Don Valley Academy

On the 5th December 2011, Lower School Hall was packed to the rafters with proud parents, friends and supporters, all there to witness the debut performance from  the Don Valley Dance Company.

It was clear to see that they were not to be disappointed as the students performed with confidence and professionalism! They had all worked extremely hard attending after school rehearsals to prepare for the evening. For those students who were new to dance this year and those tackling unfamiliar styles; it has been truly inspirational to watch their confidence grow and technique flourish.

The showcase was a huge achievement for all the BTEC dancers and formed part of their ‘Performing Dance Unit’ assessment. It has set a precedent and I look forward to preparing for their  second showcase in the spring.

 Congratulations to all dancers on a thoroughly enjoyable show!

Miss Newton
Curriculum Leader of Dance

Monday 5th December 2011

7:00pm ~ Lower School Hall

Starring Year 10 and 11 BTEC Dancers in their debut performance!

With special guest performers Fantastic Funk

TICKETS ON SALE NOW - Available from the Drama Office during break times

Adults – £2.50  Concessions – £1.00

If you enjoy being creative, take pride in your work and enjoy the challenge of being part of a team then this is the perfect option for you!
As the BTEC Dance course is assessed continuously, you will find that you can use your time productively and will not feel a sudden strain when you have lots of other examinations to prepare for! Alongside this advantage, the BTEC is equivalent to two GCSE’s!

Course Content:
The BTEC dance course is comprised of practical activities, however you will also receive written coursework to deepen your knowledge of the world of dance and will regularly complete evaluations to help you set achievable targets and improve your technique. Over the two years you will be invited to perform your work both within school at Christmas/summer festivals and to the wider community- in particular our local primary schools! The wide variety of dance styles covered offer opportunities for both teamwork and creativity which make this course a perfect option for a variety of future careers.

You will complete three units over the two years:

Performing Dance
This unit is all about learning and rehearsing choreographed dance pieces. Within ‘Performing Dance’, you will learn a variety of dance styles including: hip-hop, street, jazz and tap. As you attend more workshops you should notice a definite improvement in your flexibility, strength and general stamina. Learners will have the chance to see live professional dance performances and will have the opportunity to review both their own and others work.

Contemporary Dance
This unit gives you the opportunity to create your own choreography and learn about the way that dances are created from the very first idea to the final performance. You will work with professional Contemporary dancers to give you a great insight into this influential dance style.

Musical Theatre
This unit helps to develop wider performance skills that can be really important within the dance industry. You will undertake workshops in music, theatre acting and dance skills, working towards a 20 minute musical theatre performance in year eleven!