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.
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.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe and document features of other choreographers’ dance works.
In this area of study students develop an intention for a solo, duo and/or group dance work, 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.
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.
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.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to safely and expressively perform a learnt solo, duo or group dance work.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Outcome 1 - Analyse describe and document features of other choreographers’ dance works in written, oral and/or multimedia format.
Outcome 2 - Choreograph and perform a solo, duo and/or group dance work that communicates an intention and complete structured solo, duo and/or group improvisations.
Outcome 3 - Perform a learnt solo, duo or group dance work.
Outcome 4 - Document and 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 in written, oral and/or multimedia format.
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Students will order the textbook and workbook from the booklist.