GCSE, AS and A-level Dance specifications Liz Dale GCSE Dance Principal Examiner and Principal Moderator Version 3.0 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

What does this mean for teachers? Dance Reform Why the change? What does this mean for teachers? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Timelines GCSE, AS and A-level Dance First teaching – from September 2016 Free-of-charge launch meetings to be held July–September 2015 nationwide First GCSE and A-level exam – Summer 2018 Free preparing to teach meetings in 2016 First AS exam Summer 2017 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Three core areas of content remains the same: Dance Reform Three core areas of content remains the same: performance choreography dance appreciation. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

GCSE Dance subject content Performance Physical skills and attributes Technical skills Expressive skills Mental skills and attributes Safe working practices Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

GCSE Dance subject content Choreography Choreographic processes Choreographic devices Structuring devices and form Dance for different performance environments Different stimuli and aural settings and their effect on choreographic intentions Selection of spatial and relationship design Selection and use of aural setting Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

GCSE Dance subject content Appreciation Critical appreciation of own work through analytical, interpretative and evaluative judgments Critical appreciation of professional works Choreographic approaches Constituent features of dance Contributions of choreography, performance and features of production Relationships between choreography, performance and features of production Purpose and significance of different performance environments Appropriate dance terminology and subject specific language Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Structure of new GCSE Dance specification Linear Assessment at the end of the course Two components Performance and choreography (Practical) Dance appreciation (Written Examination) New grading system 1–9 (9 being the highest grade available) Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Structure of new GCSE Dance specification Component 1 60% Practical non-exam Assessed by teachers Moderated by AQA Structure of new GCSE Dance specification Component 2 40% Written examination Three sections Section A Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills Section B Critical appreciation of own work Section C Critical appreciation of professional works Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 1: Performance and Choreography 30% Performance + 30% Choreography Solo performance of set phrases – 15 marks Duet/trio performance – 25 marks Choreograph a dance – 40 marks solo or group (two-five dancers) in response to list of tasks (published by AQA at the start of each academic year). Performance Choreography Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 1: Performance and choreography Solo performance – set phrases 15 marks All six phrases will have comparable demand and comparable content Each phrase is approximately 20 seconds in length The performance for assessment must be an accurate reproduction of action, spatial and dynamic content as choreographed Phrases will be available in Autumn 2015 with supporting notes Each of the three selected phrases must be performed independently and recorded for assessment The accurate reproduction of movement created by someone else, reflects the skills necessary for a performer in the dance industry Performance Teacher or student chooses three from six set phrases to perform Why? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 1: Performance and choreography Duet or Trio performance 25 marks Can be in any style but must address the assessment criteria The same three set phrases that the student performs for the solo performance must be included in the duet/trio The phrases should be developed to accommodate a chosen dance style Final performance must be a minimum three and a half minutes to five minutes maximum Inclusion of common material provides parity of demand across performance pieces A useful teaching tool for exploring how to develop movement Assesses different skills to performance of the phrases Why? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 1: Performance and choreography Choice of Solo or Group Choreography 40 marks Student chooses one task from a list of tasks set by AQA List of tasks available at the start of the academic year of certification Tasks based on broad categories Solo choreography two to two and a half minutes Group choreography (2–5 dancers) three to three and a half minutes Different tasks each year adds interest Externally set tasks provide more tightly focused/suitably creative stimuli Provides link to the demands of AS and A-level Why? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 2: Dance appreciation One and a half hours – 80 marks – 40% Three sections guidance given for how long to spend on each section marked by AQA examiners example specimen paper and mark scheme a GCSE Dance glossary will be provided on the AQA website. Evidence of academic study Links to the demands of AS and A-level Written exam paper Why? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 2: Dance appreciation Section A: questions about a hypothetical dance scenario performance skills choreographic processes. Section B: questions about own practice during the course own choreography or own performance piece. Section C: questions about the study of works in the GCSE Dance anthology. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Component 2: Dance appreciation GCSE Dance Anthology (approximately three hours total length) THE GCSE DANCE ANTHOLOGY WILL BE PUBLISHED IN AUTUMN 2015 Students study all eight professional works Each work is between 10 & 30 minutes in duration Works will cover a range of styles and style fusions including: • ballet • urban • contemporary • inclusive dance • dance for camera/film • dance from other cultures. Allows for the study of a range of styles in current dance practice Provides students with appropriate breadth of study Can be used to exemplify good practice in the study of the practical elements Works can be viewed in a single lesson Why? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

How do I assess? Teacher ONLINE standardisation available and refreshed every year 60% (all practical work) is marked by the teacher All work must be assessed during a live performance in the year of certification A recording of the live assessment must be made All practical work will be moderated by an AQA moderator using the recording of the live assessment Recording guidelines as documented in the specification must be followed After the external moderation process has been completed, a report will be sent to each centre, giving feedback on the standard of the marking and the suitability of the work presented for assessment Teachers mark all practical work Moderation on video means that the work can be assessed at a time to suit the centre providing it takes place in the year of certification Why? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Timeline for resources GCSE solo performance set phrases published from December 2015 Free-of-charge launch meetings to be held July–September 2015 nationwide Exampro launch Autumn 2016 GCSE Dance anthology published Autumn 2015 Free preparing to teach meetings in 2016 Courses to deliver set phases – Summer 2016 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Resources What can you expect over the next year? The GCSE Dance anthology free and online, available when you commit to teach. Exampro a searchable bank of past AQA GCSE Dance exam questions. Exemplar student work (practical and written) with moderator/examiner commentaries. Dance advisory service each school or college is allocated a subject adviser. You can contact them for one-to-one advice on any aspect of the subject, assessment and/or support with planning and delivery. Subject community provides access to free resources and services offered by many dance organisations and universities. Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Courses Teacher standardisation Support meetings Teacher network group our teacher online standardisation (T-OLS) system allows teachers and whole departments to work through exemplar and standardisation material quickly and easily Support meetings offering practical teaching strategies and approaches to help you with course delivery Teacher network group allows teachers to contact colleagues at other schools/colleges to share ideas about resources and teaching strategies for the AQA specification Training courses by AQA appointed experts - to help you deliver AQA dance qualifications Subject expertise courses for all teachers, from newly-qualified teachers who are just getting started to experienced teachers looking for fresh inspiration Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Structure of new AS and A-level Dance specification They are stand alone qualifications The work assessed at AS level does NOT count towards the final A-level grade, as it does currently The course is co-teachable further guidance on how you can do this will be available on the website Linear – all assessment at the end of the course Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Structure of new AS and A-level Dance specification 50% Component 1 Performance & Choreography Visiting Examination Component 2 Critical Engagement Written Examination Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Structure of new AS and A-level Dance specification Component 1 Practical assessment tasks in performance and choreography are specific to each course knowledge skills and understanding of performance and choreography will be developed from AS to A-level Component 2 Written short answer and essay questions areas of study (including practitioners) additional set works at A-level Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

AS and A-level Dance overview AS Dance A-level Dance Component 1 Performance and Choreography Solo performance of own choreography Duet/trio performance Visiting examined Solo performance in the style of a practitioner Quartet performance Group choreography Component 2 Critical engagement Own practice Compulsory area of study Optional area of study Written exam 2 hours Compulsory set work and corresponding area of study Optional set work and corresponding area of study Written exam 2 hours 30 minutes Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Each area of study has a corresponding set work for study at A-level AS and A-level Dance New structure and content for the written paper greater variety of question styles more time for completion Areas of study (AoS) and set works includes one compulsory and four optional areas of study expected to remain the same through the lifetime of the specification Each area of study has a corresponding set work for study at A-level Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Rambert Dance Company 1966–2002 AS and A-level Dance Rambert Dance Company 1966–2002 The Romantic ballet period The origins of American modern dance 1900–1945 American jazz dance 1940–1975 The independent contemporary dance scene in Britain 2000 to present Areas of Study Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

AS and A-level Dance Why? AS - students answer questions linked to own practice which links to GCSE A-level - the focus is on responses to professional works and practitioners AS and A-level - allows students (as they develop as dancers) to embody the knowledge and understanding through the exploration of areas of study, practitioners and set works AS and A-level - provides a firm foundation for further study at Higher Education and links with the professional dance world Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Progression to AS and A-level The GCSE, AS and A-level have clear progression through the qualifications: Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Support We’re here to support you throughout the exam changes and beyond, please contact the Dance department if you have any questions. Sign up for our email updates to get information about the changes, details of free launch meetings and available support materials aqa.org.uk/keepinformeddance Visit aqa.org.uk/dance Email aqadance@aqa.org.uk Call 01483 437 750 Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.