Dance is currently the fastest growing department at Hurtwood, and since the arrival of its current Head of Dance in September 2006 much has changed. Past and present students will agree that dance is done excellently here, and the recent launch of the purpose built, fully sprung, dance studio brought the final ingredient which was needed to launch our new AS Dance Course.
THE AS COURSE
During the course you will take a closer look at the world of dance and gain knowledge and understanding of yourself as a dancer in action, and the skills involved in performance. Through the analysis, interpretation and evaluation of dances, you will gain an appreciation and understanding of the historical and cultural context of dance.
With a strong emphasis on the practical elements involved in dance technique, performance and choreography, you will take steps in developing your own creativity as you learn to manipulate and use choreographic tools to devise your own work. Plus, with such a physical programme, there is no doubt that AS Dance would keep you fit!
What will I learn?
You will have two main areas of study:
• Understanding Dance
• Choreography and Performance
Both are designed to get you on your feet dancing in a practical expression of your developing knowledge and skills. You will learn from studying professional repertoire in a variety of styles, and see how dance can have great meaning and expression.
Do I need to have previous dance experience?
It is not essential to have taken Dance at GCSE level, but it is a plus. No particular dance exams need to have been taken prior to the course, but previous dance experience is advisable. However, it is never too late to start. We offer a fantastic range of extra-curricular dance classes which could help a student with potential to accelerate their progress. Potential and commitment are the vital ingredients we look for.
It is also advisable for students interested to consider taking the Hurtwood Intensive Dance Summer Course. This would lay down some essential technique prior to beginning the AS curriculum. Also, if you are not currently taking weekly dance lessons, find a good teacher and begin straight away.
Is AS Dance for me?
For some of you, dance is a passion which you long to pursue as a career, while for others it is part of what you want to harness in a more general performing arts based future. Whether you plan to become a professional dancer, actor or singer, the AS Dance Course will greatly benefit the development of your movement and dance skills. For some of you dance is simply a way in which you can express yourself, and perhaps it has been a part of your life for as long as you can remember. Whatever your situation, the AS Dance Course is sure to stretch and inspire you.
How will it help me in the future?
AS Dance is suitable for anyone wanting to pursue performing arts or pure dance in Higher Education, or is complimentary for any course requiring good communication, analysis and group work skills. In addition to performing, choreographing and teaching, this course might lead to other exciting careers such as dance therapy or arts journalism.
What skills will I develop?
Dance helps students to develop a number of skills:
• Visual appreciation of dance and choreography
• Balanced judgement
• Information gathering and assessment
• Ability to work on your own or as part of a team
• Communication
How would AS Dance fit with my other academic choices?
Many students who take dance at AS and A Level also take Drama and Theatre Studies. English, Art, Photography, Media Studies and Music Technology are also great companion courses.
DEPARTMENTAL ETHOS AND VALUES
We strive to develop dancers who:
• have developed a sound dance technique
• have personally encountered a broad range of dance styles
• have been exposed to a variety of professional dance works
• have matured in their ability to appreciate, understand and analyse dance as an art form
• have a competent knowledge of anatomy, dance vocabulary, nutrition and safe practice
• possess the freedom and skill to express and inhabit dance in performance
• assert an individual sense of creativity, intuition and instinct in choreographic and performance work
THE FACULTY
The Hurtwood Dance Department consists of a team of highly experienced dance practitioners. Drawing on a team of resident and guest professionals from all backgrounds including ballet, musical theatre, contemporary and hip-hop, the Dance Department can boast a versatile and balanced influence of dance styles and techniques.
AS Dance Tutors
Matthew Atwell – Head of Dance
Matthew began his dance studies at Elmhurst Ballet School, aged 13, before specialising in musical theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Graduating with a first class degree in performance, he then went on to appear in numerous West End and touring musicals. Credits include; Les Miserables, Cats, Saturday Night Fever, 42nd Street, Follies, and West Side Story.
Previously an integral part of the dance creative team at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Matthew has been running the dance department at Hurtwood House since September 2006.
Samantha Lloyd
Samantha began her training in Cardiff at a local dance school at the age of 3 and went on to gain her major examinations with the ISTD. Samantha trained at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA) graduating with a first class BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre. Credits include: Side Show (UK Premier), Robert & Elizabeth, A Viennese Strauss Gala, Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Pirates of Penzance and numerous pantomimes.
Samantha is currently Director of the GSA Saturday School & GSA Singers and also choreographs and teaches in many colleges and theatres throughout London.
The Wider Team
Alison Avis – Regular Dance Tutor
Alison is a highly experienced freelance technical dance teacher, with exceptional results in coaching students through their ISTD major examinations. She also has great success in preparing students for auditions at further educational dance colleges.
Cressida Carre – Guest Choreographer
Currently a resident dance teacher at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Cressida is an experienced performer and choreographer, with many West End and touring credits.
Neil Fisher – Guest Choreographer
Until recently on the faculty at LIPA, Neil is an extremely talented and experienced choreographer who specialises in contemporary and physical theatre.
David Lee – Visiting Guest
David Lee has performed in many West End productions including Miss Saigon, Fame, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! He now choreographs freelance in London and around the UK.
Ebony Molina – Visiting Guest
As well as appearing in many West End musicals, Ebony has performed much of Matthew Bourne’s repertoire in his company, New Adventures; including Nutcracker, Car Man and Dorian Gray.
Lara Pulver – Regular Guest Tutor
Recent Olivier Award nominee, Lara, originally launched her career as a musical theatre performer, and has played many leading roles in productions such as Miss Saigon, Grease and Chicago. She appeared in the BBC’s latest series of Robin Hood, and recently played the female lead in the premiere of Parade the musical, in London and Los Angeles.
Michelle Queen – Visiting Guest
Michelle has vast experience in performing Hip-Hop internationally, and has formed her own dance company, Inko Dancers, who merge contemporary and commercial dance styles.
Tanya Robb – Regular Guest Tutor
Tanya’s professional West End credits include Mama Mia, We Will Rock You, Starlight Express, and Tonight’s The Night. She teaches regularly at Hurtwood and also assists Matthew in his work with the Dance Company.
Sam Spencer Lane – Guest Choreographer
Sam is the Head of Dance at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She has extensive experience as a professional dancer, as well as an impressive CV of West End and touring choreographic credits. She has worked on a variety of diverse projects including plays for The Old Vic and RSC, musicals in the West End, and tours which include the recent Little Britain UK tour.
THE COURSE
Unit 1
DanC1 –Understanding Dance
40% of the final AS mark
1 hour 30 minutes written examination – Summer Term
60 marks
Two sections: A – structured questions (20 marks)
B – two essay questions (40 marks)
Unit 2
DanC2 – Choreography and Performance
60% of the final AS mark
Practical coursework – internally assessed and externally moderated – Spring Term
90 marks
Two sections: A – solo choreography and performance (60 marks)
B – performance in a duo/trio (30 marks)
DETAILED OUTLINE
At AS Level, the AQA specification will focus on the development and performance of your own choreography and performing within a duo/trio. You will receive training on technique and the health and safety of the dancer. You will begin to develop critical skills for the analysis of choreography and performance within your own work and in professional repertoire.
The AS specification has TWO units:
Unit 1: DanC1 – Understanding Dance (written paper)
Topic list:
• The dancer as a performer: knowledge and understanding of the demands made in practice and performance on the dancer
• The process and craft of choreography
• The significance of dances
The paper comprises two sections – A (structured questions) and B (essay questions). Both structured and essay style questions will be set on the dancer as a performer, the process and craft of choreography and the significance of dances.
Unit 2: Choreography and Performance
Unit 2: DanC2 – Choreography and Performance (practical coursework)
Topic list:
• The process of solo choreography from investigation and research of ideas through to outcome
• Physical and interpretative skills in relation to performance of the solo choreography
• Performance skills within a duo/trio performance context
You respond to two questions, one on solo choreography and performance and one other on performance in a duo/trio. These are marked by the teacher and moderated by the examining board.
Section A: Solo Choreography and Performance 60 marks
You will choreograph and perform a solo of between two and three minutes' duration.
Section B: Performance in a duo/trio 30 marks
You are required to demonstrate performance skills within the context of a duo/trio. The dance to be performed can be presented in any genre or style; with or without aural accompaniment. The dance must be between three and four minutes in duration.
EXAMPLE SCHEME OF WORK
AUTUMN TERM
Technique and Performance Choreography Theory
2 dance classes each week:
• 1 jazz class
• 1 ballet class
These classes will apply what is learnt in the safe practice Theory Strand 2: alignment, stretching, anatomy, flexibility etc. 1 choreographic class each week:
• An Introduction to Choreography: the Art of Dance Composition
These sessions will give you tools to begin to create your own dances. 2 theory classes each week:
• Theory Strand 1 - History of Dance and Choreographic Influences
• Theory Strand 2 – Safe Practice
SPRING TERM – Practical Coursework Term (Unit 2 - DanC 2)
Technique and Performance Choreography Theory
1 dance class each week:
This class will continue to apply what is learnt in theory, as well as increasing your experience of dance vocabulary for creative work. 3 choreographic classes each week:
• Choreography 1: Student choreography and performance of a solo dance
• Choreography 2: Student performance within a duo/trio
These dances will be developed in these classes. 1 theory class each week:
• Theory Stand 3 – Dance Appreciation
You will study 5 professional dance works to develop your skills in analysis.
This will tie together all of your new skills about choreography, as well as your understanding of the dancer in performance for the written paper.
SUMMER TERM – Written Paper Term (Unit 1 - DanC 1)
Week 1 – Mock written paper
After the mock exam, the term will consist of intensive revision of all that has been covered in Theory Strand 1, 2 and 3.
• History of Dance and Choreographic Influences
• Safe Practice
• Dance Appreciation
There will be weekly timed essays, as well as a continued focus on your knowledge of professional choreographers and their work.
We will also revise your creative knowledge as logged in your choreographic journals during the choreography of your own dances, as you will need to be able to articulate this in the paper.
READING LIST
Below is a list of useful books which relate to the AS Dance curriculum. They could be useful to read if you are considering taking AS Dance.
• The Dance History
Introduction by Merce Cunningham
• The Faber Pocket Guide to Ballet
Deborah Bull and Luke Jennings
• Speaking of Dance
Joyce Morgenroth
• The Muscle Book
WP Blakey
• The Care and Feeding of a Dancer
Toni Branner
USEFUL DANCE WEBSITES
Below are useful websites that you may want to visit while developing your passion for dance.
• www.brb.org.uk The Birmingham Royal Ballet Company
• www.thecholmondeleys.org Lea Anderson’s dance companies
• www.dancebooks.co.uk Dance Books Ltd (books, DVDs, CDs)
• www.dancemagazine.com Offers access to major ballet companies
• www.danceuk.org Detailed resources on the healthy dancer
• www.dancing-times.co.uk Monthly magazine with articles and reviews
• www.dv8.org.uk Leading Physical Theatre/Dance Company
• www.ballet.org.uk English National Ballet Company
• www.london-dance.net London Dance Network – online resources
• www.merce.org/home.html Merce Cunningham Dance Company
• www.surrey.ac.uk/NRCD National Resource Centre for Dance
• www.new-adventures.net Matthew Bourne’s Dance Company
• www.nbt.co.uk Northern Ballet Theatre
• www.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk Phoenix Dance Theatre Company
• www.theplace.org.uk The Place – National Dance Agency
• www.rambert.org.uk Rambert Dance Company
• www.theplace.org.uk Richard Alston Dance Company
• www.royalballet.org.uk The Royal Ballet Company
• www.roh.org.uk The Royal Opera House Bookshop
• www.siobhandavies.com Siobhan Davies Dance Company
• www.sadlerswells.com Sadler’s Wells Dance Performance Venue
• www.peacocktheatre.com Dance Performance Venue
• www.laban.org Good Library and Archive Facilities
• www.barbican.org.uk London Dance Venue
• www.britishtheatreguide.info Guide to British Theatre
• www.inkodancers.com Contemporary and Commercial Fusion Company
• www.darceybussell.com Former Royal Ballet principal dancer
• www.zoonation.co.uk UK Hip Hop Company
• www.adam-cooper.com Former Royal Ballet principle dancer
• www.londondance.com Current listings of What’s On in Dance