Dance

Dance Curriculum Intent

Dance is present across many different cultures and societies around the world which offers a universal language for all to enjoy. Dance at Blenheim is inclusive of ability, gender and background and provides students with the opportunity to explore many different styles and choreographers to understand the basic functions of movement expression. Students focus on a wide range of dance skills and techniques, which lead to improving performance, choreography and analysing dance. The curriculum is designed to be engaging, exciting and inspiring for all students, with performance and evaluation at the heart of Dance at Blenheim. We strive to ensure the course content is accessible for all, regardless of dance ability, but also ambitious, to ensure all learners are challenged and make progress. Studying Dance increases confidence levels and helps develop cultural capital and lifelong transferable skills such as communication and literacy, team work and creativity.

Dance can be a specialist subject for students at KS3, with only a small percentage being exposed to it at KS2. Dance is a stand-alone subject at KS3 and goes above and beyond what is outlined in the National Curriculum. Therefore, it is designed to provide students with building blocks and foundational knowledge of physical and expressive skills required for Dance in their fortnightly lessons. These are, but are not limited to; communication with peers, understanding body motor skills, safety and awareness of others, creativity and basic rhythm. These skills are developed across the three main strands of Dance: Performance, Choreography and Analysis. Students start by learning basic body actions and rhythmic content, then focus shifts to understanding choreography learnt from the teacher, inspired by professional works or created themselves. Students will also develop their analytical skills through clear communication and learning of dance vocabulary, then applying this to professional works, their own and their peers. This is done through oracy tasks in lessons and using iPads to support learning. Lessons are inclusive and collaborative in nature, with the view to improve academic outcomes and subject knowledge.

In transitioning from KS3 to KS4, the use of Dance literacy and vocabulary becomes much more common as the 6 anthology works are studied and theory lessons are introduced. The prior learning at KS3 means students come into the GCSE Dance course already knowing key vocabulary required and helps build a strong subject knowledge. Their oracy skills continue to be developed and are also transferred to writing, to support the written component of the course. Students continue to enhance their physical skills through looking at performance, dance technique and choreography in depth. They continue to enhance their cultural capital by communicating and working with their peers, instilling aspirations of a love of learning and creativity. High expectations and challenging content make up every lesson at KS4 with progress regularly reviewed.

The GCSE Dance course is an individual option subject and is suited to students who have a keen interest in and aptitude for dance, typically having danced for a number of years outside of school.

Co-Curricular Activities

Blenheim offers an extensive Dance Co-Curricular programme which runs through the entirety of the academic year. Students in all year groups are able to join the Blenheim Ambition Dance Academy and separately audition to be part of the Elite Dance Teams who compete at both regional and national level. Students also have the opportunity to perform in the annual Blenheim Dance Show. Our innovative and diverse offer provides students with high level dance coaching in a range of styles, local performance opportunities and compete IDTA external examinations. Our boys only dance club is growing and we are proud to be fully inclusive of all who want to dance. This showcases our true team Blenheim community, with students across different year groups working together, supporting each other and representing the school.

Blenheim Ambition Dance Academy