VCE Dance Units 1 & 2 (Year 10)

VCE DANCE INFORMATION VIDEO

Unit 1

Area of Study 1 - Dance Perspectives

This area of study focuses on analysis of choreographers’ intentions, expressive movement resulting from use of the choreographic processes and the physical skills required to safely realise dance works. Students learn about how the intention of a choreographer might be realised, ways of articulating an intention and approaches to researching and documenting influences on choreography. They develop their skills in documenting movement, for example using annotated drawings and sketches generated manually or using ICT, and written descriptions using dance terminology.

Area of Study 2 - Choreography and Performance

In this area of study students develop an intention for a solo, duo and/or group dance work and explore and safely use movement to communicate this intention through choreography and performance. Students use the choreographic process to explore their chosen intention and develop a personal movement vocabulary. Students study ways of structuring and developing a cohesive composition and develop solo, duo and/or group improvisation skills.

Area of Study 3 - Dance Technique and Performance

In this area of study students learn, rehearse and perform a solo, duo or group dance work that communicates an intention. They develop their capacity to expressively execute a range of movements through the safe use of physical skills. Students develop their dance technique through regular and systematic training, focusing on improving skills in the execution of personal and learnt movement vocabulary.

Area of Study 4 - Awareness and Maintenance of the Dancer’s Body

In this area of study students develop an understanding of current health and wellbeing principles, and the safe use, maintenance and physiology of the dancer’s body. They develop their understanding of alignment, for example the integrated engagement of the core muscles of the abdomen. Students study methods of developing physical skills that incorporate safe dance practices. Key knowledge and key skills from this area of study should be integrated into all other areas of study in this unit and across Units 2, 3 and 4.

Assessment Unit 1 may include written, oral or multimedia reports, choreography of solo, duo or group dance work that communicates an intention, structured solo, duo and/or group improvisations, performance of a learnt solo, duo or group dance work.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe and document features of other choreographers’ dance works. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to choreograph and perform a solo, duo and/or group dance work and complete structured improvisations. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 2.

Outcome 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to safely and expressively perform a learnt solo, duo or group dance work. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 3.

Outcome 4

On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe key approaches to wellbeing and health practices for dancers and essential aspects of physiology, and demonstrate the safe use and maintenance of the dancer’s body.

Unit 2 Dance

Area of Study 1 - Dance Perspectives

This area of study focuses on ways the movement categories and elements of movement can be manipulated to communicate an intention in various dance traditions, styles and works. Students consider the types of group structures choreographers can use to communicate an intention. They explore the influences on selected dance traditions, styles and/or works including the traditional and/or contemporary dance output of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and/or other Australian dance artists and/or dance from other cultures, times, locations and/or genres. They explore how these traditions, styles and works have influenced the arts, artists and society.

Area of Study 2 - Choreography and Performance

Students choreograph a solo, duo or group dance work. Using the choreographic process and choreographic devices to safely manipulate movement, they explore their chosen intention and develop personal movement vocabulary. They complete structured solo, duo and/or group improvisations to develop their understanding of different ways that improvisation can be used as a starting point for choreography. Students study ways of structuring dance works and analyse and describe the aspects of form in their own works.

Area of Study 3 - Dance Technique and Performance

In this area of study students demonstrate their capacity to safely and accurately execute a range of actions from all the movement categories. Students’ physical skills, dance technique and artistry are developed through regular and systematic training, focusing on learnt movement vocabulary. Students learn, rehearse and perform a solo, duo or group dance work that communicates an intention.

Assessment Unit 2 may include written, oral or multimedia reports, choreography and performance of solo, duo or group dance work that communicates an intention, structured solo, duo and/or group improvisations, performance of a learnt solo, duo or group dance work and a report on the processes used to learn, rehearse, prepare and perform the dance work.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse use of the movement categories and elements of movement in selected dance traditions, styles and/or works. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 1.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to complete structured improvisations and choreograph and perform a solo, duo or group dance work. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 2.

Outcome 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to safely and securely perform a learnt solo, duo or group dance work with artistry, and report on the realisation of the dance work. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 3.