Dance

This unit uniquely combines citizenship education with creative dance, enabling Year 8 students to explore and embody British values through physical expression and collaborative choreography. By linking abstract concepts like democracy, tolerance, and mutual respect to concrete movement vocabulary, students develop both their artistic skills and their understanding of shared societal values. The progressive choreographic challenges build confidence in creative decision-making whilst fostering the very values being explored.

This unit bridges history and creative expression as students transform Victorian life into expressive dance performances. Through character-based movement exploration and chance choreography techniques, students develop both their technical dance skills and their ability to interpret historical context through physical storytelling. The unit uniquely combines structured choreographic devices with creative freedom, allowing students to discover how constraints can enhance artistic expression.

This unit immerses Year 8 students in the powerful tradition of Māori Haka, exploring how movement, voice, and collective energy combine to tell cultural stories and express deep emotion. Through progressive skill development, students learn to perform with authenticity, unity, and cultural respect whilst developing their own expressive capabilities. The unit culminates in a group performance that demonstrates both technical precision and emotional connection.

This unit uses dance as a lens to explore 100 years of social and cultural change, from the jazz age to hip hop. Students develop both technical skills and historical understanding as they embody the distinctive movement styles of each era. Through creative exploration and choreography, they discover how dance reflects and shapes society, culminating in an original performance that weaves multiple decades into a cohesive narrative.

This unit empowers Year 8 students to explore the profound human experiences of World War 2 through contemporary dance composition. By combining historical understanding with creative choreographic techniques, students develop their ability to communicate complex narratives and emotions through physical expression. The unit bridges humanities and the arts, fostering empathy and critical thinking whilst advancing technical dance skills.