Welcome to Performing Arts Dance!
The primary intent of our Key Stage 3 dance curriculum is to provide students with a rich and engaging learning experience that nurtures their artistic talents, enhances their physical and mental well-being, and equips them with valuable skills and knowledge to work harmoniously with others. Students will learn to convey emotion and communicate characters and stories, show appreciation to culture and diversity and captivate audiences through their movements, enhancing their confidence and self-expression. The lessons and topics encourage students to explore their creativity and experiment with movement, music, style and choreography. Students will have the freedom to express themselves artistically, take risks, and perform, fostering a sense of curiosity, imagination, and self-discovery.
PROUD Values
In the art of Dance, we teach Professionalism to shine through every step, embodying discipline and dedication in both rehearsal and performance.
With Resilience as our backbone, we teach students to rise to challenges and take risks, pushing boundaries to master new skills and movements.
We teach Optimism to fuel our passion for movement, infusing each performance with joy, confidence and possibility.
Understanding the power of expression and diversity, we teach students to respect each other’s capabilities, listen to each other’s voices and embrace the diverse talents we each have, to create a united performance.
Driven by our passion for movement, we teach students to perfect their technique, express their creativity and push the boundaries of artistic expression.
Proudly, we teach students to showcase not just their talents but their commitment to excellence, celebrating every moment of their progress along the way.
We believe our Dance curriculum enables students to explore the dynamic world of dance through a diverse range of offerings including musical theatre, thematic explorations and dance styles form around the globe, providing exciting opportunities to unleash creativity by encouraging students to choreograph their own routines.
Teaching staff and facilities
The subject of Dance is taught by our experienced Dance teacher Mrs Nyberg and is held in our spacious gym with mirrored walls. Adjacent changing rooms are provided for Dance students only, ensuring convenience and comfort. Nearby in our main hall we have a large stage, equipped with professional lights and sound, setting the scene for some unforgettable performances. Dance clubs are held by Mrs Nyberg for KS3 students after school in Street Dance and or contemporary Dance.
In Year 9, our Dance curriculum is designed to immerse students in the dynamic world of Urban dance as part of the Hip Hop culture. Students will have opportunity to explore the highly athletic and creative style of Break Dance and intricate hand and arm movements of Tutting. Our intent is to provide students with an in-depth exploration of these styles fostering technical proficiency, creativity and cultural appreciation. Through engaging lessons and practical exercises students will learn the foundational techniques, movements and principles of each style, honing their skills and expanding their dance vocabulary. Beyond the physical aspects students will also delve into the cultural roots, history and significance of their origins and evolution.
Dance, Drama and Music lessons are taught on termly carousel. Students will spend 1 term in each discipline receiving a double lesson each week.
- Dance (1st Half term) Break Dance
- Dance (2nd Half term) Tutting
| Yr9 Dance Rotation 1 | Our first topic is Break Dance Students will study the History and styles of urban dance forms such as Street dance and Break dance. Urban dance forms offered opportunities for creative expression, gave a sense of freedom and a ‘voice’ to unrepresented and often invisible communities through the means of music and dance and can also help improve students’ creativity and self-expression. Students will be taught a range of footwork, floor work, freezes, and stunts and tricks in order to master the style of the content. Students will use these movements to create their own small group performances demonstrating their abilities and skills. We will also work on a teacher directed whole class piece to Hip Hop music. |
| This unit is predominantly created by students following choreographic content of each style from the teacher. The chosen style is suited to the interests and age range of the students and develops their cultural capital. This style requires upper body strength, coordination and style specific technique and is therefore taught In yr9. Links to unit 2 and 3. Students can draw upon different dance styles for the creating unit and planning for production unit. | |
| Yr9 Dance Rotation 2 | Our second topic is Tutting Students will study the style of Tutting, a hip hop dance style derived from Egyptian art that emphasizes the body’s ability to create geometric shapes (such as boxes) and movements; predominantly with the arms and hands and use of 90 degree angles. Students will develop their understanding of timing and rhythm, coordination and precision and will learn a set piece directed by the teacher. They will then develop this and work in small and large groups to create their own performance piece. |
| This unit is predominately created by students. This stye requires quick movements that rely on accurate timing and coordination which is a vital skill required at GCSE. Therefore, taught in yr9. The chosen style is suited to the interests and age range of the students and develops their cultural capital. Links to unit 1 for timing. Unit 2 and 3 as students can draw upon different dance styles for the creating unit and planning for production unit. |
Extra-curricular opportunities
Our opportunities include:
- Street Dance club is run by Mrs Nyberg
- All students have the opportunity to perform in the annual Dance show
- All students have the opportunity to audition for our school musical