Contact: Miss E Sussex
Examination Board and Code: Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Performing Arts (QCF) 500/6919/6
Length of Course: 2 Years
What is the Level 3 BTEC Subsidiary Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance)
The BTEC National Award in Performing Arts (Dance) is equivalent to one GCE A level. It will give you an understanding of the Performing Arts with a specific focus on the essential skills, techniques and disciplines needed for a career in dance. The qualification provides you with an insight into the employment opportunities available, helping you to choose a career or move on to further study. This course takes place over 2 years, however with changes to the BTEC specification, there will also be an opportunity to do a 1 year course (BTEC level 3 certificate) equivalent to one GCE AS level.
How is this course structured?
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Subsidiary Diploma (One A level equivalent)
This course requires a student to complete 6 units over a 2 year period. The course is designed to be adaptable to your interests, abilities and aspirations. It consists of two compulsory core units, plus three units from a range of specialist units. (These provide a total of 360 guided learning hours).The course is assessed by using pass, merit and distinction criteria, each of which carries a points weighting. At the end of the two year course the points are added up. For those going to university, the points are then converted into UCAS points. You can also convert the points into A level equivalent grades.
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Compulsory Core Units:
Unit 7: Performing to an Audience—60 hours
Thisunit gives the learner the opportunity to undertake, prepare and perform a role as part of a dance company presenting work to an audience. You will focus on your individual strengths in a performance role within the context of a full-scale theatrical performance. This unit reflects the fact that every live performance has a unique and changing set of creative problems and challenges. The experience gained through this unit will enable you to meet similar challenges in the future, whether seeking work in the dance profession, or progressing to further study in higher education.
Unit 38: Dance Performance—60 hours
In this unit you will perform original work, created by yourself, or material which you have been taught by your tutor or other dance professionals. An exciting and challenging aspect of this unit is the opportunity to perform extracts or adaptations from the professional repertoire which could be taught from notation, observed on film, live performance or delivered by a visiting dancer.
Successful performers are highly skilled and disciplined dancers and you must approach class and rehearsal with professionalism and commitment. This unit will also provide you with a taste of the real world of the working dancer, one where individual strength of character, talent, technical ability, aesthetic sense, levels of fitness and stamina must be combined with a willingness to work cooperatively with other dancers, choreographers and directors.
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Three further units—180 hours
These could focus on any three of the following depending on the interest of the group: Choreographing Principles, The Healthy Performer, Choreographing Dances, Developing Contemporary Dance Technique, Jazz Dance, Movement in Performance, International Dance, Urban Dance, Marketing for the Performing Arts, Site-Specific Performance, Exploring Contact Improvisation, or Dance Appreciation.
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Is this course for me?
This is definitely the course for you if you have already followed the GCSE Dance course or the BTEC First Certificate in Performing Arts (Dance) and you have a real passion for movement, dance and performing.
What else do I need to know?
You will need to realise the importance of rehearsals after school to ensure you meet the course requirements. You will also be expected to see a wide variety of performance work.
Finally the BTEC is a coursework only subject, there are no exams involved. This does, however, mean that you will need to spend a vast amount of time completing work to a high standard. Organisation skills are essential to balance and manage your time between the different units.
There will be Charters Dance kit ordered for your each candidate at a cost of approximately £40. This kit will consist of trousers, leotard, t-shirt and fleece. Additional costs throughout the year may be towards theatre visits and trips as well as contributing towards dance workshops with specialist dance artists.
Where could it lead?
With the international recognition of BTEC courses such as this, you can progress straight into employment. If successful there are a wide range of prospective careers that you can explore, for example: choreographer, dancer and teacher. This award to equivalent to one GCE A level, and it is possible for you to progress further into higher education, as successful BTEC Level 3 qualifications give UCAS points for University applications.