Dance Life Skills 11–12 provides opportunities for students to engage with dance works and develop knowledge and skills in the performance, choreography and appreciation of dance, enabling students to communicate through dance and collaborate with others in a range of contexts.

What students learn

Through the study of Dance Life Skills 11–12, students:

develop critical, creative and reflective thinking skills by engaging with performance, choreography and appreciation in a variety of dance styles
use movement to express meaning by applying knowledge of body awareness, musicality and the elements of dance in safe, inclusive and culturally responsive contexts
explore ways to generate and structure movements to express ideas through dance
explore and respond to dance works by interpreting structure, storytelling and theatrical elements to deepen their appreciation of dance across cultures and contexts
enhance their health and wellbeing, and develop skills in communication and collaboration.

Course structure

Course numbers:

Dance Life Skills (Year 11, 2 units): TBA
Dance Life Skills (Year 12, 2 units): TBA

Dance Life Skills Year 11 and Year 12

The following focus areas can be studied throughout Year 11 (120 hours) and Year 12 (120 hours).

Performance
Choreography
Appreciation
Performance: Dance work
Choreography: Dance work
Appreciation: Dance work

For Dance Life Skills:

Students are required to demonstrate achievement of one or more Dance Life Skills 11–12 outcomes.
Outcomes and content should be selected to meet the particular needs of individual students.
The focus areas provide possible frameworks for addressing the Dance Life Skills 11–12 outcomes and content and are suggestions only. Teachers have the flexibility to select, group and sequence outcomes and content to meet the needs, strengths, goals, interests and prior learning of their students.
Through the focus areas Performance: Dance work and Choreography: Dance work, students can engage in an individual or group performance and individually or collaboratively choreograph a dance work.
There is an opportunity throughout the course for students to engage with one or more dance works and practitioners, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander dance works and works by international choreographers.
Examples provided in the content are suggestions only. Teachers may use other examples to meet the particular needs of individual students.

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

11–12Dance Life Skills 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Teaching and learning support