Unit 1:
In this unit students explore the potential of the body as an instrument of expression. They learn about and develop physical skills. Students discover the diversity of expressive movement by exploring body actions, and commence the process of developing a personal movement vocabulary. They also begin to develop skills in documenting and analysing movement and develop understanding of how choreographers use these processes. Knowledge of physiology, including care and maintenance of the body, is applied to the execution of body actions through the safe application of physical skills. Students develop and perform movement studies and dances with unified compositions created through a range of movement creation processes. They discuss influences on their own dance backgrounds and on the expressive intentions of movement vocabulary in their own dances.
Unit 2:
This unit focuses on expanding students’ personal movement vocabulary and choreographic skills through the exploration of the elements of movement: time, space and energy and the study of form. Students apply their understanding of form and the expressive capacity of the elements of movement to the dance-making and performing processes involved in choreographing and performing their own dance works and dance works created by others. Students are also introduced to dance traditions, styles and works. Dance traditions, styles and works selected for study might encompass dance traditions and indigenous cultures or other culturally specific dance through to the works of ballet choreographers, modern dance, early musical theatre/ film choreography and the work of tap/ jazz or street performers. Students describe the movement vocabulary in their own and others’ dances by identifying expressive body actions and ways the elements of movement have been manipulated. Students also analyse and discuss the communication of their own and others choreographers’ intentions, through the structuring of form, and the choreographic and expressive use of the elements of movement. This analysis supports students’ understanding of the link between theoretical and practical aspects of each area of study.