This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of AQA GCSE Dance. 2010s to Present Insider Quotes Tori Drew, Dance in Education Manager, charted the development. 2011 2016 Christopher Bruce Liz Dale GCSE Dance gained a new fourth unit of The new 1-9 grading systems are introduced “ If someone wants to become a dance “ My personal involvement with GCSE composition and James Cousins featured and the GCSE Dance specification develops: maker, take time to study and learn Dance began at its inception, and I am Happy Birthday GCSE Dance as a dancer on Zoe Logic’s 2011 Find It! • Performance 30% set study. Two options of a set study were • Set Study is broken into set phrases. Two the craft. Firstly, observe other people’s proud to have been associated with its given between Find It! and Impulse. There of these are combined by the student or existing works. It is especially important delivery and development during the was also a choice between two to four teacher as one set study. to work with choreographers and see how last 30 years. As a young teacher, I was set works: • Duet or trio that is 5 minutes long. they go about their composition. When encouraged to get involved by the then • Choreography 30% you are ready to begin choreographing, Chief Examiner, Judy Smith, whose 1980s/1990s • And Who Shall Go To The Ball? (2007) • Solo or group choreography based on a make sure you are properly prepared and generosity and inspiring leadership by Rafael Bonachela, CandoCo. task as laid out by the board every year. have at least a rough idea of the structure helped me to develop the passion that • Bird Song (2004) • Appreciation 40% of the dance. If you have chosen to make led me to my current role. I believe that by Siobhan Davies Dance • 1.5 hour paper. 1988 1992 1994 work with a theme, make sure you stick GCSE Dance provides young people In 1986 GCSEs were introduced and two years In 1992 the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB) Composition was moved into its own unit and • Tek Warriors (1997) • New set works are added, and students are later the first GCSE in dance was produced by merged with Northern Examining Associate the coursework assessment was removed. by Union Dance expected to study all six: to the content of the theme or narrative. with a valuable opportunity to explore the Northern Examination Association. to form Northern Examinations Assessment The Set Study is a choice between teachers • Faultline (2007) by Shobana Jeyasingh • Artificial Things (2014) Stopgap Dance Don’t get lost in making movement which a physical art form in a non-competitive Board (NEAB). own choreography (that must have included • Ghost Dances (1981) or Swansong (1987) Company, Lucy Bennett isn’t relative to the subject matter. environment and to engage in critical • Practical 50% two phrases from the board) or to use the by Christopher Bruce • A Linha Curva (2009) Rambert Dance dialogue where their personal response is • Coursework based on the student’s progress board’s full study. In early days notation of the • Nutcracker! (1992) By Matthew Bourne Company, Itzik Galili Whatever your initial influences (there valued and encouraged. • Overdrive (2003) by Richard Alston • Infra (2008) The Royal Ballet, • Performance in a duo or group dance set study was supplied for the teachers. are bound to be many in the early part of • Perfect (2005) by Motionhouse Wayne McGregor • Composition of a solo your career) try to find your individual It has provided the catalyst for the • Project areas • Romeo and Juliet (1965) • Shadows (2014) Phoenix Dance Theatre, Ghost Dances (1981) by Christopher Bruce signature. For me, there is too much work careers of many, many young dancers • A practical and written demonstration from by Kenneth MacMillan Christopher Bruce two chosen project areas given by the 1995 • Rosas Danst Rosas (1983) • Within Her Eyes (2016) James Cousins that is derivative, where the influences and creatives and it is hugely exciting to In 1995 the Set Study was choreographed board: e.g. Notation, 20th century dance by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker Company, James Cousins have not been digested and used to form see the work of a former GCSE Dance by Wayne McGregor. This Set Study was a (e.g. Diaghilev), a dance style (e.g. jazz) and • ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café (1988) • Emancipation of Expressionism (2013) Boy a personal language. To dancers I would student now appearing in the current memorable teaching experience. Students Staging the dance and Theme of own choice. by David Bintley Blue Entertainment, Kenrick H2O Sandy say: enjoy every moment and stay open anthology. As a subject that has been loved the challenge of learning McGregor’s • Written 20% (2-hour paper) idiosyncratic style, combining unusual to learning something new every day. under threat of extinction numerous • Candidates were given 30 minutes to combinations of arm gestures, travelling Don’t waste a moment because it is only times in its 30 year history, we must be view an unseen piece twice on video and steps and use of the torso. when it is over that you realise how short hugely grateful to AQA for continuing to answer questions on what they had seen. Ray Oudkerk a career it is. But, as long as it lasts, know be the only awarding organisation to offer that you are an extraordinary creature it as a subject in its own right. Long may 1998 living an extraordinary life.” it continue!” The term ‘practical’ was changed to ‘performance’ and the set study became Ray Oudkerk Heather Coke only one option. The exam video was replaced of Lister Community School, Newham, with a set professional work. The first set work “ The GCSE gives students opportunities to London GCSE Dance teacher for 25 years was Petrushka (1911) by Mikhail Fokine. Dance education and inspiring the next For many of us who studied GCSE dance develop their own artistry and explore the “ On the use of assignments: I relished generation has always been a core part of what those works we watched have stuck with significance of dance as an evolving human we do, so to formalise this through our work us for life and began our journey into the art form. Teachers have the opportunity to your own choice of assignment for the being on the GCSE syllabus was an incredibly exciting world of dance. It’s an absolute further integrate theoretical and practical candidates. The first time I ran the important achievement for us. honour to be a part of this next chapter study.As teachers become confident course I did it rather badly as I got Above: Infra (2008) by Wayne McGregor Top: Romeo and Juliet (1965) Rishard Nelson from Union Dance Louise Richards, Executive Director of the dance GCSE and to have my with the new specification, we want to them all to do an independent written Right: Petrushka (1911) by Mikhail Fokine by Kenneth MacMillan in rehearsal (1995) of Motionhouse work alongside such incredible artists see students create and perform in even project which was an arduous task. and companies. more ambitious and powerful work. The Then on further understanding of the We hope that through the study of ‘Perfect’, we James Cousins, Choreographer Specification I realised it could be a have inspired young people and contributed & Artistic Director, James Cousins new specification was also designed to give practical project, so I taught them a to their overall education and experience of Company students the knowledge, understanding the arts. Louise Richards, Executive Director and skills needed for successful ‘cool’ lindy hop duet which I did for 2000s of Motionhouse I think the creation of GCSE progression into the wide forms of post16 several cohorts, obviously improving Dance was fantastic: it gives value to the art education available. over time, so that the majority of form and offers young people a chance to candidates scored A* on this.” develop their analytical skills. Top Left: Perfect (2005) by Motionhouse GCSE Dance can bring a whole new 2000 2002 2004 Kevin Finnan, Artistic Director Top Right: Within Her Eyes (2016) by The Associated Examining Board (AEB) ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café (1988) Cross Channel (1992) by Lea Anderson culture, community and ethos to a school: Photos of Motionhouse James Cousins merged with the NEAB to create the by David Bintley was the set work. was the set work. ensuring KS3 dance can thrive, regular Page 54 Assessment and Qualifications Alliance dance events take place, inclusion and Top Left: Lauren Cuthbertson as Juliet (AQA). Swan Song (1987) by Christopher When Cross Channel was chosen for the team-building are nurtured and so much Bruce was the set work. GCSE I was amazed and delighted that and Federico Bonelli as Romeo in Romeo more. GCSE Dance alongside other Arts is 2003 students would be able to study work like and Juliet. Bill Cooper/ROH 2012; Top GCSE Dance began to be published under AQA Our longstanding inclusion in the GCSE mine. I now realise the true value of the study critical to the question of social mobility. branding and “Assignments” were dropped from Middle: Francesca Hayward and Tristan dance curriculum has been invaluable in of professional dance works at school. It has Students having access to assessment- the GCSE. The term “composition” was replaced Dyer in Infra, The Royal Ballet © ROH/ deepening our connection with young people immense impact, allowing many people to based curriculum Arts courses is intrinsic with “choreography” and the programme note Andrej Uspenski, 2012: Top Right: Ghost and dance educators across the country.