Dance

Course summary

This course focuses on developing practical choreographic skills enhanced by analytical studies dance technique and performance. We study a wide range of unique and exciting contemporary dance practitioners both practically and theoretically including Christopher Bruce and Jasmin Vardimon. Practical dance workshops aim to improve your technique and chorographic flair and culminate in various performance opportunities in preparation for the practical exam. Confidence creativity fitness and well-being are consistently nurtured and developed alongside a conscious awareness of current practice through analysis and critical writing. You will develop skills in research analysis independent thinking and organisation as well as choreographic practice and performance. Subject teachers are ambitious for students to progress in Dance using their wealth of experience to enable this. In your first year you will work on the development of your contemporary technique through the exploration of professional works and within specified technique classes. Choreographic practice will be developed as you create solo and group pieces for internal assessment and performance. You will also cover a large proportion of the theoretical work and be working on exam stamina and critical writing through mock papers and questioning. The second year focuses on your preparation for the exams. You will respond to a set choreographic paper by creating a group piece on your peers as well as learning a solo dance and quartet piece for performance. Alongside this you will continue to look at the 2 set works in detail and their accompanying areas of study showing critical engagement and developed writing. We have strong links with 3rd Stage Dance Company and Bristol School of Performing Arts (BSPA) as well as many local theatre companies and professional dance companies. Students benefit from regular workshops visiting speakers exciting performance opportunities and theatre trips.