Dance
The arts and sport are crucial in developing and enriching the lives of our students. No matter their starting point, we aim to nurture talents and interest, broaden artistic experiences and fulfil their cultural entitlement.
The Dance department is busy and vibrant, aiming to enhance and broaden pupils’ creativity, improve health and social wellbeing and to develop self –confidence and self- discipline. Dance lessons on the curriculum, together with an exciting and varied extra-curricular programme, lead to many exciting performance opportunities both in and outside of school. We aim to offer excellent opportunities in dance to all of our pupils whatever their previous experience, and to nurture talents and a passion for dance.
We are very excited to announce that EGA’s dance department is an Associate School of Sadler’s Wells. As Sadler’s Wells is a leading organisation for dance, EGA dance department is very proud that it has qualified for and can enjoy a strong community link with a world-renowned organisation. Click on the link to find out more about Sadler’s Wells theatre:
http://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/list
Curriculum Content
Dance Curriculum
Dance at Key Stage 3
All pupils study dance in years 7, 8 and 9 as part of the PE rotation curriculum. Dance lessons are taught in the fully equipped dance studio. There are three main areas of study embedded holistically within the dance curriculum; these are performing, choreographing and appreciating dance. The curriculum in year 7 introduces pupils to these three areas of study through Musical Theatre. In year 8 the focus is creative choreography, and in year 9 we build on these skills, but include a focus on developing confident and engaging performers ready to be successful at GCSE level. Homework is set in dance. This is usually a research task, practical rehearsing of taught and created dances, learning key vocabulary and reviewing and evaluating class work.
Dance at Key Stage 4
The AQA GCSE Dance course further develops skills learned in Key stage 3. This course explores dance as an art form and, although pupils will experience a variety of styles within this, the course is predominantly a Contemporary dance course. Pupils study the three main strands of performance, choreography and analytical appreciation. It involves regular classes to build dancing skills and performance ability, developing understanding of how to choreograph a piece of dance and also develop critical, analytical and evaluative writing skills to be able to write about dance using dance vocabulary. The course is run across one academic year and features predominantly practical coursework and written examination.
Students who study dance at GCSE will have opportunities to go on theatre trips, take part in workshops delivered by visiting dance artists and perform in a variety of events throughout the school year.
Although we do not offer post 16 qualifications at EGA. The dance department is very proud that students have gone on to gain places of study at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, The Place: LSCD, Brit School, Urdang and various A level dance courses as a pathway after GCSE.
Dance Department Clubs
We aim to offer as many dance clubs as we can. Some clubs run throughout the year and some last for a term. The range of clubs on offer is outlined below and are offered to mixed age groups:
- School production rehearsals
- Youth Dance Company
- Year group clubs
- GCSE support
EGA Youth Dance Company is a new and exciting venture for the dance department. The company aims to nurture talent in dance and provide an environment where students can pursue dance training and performance opportunities both in and outside of school.
Contact
Please contact the Head of Dance, admin@egas.islington.sch.uk, if you would like more information about the course.
