Dance

KS3 Intent

Key stage three Dance at Didcot Girls’ School is wide ranging and introduces students to the key principles of Dance. We believe that it is vital to give our students opportunities to express themselves in a creative and practical way whilst learning new skills through challenging schemes of work. Dance develops students' creativity and imagination and allows them the opportunity for self-expression. The key skills of team work, problem solving, perseverance, leadership, communication, presention and self discipline are all evident within Dance lessons, which are valuable skills for all students to have.

*Dance is on a carousel and is studied for 3 terms throughout the year, this is either terms 1-3 or terms 4-6.

Curriculum sequence

Term 1 or 4

Term 2 or 5

Term 3 or 6

Year 7

Physical & Technical Skills

Introduction to dance as a subject.
Introduction to physical skills including posture, alignment, balance, coordination, control, flexibility, mobility, strength, stamina, extension & isolation.
Introduction to technical skills including action, space, dynamic, relationships, timing and style.
Practical dance lessons delivered in the street-dance style.

Performance & Expressive Skills

Introduction to the skills necessary for performance in both solo or group performances.
Introduction to skills including projection, focus, spatial awareness, facial expression, phrasing, musicality, sensitivity to other dancers & communication of the chosen choreographic intention.
Practical dance lessons delivered in the contemporary style.

Choreography

Introduction to the skills used for choreography.
Skills including action, space and dynamic.
Relationship content including mirroring, contact, action & reaction, accumulation, contrast & formations.
Choreographic devices including repetition, motif development & unison/canon.
Practical dance lessons delivered in the contemporary style.

Year 8

A continuation of the skills learnt in year 7 but with a deeper focus on understanding and applying physical skills into exercises within technique classes.
Skills including posture, alignment, balance, coordination, control, flexibility, mobility, strength, stamina, extension & isolation.
Introduction to technical skills including action, space, dynamic, relationships, timing and style.
Practical dance lessons delivered in the contemporary style.

A continuation of the skills necessary for performance with a deeper focus on applying knowledge practically in both solo or group performances.
Skills include projection, focus, spatial awareness, facial expression, phrasing, musicality, sensitivity to other dancers & communication of the chosen choreographic intention.
Practical dance lessons delivered in the contemporary style.

A continuation of the skills used for choreography with a deeper focus on embedding those skills into strong choreographic pieces.
Skills include action, space and dynamic.
Relationship content including mirroring, contact, action & reaction, accumulation, contrast & formations.
Choreographic devices including repetition, motif development & unison/canon.
Practical dance lessons delivered in the contemporary style.

Meeting the needs of SEND and Pupil Premium students

By its nature Dance is a multi-sensory subject that offers learning visually, orally and kinaesthetically, thus providing a fantastic opportunity to engage all types of learner. At Didcot Girls’ School we provide students with the skills they need to achieve far beyond their expectations. Dance teachers place SEND and pupil premium students at the centre of their lesson planning. This ensures high quality teaching for all.