Dance

Head of Dance – Graeme Spencer

Dance is taught throughout the Senior School and Sixth form (years 9-13). Dance forms part of the physical education curriculum, is taught at an option within GCSE PE, both AS and A level and is provided as an extra curricular activity in many forms. These include; dance through games and activities options, separate classes for male and female students in the U6th, as well as the Hurst dance companies named; Est.05 and it’s sister company Est.07. Dance also forms a valued part of other physical training programs and events, providing body conditioning for sports students, for example, and as part of whole school ‘Danceathon’ events. The dance curriculum is designed to enable students at Hurst to discover the diversity within dance ranging from classical, to commercial and contemporary techniques and the quality of work that can be achieved with a focussed and disciplined training. Dance uses its innate potential to offer unique learning opportunities across the school curriculum. As one of the major art forms, its intrinsic value lies in the possibilities it offers for the development of a students creative, imaginative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacities. Due to its physical nature, dance provides a means of expression and communication distinct from other art forms and because of its expressive and creative nature it stands apart from other physical activities. The practical, theoretical and contextual study of dance as an art form contributes to a students artistic, physical, aesthetic, cultural and social development. It enables pupils to find their own voice as creator, performer and critic. Dance makes a special contribution to both physical and arts education, supports learning in other subjects, such as Art, IT, Science due to tailored dance units within the PE curriculum providing strong cross curricular links and facilitates the development of key skills, which are transferable to all areas of live long learning. It plays an important role in promoting physical fitness and well-being and most importantly, Dance harnesses the power to build a new found sense of confidence in every student here at Hurst. The dance curriculum is designed to nurture students with the skills, knowledge and understanding, necessary for achieving the set attainment targets for year 3 through to year 8. Students in year 9 then follow on with their studies of dance within PE with the potential for students to take dance at GCSE level as soon as this has been established as a future GCSE option (ready for September 2010). Dance can then be taken on at AS/A2 for students who wish to explore this at a higher level and dance continues to be open to all as an extra curricular activity option.

for more dance pictures click here