Performing Arts & Dance
Why is the subject important?
Performing arts is not just acting! We believe performing arts and dance education is about the quality of enjoyment, knowledge and skills development, and future prospects. Opening their minds to the possibilities the world offers outside Halifax and developing them as individuals, motivating and changing attitudes towards their learning and future goals, to create resilient well rounded individuals who will shape our future. Performing arts and dance enhances young people’s communicative and leadership skills; we aim to develop their self-awareness, confidence and reflective practice so students feel they can express themselves in a safe environment in order to exceed.
Our curriculum strives to inspire, challenge, and reflect within a creative community within the academy. We teach schemes of work that expose students’ awareness to cultures, and political and social influences. We continue to develop our schemes of work to ensure we provide high quality teaching and learning so that we are at the forefront of current trends and affairs. Extracurriculum provision creates the opportunity for students to experiment and take risks in interdisciplinary projects and nurtures their talent and successes.
Year 7
What will I be studying?
- Improvisational Theatre
- Page to Stage
- Musical Theatre
Career Links
Careers – Roles in the theatre – links are made within lessons about the different jobs and how they contribute to the wider performing arts industry. There are opportunities for all students to be involved in the Set Design Club after school which collaborates with designers and makers for the annual production.
Employability skills – Enhance young people’s communicative and leadership skills, developing resilience, self-awareness, confidence and reflective practice so students feel they can express themselves and become dynamic and innovative professionals.
How will I be assessed?
Skills are acquired and explored in this year, and measured based on performing, creating and appreciating their own, other’s and professional performances.
Each assessment will consist of a rehearsed performance and students’ self and peer feedback evaluating skills over time and reflecting verbally on their development.
Students collaborate within a paired or group performance but are awarded marks based on their individual contribution and merit.
A total of 12 marks can be awarded. This is divided into 3 areas: performing, creating and appreciating. Marks are awarded out of 4 for each area by the teacher. Teacher feedback is given regularly and is provided at the end of the unit. Students self-evaluate the skills by ranking themselves on a skills audit which is based on all the skills covered in the units.
The grading is explore, discover and bronze.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
Year 8
What will I be studying?
- Silent Movie & Mime
- Devising
- Thematic Play
Career Links
Careers – Career pathways in TV and film are integrated into lessons and students are presented with a range of creative and technical job roles within the wider arts and entertainment industry.
Employability skills – Enhance young people’s communicative and leadership skills, developing resilience, self-awareness, confidence and reflective practice so students feel they can express themselves and become dynamic and innovative professionals.
How will I be assessed?
All assessments build upon the next securing skills over time; Year 8 skills are applied and sustained.
Each assessment will consist of a rehearsed performance and students’ self and peer feedback evaluating skills over time and reflecting verbally on their development.
Students collaborate within a paired or group performance but are awarded marks based on their individual contribution and merit.
Total marks awarded is 24. This is divided into 3 areas: performing, creating and appreciating. Marks are awarded out of 8 for each area by the teacher. Teacher feedback is given regularly and is provided at the end of the unit. Students self-evaluate the skills by ranking themselves on a skills audit which is based on all the skills covered in the units.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
- (Devising)
- Thematic Play
- Charlie Chaplin – Mime
Year 9 - Creative Carousel
What will I be studying?
- A range of styles and play texts exploring cultures and contexts. These will be selected based on the interests and needs of the class.
Career Links
Careers – Career pathways in performing and directing theatre. Students experience visits from guest speakers and professional practitioners who deliver workshops from a range of cultures and backgrounds.
Employability skills – Core transferable skills to prepare for the world of work include: presentation, self-confidence, verbal communication, project your ideas, collaborate and creative. Paired and group work is used to foster healthy and respectful peer-to-peer communication and behaviour between boys and girls.
How will I be assessed?
Students have formed the basic skills in Year 7 and 8 and now wish to develop their passion, knowledge and understanding by opting for a 12-week block of performing arts. The lesson takes place once per week and will continue to develop and build upon the foundation of skills in performance, devising, script work and appreciation from Phase 1.
Each assessment will consist of a rehearsed performance and students’ self and peer feedback evaluating skills over time and reflecting verbally on their development.
Students collaborate within a paired or group performance but are awarded marks based on their individual contribution and merit.
In these lessons there will be an emphasis on performing, creating and appreciating.
Teacher feedback will inform students’ progress regularly and skills will be developed and embedded over time. Students self-evaluate the skills by ranking themselves on a skills audit which is based on all the skills covered in the units.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
- (Theatre in education)
- (Physical Theatre)
- (Devising)
- (Verbatim company)
WJEC Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Dance
What will I be studying?
Year 1
Unit 1 Performing
Context: Unit 1 enables learners to gain a holistic knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to reproduce an existing piece(s) of professional dance, inspired by a musical.
Musical Theatre skills:
- Interpretation and development of character
- Dancing: dance technique, application of style(s)
- Acting: movement, voice, character
- Interconnection between the two disciplines (Dance and Drama).
Creatives reproduce work in a huge range of different disciplines, sometimes as revivals of plays or musicals, remixes of original songs and cover versions. They work with an existing piece of music, text or choreography and undertake a research and rehearsal process in order to reproduce the work to a professional standard.
Aims: To develop the skills necessary for researching and analysing a piece of choreography and to be able to perform it appropriately. The purpose of this unit is to enable learners to develop the skills in dance and acting to perform a piece of choreography from a musical, to a target audience.
Assessment:
1.1 Research and rehearsal 1.2 Performance 1.3 Review and reflect
Unit 2 Creating
Context: Unit 2 enables learners to gain, develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to create and refine original work in the performing arts.
Creatives work in a huge range of different disciplines and environments, sometimes as individuals and sometimes as part of a team. They may work to a brief of their own design or create something to a commissioned brief from someone else. They will follow a process which will include research and exploration of the style to ensure the piece(s) meet the brief, conceiving and developing ideas to produce the piece, receiving feedback and reflecting on the completed piece, and further refining the piece in light of this.
Aims:Â In this unit learners will gain, develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to create and refine original work in the performing arts.
Assessment:
2.1 Explore and develop 2.2 Applying knowledge and skills to create original work 2.3 Review, reflect and refine
How will I be assessed?
Two units of study, one internal and one externally assessed.
50% each unit; 20 credits are required in total for Level 2.
Each unit is assessed on their creating, performing and evaluating skills in context to the style.
Year 2
Unit 3 Performing Arts in Practice
Context: Creatives are given the opportunity to plan and create various pieces of work by responding to industry commissions. They will work to a brief commissioned by an arts organisation to plan a performance. In order for artists to be successful in securing paid commissions, they will need to have a good understanding of the business and management sector of the performing arts industry. When working to a commission, a planning process is followed which will include considering the factors that might influence the creation of a new piece of work, utilising marketing tools to promote a new piece, then reviewing the progress of the commission and reflecting on the piece to inform future projects.
Aims: The aim of this unit is to give learners the opportunity to explore all the skills required for a live performance. These range from planning, rehearsing and the performance itself, to the reflection required post-performance to ensure continual development as performers. By undergoing the process of preparing for a live performance, learners will have the opportunity to experience the variety of activities and skills required to bring a performance together.
This unit introduces learners to areas of the performing arts that need to be considered when responding to an industry commission. Learners will need to draw on their knowledge of the skills and techniques needed to reproduce an existing piece of professional/published work from Unit 1 alongside their knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to create and refine original work from Unit 2.
Assessment:
3.1 Planning performance work 3.2 Promoting and pitching 3.3 Evaluating and reflecting
Three units of study, two internal and one externally assessed.
30% each internal unit totaling 60% and 40% for external unit.
Which examination board am I following?
Exam Board: WJEC
Specification: Level 2 Tech Award in Creative and Performing Arts: Musical Theatre Dance
Website:
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
WJEC Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Acting
What will I be studying?
Year 1
Unit 1 – PerformingÂ
Unit 1 enables learners to gain a holistic knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to reproduce an existing piece(s) of professional/published work. Understanding exactly how dialogue and conversation works, how this is reflected in good dramatic writing, and how an actor ‘lifts’ such speech ‘off the page’, is important for those wishing to work in the theatre or as performers more widely. The ability to sight-read competently and bring dialogue to life is essential for most television, film, radio, voiceover and commercial work.
Aims: To develop the skills necessary for researching and analysing a piece of dialogue in dramatic writing and to be able to perform it appropriately. The purpose of this unit is to enable learners to develop the skills to perform text appropriately to a target audience.
Assessment:
1.1 Research and rehearsal 1.2 Performance 1.3 Review and reflect
Unit 2 Creating
Context: Unit 2 enables learners to gain, develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to create and refine original work in the performing arts.
Creatives work in a huge range of different disciplines and environments, sometimes as individuals and sometimes as part of a team. They may work to a brief of their own design or create something to a commissioned brief from someone else. They will follow a process which will include research and exploration of the style to ensure the piece(s) meet the brief, conceiving and developing ideas to produce the piece, receiving feedback and reflecting on the completed piece, and further refining the piece in light of this.
Aims: In this unit learners will gain, develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to create and refine original work in the performing arts.
Assessment:
2.1 Explore and develop 2.2 Applying knowledge and skills to create original work 2.3 Review, reflect and refine
Year 2
Unit 3 Performing Arts in Practice
Context: Creatives are given the opportunity to plan and create various pieces of work by responding to industry commissions. They will work to a brief commissioned by an arts organisation to plan a performance. In order for artists to be successful in securing paid commissions, they will need to have a good understanding of the business and management sector of the performing arts industry. When working to a commission, a planning process is followed which will include considering the factors that might influence the creation of a new piece of work, utilising marketing tools to promote a new piece, then reviewing the progress of the commission and reflecting on the piece to inform future projects.
Aims: The aim of this unit is to give learners the opportunity to explore all the skills required for a live performance. These range from planning, rehearsing and the performance itself, to the reflection required post-performance to ensure continual development as performers. By undergoing the process of preparing for a live performance, learners will have the opportunity to experience the variety of activities and skills required to bring a performance together.
This unit introduces learners to areas of the performing arts that need to be considered when responding to an industry commission. Learners will need to draw on their knowledge of the skills and techniques needed to reproduce an existing piece of professional/published work from Unit 1 alongside their knowledge and understanding of the skills and techniques needed to create and refine original work from Unit 2.
Assessment:
3.1 Planning performance work 3.2 Promoting and pitching 3.3 Evaluating and reflecting
Three units of study, two internal and one externally assessed.
30% each internal unit totalling 60% and 40% for external unit.
Which examination board am I following?
Exam Board: WJEC
Specification: Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Acting
Website:
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
- (Brecht & Epic Theatre)
- (Stanislavski & Realism Theatre)
- (DV8 & Physical Theatre)
- for various searching of repertoire including National Theatre at Home
RSL Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Dance
What will I be studying?
Year 2
Live performance
Context: Any aspiring professional performer will need to learn a variety of performance skills to perform in a way that will meet the expectations of their audience and also accurately represent them as performers. Beyond just performing effectively, performers need to think about the other performers, technical crew, performance, equipment, the expectations of the audience, quality and variety in the set, and the practice and rehearsal schedule it takes to get to the final performance itself. Regularly having the opportunity to perform in front of an audience can help hone technique, expression and stage presence in order that high quality performance, and the practice required to get there, becomes second nature. Reflecting on performances is also a useful tool – as performers can see themselves through the audience’s eyes and learn more about how to develop their performance style to continually improve and grow in confidence.
Aims: The aim of this unit is to give learners the opportunity to explore all the skills required for a live performance. These range from planning, rehearsing and the performance itself, to the reflection required post-performance to ensure continual development as performers. By undergoing the process of preparing for a live performance, learners will have the opportunity to experience the variety of activities and skills required to bring a performance together.
How will I be assessed?
Two units of study, one internal and one externally assessed.
50% each unit; 20 credits are required in total for Level 2.
Each unit is assessed on their creating, performing and evaluating skills in context to the style.
Which examination board am I following?
Exam Board: RSL
Specification: Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Dance
Website:
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
- for various searching of repertoire including Matthew Bourne, Christopher Bruce, A Linha Curva – Rambert
RSL Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Acting
What will I be studying?
Year 2
Live performance
Context: Any aspiring professional performer will need to learn a variety of performance skills to perform in a way that will meet the expectations of their audience and also accurately represent them as performers. Beyond just performing effectively, performers need to think about the other performers, technical crew, performance, equipment, the expectations of the audience, quality and variety in the set, and the practice and rehearsal schedule it takes to get to the final performance itself. Regularly having the opportunity to perform in front of an audience can help hone technique, expression and stage presence in order that high quality performance, and the practice required to get there, becomes second nature. Reflecting on performances is also a useful tool – as performers can see themselves through the audience’s eyes and learn more about how to develop their performance style to continually improve and grow in confidence.
Aims: The aim of this unit is to give learners the opportunity to explore all the skills required for a live performance. These range from planning, rehearsing and the performance itself, to the reflection required post-performance to ensure continual development as performers. By undergoing the process of preparing for a live performance, learners will have the opportunity to experience the variety of activities and skills required to bring a performance together.
How will I be assessed?
Two units of study, one internal and one externally assessed.
50% each unit; 20 credits are required in total for Level 2.
Each unit is assessed on their creating, performing and evaluating skills in context to the style.
Which examination board am I following?
Exam Board: RSL
Specification: Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts: Acting
Website:
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
- (A Christmas Carol)
- (Brecht & Epic Theatre)
- (Stanislavski & Realism Theatre)
- (DV8 & Physical Theatre)
- for various searching of repertoire including National Theatre at Home