Year 7 Dance

Unit Content

Unit 1
Marvel 

Students use Marvel characters and the concept of superheroes as stimuli for the creation of freeze frames and short sequences of movements. They learn to adapt a dance sequence, using basic choreographic devices and elements of space. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Knowing how stimuli can be used to inform choreography 
  • Understanding choreographic devices such as canon, unison and repetition 
  • Understanding the elements of dance, and how they can add interest to choreography

Key skills developed:

  • How to copy and develop a motif
  • How to adapt a motif using actions and space to reflect the stimulus
  • How to demonstrate basic actions and dynamics

Assessment: Formative assessment from the teacher throughout the unit, and both peer- and self-assessment against a series of "I can" statements. Students' group performances are presented to the class and assessed summatively at the end of the unit.

Unit 2
Dance in Musicals 

This unit encourages students to consider how they can engage an audience through performance. Students continue to build on the physical skills and knowledge they developed in the previous unit, and are introduced to the expressive and narrative skills they need to communicate emotions. Each pair of lessons focuses on a different musical, giving students a range of characters and stories to portray. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding the steps needed to create an engaging performance
  • Understanding how performance skills can be improved over time

Key skills developed:

  • How to engage an audience through performance skills
  • How to use expressive skills to demonstrate a character in dance

Assessment: Formative assessment from the teacher throughout the unit, and both peer- and self-assessment against a series of "I can" statements. Students' group performances are presented to the class and assessed summatively at the end of the unit.

Unit 3
Lindy Hop 

This unit introduces students to an exciting dance style, while continuing to develop their performance skills. Students learn about the origins of Lindy Hop and the skills needed to dance in this style. Throughout this unit, students develop their understanding of safe practices, and learn to take responsibility for leading their class in a safe and effective warm-up, demonstrating important leadership skills. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding the importance of warming up for a dance class
  • Understanding the origins of Lindy Hop, and the social and cultural context of the style

Key skills developed:

  • How to collaborate with peers in preparing and delivering a warm up
  • How to demonstrate dynamics in dance to demonstrate mood
  • How to improve a dance performance

Assessment: Formative assessment from the teacher throughout the unit, and both peer- and self-assessment against a series of "I can" statements. Students' group performances are presented to the class and assessed summatively at the end of the unit.

Unit 4
Exploring Choreography 

This unit teaches students to understand and experience methods of choreographing dances. Students explore multiple stimuli and consider the different ways of using these to choreograph movement. Students create their own choreographic intent and learn to reflect on their movement to ensure it aligns with their intent. This unit encourages students to explore the use of action and space, and to reflect critically on their own work and that of their peers. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding choreographic intent and choreographic processes
  • Understanding how a range of stimuli can lead to choreography 

Key skills developed:

  • How to choreograph creative movement in order to realise a choreographic intent
  • How to identify links between choreographic intent and movement
  • How to develop a motif in the context of a choreographic intent

Assessment: Formative assessment from the teacher throughout the unit, and both peer- and self-assessment against a series of "I can" statements. Students' group performances are presented to the class and assessed summatively at the end of the unit.