BTEC Extended

Diploma

Acting

Dance

Musical Theatre

What is BTEC? Overview

The Level 3 Extended Diplomas in Performing Arts Practice are primarily an equivalent in size to three A levels. They have been designed as a full two-year programme of study. This enables students to develop a substantial common core of knowledge, including the processes involved in making performances, performing skills, the range of performing arts organisations, theatrical context, rehearsal methodologies, processes and techniques. It also gives them the maximum opportunity to study in more depth a full range of pathways of their choice: Acting, Dance, or Musical Theatre, supplemented by a range of supporting units.

As the qualification was designed in close collaboration with the industry, it is fully supported by the Sector Skills Council for the Performing Arts sector, and Creative and Cultural Skills. A range of professional organisations/employers in the sector have also confirmed their support for this Level 3 Extended Diploma. This is a highly respected route for those who wish to move into employment in the industry, either directly or following further training. The Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice provides a well-established route into a variety of specialist Higher Education (HE) courses in this sector and beyond, fully meeting entry requirements for most courses.

Why choose a BTEC course at ArtsEd?

The BTEC programmes at ArtsEd are designed to develop your skills and experience in specific areas of the performing arts sector. If you are focussed on a career in acting, dance or musical theatre, these programmes will help shape your understanding and significantly increase your knowledge in your chosen area. The courses are all complimented by a range of extra-curricular activities that ensure you get the maximum exposure to the subject and help shape you into an independent, versatile practitioner ready to take the next step in your career progression.

The emphasis on the course is practical application, meaning a more ‘hands on’ approach to learning and working as part of a company to create assessment performances. Work is assessed both through practical demonstration of skills and written analysis of the process.

Recent assessment performances have included: 13 (Bartlett)

Urinetown (Hollmann/Kotis)

The Last Ship (Sting)

Hedda Gabler (Ibsen)

Hello Dolly! (Hermann)

KS5 Evening of Dance

Confirmation (Thorpe)

Into the Woods (Sondheim/Lapine)

Earthquakes in London (Bartlett)

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (Birch)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

(Shakespeare)

As well as the Dance Show and various devised pieces, performed both within and outside the school.

BTEC Acting Our BTEC Acting course is studio-based and empowers students to hone their performance skills by exploring a variety of techniques. Students discover, explore, and reflect on their abilities whilst developing a solid foundation of practical skills. An average week includes classes in acting technique, voice, movement skills, improvisation, and text work, all of which is documented in a working journal. Students form small companies to complete performance-based projects that form the basis of their assessment. Recent pieces include:

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen

13 by Mike Bartlett

Party Time by Harold Pinter

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

Confirmation by Chris Thorpe London theatre trips and workshops enhance the course, as do masterclasses and talks from industry professionals, including West End writers, directors and actors. Full support is provided to students throughout the application and audition processes for further training, study or professional work. Some Sixth Form graduates remain at ArtsEd to study on our degree course, many secure places at other leading drama schools including RADA, RCSSD, LAMDA and the Guildhall. The Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Acting) is a nationally recognised qualification, forming part of the National Qualifications Framework. It is worth up to 168 UCAS points, which is equivalent to 3 A*s at A level. What will I learn? As a student on the Acting pathway you will look in detail at a range of styles, genres and techniques; building your skills and developing your understanding of the process, fully enabling you to continue your development as a well-rounded and versatile actor. The course will prepare you to make a smooth transition into the next stage of your career, be it university, drama school or the industry. Course Modules:

Acting Skills Development

The Performing Arts Industry

Personal Performing Arts Profile

Collaborative Performing Arts Project

As students complete the modules, they will participate in a wide range of classes that develop skills, knowledge and understanding.

Skills classes include:

Voice for the Actor

Principles of Acting

Acting for TV and Film

Classical Theatre Performance

Contemporary Theatre Performance

Improvisation

Auditions for Actors

Devising Theatre

Movement

Physical Theatre

Audio Performance

Clowning

What will I need? You’ll need to be passionate about acting and drama, with a strong drive to pursue an aspect of the subject as a career. You will be expected to expand your own understanding with regular self-initiated theatre trips and further reading to support your learning. You will be enthusiastic to develop your own skill set, with an open and inquisitive approach, and will need to be organised and disciplined, as the course requires students to take responsibility for their development. How will my work be assessed? There are no final written examinations for the Extended Diploma. Assessment is varied and includes detailed research assignments, rehearsal logs, and analysis and evaluation of your performance work. Over the two years you will be given a wide range of assignments which will require you to submit written, verbal and practical evidence. Acting at ArtsEd Acting is integral to life at ArtsEd with many Sixth Form students going on to study at top drama schools and Higher Education courses. Recent progressions have included Guildhall, LAMDA, RADA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, GSA, East 15 and ArtsEd. Performance is another important aspect of ArtsEd training and students following BTEC Acting will participate in a variety of performances ranging from workshops to peers, to full productions for the general public. How will I be selected? Should you be interested in BTEC Acting at ArtsEd, you will need to prepare one classical and one contemporary monologue (post-1990) and take part in a practical workshop. You will also need to take part in an interview. NB: The BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice is a nationally recognised qualification, subject to the guidelines set by the awarding body, Edexcel. As such course content and delivery may be subject to change.

BTEC Dance Our BTEC Dance Course allows students to develop their technical skill and artistic expression through performance, creation, exploration and discussion of their chosen art form. Methods of assessment vary from project to project and can combine research, performance and reflective evaluation. This range reflects the vocational nature of the course and enables students of all learning styles to achieve to the best of their ability. The course is designed to prepare dancers for further training and the demands of the performing arts industry. Our success is demonstrated by an excellent track record of alumni going on to pursue dance at prestigious organisations. These include ArtsEd, The Ailey School, Rambert, London Studio Centre, London School of Contemporary Dance, Bird College, PARTS and Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Performance is another important aspect of ArtsEd training and students following the Dance BTEC will be invited to participate in the annual Dance Show and other Dance Platforms. Sixth Form students may also audition for the ArtsEd Youth Dance Company as well as the Dance Stream. Sixth Form student classes are wide-ranging, taught by experts in their field and include:

Contemporary Dance

Classical Ballet

Jazz Dance

Tap Dance

International Dance

Choreographing Dance

Dance Improvisation

The Healthy Performer

Historical Context

Exploring Key Practitioners

Rehearsal Techniques and Etiquette

The Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Dance) is a nationally recognised qualification, forming part of the National Qualifications Framework. It is worth up to 168 UCAS points, which is equivalent to 3 A*s at A Level. What will I learn? As a student on the Dance pathway you will look in detail at a range of styles, genres and techniques; building your skills and developing your understanding of the process, fully enabling you to continue your development as a well-rounded and versatile dancer. The course will prepare you to make a smooth transition into the next stage of your career, be it university, dance conservatoire or the industry.

Course Modules:

Dance Skills Development

The Performing Arts Industry

Personal Performing Arts Profile

Collaborative Performing Arts Project

What will I need?

This course is intended for students who are passionate about dance. They must be enthusiastic about the subject and inquisitive to know more about the dance making process. Students must want to engulf themselves in the subject - see it, read about it and do it. Students must have strong organisational skills as they will be required to complete choreographic tasks and arrange rehearsals with other dancers outside of class time. They must also possess the ability to research themes and be able to see dance in a broader context. How will my work be assessed? There are no final written examinations for the Extended Diploma. Assessment is varied and includes detailed research assignments, rehearsal logs and analysis and evaluation of your performance work. Over the two years you will be given a wide range of assignments, which will require you to submit written, verbal and practical evidence. How will I be selected? Should you be interested in BTEC Dance at ArtsEd, you will need to prepare a solo Contemporary dance based on one of the following starting points:

Metamorphose by M.C. Escher (can be found on Google images)

Stranger to Myself by Axis (available on iTunes)

Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen You will also be required to participate in a technique class as well as a brief interview. NB: The BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice is a nationally recognised qualification, subject to the guidelines set by the awarding body, Edexcel. As such course content and delivery may be subject to change.

BTEC Musical Theatre ArtsEd has a long history of producing many of the UK's leading musical theatre performers. Our BTEC in Musical Theatre has been designed to form the foundations of this training. Students on this pathway rapidly develop the singing, dancing and acting skills necessary to progress in this demanding genre. Regular training in each area quickly establishes the level of discipline required and gives students the opportunity to master technique and gain full control of their performance skills. In an average week, classes will include singing, acting, ballet, tap and jazz. These skills are assessed throughout the year in performance projects created by small companies of students. Recent assessment performances have included:

Hello Dolly by Herman and Stewart

Urinetown by Greg Kotis

Soho Cinders by Stiles and Drewe

Violet by Teson and Crawley

The course is enhanced by regular theatre trips and workshops run by industry professionals, including music directors, choreographers and West End performers. Full support is provided to students throughout the application and audition processes for further training, study or professional work. Many Sixth Form graduates remain at ArtsEd to study on our degree course, while others secure places at other leading drama schools including GSA, Mountview, RCSSD, LAMDA and the Guildhall. Performance is an important aspect of ArtsEd training and students following the Musical Theatre BTEC will participate in a variety of performances ranging from workshops to full productions for the general public. The Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (Musical Theatre) is a nationally recognised qualification, forming part of the National Qualifications Framework. It is worth up to 168 UCAS points, which is equivalent to 3 A*s at A level. What will I learn? As a student on the Musical Theatre pathway you will look in detail at a range of styles, genres and techniques; building your skills and developing your understanding of the process of rehearsing, fully enabling you to continue your development as a well rounded and versatile performer. The course will prepare you to make a smooth transition into the next stage of your career, be it university, drama school or the industry. Course Modules:

Musical Theatre Skills Development

The Performing Arts Industry

Personal Performing Arts Profile

Collaborative Performing Arts Project

As students complete the modules, they will participate in a wide range of classes that develop skills, knowledge and understanding.

Skills classes include:

Jazz Dance

Tap Dance

Ballet

Solo Singing Techniques and Performance

Ensemble Singing

Principles of Acting

Voice

Devising

Improvisation

Students on the Musical Theatre pathway are also expected to undertake one-to-one singing tuition within the school. What will I need? You must be passionate about Musical Theatre with a strong drive to pursue an aspect of the subject as a career. You will be expected to expand your own understanding with regular self-initiated theatre trips and further reading, listening and research to support your learning. You will be studying a rigorous programme of dance, singing and acting, and are expected to be very strong in at least two of these disciplines and have a good basic skill set in the third. You should have an enthusiasm to develop your own skill set in all three disciplines with an open but inquisitive approach. You will need to be organised and disciplined, as the course requires students to take responsibility for their own development. How will my work be assessed? Assessment is varied and includes practical performance assessments, detailed research assignments, rehearsal logs and analysis and evaluation of your performance work. Over the two years you will be given a wide range of assignments, which will require you to submit written, verbal and practical evidence. How will I be selected? Should you be interested in applying for BTEC Musical Theatre you will need to prepare one classical and one contemporary (post-1990) monologue and take part in practical dance and acting workshops. You should also prepare one song from the set list provided (available in the Sixth Form prospectus and online). You will also need to take part in an interview. NB: The BTEC Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice is a nationally recognised qualification, subject to the guidelines set by the awarding body, Edexcel. As such course content and delivery may be subject to change.