The examples of knowledge and skills have been provided as a P–10 continuum to support planning for teaching, learning and assessment.
Specific examples of knowledge and skills for each band can be found below.
Foundation to Year 2
In this band students are introduced to the ways that ideas and intentions are communicated in and through dance. They develop knowledge, understanding and skills through dance practices focusing on:
Body
- body awareness – awareness of body in space in relation to objects in class; awareness of position
- body zones/parts – whole body/parts of the body
- body bases (what supports the body) – feet, hands or knees
Elements of dance
Space
- level – for example, moving through low (ground), medium (standing) and high (head height) levels
- directions – for example, forwards, backwards, sideways
- shapes – for example, angular, twisted, curved, straight, closed circular
- dimension – for example, big, small
- personal (kinesphere) and general space – for example, moving within the space around the body; extending as far as the body and body parts can reach without travelling; sharing the general dance space with other students
- pathways – for example, tracing patterns in the air with the arms, or on the floor by moving the body around, under, over
Time
- tempo – for example, fast/slow, slowing down, speeding up, moving versus freezing
- rhythm – for example, even, uneven
Dynamics
- gaining control over own energy levels
- moving to illustrate different environments – for example, melting ice, windy weather
- using different dynamics – for example, heavy/light, sharp/soft movements
- movement qualities – melting, jerky, percussive
- force – bouncing, exploding, shaking
Relationships
- groupings – for example, dancing as an individual within a group
- spatial relationships – for example, around, side-by-side
- interaction – for example, mirroring movement with a partner
- use of simple objects/props – for example, moving in and around an object or prop
Fundamental movement skills
- locomotor movements – for example, walking, running, marching, galloping, skipping, crawling, rolling
- non-locomotor movements – for example, bending, stretching, twisting, turning, growing, melting to the ground
Technical skills
- with teacher guidance, practising to develop body control, posture, strength, balance and coordination
Expressive skills
- for example, facing the audience, looking out to audience (as appropriate) and using facial expression
Safe dance practices
- awareness of, care, respect and responsibility for other students dancing in the dance space
- awareness of the boundaries of the dance space
- awareness of their own body’s needs, for example, getting a drink after dance activities for hydration
Choreographic devices
- selecting meaningful movements
- combining movements.
Years 3 and 4
In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through dance. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through dance practices focusing on:
Body
- body parts/actions – for example, gestures
- body zones – for example, body areas of front and back; cross-lateral – left arm and right leg
- body bases – for example, seat as base
Elements of dance
Space
- level – for example, moving at a level, moving between levels
- directions – for example, diagonal, circular
- shapes – for example, symmetry versus asymmetry, organic versus geometric shape, angular versus curved shape
- dimension – size of movement, for example, large, small, narrow, wide
- pathways – for example, in air, on floor
- positive and negative space
Time
- tempo – for example, sustained, increasing and decreasing speeds
- rhythm – for example, regular, irregular
- stillness – for example, pausing; freezing; holding a shape for a moment, then continuing with a dance sequence
Dynamics
- controlling and combining different movement qualities, for example, a smooth, sustained movement followed by a percussive, jagged movement; limp, floppy movements followed by stiff, sharp movements
- force – for example, lightness/strength
Relationships
- groupings – solo; connected; group formations, for example, conga line dances, making group shapes
- spatial relationships – for example, over, under, near, far
- interaction – for example, lead/follow, meet/part with a partner/group
- relationships between different body parts
- use of objects/props to communicate dance ideas
Fundamental movement skills
- locomotor movements – adding and combining more complex movements, for example, running, galloping, sliding, crawling
- non-locomotor movements – for example, rising, pulling, swinging, spinning, twisting, collapsing, curling
Technical skills
- body control
- accuracy
- body awareness
- alignment
- strength
- balance and coordination
Expressive skills
- for example, projection and focus
Safe dance practices
- warming up their bodies before executing more complex and contrasting movement patterns in dance sequences and cooling/calming down afterwards
- removing socks if the floor surface is slippery (and clean)
Choreographic devices
- contrast
- repetition
Years 5 and 6
In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through dance. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through dance practices focusing on:
Body
- body zones/parts/actions – for example, arm and leg gestures that lead toward, away from and around own body
Elements of dance
Space
- shapes – for example, complementary and contrasting, centred and off-centre
- dimension – amount of space, for example, big/little, narrow/wide
- group formations – for example, small or large groups of dancers in lines, circles, diagonals, clusters, squares throughout the space
- pathways – patterns on the floor (feet on ground), for example, curved, straight, zigzag, random; patterns in the air (arms or legs in the air), for example, straight, angular, twisting, etc.
Time
- rhythm – for example, combinations of regular, irregular
- duration – for example, short, long movements
- acceleration/deceleration
- accent – emphasis placed on a movement
Dynamics
- varying dynamics within a sequence/dance
- force – for example, slash, press, flick
Relationships
- groupings – solo, connections between one or more dancers (duet, ensemble)
- spatial relationships – for example, using a partner as support
- interaction – for example, performing movement in canon in a group, meeting and parting
- manipulation of objects/props
Fundamental movement skills
- combining locomotor movements and non-locomotor movements and incorporating spatial and dynamic changes, for example, galloping, jumping, sliding, rolling, slithering, spinning, shrinking, exploding, collapsing
Technical skills
- developing technical competence in relation to body control, accuracy, alignment, strength, balance and coordination
Expressive skills
- projection
- focus
- clarity of movement
- confidence and facial expression/character
Safe dance practices
- identifying and following appropriate warm-up and cool down procedures
- performing dance movement with an awareness of own body capabilities
- developing an understanding of body alignment when dancing
- working safely in groups
- preparing for dance by bringing appropriate clothing for moving
Choreographic devices
- canon
- unison
Years 7 and 8
In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through dance. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through dance practices focusing on:
Body
- body part articulations - for example, isolation of body parts in combination with each other
- weight transfer - for example, lunge, leap, roll
- body awareness, body bases, body parts, body zones
Elements of dance
Space
- using performance space - for example, confined, large
- using level, dimension, direction, shape, active space, positive space, negative space, planes, pathways, general space and personal space with increasing complexity/combinations
Time
- using metre, tempo, momentum, accent, duration, phrasing, rhythmic patterns, stillness and beat with increasing complexity/combinations
Dynamics
- inaction versus action, percussion, fluidity - for example, wring, dab, mould, flow, bind
- using weight, force, energy and movement qualities with increasing complexity/combinations
Relationships
- groupings – for example, large and small groups, meet/part, follow/lead
- spatial relationships – dancers to objects, between dancers
- interaction – emotional connections between dancers
- style-specific use of props
- opposition of body parts
- using groupings, spatial relationships, interaction with increasing complexity/combinations
Fundamental movement skills
- combining fundamental movements in increasingly complex ways
- considering conventions and vocabulary of selected dance styles and applying this knowledge to developing movement vocabulary and dance techniques, for example, theatrical styles: modern dance, jazz, street dance, musical theatre
Technical skills
- increasing technical competence in control, accuracy, alignment, strength, balance, coordination, placement, flexibility, endurance and articulation
Expressive skills
- increasing confidence, clarity of movement and intention, projection, focus and musicality
Safe dance practices
- awareness of their own and others’ physical capabilities when performing a specific dance style;
- knowledge of the musculoskeletal system
Choreographic devices
- unison
- contrast
- repetition
- sequence
- variation
- abstraction
- transition
- canon
Choreographic forms
- binary
- ternary
- narrative
Years 9 and 10
In this band students develop their knowledge of how ideas and intentions are communicated in and through dance. They build on and refine their knowledge, understanding and skills through dance practices focusing on:
Body
- body part articulations, weight transfer, body awareness, body bases, body parts and body zones particular to specific dance styles
Elements of dance
Space
- level, direction, dimension, shape, active space, positive space, negative space, planes, pathways, general space and personal space, and performance space applied to specific dance styles and used with increasing complexity/combinations and contexts
Time
- time (metre, tempo, momentum, accent, duration, phrasing, rhythmic patterns, stillness and beat) applied to specific dance styles and contexts
Dynamics
- weight, force, energy and movement qualities applied to specific dance styles and contexts
Relationships
- groupings, spatial relationships and interaction applied to specific dance styles and contexts
- style-specific movement skills
- dance techniques from different genres and styles
Technical skills
- extending technical competence in control, accuracy, alignment, strength, balance, coordination, placement, flexibility, endurance and articulation
Expressive skills
- extending confidence, clarity of movement and intention, projection, focus and musicality
Safe dance practices
- knowledge of the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system
- explaining the cause and prevention of common dance injuries
- identifying potential safety hazards in a dance studio or venue
Choreographic devices
- abstraction
- motif
- as appropriate to choreographic intent
Choreographic forms
- as appropriate to structure movement ideas to communicate choreographic intent
- Last updated:
- 2 March 2020
