In Partnership with:
Sponsor Logo

Audition for the "That's Showbiz" dance competition team

Course Information

Dance A Level

A Level
Apply Online
Information Icon
Apply Online
Information Icon
In Partnership with:
Sponsor Logo

Audition for the "That's Showbiz" dance competition team

50
%
Exams
%
Coursework
50
%
Other

50% Practical Exam, 50% Theoretical Exam

Clipboard Icon
Exam Board
AQA
Certificate Icon
Entry Requirements
A Level Dance requires you to achieve at least the minimum entry requirements for your chosen pathway. You will also be required to attend a short audition in the summer term.

A Level Dance requires you to achieve at least the minimum entry requirements for your chosen pathway. You will also be required to attend a short audition in the summer term. The minimum entry requirements will be discussed at open events and at your college interview.

Dance A Level

This course is an exciting choice if you are interested in studying Dance in depth through the creation and performance of choreography, and the analysis of dance repertoire. You do not have to be pursuing a career in dance to take this course, and the skill-set gained from analysing dance repertoire, developing essay skills and taking the role of both a choreographer and performer in a practical setting provide a range of favourable skills for both employment and university. It should be stressed that this is an academic subject, with 50% of your time and assessment on practical, and 50% on written theory. The subject is not purely a practical one.

You do not need to have studied GCSE or BTEC Dance before, but having prior practical experience is essential. Practical is predominantly in the contemporary style, and students are required to already have competent technique in dance on admission. You should also make sure to attend the Wyke Start practical audition workshops in order to be accepted on the course.

Course Structure

Teaching staff in the dance department include Toni Knight (Head of Performance Faculty) and Laura Bulless (Head of Dance, Drama, Performing Arts, Music & Digital Music Production), alongside extra-curricular teachers Julie Lovewell (Head of Dance at NAPA) and David Danville (founder of Skyline Studios). The department uses a rehearsal and performance space that has a fully sprung dance floor, mirrors, sound and lighting facilities. It has access to the college Library and classroom facilities as well as the state of the art College ICT facilities.

You will have four lessons a week which are split into 2 practical, 2 theory. Practical lessons are a mixture of technique and choreographic tasks. Theory lessons are split into the history of Rambert and in-depth analysis of ‘Rooster’ (Bruce, 1991). Extracurricular rehearsal time will be required in addition to timetabled lessons to produce and practice practical exam work.

COMPONENT ONE
PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY (50% OF A LEVEL)
SOLO PERFORMANCE IN THE STYLE OF A PRACTITIONER (2-3 MINUTE)

The focus of this piece is to accurately reflect the choreographic style of a practitioner in terms of technical and physical skills, spatial elements, dynamics and interpretative performance skills such as musicality and projection.

PERFORMANCE WITHIN A JAZZ OR CONTEMPORARY
QUARTET OF 3-4 MINUTES

The focus of this piece is based on your physical and technical skills, spatial awareness, and interpretative performance in relation to the chosen genre of dance.

GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY (3-4 MINUTE)

Create an original piece of choreography for 3-5 dancers in response to an externally set task. The question will take the form of a question (poem, picture, sculpture, historical figure, etc.) which will need to be researched, developed and communicated in your choreography.

COMPONENT TWO
CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT (50% OF A LEVEL)

This is the theory part of the course, and includes both the detailed analysis of two dance works, and an understanding of other choreographers and repertoire that are influential within their corresponding areas of study:

SECTION A

The Set Work ‘Rooster’ (1991) by Christopher Bruce, and the contextual setting of the Rambert Dance Company (1966 – 2002)

SECTION B

The set work ‘Sutra’ (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, 2008) within the context of the Contemporary Dance Scene 2000+

preparation for the course

The department recommend that you attend one of our scheduled open events to learn more about this exciting course. We also recommend that you come along to your taster sessions within this subject at Wyke Start, our two-day taster event in July. You will also be given some summer work to complete following this event to help you prepare for your first few weeks on the course.

Download
Course Information

Register your interest

Wyke Sixth Form College hold train to teach information events which offer you a great insight into this course. If you are interested in attending one of these events, please complete this form and we will be in contact with the key information.

Please note that the applications for this course can be submitted by following the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page. Applications are made through the University of Huddersfield rather than Wyke Sixth Form College. We look forward to meeting with you.

Register Now

Lifelong Learning PGCE

* indicates required
What are the
Next Steps?

This is an ideal course choice if you are pursuing a career in Dance. However, you do not have to be pursuing a career in dance to take this course, and the skill-set gained from analysing dance repertoire, developing essay skills and taking the role of both a choreographer and performer in a practical setting provide a range of favourable skills for both employment and university.

Ready to
Get Started?
Apply Online
Information Icon
Apply Online
Information Icon
Course Overview
Case Study: 

Scarlett Keech former Hornsea School student

Want to know more?
Watch the video
summer work

At Wyke Start, our 2-day taster event in July, each of your subjects will set you some work to complete to help prepare you for the course. The work is available to download on https://www.wyke.ac.uk/wyke-start-summer-work

The Wyke Experience

Competition Squad

In this enrichment, you will:

• Compete in a range of styles including contemporary, street/commercial, tap and ballet.

• Enter the ‘That’s Showbiz’ national competition.

• In 2019 were crowned national champions, beating 6000+ dancers from 200 dance schools. Wyke were the only sixth form college to compete; going against professional dance schools.

• Sessions are led by external coaches including Julie Lovewell (NAPA) and David Danville (Skyline)

Contemporary Dance Qualification

In this enrichment, you can complete one of the following qualifications:

• Grade 6 (£50), Inter-foundation (£65), Intermediate (£70)

• All of these courses carry UCAS points.

• During the programme you will study the following

• Warm Up Exercises, Barre Exercises, Floor and Standing Exercises, Set Amalgamations, Examiner’s dance and Student Choreography.

This enrichment will be put into your timetable for one session per week.

View All