In years 7-9 pupils will receive 1 hour per fortnight of Dance. Students will learn and develop existing skills in performance, choreography and appreciation. Students will learn movement phrases to improve their movement memory and physical skills. Students will work in groups and develop choreography skills, and develop short dance performances which will be performed at the end of each unit. This will develop students’ confidence to perform in front of an audience, and their expressive skills.
Course Content
Year 7 have 1 single lesson per fortnight. Classes are taught in mixed ability tutor Groups.
Activities include:
- Baseline Assessments
- Introduction to Dance
- Dance in Musicals
- World Dance
- and Exploration of a Professional Dance work
Year 8 have 1 single lesson per fortnight classes are mixed ability tutor groups.
Activities include:
- Street Dance by Chance
- Exploration of a professional dance work with a focus on the use of a prop
- Rock and Roll Dance
Year 9 have 1 single lesson per fortnight. Classes are taught in mixed ability tutor groups. The activities and experiences on offer in Year 9 are more varied and tailored to suit the ability and interests of the groups.
Activities include:
- Introduction to choreography
- Dance for film
- Dance Styles
Subject Specific Skills
In Lower School Dance lessons, students are expected to demonstrate a range of skills across all units including the following core skills which can be adapted across activities: Performance, Choreography, and Appreciation of Dance. As this is a highly physical subject students benefit from a good to high level of fitness although at Lower School, the emphasis is on encouraging an enjoyment of the subject across all ability ranges.
Assessment in Lower School Dance
How we assess
In Dance students are assessed against our Dance specific criteria for each unit they complete. In each lesson teachers will make assessments and will provide students with verbal feedback. Students are actively encouraged to conduct self and peer-assessments regularly in addition to staff comments within Dance lessons. At the start of Year 7 all students are assessed against a baseline to identify ability level and set targets.
When we assess
In Dance we assess Year 7 students after 3 lessons in the first term to establish base data. From here on formal summative assessments, occur at the end of each unit using the rising, emerging and mastering assessments for years 7 & 8. This data is used to inform report writing.
In addition to formal assessments, peer and self-assessment as well as verbal staff feedback occurs in each lesson. Students form their self-assessment against personal target after each activity in their progress booklet, which is followed by teacher comment.
Marking Expectations:
Students tracking booklets and flight path sheets are completed once every 6 lessons by the student’s Dance teacher in line with the school marking policy. When homework is set this is marked by class teachers and returned to students for redrafting.
Homework
- Due to the nature of the subject, the Dance Department sets fewer written tasks but we strongly support attendance at Period 6 LEAP activities
- Homework at Lower School typically include: research projects about specific dance styles, choreographers and professional dance works
- Maximum intended length of homework per subject should normally be 30 mins per week in Year 7, extending to 45 minutes in Year 9
Supporting Your Daughter in Lower School Dance
- Encourage attendance to the Period 6 LEAP Dance activities
- Making sure that your daughter has the correct kit and equipment for her lessons
- Encourage healthy eating and an active lifestyle