Dance

“The body says what words cannot.”

– Martha Graham

The Dance Department at King Edward VI School is a vibrant, creative and inclusive community where every student is invited to discover their voice through movement. We celebrate the full spectrum of dance styles, backgrounds and abilities, and encourage our dancers to explore, take risks, and express themselves with confidence and joy. Whether students are experienced performers or stepping into the studio for the first time, our ethos ensures that everyone belongs and everyone can grow.

Our facilities include a fully equipped Dance Studio and the state-of-the-art Dobson Theatre, both fitted with professional lighting and sound systems to support rehearsal, performance and creative production. The Dance Studio provides an inspiring and supportive environment, featuring mirrored walls, ballet barres and an interactive smart board, enabling students to develop technique, refine choreography and work collaboratively in a professional-standard space.

We are proud to offer a curriculum and co-curricular programme that is engaging, ambitious and community-focused – designed to nurture confident performers, thoughtful choreographers and passionate creative thinkers.

Year 7

Dance is also a much-loved and anticipated rotation within our Extended Studies programme, where students have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of dance styles in a relaxed, creative and enjoyable setting. From the energy and rhythm of Jive and Street Dance, to the storytelling of Musical Theatre, the technique and discipline of Ballet & Contemporary, and the fun cultural explorations of Dance Crazes, there is something for every dancer to connect with and enjoy.

Year 9

Dance is currently offered as part of the Sport provision for our Year 9 students, delivered in a 5-week rotation block. During this time, students explore key choreographic elements such as motif creation, freeze frames, levels, spatial awareness, dynamics, and choreographic devices, developing confidence in both

movement and creative decision-making. This unit allows students to experiment with expressing ideas through dance while building essential performance and teamwork skills.

However, as Dance continues to grow in popularity across the school, we are excited to share that we are working towards refreshing and expanding this offer. Our aim is to introduce Year 9 Dance as a standalone subject, providing students with a dedicated course that more deeply develops technique, choreography, performance artistry, and appreciation of professional works – offering a powerful springboard into GCSE Dance.

Year 10

Dance becomes a GCSE option in Year 10, following the AQA Dance syllabus. This course places emphasis on the aesthetic and artistic qualities of dance, exploring how movement can communicate themes, emotions and ideas. Students work through the interrelated processes of performance, choreography and appreciation, developing both practical skill and critical understanding.

Term 1: Emancipation of Expressionism and Artificial Things, choreography, and performance skills

Term 2: Shadows and A Linha Curva, choreography, and performance skills

Term 3: Infra and Within Her Eyes, choreography, and performance skills

The practical component of the course enables students to study dance by doing — developing physical and expressive skills through both teacher-led and student-created choreography. Students refine their technique, performance presence and creative decision-making through rehearsals, workshops and performance assessments.

Alongside this, students study the AQA Dance Anthology, a collection of professional works that serve as a foundation for analysis, choreographic inspiration and contextual understanding. These works expose students to a diverse range of styles, choreographers, cultures and creative processes, helping to broaden their artistic perspective.

Through written and practical appreciation activities, students learn how to observe, interpret and evaluate dance, strengthening their ability to articulate meaning, intention and effect – skills central to success in the written examination.

Year 11

In Year 11, students consolidate their performance, choreography, and appreciation skills in preparation for their final examinations. This year is focused on refining technique, polishing choreographic work, and demonstrating expressive, confident performance under exam conditions.

Term 1: Set pieces, choreography preparation, set phrases and duet/trio performances

Term 2: Set pieces, choreography, set phrases and duet/trio performances

Term 3: Revision

During the spring term, students complete their exam filming in March, capturing their practical performances under formal assessment conditions. This experience enables students to demonstrate their skills in solo, duet/trio work, as well as choreographed set pieces, showcasing their technical ability, expressive interpretation, and application of choreographic devices.

In addition to the formal examination, students have the opportunity to present their work in the GCSE Dance Showcase, a celebratory performance event where all practical work from the course is shared with parents and staff. This provides a platform for students to perform with confidence, receive feedback, and celebrate their achievements.

Throughout Year 11, students also continue to develop their analytical and evaluative skills through the study of the AQA Dance Anthology, ensuring they are able to critically appraise professional works and link theory to practice. By the end of the year, students leave the course as skilled, expressive, and reflective performers, fully prepared for further study or professional engagement in dance.

Enrichment Opportunities

Clubs and Societies

Our co-curricular dance programme is vibrant, inclusive, and continuously evolving to reflect the passions and interests of our students. We currently offer Contemporary Dance Collective, Ballet Club, Lower School Dance Company, and Senior Dance Company – all of which are highly popular and much-loved by our pupils. These clubs provide opportunities for students of all abilities, from beginners to advanced dancers, to develop technique, performance skills, and creative confidence in a fun and supportive environment.

Students can explore a wide range of styles, while also gaining invaluable experience performing in school showcases and external events. Our clubs encourage teamwork, self-expression, and leadership, allowing students to challenge themselves, collaborate with peers, and celebrate their achievements in a friendly, inspiring setting.

Productions

Once a year, we host our spectacular Dance Gala under the mirror ball in the Dobson Theatre, a highlight of the school calendar. This event brings together dancers of all year groups and abilities, providing a full celebration of the incredible talent, creativity, and

enthusiasm within the department. Beyond the Gala, many of our students are invited to perform in assemblies and special services at prestigious venues, including Romsey Abbey and Winchester Cathedral, giving them experience performing in professional and inspiring settings.

The Dance Department also plays a central role in many of the school’s major productions, bringing choreography, performance energy, and creativity to the stage. Recent musicals have included Legally Blonde, The Lion King Jr., Chicago, Singin’ in the Rain, Matilda Jr, Les Misérables, West Side Story and Beauty & the Beast, offering students the chance to perform in a wide variety of styles and genres. These experiences provide invaluable opportunities to develop performance confidence, teamwork, and stagecraft, while celebrating the artistic vibrancy of King Edward VI School.

Trips

The Dance Department offers students regular opportunities to engage with professional dance and theatre, both through theatre trips and on-site workshops led by leading industry artists. Students have taken part in a wide range of sessions, including African dance workshops led by past pupils, masterclasses with Luke Brown from Luke Brown Company, GCSE-focused workshops with Juka Dance, and Musical Theatre sessions inspired by productions such as Dirty Dancing with West End professionals.

In addition, students regularly work with New Adventures, exploring contemporary choreography, performance techniques, and professional creative processes. These experiences allow students to develop technical skill, performance confidence, and artistic understanding, while gaining first-hand insight into the professional dance world and its diverse styles and practices.