Dance

Welcome to the Sandringham Dance faculty. We aim to provide a curriculum that gives the students an appreciation of a range of dance styles and cultures and its place within the wider world. Inspiring, exploring and sharing our love of dance, a large number of students study the subject or take part in our varied enrichment and dance performance programmes.

Dance is a popular and highly regarded subject at Sandringham. It is taught in Years 7 and 8 and is offered as an optional subject in Year 9.

Students also have the opportunity to study dance as an examination subject at BTEC, GCSE and A Level. Furthermore, dance is an extremely popular extra-curricular activity for all years.

Dance helps students develop a number of skills:

Visual appreciation of dance and choreography
Balanced judgement
Information gathering and assessment
Ability to work on your own or as part of a team
Communication

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 and 8, Dance is taught within the PE rotation and complete one scheme of work over 6-8 lessons. In Year 9 Dance is offered as an optional module subject and the students have the opportunity to study GCSE or BTEC dance at Key Stage 4 and A-level Dance at Key Stage 5.

Dance helps students develop a number of skills, here are just a few benefits:

Improves Physical Health
Enhances Emotional Development
Encourages Socialization
Encourages Creativity
Enhances Cognitive Development

Key Stage 4 – GCSE Dance

Students follow the AQA GCSE Dance course with 60% of the course assessed practically through three pieces of work, two assessing performance skills and one assessing choreography skills. The remaining 40% of the course is theory based and is assessed in a 1 hour and 30 minute written examination paper.
Throughout the GCSE course, students develop skills, knowledge and understanding of dance as a choreographer, performer and critic through:

Applying and adapting a wide range of skills and techniques effectively in performing and choreographing dance, including the ability to improve;
Creating dances for a range of purposes and in response to different stimuli;
Developing the ability to analyse, evaluate and appreciate dance;
Students also develop their appreciation of the contribution of dance to their personal and social health, fitness and wellbeing and develop awareness of the range of opportunities and pathways available in dance.

Theatre visits are an integral part of the course giving the students the opportunity to study live professional dance. Dance workshops with visiting artists and professional dance companies are also a key element.

Key Stage 4 – BTEC Dance

Students follow the Pearsons BTEC Tech Award course. The course is made up of three components: two that are internally assessed and one that’s externally assessed. The three-block structure, explore, develop and apply, has been developed to allow students to build on and embed their knowledge. Year 10 have started the new BTEC Tech Award course and follows the same structure with assessments completed in a formalised assessment window and internal units are externally moderated by Pearson.

Throughout the BTEC course, students develop skills, knowledge and understanding of dance as a choreographer, performer and critic through:
Developing the ability to analyse, evaluate and appreciate dance through understanding the creative process of practitioners and the roles and responsibilities within a dance company.
Applying and adapting a wide range of skills and techniques effectively in performing a piece of set repertoire.
Creating and performing dances for a range of purposes and in response to different stimuli;

Students also develop their appreciation of the contribution of dance to their personal and social health, fitness and wellbeing and develop awareness of the range of opportunities and pathways available in dance.

Key Stage 5 – A Level Dance

Students follow the AQA A Level Dance course which requires students to develop, demonstrate and articulate practical and theoretical knowledge, understanding and experience of:

technical and performance skills
the process and art of choreography
the interrelationship between the creation, presentation and viewing/appreciation of dance works
the development of dance placed within an artistic and cultural context
professional dance works and the significance of these works
subject specific terminology and its use.

The course is divided into two components:

Component 1: Performance and Choreography = 50%.
Component 2: Critical engagement = 50%.

Super Curriculum

To access the Super Curriculum for this subject please visit the Super Curriculum page HERE

Extra-Curricular Dance

Extra-Curricular Dance is extremely popular within the school. Lunch time and after school dance clubs are available for all year groups from beginners through to advanced dancers offering a range of dance styles.

There is an annual school dance show ‘Velocity’ involving a large number of students from across the school and from our local primary schools in the Sandringham schools theatre, The Sandpit. This is an extremely popular event on the school calendar.

At Sandringham we have three resident dance companies.

Tuxedo Dance Company (Hip Hop)
SYCD – Sandringham Contemporary Dance Company
TripleEdge Contemporary Dance Company (Key Stage 3)

Auditions are held once a year for the two companies, SYCD and Tuxedo and this is opened up to students from other Hertfordshire schools.

All students have the opportunity to perform at many dance events throughout the year. Recent performances include:

Velocity
House Dance Choreography
Whole School Show
Summer Show

Sandringham School

Dance

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4 – GCSE Dance

Key Stage 4 – BTEC Dance

Key Stage 5 – A Level Dance

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Maps

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Maps

Super Curriculum

Extra-Curricular Dance

Ambition Education Trust