Dancing up a storm
Dance can count towards students’ tertiary entrance rank for the first time in 2009 following its introduction as a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) course in Year 11 next year.
La Salle College students Gemma Lockyer and Dominic-James Valente, with Dance teacher Terry Pirlo.
The Curriculum Council’s Dance course project officer, Lisa Honczarenko, said feedback about the new course had been positive.
“Dance has universal appeal and for some students it is a case of now being able to study a subject they love through to the end of Year 12,” she said.
Ms Honczarenko said the course is attractive to students specifically interested in careers in dance. It may also be of interest to drama students who want all-round training.
“For example, students’ career aspirations may include auditioning for the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) or similar institutions in the eastern states and experience in dance will be a great asset to them,” she said.
“The course is also appealing to students wanting to enrol in a general Bachelor of Arts degree.”
La Salle College’s learning area coordinator for the arts, Terry Pirlo, said he was excited about teaching the new Dance course next year. An experienced performer in tap, jazz, hip hop and contemporary, Mr Pirlo has taught and examined the NSW Dance course at HSC level.
“It is definitely time for WA to include Dance as a tertiary entry course as the need and desire from the students is there and I am honoured to have had my feedback included in the course development,” he said.
“One aspect that makes the course so strong is the ability for teachers to aim the course at students of different levels.
“Along with the set piece, my main focus next year will be the contemporary dance genre and the safety aspects of dance.”
La Salle College has 22 students enrolled in the new Dance course next year.
Sacred Heart College’s Dance teacher, Christine Polglaze, is also excited about the new course.
“The fact that the new course can now be used towards a tertiary entrance rank is incredibly important, particularly in schools which may once have counselled students not to take the course,” Miss Polglaze said.
“One of the strengths of the new course is that it provides scope for each school to concentrate on what’s relevant to them,” she said.
“For example, Dance teachers can draw on their own strengths and resources and the strengths of their students in deciding what to teach.
“There was always an emphasis on theory and the scientific/biomechanics side of dance, but now the course has more academic credence because it can count towards tertiary entry.”
Miss Polglaze said the tasks are set out well in the new course and the exam format is good.
“Assessing in marks will take me a while to get used to.”
Sacred Heart College has 15 students enrolled in the Dance course next year.
“At this school it is mainly girls that are interested in the course, but I hope we can change the mindset of some of the boys and encourage them to enrol in the course,” Miss Polglaze said.
“In the past our school has had a boys dance troupe and it would be great to get that going again.”
To find out more about the new Dance course, visit the following link: http://www.curriculum.wa.edu.au/Senior_Secondary/Courses/Dance/
Last Updated:
29/ 04/
2008 12:10
