The high school dance program at East Wake Academy offers a variety of opportunities for students from beginner to advanced to learn, explore, create, and perform. The program is built around the North Carolina Essential Standards for Dance which focus on Creation and Performance, Dance Movement Skills, Responding, and Connecting. Students gain an appreciation and understanding of dance history, are exposed to the rich cultural diversity within the art form, refine their technical skills in a variety of styles, practice utilizing the elements and tools of dance composition and engage in analytical discussion and reflection. The program currently offers Dance I, Dance II, Dance III Honors, Dance IV Honors, Dance Composition, and Pre-College Dance.
Dance I Course Content: This course explores movement as a creative art form. The Dance I level introduces the students to body awareness, alignment, improvisation, dance history, fundamental dance technique and movement skills, dance composition, and dance analysis. Students will be exposed to a variety of styles of dance throughout the course. Student growth is evaluated through written and movement exams. Course Objectives:
Students will be able to demonstrate basic elements and technical skills in dance.
Students will learn choreographic processes, principles, and structures to create dances.
Students will demonstrate beginner level mastery of performance values.
Students will use a variety of thinking skills to analyze and evaluate dance.
Students will understand how to connect dance to cultural, historical, and interdisciplinary themes.
Dance II Course Content: This course offers a more in depth exploration of dance movement as a creative art form and is designed for students who have already demonstrated mastery of the standards for the High School Beginning Dance (Dance I) curriculum. The course will explore principles of body awareness, alignment, improvisation, dance history, dance technique and movement skills, dance composition, and dance analysis. Students will be exposed to a variety of styles of dance throughout the course. Student growth is evaluated through both written and movement exams. Course Objectives:
Students will identify and demonstrate elements of dance at an intermediate level and perform a variety of technical skills with proficiency.
Students will enhance their understanding of choreographic processes, principles, and structures to create dances that communicate different meanings.
Students will demonstrate an intermediate level mastery of performance values.
Students will have an understanding of dance in relationship to various cultural, historical, social, and interdisciplinary contexts.
Students will utilize critical thinking skills to describe, analyze, evaluate and reflect on dance.
Dance III Honors Course Content: This course offers a rigorous and comprehensive exploration of dance movement as a creative art form and is designed for students who have already demonstrated mastery of the standards for the High School Intermediate Dance (Dance II) curriculum. The course will focus on the refining of technique and movement skills from a variety of styles, analytical observation and interpretation of work, understanding historical and cultural context, and choreographing dance through a defined creative process. In addition, students will begin to develop leadership skills through the completion of several teaching experiences. Student growth is evaluated through both written and movement exams. Course Objectives:
Students will be able to perform a wide range of technical skills with proficiency and clear integration of the dance elements and breath.
Students will use a defined creative process to produce a variety of dances that integrate choreographic principles and production elements in order to communicate their intent.
Students will demonstrate an intermediate to advanced understanding of performance values to enhance individual and group performance.
Students will understand the role of dance in US history and make a variety of cultural, social, and interdisciplinary connections.
Students will utilize critical thinking skills to describe, analyze, evaluate and reflect on dance.
Dance IV Honors Course Content: This course offers the most rigorous and comprehensive exploration of dance as a creative art form available at the high school level. It is designed for students who have already demonstrated mastery of the standards covered in the Proficient Dance (Dance III) curriculum. The course will focus on refining advanced technique and movement skills from a variety of styles, analytical observation and interpretation of work, understanding historical and cultural context, and choreographing dance through a defined creative process. Students will develop valuable leadership skills through a variety of teaching practicums and will choreograph work for the Fall Dance Concert. Student growth is evaluated through both written and movement exams, the development of a personal portfolio, and completion of a semester long research project. Course Objectives:
Students will be able to perform a wide range of technical skills with advanced proficiency and clear integration of the dance elements and breath.
Students will use a defined creative process that integrates choreographic principles, innovative solutions, aesthetic criteria, and production elements in order to create dances for performance that communicate their desired intent.
Students will demonstrate an advanced understanding of performance values that enhance individual and group performance and are informed by feedback from a variety of sources.
Students will explore personal, social, cultural, historical, and interdisciplinary connections with dance.
Students will utilize critical thinking skills to describe, analyze, evaluate and reflect on dance.