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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12Dance 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Record of changes
Implementation from 2027
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 11

Appreciation

In Appreciation, students research, analyse and develop informed judgements about dance works in artistic, cultural, social and personal contexts. Students demonstrate the roles and responsibilities of the viewer when analysing dance works and learn about the background of a dance work and its influence on the process of analysis and appreciation. Students analyse the choreographer’s use of the dancer(s), the elements of dance, the organisation of the movement and their impact on the effective communication of the intent in dance works.

Context
  • Describe artistic, cultural, social and personal contexts related to dance

  • Explain how establishing context informs the analysis and judgement of dance works

  • Use the language of dance analysis to evaluate dance works, including context, stimulus, idea, intent, elements of dance, auditory elements, abstract symbolic movement, structure, dancers and theatrical elements

  • Explain how context is linked to Cultural significance and protocols in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance

  • Analyse the context of selected dance works

The dancing body
  • Describe how the choreographer uses the dancer(s) to communicate the intent

  • Explain how the dancer(s) shares stories and Cultural Knowledges in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander dance work

  • Analyse the choreographer’s use of one or more dancers in dance works

Elements of dance
  • Describe how the choreographer has used the elements of dance in a dance work

  • Explain how the elements of dance create the intent and emotion in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander dance work

  • Analyse the use of the elements of dance in conjunction with auditory and theatrical elements in choreographed dance works

Structure
  • Describe the function of movement structure in a dance work, including phrases and sequencing, and the use of transitions, repetition, variation, and contrast

  • Analyse the structure of a dance work and its relationship to the structure of the accompaniment

  • Reflect on the diverse structures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance that facilitate story-sharing and share the intent

  • Analyse the structure of a dance work and its relationship to context, the dancing body and the elements of dance to communicate the intent

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