemporary, ballet, hip hop, musical theater and tap.
Major Study Composition - students choreograph a work around an intent using 2 or three dancers.
Major Study Film/Technology - students create a film based around an intent on 2 or 3 dancers. The HSC student choreographs, films and edits their own work.
These practcical works are assessed in the HSC Practical Dance Exam period. Weeks 4 or 5 of Term 3. (August)
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Major Study Appreciation - students analyse a choreographer and work as well as seminal artists of a specific era. They write essays and complete extended response questions.
This theory exam is assessed in the HSC Exam period in October/November