Dance
The Dance Courses enable learners to develop a range of technical dance skills. It challenges and inspires to develop choreographic skills.
Subject updates
- October 2019 subject update (169 KB)
- October 2018 subject update (161 KB)
National 5 to Advanced Higher Course information for 2020-21
Arrangements for freestanding units for session 2020-21
Course information 2021-22
The following modification decisions are valid regardless of the agreed approach to assessment in session 2021-22.
National 5
Guidance provided to centres for session 2020-21 on the use of suitable choreographic devices and spatial elements still applies in session 2021-22, as physical distancing is currently still in place.
Practical activity: candidates should not perform in their own choreography unless it is necessary due to candidates self-isolating or being absent on the day of assessment. It is important that candidates adopt a choreographer role for this task as it allows them to effectively reflect on the appropriateness of movement material, and choreographic devices used to communicate the intentions of the piece.
Higher
Guidance provided to centres for session 2020-21 on the use of suitable choreographic devices and spatial elements still applies in session 2021-22, as physical distancing is currently still in place.
Practical activity: the solo choreography option should remain.
The practical activity consists of section 1: choreography and section 2: choreography review. The choreography currently requires candidates to create, present and review a group dance (minimum of three dancers) excluding themselves. Centres can continue with this approach, however with a recommendation of no more than four dancers, or alternatively, candidates can create, present and review a solo dance, excluding themselves.
Candidates should not perform in their own choreography unless it is necessary due to candidates self-isolating or being absent on the day of assessment. It is important that candidates adopt a choreographer role for this task as it allows them to effectively reflect on the appropriateness of movement material, and choreographic devices used to communicate the intentions of the piece.
Freestanding units
SCQF level 5 freestanding units
Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.
Dance: Technical Skills: Guidance for delivering technique lessons, with restrictions on teaching spaces and approaches.
Dance: Choreography: Guidance regarding suitable choreographic devices, spatial elements, and group sizes for choreographies.
SCQF level 6 freestanding units
Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.
Dance: Technical Skills: Guidance for delivering technique lessons, with restrictions on teaching spaces and approaches.
Dance: Choreography: Guidance regarding suitable choreographic devices, spatial elements, and group sizes for choreographies.
Deliver this qualification
Centres need to apply for approval before delivering the qualification for the first time and must consider the resources that are available to them to do this.
In order to deliver this qualification in the next academic session, and in order for candidates to be certificated in August the following year, centres must apply for approval by the end of September of the previous year (for example, the deadline for applications for approval must be submitted by September 2021 in order to deliver and certificate the qualification by August 2022).
Subject-specific requirements for the course
When applying for approval, centres must demonstrate that teachers and lecturers delivering/assessing Dance have completed at least two years' successful study of dance to a minimum of Higher National Diploma (HND) level (SCQF level 8) or have extensive knowledge in dance, which can be supported by vocational and teaching qualifications through accredited dance awarding bodies. It would also be beneficial if staff have, or are working towards, assessor qualifications, or are GTC registered.
Find out about our approval process.
See also: