Specialist Dance at Mary MacKillop College is offered as:
Year 7 Specialist Dance (compulsory one semester subject) and Dance Performance Team (co-curricular)
Year 8 Dance (one semester elective subject) and Dance Academy (full year)
Year 9 Dance (one semester elective subject) and Dance Academy (full year)
Stage 1 Dance A and B (studied in Year 10) (one semester or full year)
Stage 2 Dance (studied in Year 11) (full year)
Year 7 Dance Course Description (one semester)
This course develops students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills in dance through technique, choreography and performance. Students will explore the elements of dance—action, space, time, dynamics and relationships—and apply these to their own creative work and performance.
Technical skills in jazz, contemporary and cultural dance styles are taught alongside choreographic devices. Confidence and expression are fostered through regular performance opportunities.
By the end of the semester, students should demonstrate progress in the following areas:
Assessment includes a variety of practical and written tasks, involving both individual and collaborative work. Students are assessed on their understanding of theoretical and practical concepts. This includes technical skill development, performance quality, dance reviews and reflections, and the creation of a group choreographic piece.
Year 7 Dance Performance Team (full year)
Year 7 students have the opportunity to audition for the Dance Performance Team. The Dance Performance Team includes specialised classes in a range of styles including contemporary, jazz, lyrical, classical ballet, musical theatre and cultural styles.
Students are expected to show a high level of commitment to performance opportunities in the school and wider community.
Course content:
Year 8 Dance Course Description (one semester)
This course builds on students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills in dance through continued development in technique, choreography, and performance. Students deepen their exploration of the elements of dance—action, space, time, dynamics, and relationships—and apply these to their own creative work.
Technical skills in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and cultural styles are taught alongside choreographic devices. Confidence and expression are nurtured through regular performance opportunities.
By the end of the semester, students will have demonstrated further progress in the following areas:
Assessment includes a variety of practical and written components, involving both individual and group tasks. Students are assessed on their understanding of theoretical concepts and practical application. This includes technical skill development, performance quality, dance reviews and reflections, and the creation of a collaborative choreographic piece.
Year 8 Dance Academy Course Description (full year)
Dance Academy provides an opportunity for students with significant dance experience and/or a strong commitment and interest in dance. Students are expected to audition, demonstrating an advanced level technical skill and choreographic understanding.
Students participate in specialised classes in a range of styles including contemporary, jazz, lyrical, classical ballet, musical theatre, cultural styles and choreographic development. Exposure to opportunities for extension will be available through visiting artists.
Students are expected to show a high level of commitment to performance opportunities in the school and wider community.
Course content:
The assessment for this course includes a variety of practical and written components, involving both individual and collaborative work. Students will be assessed on their understanding of the theory and practical topics. Assessments are based on technical skills, performance quality, dance reviews and reflections and contributions to group choreography
Year 9 Dance Course Description (one semester)
This course continues to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills in dance through a focus on technique, choreography and performance. Students build on their understanding of the elements of dance—action, space, time, dynamics and relationships—and apply these in both their choreography and performance analysis.
With an emphasis on jazz and contemporary styles, students will develop fundamental movement skills, technical ability, expressive performance and safe dance practices, alongside a variety of choreographic devices.
By the end of the semester, students will have had opportunities to further develop:
Assessment includes a range of practical and written tasks, completed individually and collaboratively. Students will be assessed on their theoretical understanding and practical application. This includes technical proficiency, performance quality, dance reviews and reflections, and the composition of original choreography.
Year 9 Dance Academy (full year)
Dance Academy provides an opportunity for students with significant dance experience and/or a strong commitment and interest in dance. Students build on technical skill and choreographic understanding.
Students in the Academy continue to be involved in specialised classes in a range of styles including contemporary, jazz, lyrical, classical ballet, musical theatre, cultural styles and choreographic development. Exposure to opportunities for extension will be available through visiting artists. Students are expected to show a high level of commitment to performance opportunities in the school and wider community.
Course content:
The assessment for this course includes a variety of practical and written components, involving both individual and collaborative work. Students will be assessed on their understanding of the theory and practical topics. Assessments may be based on technical skills, performance quality, dance reviews and reflections and contributions to group choreography.
Course Description
This course supports students in advancing their knowledge and skills in dance through focused study of technical and expressive performance, choreographic composition and dance analysis. Students will explore dance elements, structural and choreographic devices, production elements and safe dance practices while continuing to build strength, flexibility, creativity and performance confidence.
Students engage with three key areas of study:
In the practical components, students perform choreography and apply expressive movement skills. Theoretical tasks include analysing dance in cultural and global contexts and reflecting on personal creative development as dancers and choreographers.
Assessment
Students demonstrate their learning through a combination of practical and theoretical assessments:
The SACE 10-credit course (one semester) includes one assessment in each of these areas.
The SACE 20-credit course (full year) includes two assessments in each area.
Prerequisite: Year 9 Dance Academy
Note: A full year (20 credits) of Stage 1 Dance studied in Year 10 is the pre-requisite for undertaking Stage 2 Dance in Year 11.
Course Description
Stage 2 Dance further develops students’ knowledge and understanding of dance through advanced training in movement skills, choreographic exploration and performance practice. Students enhance both aesthetic and kinesthetic intelligence, using the body as a means of artistic expression and communication.
Through independent and collaborative work, students explore a range of dance genres and critically examine the role of dance across different cultural and global contexts.
The course is structured around three areas of study:
Assessment
Students demonstrate evidence of their learning through the following assessment components:
School-Based Assessment:
External Assessment:
(SACE – 20 Credits)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Dance A and B (Stage 1) in Year 10.
