DANCE AND MOVEMENT

The CCAT Dance School introduces students to dance as a performing art.

Classes explore how the fabric of dance is inter-woven with social and political movements, cultural bias, and personal experience. The students work through regular movement sessions, experiments in improvisation and choreography. They undertake explorations of choreography by master choreographers, video and concert viewings, and readings on dance history and relevant social, political and cultural events. CCAT Dance students gain a broad understanding of dance within its historical context and explore their personal connection to body and expression.

Students develop an understanding of the physical science that relates to human movement and functional anatomy with topics such as muscular balance, skeletal structure and physics of dance and movement. CCAT Dance students through lectures, reading, movement exercises and observation learn how to notate movement and refine their ability to move effectively and expressively.

An advanced study of choreography as a creative art form and the formal principles of composition in solo and duet dance challenge students and offer opportunities for their own work to be presented to an audience leading to assessment and positive critique. The addition of tap techniques, repertory, improvisation and the development of the style explored through American history, biography, jazz, film and video will again offer opportunity for students to combine practical class experience with research leading to assessable and employable outcomes.

Through practical workshops, the study of solos excerpts from classical ballet and modern dance repertory presented through individual research in both written demonstration and performance emphasises the role the dancer must play to facilitate the realisation of the choreographer’s concept.

The expected and assessable practical outcomes throughout the study will incorporate a rehearsal and performance. Students take part in full productions of dance as performers, choreographers, designers or stage technicians demonstrating their comprehension and ability to enter the fulfilling and professional world of Dance.