Units 1 & 2 Dance

VCE Dance develops students’ physical skills, personal movement vocabulary, and application of choreographic and analytical principles. Students create and perform their own dance works as well as studying the dance works of others through performance and analysis. They consider influences on the expressive intention and movement vocabulary of their own dances and also works created by choreographers working in a range of styles, genres and traditions. Influences on aspects of production in dance works are also studied.

UNIT 1

This unit focuses on students exploring the potential of the body as an instrument of expression. They learn about and develop physical skills. Students discover the diverse range of expressive movement by exploring body actions, and commence the process of developing a personal movement vocabulary. Knowledge of physiology, including care and maintenance of the body, is applied to the execution of body actions through the safe use of physical skills. Students develop and perform movement studies and dances with unified compositions created through a range of movement creation process. They discuss influences on their own dance backgrounds, and on the expressive intentions and movement vocabulary in their own dances.

Learning Activities:

Students will learn to:

• describe the expressive intention in own & other choreographers’ dance works. 
• choreograph and perform a solo or group dance work. 
• learn, rehearse and perform a solo or group work which communicates an expressive intention. 
• describe the safe use, maintenance and physiology of the dancer’s body. 

Key Skills Achieved:

• Use appropriate dance language and terminology to describe aspects of physiology. 
• Identify and document the expressive use of body actions and physical skills to communicate the intention in own and other choreographers’ dance works. 
• Describe influences on the choice of expressive intention, selection of body actions and physical skills in their dance works.
• Explore and develop personal movement vocabulary with the use of safe dance practices. 
• Rehearse, refine and perform own work and learnt work. 
• Repeat and refine physical skills through appropriate exercises over time.

Assessment:

• Coursework 70%
• End of Semester Examination 30%

UNIT 2

This unit focuses on expanding students’ personal movement vocabulary and choreographic skills through the exploration of the elements of movement; time, space and energy and the study of form. Students apply their understanding of form and the expressive capacity of the elements of movement to the dance-making and performing processes involved in choreographing and performing their own dance works and dance works created by others. Students are introduced to dance traditions, styles and works. Students also analyse and discuss the communication of their own and other choreographers’ intentions.  

Learning Activities:

Students will learn to:

• analyse and discuss influences on dance traditions, styles and works. 
• choreograph and perform a solo or group dance work that communicates an expressive intention.  
• learn, rehearse and perform a learnt group dance work.

Key Skills Achieved:

• Describe ways that the elements of movement are manipulated in the selected dance traditions, styles and works. 
• Describe group structures and influences on selected dance traditions, styles and works. 
• Use appropriate dance language and terminology. 
• Create, rehearse and perform a solo or group dance work. 
• Demonstrate artistry in performance. 
• Repeat and refine physical skills through appropriate exercises over time.

Assessment:

• Coursework 70%
• End of Semester Examination 30%

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