Curriculum
I am proud to say that our students are highly motivated in dance and experience a wide variety of dance from around the world at Key Stage 3. At Key Stage 4, we are one of the few boys’ schools (11-16) in the country to run GCSE Dance. We achieved 70% A-C last year (national average of 60%) and the students gained more than 5 points higher on average in dance when compared to their other subjects. We hope to offer A’ level Dance for Key Stage 5 from September 2010.
Since 2007 we have worked with large-scale institutions such as The Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet and the Royal Albert Hall and smaller scale individual dance artists and dance companies. We have a close partnership with the Laban Centre for Dance in Deptford that enables us to offer further dance development for our students. We put our Gifted & Talented dance students (13-16) through Laban’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) auditions.
“It can be a huge force for good, effectively drawing people together and leveling everyone through sheer hard work. It can speed up your heart rate, it can enliven your being, it can change your life”.
Richard Alston (Choreographer) CBE
Dance
"Dance, of all arts, is THE one
that most influences the soul." - Plato
The Dance Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to:
· Engage students in a wide range of dance
· Nurture individual confidence
· Nurture sensitivity to others
· Provide a means of personal and social
expression
· Make provision for SEN, G&T and EAL
students
· Develop social skills
· Develop self-discipline and personal
responsibility
· Develop abilities to solve problems
· Develop individual and group identity
· Develop independent life-long learners
· Develop trust and understanding of others
needs
Three strands of study are the basis of the curriculum design and each unit includes aspects of each:
1. Performance - applying and adapting a wide range of skills and techniques effectively in performing dance.
2. Composition - applying and adapting a wide range of skills and techniques effectively in composing dance, including the ability to improve and creating dances for a range of purposes and in response to different stimuli.
3. Appreciation - developing the ability to analyse, evaluate and appreciate dance and appreciate the contribution of dance to personal and social health, fitness and wellbeing and be aware of the range of opportunities and pathways available in dance.
For more information on the course on offer please click on the following links
Extra curricular dance provision and regular theatre visits are fundamental to our success. We offer opportunities for students from all year groups to participate in activities outside of the curriculum offer in our Dance Studio.
I believe that dance offers unique learning opportunities within the school curriculum. As one of the major art forms, it develops students’ creative, imaginative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacities. Because of its physical nature, dance provides a means of expression and communication distinct from other art forms and because of its expressive, creative and aesthetic nature it stands apart from other physical activities.