Talk

Flip

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

GCSE Dance disaster [hmm] Any Dance teachers out there?

10 replies

KatyMac · 20/05/2011 07:15

DD has picked her options (to start in yr9)

She wanted to do Dance..........now she doesn't

Apparently it's all contemporary........is the BTech any more general?

I worry about doing a GCSE (or BTech) when the teacher doesn't like you and you don't like the subject (contemporary)

why is everything such an event?

OP posts:

Report

EvilTwins · 20/05/2011 17:02

BTEC Dance is part of BTEC Performing Arts, and is very wide. You can download the spec here Depending on the level of the BTEC (BTEC Level 2 is the GCSE equivalent, but is divided into Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma), students have to do a different number of units, but there is quite a lot of choice. Obviously the choice tends to lie with the teacher, as it's tricky to teach a number of different units at the same time to different students in the same class.

Surely it's not too late to change options entirely? Is she Yr 8 now? Our students are allowed to change, if they can present a compelling enough case.

Report

KatyMac · 20/05/2011 17:09

Thanks, she is yr 8; she picked the GCSE, but is worried about the contemporary; whereas I am worried about the teacher I don't think they get on

She has just finished her Arts Award level 1 - does that fit in anywhere

OP posts:

Report

EvilTwins · 20/05/2011 17:12

I don't think it will count towards a BTEC or GCSE, but is a nice extra to have! Does the school do BTEC as well as GCSE then? That's unusual.

Report

EvilTwins · 20/05/2011 17:13

I mean, specifically for dance. Our school does BTECs as well as GCSEs, obviously, but only does both in one subject (Business Studies)

Report

KatyMac · 20/05/2011 19:04

Thanks for the info

I'm encouraging the Arts Awards as I think any academia is 'good' iyswim

OP posts:

Report

taxi4ballet · 31/01/2013 15:06

The GCSE dance syllabus also covers a lot of choreography, and they study the work of various choreographers, including Matthew Bourne who is very famous for his modern adaptations of classical ballets.

Perhaps they base it on contemporary as the GCSE has to be open to everyone, whatever their dance experience and fitness, and can be adapted to suit the talents of all.

Report

PoodleChops · 31/01/2013 19:34

DD1 did GCSE Dance and hated every minute due to the fact that it was heavily focussed on contemporary. She's been dancing a long time in another style and the teacher slotted DD1 into a box based on what she "thought" she knew about DD's style of dance It was a nightmare - but oh how I loved it when on parents' evening, she made a complete fool of herself by talking about how DD1 danced contemporary incorrectly because in her chosen style, of course DD1 was more used to doing "x" actions...I had to put her straight that she was talking dog doo and that she was totally incorrect in her assumptions and demonstration to me
Good luck to your DD - my DD's teacher had a core group of 6 girls she wanted to help and the rest of the class didn't get a look-in.

Report

tapdancingmum · 31/01/2013 19:57

Just had parents evening for DD1 (year 11) and talked to her dance teacher who explained that children take Dance without understanding that the basics of dance come from ballet and contemporary and this is what they will be learning. Most of the girls in our school who took it thought they would just be doing street dance and nothing else so were in for a bit of a shock. My DD1 is on course for a Distinction as she wants to take Dance further and also dances outside of school (has done for 13 years).

It is a hard subject to take as girls take it without knowing what they will be doing and assuming it is an 'easy' option so that can impede on your child's learning and hold them back.

Report

PoodleChops · 01/02/2013 19:07

DD2 certainly didn't expect street or freestyle or any of that other stuff ;-)

To anyone contmeplating GCSE Dance - check out what dance areas will be covered and ask whether this is open to change at any point during the course. We were told at the point of choosing options, that there'd be a mix of styles but then the school decided to do a complete "about-face" and only do contemporary...without telling anyone until anyone until it was too late to do anything about it grrrrr
Anyone who feels GCSE Dance is an easy option should re-think - it isn't an easy option, even for those who achieve the highest honours and national accolades in their chosen discipline. Our expernence is that if you haven't got a background in contemporary or ballet, then think very carefully if it's the right choice for you.