Performing Arts

Curriculum Intent

Performing Arts is the home to dance, drama and music and integrated Performing Arts. Performing Arts helps to develop social awareness and ultimately develops the confidence and skills of young people. Our Performing Arts curriculum is an essential part of our vision for producing confident, independent, kind and happy individuals with a passion for learning. Our curriculum intent is to develop students' understanding of drama and dance, increase their creativity with choreography and performance skills, develop confidence and individual character, and foster a critical understanding of practitioners, genres and professional works.

Through the wide variety of genres explored in our Performing Arts curriculum, developing their evaluative skills, and designing imaginative sets and costumes, students will become skilled in the process of planning, rehearsing, and reviewing performance. Furthermore, by exploring and empathising with others outside their own social, cultural, and historical setting, students will develop a passion for learning and become successful learners and members of society. This cross-curricular approach helps students develop cultural capital and make connections to other curriculum areas and the outside world.

Curriculum Implementation

We recognise that our curriculum goes beyond what happens in the classroom, and is a broad term that encompasses our wider offer. Our Knowledge Curriculum: Ambition in the Classrooms

KS3

In KS3, Drama, Dance and Music are delivered as discrete subjects. Students are offered opportunities in each subject area to learn basic skills but also develop and refine previously learnt skills if they already have the skills in that area. We encourage our students to get involved in all aspects of Performing Arts and we explore the creativity and practical sides of the subject. Within Music, students continue to develop their skills in appraising, composing and performing music. This includes exploring instruments such as their voice, keyboards, ukulele and percussion, learning to read TAB and musical notation, and learning to competently use music technology.

KS4

Performing Arts (Dance and Drama)

At Key Stage 4 students can opt for the BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts. The Performing Arts BTEC Tech Award course will enable you to study and explore a number of different art forms such as, dance, acting and musical theatre, with the possible opportunity to specialise in one or more areas. The Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment.

● Component 1 - Exploring the Performing Arts Students will explore and develop their understanding of the performing arts by examining the work of performing arts professionals and the processes used to create performance
● Component 2 - Developing skills and techniques within Performing Arts Students will develop their performing arts skills and techniques through the reproduction of acting, dance and/or musical theatre repertoire as performers or designers
● Component 3 - Responding to a Brief Students will be given the opportunity to work as part of a group to contribute to a workshop performance as either a performer or a designer in response to a brief and stimulus

Students will select a pathway in either Dance or Drama to focus their studies on in Component 1 and 2. For Component 3 students can explore Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre

Music

At Key Stage 4 students can opt for the BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Music Practice. The BTEC course allows students to explore a range of musical genres and develop skills within 2 or more musical instruments. The course is designed for students to explore music, analyse music, create music and develop their own performance skills.

● Component 1 - Exploring Music Products and Styles. Students will explore the techniques used in the creation of different musical products and investigate the key features of different musical styles.
● Component 2 - Music Skills Development

Students will have the opportunity to develop two musical disciplines through engagement in practical tasks, while documenting their progress and planning for further improvement.
● Component 3 - Responding to a Music brief Students will be given the opportunity to develop and present music in response to a given music brief.

Our Character Curriculum: Ambitious Individuals

Dance Scholar Programme

The rationale for creating Dance Scholars is to design a flexible and engaging curriculum for many of our students. It will promote resilience and develop self-esteem. As well as developing their dance skills and expertise, other vital life skills will be developed on this programme, such as:

D: Develop confidence and presentation skills
A: Ambition
N: Nourish the body and soul with movement, improving your core fitness
C: Communication and Cooperation skills
E: Emotional intelligence skills

Students will audition to be part of the scholar programme. On this programme the students will develop their dance teaching skills and work directly with Dance Live to achieve their Dance Leadership award.

Music Scholar Programme

The Music Scholar programme is designed to encourage students with a passion for music to learn and develop skills with playing instruments, reading music and creating music. The programme is focused around preparing students who have an interest to take music as a BTEC and therefore require them to learn and play instruments confidently. The programme also allows for specialist one to one support and guidance to develop specific skills required for different instruments before forming and creating band collaborations

Our Cultural Curriculum: Ambition Beyond our Classrooms

Extra Curricular

● Dance Live
● Let’s Dance
● Swale Dance Fever
● Swalestock
● Shakesfest
● Performances in the community
● Trips to the West End
● Trips to Glyndebourne Opera House
● Band / music practice
● Dance club
● Music club
● Christmas Show
● Summer Show
● Workshops with Motionhouse

Performing Arts Uniform

All students are required to wear their PE kit for all KS3 Dance lessons, but they can purchase optional Performing Arts tops.

All students involved in Dance Live must have a “Hollywood Star” top.

All KS4 students must have either a “Hollywood Star” top OR a “Performing Arts” top.

All KS3 Dance scholars must have a “Dance Scholar” top.

Hoodies are optional.

All orders can be placed directly with Ashprint in South Street, Eastbourne - Ashprint Uniform - Eastbourne Academy