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 on works created by choreographers working in a range of styles, genres and traditions. Influences on aspects of production in dance works are also studied.
In each unit, students are required to undertake systematic dance training to build physical skills and develop their ability to execute safely a diverse range of expressive movement categories. Students develop and refine their choreographic skills by exploring personal and learnt movement vocabularies, and ways in which movement can be created and arranged to communicate the expressive intention of the dance-maker. Students perform choreographed or learnt solo and group dance works using different dance-making processes. They also study ways in which ideas are communicated through the skilled performance of their own and others’ dances.
Dance is the language of movement. It is the realisation of the body’s potential as an instrument of expression. Throughout history and in different cultures, people have explored the dancer’s ability to communicate and give expression to social and personal experience. The study of dance provides the opportunity to explore the potential of movement as a medium of creative expression through practical and theoretical approaches.
VCE Dance is designed to develop students’ understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form that is based on innovation, creativity and spontaneity, as well as the investigation and communication of ideas, themes and concepts. In the study students use sources of inspiration to generate, choreograph and present performances of complete dance works.
VCE Dance prepares students to be creative, innovative, skilled and productive contributors to the art form, as well as discerning, reflective and critical viewers. It provides pathways to training and tertiary study in dance performance and dance criticism.
In this area of study students develop an understanding of the ways selected choreographers of two prescribed dance works arrange selected movement vocabulary into phrases and movement sections to create a form to communicate their intention. Students analyse phrasing in selected works with reference to the choreographers’ uses of movement categories, physical skills, choreographic devices and manipulations of the elements of movement. They analyse the dance design of each work and consider influences on the choreographer’s choices, and the influence the choreographer and/or selected works have had on the arts, artists and/or society.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse two selected dance works.
In this area of study students choreograph and perform a solo dance work that demonstrates the safe use of a wide range of physical skills. They develop an intention to inform their use of the choreographic process. The intention also informs their realisation of the dance work through choreography, rehearsal, pre-performance and performance. Throughout the process of realising the work, students consider aspects of artistry they can bring to their performance. The work should reflect students’ personal movement vocabulary and their understanding of how movement ideas can be arranged into phrases and sections to create a form in order to communicate an intention. The choice of intention will also inform use of production elements and decisions such as the selection of music and/or sound to accompany the dance work or the decision to perform the work without accompaniment. Students document and analyse the realisation of the dance work from generation of ideas through the stages of the choreographic process, rehearsal, pre-performance and performance. This includes analysis of movement generation, manipulations of the movement categories and elements of movement, the use of choreographic devices, the formulation of phrases and sections to create the form, and the safe use of physical skills to execute the movement vocabulary.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to choreograph, rehearse and perform a skills-based solo dance work and analyse the processes used to realise the solo dance work.
In this area of study students learn, rehearse and perform a duo or group dance work created by another choreographer. The work chosen should expand and refine students’ physical skills and proficiency in the execution of movement vocabulary. As students work through the process of realising this dance work, they develop their capacity to safely and accurately execute group movement sequences, phrases and movement sections. Students undertake regular and systematic dance training to continually improve their execution of a wide range of skills. They analyse and document the processes involved in realising the learnt dance work – learning, rehearsing, preparing for performance and performing.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to learn, rehearse and prepare for performance, and perform a duo or group dance work by another choreographer and analyse the processes used.
In this area of study students analyse a twentieth or twenty-first century group dance work. They examine ways choreographers communicate their intention through creating spatial relationships and manipulating group structures and the elements of spatial organisation. Students analyse influences on choices made by choreographers on movement vocabulary and the intention of the selected works. They examine the influence the choreographer and/or the selected dance work has had on the arts, artists and/or society. One dance work must be selected for study for this outcome from the prescribed list of dance works for Unit 4.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse a selected group dance work.
This area of study focuses on choreography and performance of a solo dance work. The intention for this work should focus on communicating ideas through movement. Students explore ways of manipulating the elements of spatial organisation to create a cohesive composition that communicates their chosen intention. Students analyse and document the creation of movement phrases and sections to create structures that best express their intention. They make choices about the music and/or sound or absence thereof for their solo dance work, and identify the purposes for this choice and the influences it might have on their choreography. Students document and analyse the realisation of the dance across the processes of choreographing, rehearsing, preparing to perform and performing. They present a performance of their solo dance work that demonstrates safe and accurate execution of movement vocabulary and artistry.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to choreograph, rehearse, perform and analyse their realisation of a solo dance work.
Unit 3
Analysis of two works selected from the Prescribed list of dance works.
Choreograph, rehearse and perform a skills-based solo dance work that is externally assessed. Analyse the processes used to realise the dance work.
Learn, rehearse and prepare for performance, and perform a group dance work by another choreographer and analyse the processes used.
Unit 4
Analysis of a work selected from the Prescribed list of dance works for Unit 4.
Choreograph, rehearse and perform a composition solo dance work that is externally assessed. Analyse the processes used to realise the dance work.
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Students will order the textbook from the booklist.