Dance

DANCE 8

Dance 8 is part of the Arts rotation course at Burnaby Central. Through Dance, students build self-confidence, practice reflection on their experiences and explore creative expression. Learning to take risks in a supportive environment, personal and spatial awareness, dance etiquette, community building and working as a team are emphasized. Students are introduced to basic dance terminology, movement elements, various genres of dance and dance history. Students will also build their sense of rhythm, strength, flexibility, co-ordination, and dance technique through warm-ups, across the floor exercises, learning choreography and movement phrases, creating their own movement sequences and integrating other forms of Art to fuse cross-curricular connections.

DANCE 9

In Dance 9, students focus on increasing body awareness, rhythm, dance technique and taking creative risks in a safe and fun environment. Building of these skills along with flexibility, strength and personal and physical confidence take place through warm-up, cross-floor movement, dance creation and learning choreography. Collaboration, safety, self-awareness, and dance etiquette are emphasized. Students in Dance 9 take part in the creation of a dance that they perform in a theatre setting at the end of the course.

DANCE COMPANY 9 (Admission by audition and teacher discretion. Off time-table course)

This is an advanced performance and repertory-based course which focuses on learning elements of choreography, leadership skills and advanced performance and technical skills necessary in being part of a Dance Performance Ensemble. Students learn to work as a team to create and learn choreography for performances for various school and community functions throughout the year as well as the term-end Dance Shows in the theatre. This class is offered outside of the regular timetable and admission is determined by audition and teacher discretion.

DANCE TECHNIQUE AND PERFORMANCE 10

In Dance Technique and Performance 10, students work in a fun, supportive environment to learn dance technique specific to particular dance genres, increase overall body awareness and confidence, work on performance skills and create movement phrases. Students are challenged physically and encouraged to take risks within a safe and supportive community of dancers. They learn about Dance in the context of culture and history as well. Classes typically consist of a daily warm-up including strength and flexibility exercises, introduction and practice of technical skills, cross-floor movement and choreography. Throughout the term, the class creates a dance that is performed in an end-of-term performance in the theatre.

DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY 10

Students work both individually and collaboratively in a supportive environment to focus on learning and practicing the use of choreographic forms and structures to create movement phrases and dances. They also learn elements of personal artistic style and increase their kinesthetic awareness of the elements of dance and how to manipulate movements to achieve desired outcomes that can have a physical appearance goal, or be rooted in theme, motif or a specific message. This class typically involves focus techniques, a warm-up, dance composition exercises, improvisation and self-reflection. As well, students watch and analyze dance performances by various Dance Companies to grow in their understanding of how to create choreography and why. Throughout the term, students actively participate in the creation of both a class piece and a personal dance that is performed in an end-of term performance in the theatre.

DANCE COMPANY 10 (Admission by audition and teacher discretion. Off time-table course)

Dance Company 10 is an advanced repertory, performance-based course where students work in a collaborative, team-based setting, learning the choreographic, leadership, performance and technical skills necessary in a Dance Performance Ensemble. Students are expected to be self-motivated to learn choreography, improve their dance technique and work in small groups to explore and create movement phrases to incorporate into Company Dance pieces. Students learn to become self-reflective and aware of their impact within a larger group. They begin to participate in the production end of performances as well, such as working on theme and costume ideas, seeking out opportunities for performance and show promotion. The Dance Company works together to create a repertoire of dances in a variety of genres to be performed at various school and community functions throughout the year.

DANCE TECHNIQUE AND PERFORMANCE 11

In Dance Technique and Performance 11, students work in a fun, supportive environment to refine dance technique specific to particular dance genres, increase overall body awareness and confidence, improve performance skills and continue to strengthen creativity. Students are challenged physically and are encouraged to take risks within a safe community of dancers. They learn in increased depth, about the role that Dance has played and continues to play in the context of culture. Classes typically consist of a daily warm-up including strength and flexibility exercises, introduction and practice of technical skills, cross-floor movement and choreography. Throughout the term, the class creates a dance that will be performed in an end-of-term performance in the theatre.

DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY 11

DANCE LEADERSHIP 11 (Admission by teacher approval only)

Dance Leadership 11 is a highly specialized course for dedicated dance students. In this course, students work with a grade 8 dance class as a mentor and junior choreographer. After an observation period, students are challenged to lead warm-up and cross-floor activities specifically designed to increase dance technique. They learn and practice how to break down dance skills and choreography in ways that will help students understand the concepts. Dance Leadership allows highly motivated Dance students to bring their knowledge and skills into the shared space with other dancers, while encouraging them to learn how to effectively communicate and problem solve.

DANCE COMPANY 11 (Admission by audition and teacher discretion. Off time-table course)

This is an advanced repertory, performance-based course in which students learn elements of choreography, leadership skills and the performance and technical skills necessary in a Dance performance ensemble. Students are expected to be self-motivated to learn choreography and refine and increase their technical skills. They work collaboratively to explore and create movement phrases to incorporate into Company Dance pieces. Students learn to become self-reflective and aware of their impact within a larger group. Grade 11 students begin to play a leadership role within the class to mentor grade 9 and 10 dancers. They actively participate in the production end of performances as well, such as working on theme and costume ideas, seeking out opportunities for performance and show promotion. The Dance Company works together to create a repertoire of dances in a variety of genres to be performed at various school and community functions throughout the year.

DANCE TECHNIQUE AND PERFORMANCE 12

In Dance Technique and Performance 12, students work in a supportive and fun environment to refine and extend their dance technique specific to particular dance genres, increase overall body awareness and confidence, enhance their performance skills and use elements of choreography to create movement phrases and dances. Students are challenged physically and are encouraged to take risks within a safe community of dancers. They learn to articulate the roles that Dance has played and continue to play in the context of culture. Classes typically consist of a daily warm-up including strength and flexibility exercises, introduction, practice and extension of technical skills, cross-floor movement and choreography. Throughout the term, the class creates a dance that is performed in an end-of-term performance in the theatre.

DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY 12

DANCE LEADERSHIP 12 (Admission by teacher approval only)

Dance Leadership 12 builds on skills developed in Dance Leadership 11. It is a highly specialized course for dedicated dance students. Students work with a grade 8 dance class as a mentor and junior choreographer. Leadership students use what they have learned through observation, discussion and experience to lead warm-up and cross-floor activities specifically designed to increase body awareness and technique at an appropriate level for the younger students. They practice how to break down dance skills and choreography in ways that will help students understand the concepts. Dance Leadership 12 encourages highly motivated Dance students to bring their knowledge and skills into the shared space with younger dancers, challenging them to find new and effective ways to communicate and problem solve in a leadership position.

DANCE COMPANY 12 (Admission by audition and teacher discretion. Off time-table course)

This is an advanced repertory, performance-based course in which students create and learn intricate choreography, demonstrate team-work and leadership and enhance their performance and technical skills as is necessary in a Dance performance ensemble. Students are expected to be self-motivated as they work collaboratively and independently to explore and create movement phrases to incorporate into Company Dance pieces. Students become increasingly self-reflective and aware of their impact within a larger group. Grade 12 students play a very active leadership role within the Company to mentor grade 9, 10 and 11 dancers. They learn to take the lead in the production end of performances as well, such as working on theme and costume ideas, seeking out opportunities for performance and show promotion. The Dance Company works together to create a repertoire of dances in a variety of genres to be performed at various school and community functions throughout the year.