Performance and Dance• Thesecoursesarechallenging,livelyandhaveagoodbalancebetween

theoreticalandpracticalwork

• NewPerformanceTheatreandDanceStudio

• Theatretrips,professionalworkshopsandcommunityartsevents

• Manyopportunitiestoperformthroughouttheyear

• Manystudentsgoontofurthertheirstudiesindanceordrama

25 Yearsof inspiringindividuals

1987-2012

25 Yearsof inspiringindividuals

1987-2012

AS/A2 DanceAS/A2 Performance Studies2012 Entry

2521_CC_LEAFLET_PERFORMNCE & DANCE_V5.indd 1 03/09/2011 13:31

Ellie’s PerspectiveIhavethoroughlyenjoyedstudyingDanceatCarmel.Ihaveparticularlyenjoyedexperimentingwithnewdancestyles,beingtaughthowtochoreographtoagivenstimulus/themeandlearningabouttheoriginsandhistoryofModernDance.DuringmyfirstyearatCarmel,IchosetodoDanceasanenrichmentactivitywhichallowedmetointeractwithnewpeople,experiencearangeofstylesandlearnnewmaterialwhichIwasthenabletouseanddevelopinmyownchoreographyinmydancestudies.Themotivation,encouragementandsupportgivenbythetutorsisthethingthathasmostimpressedmeaboutCarmelCollegeandformepersonally,hasbeenthemainreasonthatIhavethrivedsomuch.

Ellie StubbsRainhillHighSchool

Studying: Dance,EnglishLanguage,Psychology

Meet the TutorsJoanne HaggisDanceandPerformanceStudiesTutor.

JoannetrainedatYorkStJohnCollegeandPotsdamUniversityinNewYork.Shehasworkedwithvariousprofessionalcontemporarydancecompanies.

Exam Board AQA

AS/A2 Dance

Why choose Dance at Carmel?

Thecourseallowsyoutoacquiredanceknowledge,skillsandunderstandingforfurtherstudyand/orforfutureemployment.Thecoursealsoencouragesyoutogainskillsinperformanceandchoreographyandtoengageincriticalthinkingaboutdance.Itpromotesinterestinahealthylifestyleandallowsyoutoexploreyourcreativityandexpressyourideasandinterpretations.

How will I be taught?

Lessonsvarydependingontheunitbeingfocuseduponatthattime.AllpracticalclassestakeplaceinthenewlybuiltDanceStudioandtheoryclassestakeplaceintheclassroom.

Intheoryclassesyouwillstudydancehistory,analyseprofessionaldanceworksandstudychoreographicapproachesandprocesses.Youwillbetaughtanatomyandlearnaboutthephysicalandperformanceskillsrequiredasaperformerandchoreographer.

Youwillhaveaminimumoftwopracticaldancelessonseachweek:onedancetechniqueclassandatleastonechoreographicworkshop.

How will I be assessed?

TheDancecourseismadeupoffourunitsoverthetwoyears:

Unit 1 - Understanding Dance:Writtenexampaperthatassessesunderstandingofallconceptslearntthroughouttheyear.Thepaperconsistsofbothshortquestionsandessayquestions.

Unit 2- Choreography and Performance: Youwillbeexpectedtoindividuallychoreographandperforma2-3minutesolodancepiecewhichisbasedonachosenexamquestionandtocollaboratewithpeerstochoreographa3-4minuteduetortriodancepiece.Youwillbeassessedonyourchoreographicability,performanceskillsandtechnicalability.

Unit 3 – Dance Appreciation: Content & Context:Youwillcompleteawrittenexampaperattheendofthesecondyear.Thepaperconsistsoftwoessayquestions;oneonthechosenareaofstudyforthatyearandoneontheanalysisandunderstandingofthechosensetworkforthatyear.

Unit 4 - Group Choreography & Solo Performance:Youareassessedonyourchoreographicabilityinwhichyouchoreographa2-3minutegroupdancepiecebasedonaquestionsetbytheexamboard.Youarealsoassessedonyourperformanceandtechnicalabilityinwhichyoumustcreateandperforma2-3minutesolochoreographyinthestyleofaspecificpractitioner.BothpiecesareassessedbyanExaminer.

What can I do with this subject?

Studentstendtofollowanartroutewiththisqualificationandmanygoontofurthertheirstudiesinthissubjectatuniversity.Someprofessionsinclude:dancecriticism/writing,teaching,choreographyandperformance.

What is the Dance department like?

TheDancedepartmentisaprofessionalyetfunplacetobe.StudentswhostudyDancebuildcloserelationshipswiththeirpeersintheclasswhichcreatesaverywelcomingandwarmenvironment.Tutorsareverysupportiveoftheirstudentsandprovideextratutorialsandindividualsupportthroughouttheyear.Studentscanalsobookthedancestudioforextragroup/independentrehearsalbothinandoutofcollegetime.

Dancestudentsgetmanyopportunitiestoperformthroughouttheyear.ThereareseveraldanceperformanceeveningsandcollegeproductionseachyearaswellasanannualCreativeArtsEveningplusothercollegeservicesandcharityevents.

2521_CC_LEAFLET_PERFORMNCE & DANCE_V5.indd 2 03/09/2011 13:31

Susannah’s PerspectiveIenjoybeingatCarmelbecauseit’sreallytaughtmewhatbeingastudentisabout.PerformanceStudieshasallowedmetostudymusicals,makeupmyowndevisedpiecesandgototheWestEndtoseeshows.IlovetakingpartintheshowsCarmelputson,asyougettomakelotsoffriendsandithelpsbuildyourconfidence.WhenIleaveCarmel,IhopetostudyMusicatLIPAUniversityinLiverpoolsoIcanstillvisitcollegefromtimetotime!

Susannah DeanStJulie’s,Liverpool

Studying: PerformanceStudies,Music,MusicTechnology

Meet the TutorsHannah ThomasHeadofPerformanceStudies/Dance

HannahisanExaminerforAQAGCSEDanceandOCRPerformanceStudies.SheisaSingerandDancerandformerChoreographerandDancerwiththeTrainspottingDanceCompany.HannahhasalsowrittenforthenewOCRPerformanceStudiesCDRomandStudyGuide.

Exam Board OCR

AS/A2 Performance Studies

Why Choose Performance Studies at Carmel?

Thissubjectis65%writtenworkwithacomprehensivecourseworkassignmentatASandawrittenexamattheendofeachacademicyear.Itexploresthe3artformsofdance,dramaandmusicandgivesstudentsaverygoodgroundinginanalyticalandresearchskills.

What will the course involve?

Arangeofteachingmethodsareusedincludingvideo/audioanalysis,practicalbasedworkshopsandlivelydiscussion.Weencourageregularvisitstothetheatreandthisformspartofourprogramme.LessonstakeplaceinthenewlybuiltDaltonTheatrewiththeoreticallessonsmovingtotheclassroom.Weencourageparticipationinextracurricularactivitiesandindependentresearch.

How will I be assessed?

Thereare4unitscoveringanumberofdifferentskillsinallthreeartforms.

AS Units Creating Performance:Thismodulecoversall3performingartssubjects.Studentsdeviseandperformanoriginalpieceofdrama,danceandmusicandthenworkonapieceintegratingallthreeartformstobeperformedatachosencommunityvenue.Theunitisassessedthrougha3000wordassignmentaswellaspracticallyinallthreeartforms.

Performance Contexts:Studentsfocuson2outofthe3artformsandstudypractitionersineach.StudentssitanexaminationinMay.

A2 Units Performance Project:Studentsperformapieceofrepertoirefromanyoneofthepractitionersstudiedovertheirtwoyears.Theycanworkasindividualsoringroups.AsecondpieceisdevisedinresponsetoagivencommissionfromOCR.Studentsworkingroupstocreateanoriginalpiecethatincludesallthreeartforms.

Performance Contexts 2:Thisunitfocuseson9piecesofworkfrom3differentpractitionersineachoftheartforms.AtCarmelwestudytheTwentiethCenturyAmericanMusical.StudentssitanexaminJune.

What can I do with this qualification?

ManystudentshavegoneontofurthertheirstudiesinPerformingArtsbytakingthissubjectorarelatedsubjectatdegreelevel.Asasubjectthatinvolvesanalyticalresearchandteamworkskillsitcanleadtoavarietyofdifferentprofessionsnamelyjournalism(e.g.theatrecritic),performer,frontofhouseadministration,teaching.

What is the Performance department like?

Thisisalivelyandeverexpandingdepartment.Currentlythereare2tutorswhospecialiseinall3oftheartformsonoffer.Thetheatrespaceislargeandcanbevariedtosuitdifferentperformanceenvironments.Alongsidethis,studentsareencouragedtoperformoutsideofcollege.InthepastwehaveperformedattheAlbertDockinLiverpool,LiverpoolWorldMuseum,KnowsleySafariPark,KnowsleyHallandtheYMCAinStHelens.

2010sawtheopeningofour newtheatreseatinganaudienceofaround200;DanceStudio;Performanceandrehearsalarea;Changingandshoweringfacilitiesforstudents;TeachingandlearningroomincludingICTarea.

2521_CC_LEAFLET_PERFORMNCE & DANCE_V5.indd 3 03/09/2011 13:31

What other activities will I get involved in?

Performingartsinvariablymeansthatyouwillbeinvolvedwithextracurricularactivitiesandthisisactivelyencouraged.

Wecurrentlyhaveenrichmentopportunitiesinproductionwiththeoptiontohelpoutwithlighting,soundandboxofficeadministration.

Lunchtimeshowsaresupportedbythewholecollegeandyouwillbeencouragedtotakepartinperformancesthroughouttheyearandsupportyourpeers.

TheDancedepartmentorganisestheatretripstowatchprofessionaldanceworksandarrangesforprofessionalcompaniesandpractitionersalongwithexstudentstocomeintocollegeandleadDanceworkshopsandclasses.WealsojointhePerformanceStudiesdepartmentinanannualovernighttriptoLondontowatchtwoWestEndmusicals.

TheDanceandPerformanceStudiesdepartmentsputonacollege

musicalproductioneachyearwhichdancerscanbeinvolvedinanda‘TotalTone’fitnessclassisofferedasanadditionalenrichmentactivity.

What are the entry requirements for these courses?

ASDance–GCSEgradeBinDance(ifstudied)orevidenceofability.

ASPerformanceStudies–GCSEgradeBinEnglishLanguageplusevidenceofability.

How successful are Carmel’s Performance and Dance students?

Thedepartmenthasveryhighstandardsandhasmaintaineditsstanding,achievinggradesconsistentlyabovethenationalaverageforthepast3years.Manystudentsfromthedepartmentgoontofurthertheirstudiesintheperformingartsindustry.WecurrentlyhavestudentsatLeedsSchoolofContemporaryDance,LaineTheatreArtsinLondonandLIPAaswellasstudentsfollowingdanceanddramacoursesinManchesterandLiverpool.

More InformationDetailedcoursespecificationscanbefoundontheExamBoardwebsites:

Dancewww.aqa.org.uk

Performance Studieswww.ocr.org.uk

Examination Results 2010 2011

A*-B A*-C A*-E A*-B A*-C A*-E

A2PerformanceStudies 42% 90% 100% 61% 88% 100%

A2Dance 90% 100% 100% 92% 92% 100%

Dance workshop

Bouncers Production 2008

College Production of ‘Buddy’ 2008

Performance and Dance Students performed at St George’s Hall as part of a Capital of Culture event.

Spamalot 2010 Dance rehearsal

Me & My Girl 2010 Sweeney Todd 2009

2521_CC_LEAFLET_PERFORMNCE & DANCE_V5.indd 4 03/09/2011 13:31