We welcome students from a wide variety of Performing Arts backgrounds onto our Sixth Form courses. The A Level Dance course provides students with the opportunity to acquire experience of performance and choreography and to engage in critical thinking about dance. The course allows students to study a subject which can be extended through Higher Education vocational training, or employment and promotes a healthy lifestyle through an awareness of the importance of exercise and training. The two year course consists of two components.

A level Dance is an AQA course.

Please refer to our Sixth Form prospectus for entry requirements.

Component 1: Performance and Choreography. (50% of the A level) - solo performance linked to a specific practitioner within an area of study; performance in a quartet in either jazz, ballet, or modern style and group choreography.  Additionally, students will learn a solo taught by the tutor in the style of Matthew Bourne, Akram Khan, or Bob Fosse.

Component 2: Critical Engagement. (50% of the A level) - 2hr 30 min written examination assessing knowledge, understanding, and critical appreciation of two compulsory set works. ("Rooster" by Christopher Bruce and "Sutra" by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui) and their location within the corresponding area of study.

Course Overview Practical Solo performance /20 (style of practitioner) Quartet performance /20 (choreographed together) Choreography /40 (external question) = 50% of final grade One compulsory set work = Rambert

Theory Short answers = Rooster /25 Essay Rambert /25 One optional set work = ICDS 2 essays /25 /25 = ICDS =Sutra = 50% of final grade

We have a strong partnership with Cast and this enables our Year 12 students to spend an afternoon a week during the first half-term working in their professional spaces. Various dance, drama and music groups meet regularly at lunch-times and after school. There are regular performances both within school and at professional venues around the region. There is a whole school production and all Performing Arts students are invited to showcase their work in the many concerts and other performance opportunities held each year.   Students may be selected as 'Subject Ambassadors' and represent the ICA Perform department at a variety of occasions including presenting shows, leading workshops and meeting industry professionals.  We attend national Dance/Drama exhibitions about future careers in Performing Arts along with attending workshops and performances. We have attended BPM and The Music Show - both national music exhibitions and work with many professional companies, practitioners, FE/HE providers and in professional venues as opportunities arise. We hold regular trips and visits to theatres and professional venues  designed to broaden the experiences our students have within the Performing Arts world.  During the summer term A Level Dance students are invited to participate in three day Dance tour across venues in Doncaster.  Dancers perform in annual shows including 'Nexus', featuring schools and community groups from across Doncaster.

A Sixth Form Dance course is a necessity for all those students who wish to study Dance as all or part of a degree / diploma course. It is also desirable for any student wishing to study other areas of Performing Arts and for those who wish to follow careers in Dance, Arts Management, Dance therapy and technical theatre work. Students may also consider Dance a viable option if they have a general interest in Dance, have some degree of ability and wish to study the subject in greater detail than GCSE Dance would allow. A level Dance combines very well with Physical Education and complements  Drama & Theatre Studies, Music, Art & Design, Health & Social Care, English Language / Literature and History.