Level 1 Dance
L1DANC Course DescriptionHead of Faculty/Teacher in Charge: Mr B. Morrison.
Recommended Prior LearningThis is an open entry course, there are no prerequisites.
Level 1 Dance is designed to introduce students to a variety of genres, dance performances, and choreographic processes. Students will also have the opportunity of attending live performances, participate in dance workshops with dance companies, and develop their ability to analyse and interpret a professional dance performance.
Dance is a lot of fun and very hands-on. It demands much creative thinking, physical endurance, and time spent, both in and out of class, creating and rehearsing for performances.
Dance is embodied cognition
Dance supports ākonga to develop relational skills they can take beyond the learning environment, such as collaboration, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Dance nurtures whanaungatanga
Dance is a way of strengthening relationships. Personal experiences and identities are valid and valued components of learning in Dance, which supports whanaungatanga. Working as a collective emphasises core values of fa'aaloalo/faka’apa’apa, aro’a, tautua, and kuleana, which nurture vā in learning spaces. These values are fundamental to positive learning experiences.
He atua, he tipua, he tangata — dance is a descendant of culture
Dance is always evolving as innovations develop from or alongside dance forms and practices. Dance can be seen as a social and historical artefact reflecting the culture from which it descends. Students will also develop confidence and a deeper awareness of their own identities. Dance is an embodied language.
Course Overview
What is taught in courses varies from year to year. This course could include:
1. Composing movements in pairs and groups to create dance sequences in response to a given brief (focusing on dance elements and devices).
2. Learning and performing choreographed dance sequences in a variety of dance genres (e.g. swing, jazz, contemporary or fusion dance).
3. Demonstrating understanding of the key features and cultural contexts of dance genres and styles (e.g. African, sasa, hula, kapa haka, charleston, hip hop) in practice.
4. Viewing, presenting, creating and responding to dance to show understanding of how the elements of dance are used in performance.
Assessment Information
Students have the opportunity to gain credits through internal performance-based assessments and an end-of-year external written exam.
Dance is a subject that can be helpful in career choices involving: youth work, teaching, journalism, sales, marketing, fitness, training, therapy, and any communication-based, or physical career. For talented students, there are growing opportunities in the film industry for actors, dancers, choreographers, designers, and technical fields, such as costume, set, lighting design, and production.
In Dance, learners explore and acquire transferable knowledge, skills, and dispositions. This is a holistic process not limited to physicality and movement. These transferable attributes include:
~ cognition and critical thinking
~ working effectively individually and collaborating in teams
~ creative and problem-solving abilities
~ self-confidence
~ resilience and perseverance
~ recognising and respecting diverse viewpoints
~ valuing and respecting others’ skills, cultures, and contexts.
Dancer, Artistic Director, Entertainer, Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Actor, Artist, Interpreter, Youth Worker, Secondary School Teacher
Contributions and Equipment/StationerySmall charges may occur throughout the year for attending workshops and performances.