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PERFORMING ARTS

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:
MS K PALMA
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STAFF:

Dance: Miss M Baldwin, Mrs S Palmer 

Drama: Mrs R Burgess, Mrs J Richardson

KEY STAGE 3:

Year 7 Topics 
Drama

  • Introduction to performance skills and character

  • Greek Theatre

  • Shakespeare – the text will be chosen in relation to the Royal Shakespeare Associate School Programme

  • Commedia Dell’ Arte


Year 8 Topics 
Drama

  • Musical Theatre

  • Brecht

  • An introduction to Naturalism

  • Rehearsal Room Practise: Modern Theatre/Story Telling

Dance

  • An Introduction to Choreography

  • Analysing professional works: Swansong & Rosas Danst Rosas

  • American Jazz

  • Contemporary Dance


Year 9 Topics 
Drama

  • Analysing Live Theatre   

  • Devising from a stimulus  

  • Performing from a Text: Noughts and Crosses  

  • Much ado About Nothing: RSC rehearsal approaches 

KEY STAGE 4:

Drama GCSE (AQA)

  • Component 1: Written exam (1hr. 45 minutes)

  • Component 2: Devising Drama (Practical moderation with written coursework)

  • Component 3: Texts in Practice (Practical exam with visiting examiner)


Dance GCSE (AQA)

  • Component 1: Dance Appreciation (Written exam, 1 hr. 30 minutes)

  • Component 2: Performance and Choreography (practical moderation)

KEY STAGE 5:

As an RSC Lead Associate School, we work closely with the RSC professionals and our partner theatre Northern Stage. This year’s projects include student in an Associate school production of Hamlet.

Theatre Studies A2 (AQA)

  • Component 1: Drama and Theatre (3 hr. Written exam)

  • Component 2: Creating original Drama (Practical exam with written coursework)

  • Component 3 Making Theatre (Practical exam with written coursework)


Dance A2 (AQA)

  • Component 1: Critical Engagement (Written exam, 2 hr. 30 minutes)

  • Component 2: Performance and Choreography (practical exam with visiting examiner)


Extra-Curricular Clubs

  • Y7 & 8 LAMDA club

  • KS3 Musical Theatre Club

  • Y7, 8 & 9 Drama club

  • GCSE Theory club

  • A2 Theory club


Annual Performances

  • Christmas Pantomime December Year 12/13

  • RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company)Associate School Production at Northern Stage (June)

  • Whole School Musical (July)


Working with Professional Companies


In addition to staff leading extracurricular activities, the department offers a wide range of opportunities for students lead by practitioners from professional companies.


RSC 

  • Professionally led workshops and casting opportunities

  • Annual performance opportunities


Dance City 

  • Dance City CAT scheme recruitment opportunities 

  • Workshops with Geoff Hopson for KS4 and 5 

  • Work experience placements at Sacred Heart for final year degree students
     

Phoenix Dance Theatre 

  • Key stage 3 and 4 recruitment for Gateway Project and Phoenix Youth Company

  • GCSE workshops focusing on component 1 of the specification

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