KS3 Year 7

Autumn

Introduction to Dance

This unit in an introduction to dance at Purbrook, covering some basic performance and choreographic skills including unison, direction and simple canon.

Musical Theatre

Pupils study 3 different well known musicals, exploring how character plays a significant role in musical theatre. They learn how dance links with drama and music.

Spring

Spies

This creative begins with pupil understanding how to work to a brief. They start to explore floorwork and develop a basic understanding of dynamics.

African dance.

Pupils Watch a variety of African dance and practically explore the key features. They learn the history of African dance and gumboot, practically exploring it. Pupils begin to look at the importance of rhythm.

Summer

Recipes

This unit examines the use of words in dance. Pupils study nouns and verbs and how they can be used in an abstract way to develop a dance. They learn how to create and develop a motif.

Pop videos

Understanding the term ‘dance for film’ is the main focus for this unit. Pupils explore the main differences between live dance and dance for film. They recreate their own film version of Thriller or Rhythm Nation using videostar.

KS3 Year 8

Autumn

Exploring Professional Works: Young Men

Pupils develop an understanding of how a professional piece is created. Pupils will briefly look at the different components of the piece which contribute to the theme and intention. Pupils will use a range of creative tasks which relate to the choreographers' approach when creating the piece. Pupils will also gain an understanding of contact work: counterbalance, counter tension, support and lifts. 

Musical Theatre

Pupils Study 2 different well-known musicals exploring how different dance eras play a significant role in musical theatre. They develop performance skills, including characterisation.

Spring

Chance Dance

Pupils explore Merce Cunningham's choreographic approach. They will use resources such as dice to create 'random' and original movement material.

Indian Dance

A vibrant unit which includes watching a variety of Indian dances and practically explore the key features. Pupils study the use of hand gestures within Indian choreography, including Khatak.

Summer

Sport and Dance

Pupils will use a range of sports as inspiration and turn the actions typically seen in the sport into a piece of dance. They will link these actions with interesting transitions, as well as developing their choreography with a range of choreographic devices.

Street Dance

Our final KS3 unit looks at different umbrellas of styles within street dance.

Pupils enjoy exploring various styles practically to include; locking, breakdance, popping, old school and krumping.

KS4 Year 9

Autumn

Dance skills

This unit focuses on dance technique and progression. Pupils set themselves SMART targets to improve as dancer.  The development of physical and technical skills is at the heart of this SOW.

Performing Dance

Pupils learn set choreography for school production. They develop understanding and use of performance skills including confidence, projection and facial expression. Pupils review and complete SMART targets set in Dance Skills unit.

Spring

Exploring Choreography

Throughout this unit the pupils use a choreography booklet to explore different stimuli including poetry, paintings, props and music. They create group pieces using more complex devices such as fragmentation, complex canons, question and answer, inversion. They learn the basic structures of dance including binary, ternary, rondo, narrative and episodic.

Exploring professional work

Pupils will watch GCSE set work: Emancipation of Expressionism and analyse its key components. They learn how Kenrick Sandy has fused Urban dance with Contemporary dance and practically explore this. Perform pieces to younger year groups.

Summer

Motif Development

Pupils will learn the GCSE set motifs and look at how they can develop them for the choreography element of the exam.

They study 'Shadows' and understand hw motif development has been used within the set work

KS4 Year 10

Autumn

Technical & expressive skills

Pupils will look at understanding technical and expressive skills and applying them to the GCSE set phrases.

Exploring professional works

Pupils study one of the professional works 'Infra', and learn how to answer the 6-mark questions on the theory paper

Spring

Structure

Pupils study structure in relation to professional works and their own choreography.

They develop their understanding of 'Alina Curva' and learn how to apply their knowledge of practical work to the 12 mark questions. 

Summer

Performance in a duo/trio

Pupils learn and develop their skills ready to perform their duo/trio at the start of year 11.  

Apply all the knowledge to section A & B of the theory paper

KS4 Year 11

Autumn

Practical coursework

This term is when all practical coursework is filmed, 2 set phrases and a performance in a duo/trio.  A total of 30% of their final grade. 

Spring

Choreography exam

Pupils complete their choreography exam, and they are performed in an evening show. This equates to 30% of their final grade.

Summer

Theory paper revision

Pupils focus on consolidating all the knowledge ready for their final written paper in May/June