Dance

1. Welcome to the Progression Presentation Dance Drama Music

2. AQA A Level Dance What does it involve? Is it for me? How am I assessed?

3. What will I study? • Contemporary, Jazz and Ballet techniques. • Choreography & improvisation. • Safe & healthy dance practice, physiology & injury prevention. • Performance & expressive skills. • History & development of dance. • Prolific dancers & choreographers. • Dance analysis & appreciation. • Solo, duet and group work.

4. What assessments are there in year 1? UNIT ONE: Understanding Dance – 40% of AS, 20% of AL. • Written paper of 1 1/2 hours – two sections. • Structured & essay style questions on the dancer as a performer, the process & craft of choreography & the analysis of dance and its constituent features UNIT TWO: Choreography and Performance –60% AS, 30% AL • (A) Solo performance of own solo choreography (40%) • (B) Duet / trio performance of 3 – 4 minutes (20%)

5. What assessments are there in year 2? UNIT THREE: Content and Context – 25% of total AL • Written paper 1 ½ hours – two sections • Answer questions on areas of study including contemporary, ballet & jazz genres as well as set professional dance works. UNIT FOUR: Group Choreography & Solo – 25% of AL • (A) Your group choreography of 2 – 3 minutes • (B) Solo performance in a style linked to a prominent choreographer studied in Unit 3.

6. Areas of Study: Ballet: Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes 1909 – 1929 Jazz Dance: Dance in the American Musicals 1930s & 1940s Modern Dance: British Modern Dance 1965–1985

7. Develop your creativity in various genres. To develop skills & understanding of dance styles through performance, choreography & analysis. Provides a pathway to university dance or performing arts courses. Why choose this course? Keep fit and healthy. Work with other like-minded people. Attend trips, workshops and performances.

8. Jazz Dance…

9. Ballet Dance

10. Modern Dance

11. If you have any questions or want to know more about the course see Miss Priest.

12. Drama & Theatre Studies AS/A2 AS units Unit 1: Exploration of Drama and Theatre Unit 2: Theatre Text in Performance Internal assessment: practical drama activities with supporting Exploration Notes; evaluation of live theatre External assessment: • monologue/duologue performance or design realisation • group performance or design realisation A2 units Unit 3: Exploration of Dramatic Performance Unit 4: Theatre Text in Context Internal assessment: creation and performance or design of original piece of drama External assessment: 2½ hour written examination on a set text and historical performance conditions

13. What do I need to take the course? What do I need to know, or be able to do, before taking this course? It is useful to have taken Drama at GCSE level but not essential. It is important that you are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work, and that you are keen to be involved with performances. What will I learn? The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. You will extend your ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. You will also be required to write about drama and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays and playwrights.

14. Physical Theatre Realistic Drama Greek Tragedy Acting Objectives Brecht Episodic Structure Emotional Memory Non-Naturalistic Drama Stanislavski

15. Where will it get me Post 18? Is this the right subject for me? You need to be curious about issues and ideas and have a creative instinct for communicating your views through drama. You may be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to develop your skills in some or all of these areas. Equally you will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre companies. What can I do after I’ve completed the course? This AS and Advanced GCE can lead to further study in Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts in Higher Education at degree or HND level. It can be used as part of your course to broaden your studies and may lead on to a career in the performing arts industries. Drama and Theatre Studies AS and Advanced GCE complements a range of subjects and is useful in building confidence and improving presentation skills in a range of careers.

16. What Next... If you are interested see Mrs Dickinson in CS7 for further Course information Visit the website for the new 2008 specification

17. EDEXCEL MUSIC A-Level Is it for me?

18. What would I need to do... The AS course is split into 4 sections : • Composing (Coursework) • Performing (Coursework) • Listening (Exam) • Anthology (Exam)

19. Performing You need to be at least a ‘Grade 5’ playing standard on your instrument or with your voice. As well as completing a ‘solo performance’ that is recorded and sent off to an external examiner to be assessed you will need to keep a record of when, where and what you have performed during the course. Composing You produce a composition based upon one of the Areas of Study that you look at in the Anthology section of the course. In the final part of your course you also have six weeks to complete 2 short composition pieces that are set by the exam board.

20. Anthology Movie Music In the Anthology section of the course you study 2 areas. Music for Film and TV AND 20th Century Art Music You study various pieces from the areas mentioned above and then in the exam at the end of the course you answer questions about what you have learnt. 20th Century Art Music Listening This exam is based upon the knowledge of music that you have developed during the course, through performing composing and analysis of music in the anthology. You listen to extracts of music under exam conditions and answer questions about them.

21. If you have any questions... about the course... then please come and ask!