Level 2 Dance
12DAN Course DescriptionTeacher in Charge: Mrs E. McKellar.
Recommended Prior LearningOpen Entry.
Some previous dance experience is recommended.
This course provides students with the opportunity to learn about, perform and create dance.
Students should have an interest in working with others, learning about dance and dance performance.
The Level 2 Dance course offers students the opportunity to perform a range of dance styles including musical theatre, cultural dance, and repertoire pieces, while also creating original choreography inspired by local natural events. Students will explore the historical and cultural contexts that shape dance and deepen their understanding of how social, individual, and technological influences impact dance genres.
Learners will extend their technical skills and expressive abilities through group performances, both in class and at the annual dance showcase. They will develop choreography using a range of processes, devices, structures, and technologies to clearly communicate ideas and themes.
Throughout the course, students will generate and document choreographic ideas, apply rehearsal techniques, and critically analyse performance and choreography. This course fosters creativity, collaboration, and reflective thinking, preparing students to perform, create, and respond with confidence and insight.
Watch the video attached below to see snippets from Level 2 Dance classes and performances.
Course Overview
Term 1
Unit 1: Perform a repertoire of dance
Work collaboratively with your teacher, external instructors and your peers to learn and refine three dance pieces from a chosen dance genre.
Unit 2: Perform a theatre dance
Learn, rehearse and perform a theatre dance to communicate an intention.
Term 2
Unit 3: Choreograph a group dance
Learn to apply elements of dance and choreographic devices to create an imaginative choreography about a local natural event as part of a group.
Develop creative thinking, confidence and collaborative skills while creating choreography with peers.
Unit 4: Perform an ethnic or social dance
Choose and learn an ethnic or social dance for performance within a group.
Term 3
Unit 5: Production Technologies
Learn about sound and lighting, costuming, projections and props and how to use these to enhance dance performance.
Reflect on, rehearse and refine all dance performances for presentation at the annual dance showcase.
Dance Showcase - Present Dances for Assessment
Unit 5: Dance External
Demonstrate understanding of a dance genre or style in context.
Learn and write about the history, social and cultural contexts of a dance genre.
Term 4
Unit 5: Dance External continues.
Dance Exam Preparation and Revision
Pathway
The Level 2 Dance course leads to Level 3 Dance, as well as scholarship dance.
These programmes provide university entrance and lead to a number of tertiary dance study options.
Tertiary Pathways could include, but are not limited to:
Bachelor of Dance Studies - University of Auckland
Dance Studies - University of Waikato
Unitec - Contemporary Dance Studies
New Zealand School of Dance
New Zealand Diploma in Dance - Whitireia New Zealand
Career pathways could include but are not limited to:
Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Performer, Freelance Dance Instructor, Movement Therapy, Musical Theatre, Performing Arts, Actor/Actress.