Year 8 Dance

Unit Content

Unit 1
Graffiti
 

The purpose of this unit is to explore a variety of street dance techniques and expressive skills. Students develop their understanding of 'tags' and 'throw ups', and learn how to create their own initials through movement.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding a range of street dance actions
  • Understanding relationships ('accumulation' and 'mirroring')
  • Knowing how expressivity enhances a performance

Key skills developed:

  • How to demonstrate musicality while performing
  • How to appraise one's own performances critically
  • How to evaluate the work of others

Assessment: The unit concludes with a summative assessment in which students perform their street dance pieces and are assessed on both their perfomance and choreographic skills.
Unit 2
Dance Around the World

In this unit, students explore a variety of dance styles, including capoeira, flamenco, cèilidh, Bollywood, Kathak and dances from Africa. They learn the key moves and stylistic features of these traditions, along with relevant historical, cultural and societal information.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding the similarities and differences between different dance styles
  • Understanding the breadth, depth and diversity of dance
  • Knowing the key movements of a number of dance styles from around the world
  • Understanding how dance fusions are created by blending two or more dance styles

Key skills developed:

  • How to apply choreographic skills in dance
  • How to demonstrate focus when performing
  • How to demonstrate accumulation and deliberate use of dynamics in choreography

Assessment: At the end of the unit there is a summative assessment in which the students perform their fusion pieces and are assessed on both their performance and choreographic skills.  

Unit 3 
Climate Change 

This unit teaches students to explore their choreographic skills in the context of important global issues. Students choreograph movement linked to climate change, developing shapes and moves based on the planetary impacts of humans, such as extreme weather and waste. Students also develop their dance appreciation, initiating and responding to conversations about choreographic processes and intentions. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding the concept of 'gesture'
  • Understanding various methods of motif development

Key skills developed:

  • How to choreograph a number of gestures independently
  • How to use a stimulus to improvise movement

Assessment: Students will be assessed formatively each lesson, and will perform to the class at the end of the unit. 

Unit 4
Swansong 

This unit is an exploration of the professional dance work ‘Swansong’ by Christopher Bruce. Students build awareness of human rights issues, and explore and communicate their knowledge and ideas through movement. They learn how to use props and lifts to demonstrate power of character. 

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding the requirements needed to lift another dancer safely
  • Understanding how choreographic devices are used to communicate narrative
  • Understanding how choreographers have used dance to communicate important messages about social issues

Key skills developed:

  • How to choreograph using a prop.
  • How to perform movements within a contemporary style
  • How to incorporate weight-bearing exercises and lifts into choreography safely

Assessment: Students will be assessed formatively each lesson, and will perform to the class at the end of the unit.