GCSE PE (9-1) - What types of dance will be acceptable?
Many centres have asked what types of dance will be acceptable in the new GCSE PE (9-1) specification.
For the new GCSE PE (9-1) specification any form of dance will be acceptable providing the candidate is able to meet the requirements of the whole assessment criteria.
Here are some things to consider when candidates are performing the skills in isolation (mark out of 10).
The candidate will be assessed on the quality demonstrated for any 4 of the following skills using appropriate skills and techniques:
- Travel/locomotion/stepping/pathways
- Balance/stillness
- Rotation/turning/weight transference
- Jumps/elevations
- Gestures.
Technical and expressive skills including posture/placement, alignment, flow of energy, coordination, balance, strength, control, mobility, focus and projection.
Candidates should demonstrate their ability to develop and apply appropriate skills, techniques and original ideas with refinement, precision, control and fluency to perform in either a solo, duet or group dance of between 2 and 3 minutes (marked out of 25).
Where candidates choose to perform in a group dance, there can be a maximum of 4 performers in the group.
The following skills and techniques should be used as appropriate:
- Travel/locomotion/stepping/pathways
- Balance/stillness
- Rotation/turning/weight transference
- Jumps/elevations
- Gestures
- Motif.
Here are some things to consider when candidates are performing the above skills during a dance performance in a conditioned/formal/competitive situation:
- Body actions which develop from simple to more complex coordination of isolated body parts and phases of movement involving the whole body
- Awareness of dynamics, use of rhythm and timing, use of personal and general space, through orientation and shaping of the body in space and size, level, direction and pathway
- Technical and expressive skills including posture/placement, alignment, flow of energy, co-ordination, balance, strength, control, mobility, focus and projection
- Adhering to rules, health and safety guidelines, and considering appropriate risk management strategies.
Please note that whatever style is offered, for the purpose of assessment there must be clear development of choreography through the use of dynamics, whether in an individual dance or group dance.
