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Advice for teachers -
Dance

Unit 3 - Area of Study 1: Dance perspectives

Outcome 1

Analyse two selected dance works.

Examples of lear​ning activities

  • Select two of the prescribed dance works and conduct research to learn more about the choreographer/s who created them.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Discuss influences on choices made by choreographer/s in relation to the intention, movement vocabulary and production aspects of selected solo dance works.
  • Analyse ways in which selected choreographer/s thematically arranged movements into phrases and sections to communicate the intention of their dance works.
  • Analyse the dance designs of the selected works.
  • Complete a table identifying phrases and sections within the works, and the movement categories and physical skills needed to perform them.
  • Write a list of choreographic devices that can be seen in the works and identify examples of their use.
  • Discuss the use of phrasing within a section of the selected works, focusing on the use and manipulation of time, space and energy.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

Influences on choices made by choreographers of solo dance works

Students complete the following activities:

Identify influences on choices made by choreographers of 20th- and/or 21st-century solo dance works by considering the following:

  • when, where, why, how and for whom a selected dance work was choreographed
  • prevailing social attitudes and values at the time the work was choreographed
  • significant social, historical, technological, economic, environmental, philosophical or religious issues that may have influenced the choreographer
  • purpose of the solo work and the performance environment for which it was created; for example, festival, theatre, alternative performance space, etc. (noting, in particular, possible influences on production elements)
  • influences evident in any documented commentary about the dance; for example, statements from the choreographer, original program notes or reviews.

Make a list of each possible influence and find evidence in the dance work to support each one. For example, note whether or not an influence is evident in the:

  • types of movement
  • use of music, costumes, other production aspects.

Write a report that outlines the influence of:

  • the choreographer’s choices and how they impact on the movement vocabulary of the works.