Detailed example 1

Research a chosen dance style or tradition, choreographer or company

Styles and traditions

These could include:

• traditional dances from the Torres Strait Islands, Scottish Highlands, Ireland, India (classical)
• culturally-specific dances from the Balkans, Korea, Poland, Thailand
• styles such as street dance, ballroom dancing, street Latin, New Vogue, Afro-Caribbean, modern dance in Australia, German expressionist dance, American post-modern dance.

Choreographers and companies

These could include:

Choreographers such as Stephen Page, Kate Champion, Chrissie Parrott, Leigh Warren, Meryl Tankard, Graeme Murphy, Leonide Massine, Michel Fokine, George Balanchine, Ruth St Denis, Ted Shawn, Bill Robinson, Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Bob Fosse, Rennie Harris, Jerome Robbins, Merce Cunningham, Christopher Bruce, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire.

Companies such as Bangarra Dance Theatre, Tracks Dance, Chunky Move, Dance Works, KAGE, Lucy Guerin Inc, Tap Dogs.

Students study two dances from their chosen style, tradition, choreographer or company and analyse its use of movement, time, space and energy. The following table can be completed, providing specific examples under the headings.

Detailed example 2

Students undertake this task over a 5-week period, in classes of 50 minutes’ duration.

Task

• Research one famous choreographer and analyse their work (for example, Martha Graham)
• Create a 15-minute multimedia/slide presentation on the life and work of the choreographer.

Process

Students are given the following directions:

Research the life and work of Martha Graham in terms of: family background, cultural background, historical background, training, influences and accomplishments.

Describe the particular style of this choreographer and the concepts on which her dance style is based.

Research her impact on the dance world and how she has influenced the arts and society.

Study a dance work choreographed by Graham, analysing how she communicated her intention using time, space and energy.

Describe the influences of her training/background on the production elements in her work, and consider any other aspects of dance traditions or styles t​hat have influenced her. 

Include examples from the work in your presentation as well as an evaluation of the work.

Present your multimedia/slide presentation to the class.        

Detailed example 3

Early modern dance pioneers

Students undertake this task over a 4-week period, in classes of 50 minutes' duration.

Students work in pairs or small groups to research the early modern dance pioneers. They choose two dances from that period in history and consider the major economic, political, philosophical, educational, cultural and/or religious influences that influenced them.

As a class, students study two dances from the period and analyse their use of time, space and energy. They consider and discuss the modes of dress used, the performance areas and dancers’ pathways in the space. (An example of two dances includes extracts from full-length works such The Serpentine Dance by Loie Fuller or The Witch Dance by Mary Wigman.)

Detailed example 4

Live performance analysis

Students attend a live performance of a new work by a contemporary Australian dance company; for example, Bangarra, Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move, Force Majeure.

Using the online resources available, students research the intention of the dance and the way in which it was created.

Students research the history of the dance company and its objectives.

They write a report on the performance, detailing the intention and movement vocabulary of the piece, and describing the performance space and production aspects used (costumes, sets, props, lighting, music/sound, hair/makeup).