National 5 Dance

Course overview 

The National 5 Dance course has an integrated approach to learning that develops practical and evaluative skills, knowledge and understanding of technical dance and performance and choreographic skills. The course allows pupils to become successful, independent and creative in their use of dance. Pupils will learn about the origins and history of contemporary and hip-hop dance styles whilst also developing their technique in both. Pupils will also deepen their knowledge of each style and develop their evaluative skills in order to critique their own performance. Pupils will learn about the choreographic process and use their own imagination to express their creativity, conveying thoughts, meanings and ideas through movement in order to create a piece of choreography which they will teach to other dancers to perform. Throughout the creation of this choreography, pupils will reflect and evaluate on the decisions they are making and will produce a choreographic review. Pupils will undertake a final year exam in which they will demonstrate their evaluative skills, knowledge and understanding of styles of dance and the evaluation of a professional piece of choreography.  

The main aims of the Course are to enable the learner to: 

• demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of dance 

• develop a range of technical dance skills 

• develop performance skills to enhance performance 

• develop knowledge, understanding and appreciation of dance practice 

• understand and apply knowledge of a range of choreographic skills to create a dance 

• evaluate their own work and the work of others 

• work imaginatively and demonstrate creativity 

• co-operate, support and work with others 

• consider how theatre arts can enhance a performance 

• apply the principles of safe dance practice 

Assessment 

Component 1: Question Paper (End of year exam)  

• 30 marks - scaled 20% of the overall course award
• 1 Hour question paper

Section 1: Evaluation of Own Work/Personal Performance (10 marks) 

• Technical ability, timing and musicality, quality and dynamics, concentration and focus etc. 

Section 2: Knowledge and Understanding of a Chosen Dance Style (10 marks) 

• History, origins and developments, style specific steps, iconic style of influential choreographers etc. 

Section 3: Evaluation of Professional Choreography (10 marks)

• Personal evaluative response to a professional piece of choreography for two or more dancers: theme, stimulus, devices, music etc. 

Component 2: Practical Activity 

• 65 marks available – Scaled mark = 45% of the overall course award 
• The Choreography Review is carried out over time and in advance of the external live single assessment event, at which the Choreography is performed at, and graded by a SQA visiting assessor 

Section 1: Choreography (35 marks) 

Learners create and present a dance for two people (excluding self) lasting between 1:30-2 minutes following the SQA Criteria 

Section 2: Choreography Review (35 marks)

 Dancers produce an extended response (750-1500 words) which reviews the choreography they have created and their skills as a choreographer 

• 35 marks available – Scaled mark = 35% of the overall course award 
• Solo Performance is a teacher choreographed technical solo in a selected Dance Style. It is practised prior to the external live single assessment event, at which the Solo Performance is graded by a SQA visiting assessor