Subject description

Dance is a 10-credit subject or a 20-credit subject at Stage 1. 

In Stage 1 Dance students develop aesthetic and kinaesthetic intelligence, using the body as an instrument for the expression and communication of ideas. Through the development of practical movement skills and choreographic and performance skills as an artist and experiencing performance as part of an audience, students explore and celebrate the human condition. They consider the role of dance in different cultural contexts, including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and its place in transmitting culture. They develop an appreciation of dance as an art form, as well as a life-enrichment opportunity connected to mental and physical well-being. 

Dance prepares young people for participation in the 21st century by equipping them with transferrable skills, including critical and creative thinking skills, personal and social skills, and intercultural understanding. Dance develops individuals to be reflective thinkers who can pose and solve problems and work both independently and collaboratively. As students engage with dance practices and practitioners, they develop imaginative ways to make meaning of the world. 

Dance has its own movement vocabulary and specific techniques and processes that students learn and apply to their own work as a dancer and choreographer and use to interpret, understand, and appreciate the work of others. 

The study of Stage 1 Dance establishes a basis for continuing to study Stage 2 Dance and for further education and employment across many fields, including the art and culture industries. It also provides opportunities to develop and pursue lifelong social and recreational activities.