VCE Dance Units 1 & 2

Dance at EMC takes place in a dynamic, creative and supportive learning environment. Students learn, create, study and reflect upon a variety of Dance styles and movement practices with increased technical and theoretical challenge as students make their way through the year levels. All dance subjects have performance outcomes, allowing students to fully realise their learning and develop confidence in their presentation skills. Skills learnt are further supported by the College’s diverse Performing Arts Program and opportunities to participate in special events such as the School Musical Production, Arts Soiree, RAW Rock Eisteddfod, Performance Evenings/Assemblies and local Festivals. Dance is an exciting and empowering subject which allows all students to realise their creative potential.

UNIT 1

Focus: To learn and perform unified compositions originating from different expressive intentions and dance making processes, whilst developing an understanding of the cultural influences on choreography.

To extend physical movement skills and dance vocabulary whilst demonstrating an understanding of the safe care and use of the body.

Areas of study

Dance Perspectives

1. Discussion and documentation of own and other choreographer’s use of body actions and physical skills to communicate an expressive intention
2. Awareness of cultural influence on own and others choreography

Dance Technique and Performance

1. Safe execution of a range of physical skills and body actions through systematic training
2. Learning, rehearsing and performing of a learnt group dance

Choreography and Performance

1. Exploration of dance making methods, including improvisation, selection, arrangement, refinement and evaluation.
2. The development of an expressive intention. Preparation of unified compositions utilising physical skills and body actions to express this intention (solo or group formats)

The Body

1. Develop an understanding of safe dance practice and a theoretical understanding of the maintenance and physiology of the dancers body

OUTCOMES

Outcome 1

1. Identify, Discuss and Record the choices made in developing dance works.
2. Perform and interpret a unified composition:
3. Analyse the processes used in learning, interpreting and performing a dance works.

Outcome 2

1. Undertake regular, systematic training and demonstrate expansion in a wide range of techniques, physical skills and body actions
2. Learn, Rehearse and Perform a group dance work

Outcome 3

1. Compose a group dance work based on an expressive intention. Demonstrate expressive use of a range of physical skills and body actions

Outcome 4

1. Demonstrate your understanding of the safe use, care and function of a dancer’s body.
2. Undertake regular Functional Anatomy theory sessions and develop an understanding of Safe dance Practice
3. Small Group workshop. “How to prevent injury”; Warm up and Warm down and a demonstrated understanding of Body maintenance, care, and correct body alignment.

UNIT 2

Focus: Students expand their dance vocabulary by exploring different ways of executing movement to produce contrasting qualities. Students apply this understandingof the expressive capacity of different movement qualities to the learning, composition, performance, and analysis of own and others dance works. Students are introduced to the study of pre-twentieth dance through a study of the expressive use of the elements of movement and cultural influences.

Areas of Study

Dance Perspectives

1. Analysis of the expressive use of movement in pre-twentieth century dance
2. Analysis of the expressive use of the elements of movement to produce contrasting qualities in own and others dance work
3. cultural influences on the pre-twentieth century dance works, including modes of dress and performance environment on own and others dance work

Dance Technique and Peformance

1. Sytematic technical training
2. Safe use of a range of physical skills and body actions through improvisation and learning of complex movement sequences
3. Variations in the use of  time, space and energy in executing movement
4. Variations in the use of group dance relationships

Dance Composition and Performance

1. Exploration of dance making processes, including; structured improvisation to meet expressive intention, linking of movement sections, use of the elements of dance and the capacity to create a unified composition.  

OUTCOMES

Outcome 1

1. Analyse and discuss the expressive use of the elements of movement and cultural influences on pre-twentieth century dance works.
2. Research a chosen period of pre twentieth dance history; focus on cultural influences on movement styles. Discuss the expressive use of time, space and energy within selected dances from your chosen pre-twentieth century period of dance.

Outcome 2

1. Analyse and describe the use of contrasting qualities of movement to express the intention of own and dance works of others.
2. Record the process of choreographing your dance solo including the expressive use of the elements of dance to create contrasting movement qualities
3. Learn, Rehearse, Perform and Analyse a Group dance work.

Outcome 3

1. Compose and perform a solo dance work demonstrating expressive use of contrasting qualities of movement
2. Choose an expressive intention for own dance work
3. Undertake a process of improvisation, selection and arrangement and refining of movement linking of movement sections to make a completed dance work with a beginning, development and resolution