Unit+One

toc UNIT ONE In this unit students explore the potential of the body as an instrument of expression. They learn about and develop technical and physical skills. Students discover the diverse range of expressive movement by exploring body actions, and commence the process of developing a personal movement vocabulary. Knowledge of physiology, including care and maintenance of the body, is applied to the execution of body actions through the safe use of technical and physical skills. Students develop and perform movement studies and dances with uni fied compositions created through a range of movement creation processes. They discuss cultural in fluences on their own dance backgrounds, and on the expressive intentions and movement vocabulary in their own dances.

AREA OF STUDY ONE __Dance perspectives__ This area of study focuses on the de finition and documentation of choreographers’ expressive intentions, movement creation processes resulting in expressive body actions, and the technical and physical skills required to safely execute these expressive body actions. Students learn about ways of de fining an expressive intention, analyse and document cultural in fluences on their own dance-making and consider expressive intentions used by other choreographers. They also learn about ways of documenting movement, for example through the use of annotated drawings and/or sketches, written descriptions using dance terminology and/or notation. In this area of study the terms ‘choreographer’ can be understood as one or more choreographers. __Outcome 1__ On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe and document the expressive intention, body actions and technical and physical skills used in their own and other choreographers’ dance works; and discuss cultural in fluences that impact on their own dance-making. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of study __Key knowledge__ This knowledge includes
 * nature and purpose of expressive intention in their own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * body actions including gesture, locomotion, elevation, falling, turning and stillness in own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * technical and physical skills including alignment, coordination, balance, control, flexibility, strength, stamina and transference of weight in own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * the communication of the expressive intention in own and other choreographers’ dance works through the safe use of technical and physical skills expressively executed through a range of body actions;
 * cultural in fluences on the choice of expressive intention, selection of body actions and the use of technical and physical skills in their dance works; for example, the student’s dance background and training, cultural, geographic and social contexts and/or gender issues;
 * dance language and terminology.

__Key skills__ These skills include the ability to
 * describe the expressive intention in own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * identify and document the expressive use of body actions to communicate the intention in own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * identify and document the technical and physical skills used to communicate the expressive intention in own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * discuss the relationship between the appropriate selection and expressive execution of body actions through safe use of technical and physical skills and the communication of the expressive intention in own and other choreographers’ dance works;
 * describe cultural in fluences on the choice of expressive intention, selection of body actions and the use of technical and physical skills in their dance works; use appropriate dance language and terminology.

AREA OF STUDY 2 __Choreography and performance__ This area of study focuses on the choice and development of expressive intention and the exploration and safe use of body actions to communicate an expressive intention when creating dance works. Students use processes such as improvisation, selection, arrangement, re finement and evaluation to explore their chosen expressive intention and develop a personal movement vocabulary for the creation of a solo or group dance work. They also study ways of structuring and developing a uni fied composition and develop solo and/or group improvisation skills. __Outcome 2__ On completion of this unit the student should be able to choreograph and perform a solo or group dance work with a uni fied composition that communicates an expressive intention and complete structured improvisations.To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of

__Key knowledge__
This knowledge includes __Key skills__ These skills include the ability to
 * personal movement vocabulary developed through improvisation;
 * structured solo and/or group improvisation using selected frameworks;expressive intention of own solo or group dance work;
 * safe dance practices;
 * movement creation processes including improvisation, selection, arrangement, re finement and evaluation of movement in solo and/or group contexts;
 * processes for creating body actions and movement sequences which communicate their expressive intention in own solo or group dance;
 * ways of creating and linking movement sections to structure solo or group dance works with a uni fied composition, including a beginning, developments and resolution;
 * development of movement memory;
 * performance processes and skills;
 * appropriate dance language and terminology.
 * use safe dance practices;
 * respond spontaneously in movement within given frameworks;explore and develop personal movement vocabulary through improvisation;
 * complete structured solo and/or group improvisations;
 * use movement creation processes to manipulate and create body actions which explore their expressive intention for a solo or group dance work;
 * form movement sequences using selected expressive body actions;
 * expressively execute body actions and movement sequences;
 * structure own solo or group dance work with a uni fied composition;
 * demonstrate movement memory;
 * rehearse and perform own solo or group dance work;
 * demonstrate performance skills;
 * use appropriate dance language and terminology.

AREA OF STUDY 3 __Dance technique and performance__ This area of study focuses on developing students’ capacity to expressively execute a range of body actions through the safe use of technical and physical skills. Students learn, rehearse and perform a solo or group dance work which communicates an expressive intention. Student dance technique is developed through regular and systematic training, focusing on personal and learnt movement vocabulary. In this area of study the term ‘choreographer’ can be understood as one or more choreographers.

__Outcome 3__
On completion of this unit the student should be able to expressively execute the body actions of a learnt solo or group dance work to communicate the intention of the choreographer, through the safe use of technical and physical skills. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of study 3. __Key knowledge__ This knowledge includes
 * processes used in effectively warming up and warming down at appropriate times;
 * alignment principles that develop ability to correctly align body parts in movement and in stillness;
 * safe execution of technical and physical skills, including alignment, coordination, balance, strength, control, flexibility, stamina and transference of weight;
 * accurate execution of body actions, including a range of ways of moving the body using gesture, locomotion, elevation, falling, turning and stillness;
 * movement vocabulary of a learnt dance work;
 * expressive intention of the learnt dance work;
 * rehearsal skills;
 * performance skills;
 * appropriate dance language and terminology.

__Key skills__ These skills include the ability to ==
 * systematically repeat and re fine technical and physical skills through appropriate exercises over time;
 * demonstrate effective warm-up and warm-down processes at the beginning and end of dance activity;
 * correctly align body parts in movement and in stillness;
 * execute accurately a range of body actions through the safe use of technical and physical skills;
 * physically initiate and remember choreographed body actions and physical skills;
 * demonstrate safe and appropriate use of technical and physical skills required to execute the choreographed body actions in performance;
 * execute expressively in performance the range of body actions and movement sequences of a learnt dance work;
 * move with an awareness of others in a group, and use and reproduce group formations accurately;
 * rehearse a learnt dance work;
 * perform a learnt dance work demonstrating an understanding of the expressive intention; use appropriate dance language and terminology.

AREA OF STUDY 4 ==

__The body: physiology and maintenance__
This area of study focuses on developing an understanding of the safe use, maintenance and physiology of the dancer’s body. Students also develop an understanding of alignment principles; for example, the integrated engagement of the muscles of the abdomen to create the core stability needed to facilitate safe placement of the pelvis and spine, thus enabling ease of movement and ef ficient use of energy through the torso. Students also study methods of developing technical and physical skills which incorporate safe dance practices. Knowledge and skills from this area of study should be integrated into all other areas of study.

__Outcome 4__ On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe the safe use, maintenance and physiology of the dancer’s body, and methods and alignment principles which facilitate development of technical and physical skills. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on knowledge and related skills outlined in area of study 4. __Key knowledge__ This knowledge includes
 * physiology of the musculo-skeletal system including appropriate terminology;
 * principles that develop ability to correctly align body parts in movement and in stillness;
 * safe dance practices for the prevention and management of injury including effective warm-up
 * and warm-down and CERID – Compression, Elevation, Rest, Ice, Diagnosis;
 * body maintenance for the dancer;
 * methods of safely developing and maintaining technical and physical skills including use of alignment, coordination, balance, strength, control, flexibility, stamina and transference of weight;
 * appropriate terminology.

__Key skills__ These skills include the ability to
 * describe the movement possibilities of joints and the actions of muscles;
 * use appropriate terminology to name body parts and describe bone and muscle placement and positioning;
 * describe correct alignment of body parts to facilitate ease of movement, ef ficient use of energy and to avoid injury;
 * demonstrate understanding of effective methods for preventing and managing injury;
 * demonstrate understanding of factors which impact on body maintenance, and methods of body maintenance relevant to dancers;
 * demonstrate understanding of effective methods for safely developing and executing technical and physical skills;
 * use appropriate terminology.