Study Performing Arts at the West Coast 6th form to develop your Contemporary and Jazz Dance techniques and learn professional repertoire.
Level 3 Performing Arts students rehearsing for their virtual piece ‘The Show Must go on’
KS3 students in full swing during their Performing Arts lessons to develop their dance skills, communication, confidence and creativity.
Why study Performing Arts?
Performing Arts allow children to develop creative passions, whilst simultaneously teaching language and communication skills, helping them to communicate effectively with others with confidence. The Performing Arts are all about self-expression, exploring alternative options and embracing individuality.
Key Stage 3
The overall intent for KS3 is to develop a love for the Performing Arts as a whole; to experience a wide variety of practical workshops and skills to develop confidence, communication and creativity.
In Year 7 students develop core skills through experiencing different genres of Performing Arts through practical workshops and exploring new skills. Students learn the importance of warming up, different dance styles, basic dance actions, drama skills such as freeze frames, slow motion and stereotypical characters in exciting workshops and schemes such as Superheroes and Bugsy Malone.
In Year 8 students focus on deepening understanding and awareness of Drama skills and techniques through collaborating using themes. Raising cultural awareness and capitol through the exploration of different dance styles, circus skills and showcasing their talents in our Musical Theatre project based on the Greatest Showman.
In Year 9 students develop further knowledge, concepts and skills to prepare them for the BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts by exploring more complex repertoire such as Street Dance, Blood Brothers and Musical Theatre. They develop a clear understanding of processes when creating their own work, along with confidence for informed decision making and independent thinking, key skills which can be applied across their subjects.
KS4
GCSE
Key Information about the course
You will learn about all aspects of Performing Arts and the industry. The course will explore professional practitioners and repertoire, which you will learn, develop, adapt and perform.
You will work collaboratively to create and perform pieces of theatre, exploring many different styles, techniques and practitioners. As well as being taught by your teacher, you will work with professionals from the theatre industry.
There will be various performance opportunities, including an end of year production. You will also get opportunities to watch live theatre.
Key areas and skills
Performing Arts will give you lots of transferable skills for the future. Studying Performing Arts increases confidence and self-esteem, improves communication and listening skills and the ability to work as part of a team. You will learn self-discipline, develop your critical thinking skills and understand what it takes to be involved in professional rehearsal and productions.
Main methods of assessment
Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts
AIM: Get a taste of what it’s like to be a professional actor, dancer or musical theatre performer
ASSESSMENT: Internally assess assignment
EXPLORE – performance styles, creative intentions and purpose
INVESTIGATE – how practitioners create and influence what’s performed
DISCOVER – performance roles, skills, techniques and processes
Component 2: Developing skills and techniques in the Performing Arts
AIM: Develop skills and techniques in Contemporary and Jazz Dance techniques
ASSESSMENT: Internally assess assignment
TAKE PART – in workshops, classes and rehearsals
GAIN – physical, interpretive, vocal and rehearsal skills
APPLY – these skills in performance
REFLECT – on progress, performance and how you can improve
Component 3: Performing to a brief
AIM: Consider how practitioners adapt their skills for different contexts, and put this into practice in a performance
ASSESSMENT: Externally Assessed Task – work in a group of 3-7 to create a performance-based on a set brief
BUILD – on skills in classes, workshops and rehearsals
REVIEW – the process using an ideas and skills log
PERFORM – in a group to your chosen audience
Students across all Key Stages have the opportunity to join EAT (Expressive Arts Team) for extra enrichment opportunities in the Arts and chances to take part in performances such as Christmas Showcases, International Dance Day and U.Dance.
