WELCOME TO THE DANCE DEPARTMENT AT THAMESMEAD

The Dance department at Thamesmead is led by Mrs Robins-Kent, along with Mrs Ward.

At Thamesmead we believe that dance promotes environmental, aesthetic and cultural awareness. It also promotes trust, co-operation, communication skills and a sense of well-being.

In addition, dance is a means of communication, allowing students to express feelings and emotions where they are not bound by the restrictions of language and social conventions

We aim to:

• Foster the enjoyment of dance and develop students sensitivity and understanding
• Provide pleasure from their own and others’ work and to nurture aesthetic awareness
• Help students develop an awareness of their world and be able to relate to cultures, times and traditions
• Encourage communication skills of speech, sign, gesture, mime, movement etc.
• Provide experience of the work of professional artists
• Foster life-long appreciation of these areas

Students will have the opportunity to:

• Develop social skills such as co-operation, tolerance, self-discipline, self-control and listening skills
• Respond to a variety of stimuli
• Develop body awareness, balance, control, co-ordination etc.
• Develop empathy and understanding
• Express feelings and emotions in a secure environment
• Participate in extra curricular dance sessions after school and attend specially arranged opportunities for students who have demonstrated a particular talent in dance – Woking Dance festival, Thamesmeads own Dance festival in the summer term together with items in the school cabaret

Curriculum and school organisation:

• The teaching of dance is approached in a flexible way
• Some is of a cross-curricular nature enabling students to explore their units of study in a more creative manner that promotes deeper understanding of the subject, or empathy with the situation
• Some is specifically planned to develop skills, concepts, knowledge and attitudes
• Dance is taught as an integral part of the core PE curriculum in KS3. It is also offered as an option at KS4
• After school dance sessions are provided as part of a programme of enrichment opportunities

GCSE DANCE – Exam Board AQA

How and what will be assessed.

Unit 1 : Critical Appreciation of Dance 20%

Written Paper – 1 hour

Answer questions on two professional works set by syllabus

Unit 2 : Set Dance – Practical Exam 20%

Students perform one solo dance of 1-1½min from a choice of two set by exam board

Unit 3 : Performance in a duo/group related to a set professional work 20%

Students perform a dance lasting 3 – 3½ min – Controlled Assessment

Unit 4 : Choreography Unit Total 40%

Task 1 : Solo Composition 1 – 1½ mins 15%

Task 2 : Choreography – Solo/duo/group 25%