In Partnership with:
National Championship winning dance squad
National Championship winning dance squad
National Championship winning dance squad
50% Practical Exam, 50% Theoretical Exam
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.
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.
Teaching staff in the dance department include Laura Bulless (Head of Dance, Drama, Performing Arts, Music & Digital Music Production), alongside extra-curricular teachers David Danville (Skyline Studios) and Scarlet Hird. 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.
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.
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.
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:
The Set Work ‘Rooster’ (1991) by Christopher Bruce, and the contextual setting of the Rambert Dance Company (1966 – 2002)
The set work ‘Sutra’ (Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, 2008) within the context of the Contemporary Dance Scene 2000+
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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Compete in a range of styles including contemporary, street/commercial, jazz/modern 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 David Danville (Skyline), Scarlet Hird, Frances Shepherdson and Hannah Goodhall.
Dance Technique Classes - A cross college timetabled dance technique for all dancers (You do not need to study dance to take this enrichment)
• During the programme you will study the following
• Warm Up Exercises, Barre Exercises, Floor and Standing Exercises, Learn partner work, choreography in a range of different technical styles
• This enrichment will be put into your timetable for one session per week
