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Performing Arts – Dance and Drama

At Amery Hill School, we teach Dance and Drama skills together as Performing Arts until the end of Year 8, at which point students can specialise in either or both of these disciplines in a GCSE Dance and/or Drama foundation year. We also provide many extra-curricular opportunities in the performing arts, encouraging participation in:

  • after-school Dance and Drama clubs, supported by student Drama / Dance prefects & champions
  • trips to theatres and dance shows
  • workshops with industry professionals
  • school productions, Dance shows and community arts events
  • certification through the National Arts Award

The fundamental principles of the Performing Arts at Amery Hill are the nurture of:

  • personal confidence and growth – through encouragement of risk-taking in students’ self-expression. Our Dance Studio and Drama Studio are above all emotionally safe spaces, where students are empowered to embrace challenge, expand their comfort zones and develop their talents, through collaborative performance.
  • creative, physical expression – through focus on the limitless power of the mind and body to express emotion and meaning. Pupils discover the full potential of dynamic and symbolic movement through the study of physical theatre and dance.
  • cultural appreciation – through immersion in our rich and diverse curriculum. Pupils are taken beyond their everyday experiences, and are inspired to embrace a wide range of styles and traditions of theatre and dance from across the world.

Year 7 and 8 – Performing Arts

Pupils develop their confidence – and their skills in expression and performance – through an introduction to the disciplines of Dance and Drama. Through a cycle of rehearsal, performance and peer / teacher feedback, they develop their skills and understanding of what makes narrative, movement and expression effective – as individuals and as an ensemble.

Examples of schemes of work are as diverse as:

  • Exploring the physical and technical disciplines within contemporary dance, musical theatre and hip-hop routines and professional dance works.
  • Delving into pupil creativity, choreographing dance phrases and routines to a stimulus such as ‘climate change’, to begin learning the choreographic process.
  • Using Stanislavski or Brechtian theatre techniques to devise plays about the experiences of Anne Frank in hiding

Year 9 – Dance

Year 9 Dance offers students a dynamic platform for creativity, expression, and the enjoyment of performance, while laying a strong foundation for those considering GCSE Dance. The curriculum introduces key works from the GCSE anthology, including Christopher Bruce’s Shadows, Itzik Galili’s A Linha Curva, and Kenrick H2O Sandy’s Emancipation of Expressionism. These diverse styles support students in developing both their practical dance skills and written analytical abilities.

Throughout the year, students will have the chance to attend live performances, participate in internal and external workshops, and perform in school showcases. The course also emphasizes the analysis of choreography and performance, preparing students with essential skills for further dance study at GCSE level.

Year 9 – Drama

Year 9 allows a focus on essential skills to prepare students for the current Drama GCSE components. We study a set GCSE text (Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’), using this to help students develop their practical acting and theory skills for assessment. Students then undertake a series of workshops – learning about diverse theatre styles and practitioners – which then act as inspiration as they devise their own plays for performance, just as they will need to do for GCSE. There are also opportunities during the year to experience ‘live theatre’, though theatre trips and digital theatre platforms. Live theatre analysis forms another integral part of the GCSE course from Year 10.

Key Stage 4 – Dance

GCSE Dance is available to students at Key Stage 4, often building upon their foundation from the Year 9 Dance curriculum. This course provides a rich blend of theory and practical experience. Students will explore six professional dance works, which they will analyse in detail, enhancing their understanding of choreography and performance.

In addition to theoretical study, students develop their technical and physical skills through weekly practical classes. The course is divided into two components:

  • Component 1: Performance and Choreography (60% of the overall grade)
  • Component 2: Dance Appreciation (40% of the overall grade)

At Key Stage 4, students are also encouraged to expand their knowledge and passion for dance beyond the classroom by participating in workshops, clubs, and technique classes. This holistic approach nurtures their growth as dancers and deepens their appreciation for the art form.

Key Stage 4 – Drama

At Key Stage 4, we intensify pupils’ exposure to the work of diverse theatre companies and practitioners such as Gecko, Frantic Assembly, Berkoff, Brecht and Brook This exploration of naturalistic and non-naturalistic styles is further supported with theatre trips to watch contemporary theatre, which are designed to inspire greater risk-taking in students’ practical coursework over the 2 years.

Live Theatre analysis also constitutes 40% of the written exam. This therefore makes it essential that students attend at least one of our theatre trips, which cover a wide range of styles and are not always conventional.

The set GCSE text that we study for the written exam is Andrew Bovell / Frantic Assembly’s `Things I Know to be True’. This is a modern Australian take on the complexities of family life, in which physical theatre techniques bring the powerful dialogue and themes to life. Again, dovetailing practical and theory work, we explore this play in depth, to help students understand the multiple ways in which narrative, characters and setting can be conveyed on stage.

The final assessment requires students to perform two extracts from a professionally produced script.  This work may come from historically significant playwrights (Miller, Pinter, Shakespeare etc) or more recent practitioners (Caryl Churchill, Jez Butterworth etc). This work is assessed towards the end of Year 11 by an external moderator as part of Component 3.

The 3 assessment components in the AQA GCSE Drama course comprise the following:

  • Component A: Written Exam (set text and live theatre analysis) – 40%
  • Component B: Devising Theatre (devised performance and log) – 40%
  • Component C: Scripted Performance (two extracts from one play) – 20%

Dance Company

Our Dance Company offers a unique opportunity for students in Years 9, 10, and 11, particularly those studying GCSE Dance, to further develop their skills and passion. For pupils in Years 7-9, participation is by invitation or audition only.

The Dance Company rehearses every Wednesday after school from 3:00 to 4:00/4:30 p.m., providing students with invaluable experience in regular rehearsals, enhancing their performance skills, and fostering a sense of professionalism. Members of the company serve as role models within the Dance department and the wider school community, showcasing their dedication to the art of dance.

Dance Club

All year groups are welcome to join Dance Club, which meets every Tuesday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Dance Club provides students with a supportive environment to enhance their physical and technical abilities while exploring a variety of dance styles. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and collaborate with peers from different year groups, fostering a sense of community through the joy of dance.