Looking Good On the Dance Floor: Auchinleck Academy's Higher Dance students
5 May
For the first time ever in East Ayrshire, pupils have been able to work towards a new Higher grade qualification - in Dance.
During the last year, five girls at Auchinleck Academy have been studying Higher Dance, working with YDance and the Council's Dance Motivator to progress through the syllabus outlined by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Only a handful of secondary schools in Scotland offer this course, which includes sections on choreography, specialist dance performance and evaluation. Candidates have to demonstrate the ability to plan and research ideas, manage rehearsals and describe how the use of music, costumes, lighting and props will enhance the theme of the choreography.
Students must also produce a 500 - 1,000 word plan of action, which may include video, diagrams, floor plan, patterns and choreographic designs.
Dancing queens Ashleigh Bunten, Rachael Hillon, Megan Murray, Kirsten Loy and Abbey Stirling have taken the course at Auchinleck. Ashleigh has even decided to further her career in dance and has now secured a place with Reid Kerr College on the NC Dance course.
Councillor Jim Roberts, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: "With such a high demand for dance and so many talented dancers in Auchinleck Academy, it was decided to pilot the course there. Higher Dance offers another option to pupils to broaden and enhance their learning, as well as developing skills and fitness."
Dance Motivator Zara Smith said: "The girls have worked extremely hard to produce quality dance routines in contemporary, jazz and African dance. They have developed their own choreography and displayed knowledge of dance history and anatomy, as outlined by the course."
Funding for the course has come from YDance's Free to Dance budget and the Higher Dance course will be funded for another year at Auchinleck Academy. YDance assists schools to deliver Higher Dance and to encourage more students in Scotland to take the subject at Higher Grade. For more details, visit www.ydance.org.
During the last year, five girls at Auchinleck Academy have been studying Higher Dance, working with YDance and the Council's Dance Motivator to progress through the syllabus outlined by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Only a handful of secondary schools in Scotland offer this course, which includes sections on choreography, specialist dance performance and evaluation. Candidates have to demonstrate the ability to plan and research ideas, manage rehearsals and describe how the use of music, costumes, lighting and props will enhance the theme of the choreography.
Students must also produce a 500 - 1,000 word plan of action, which may include video, diagrams, floor plan, patterns and choreographic designs.
Dancing queens Ashleigh Bunten, Rachael Hillon, Megan Murray, Kirsten Loy and Abbey Stirling have taken the course at Auchinleck. Ashleigh has even decided to further her career in dance and has now secured a place with Reid Kerr College on the NC Dance course.
Councillor Jim Roberts, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: "With such a high demand for dance and so many talented dancers in Auchinleck Academy, it was decided to pilot the course there. Higher Dance offers another option to pupils to broaden and enhance their learning, as well as developing skills and fitness."
Dance Motivator Zara Smith said: "The girls have worked extremely hard to produce quality dance routines in contemporary, jazz and African dance. They have developed their own choreography and displayed knowledge of dance history and anatomy, as outlined by the course."
Funding for the course has come from YDance's Free to Dance budget and the Higher Dance course will be funded for another year at Auchinleck Academy. YDance assists schools to deliver Higher Dance and to encourage more students in Scotland to take the subject at Higher Grade. For more details, visit www.ydance.org.
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