BTEC Extended Diploma in Dance (full time course)

Centre of Excellence Performing Arts

Dancer—Stacey Curran

Dance Studio Dancers will take class, create and rehearse in a purpose built dance studio, with a fully sprung dance floor. Dancers will participate in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Urban, whist studying Dance Appreciation and Performing Arts Historical Context.

Gym Dancers have the opportunity to work out in the colleges own gym. Using the gym is a fundamental part of dance training and all students will have a induction to the gym within their first couple of weeks at the college. The gym is staffed by fully trained gym instructors and students. The gym is equipped with both CV machines and free weights

Injury Clinic If at any point over the two years a dancer gets injured, the course offers a discounted injury clinic. All treatments are carried out by fully trained Massage Therapists and Sports Injury Therapists. This discounted treatment is extended to any injuries that occur outside of college- i.e. at a private dance school.

On Site Theatre Throughout the their time at Riverside College the dancers will take part in a number of productions. The theatre has a fully operational control room for Lights and sound, the main theatre at The Brindley and at Centre Stage, which is our theatre at the Widnes Campus.

Practical approach to study

Continuous assessment

The BTEC Extended Diploma qualification in Dance is a full time programme which is the equivalent to 3 full A levels . They are valued by colleges, universities, employers and professional bodies across the United Kingdom and recognised throughout over 80 countries worldwide.

BTEC’s offer a practical, hands-on approach in addition to academic study, that can be lacking in more traditional routes. Dancers will undertake a number of units for which they present evidence, based on actual work and studies. This allows them to demonstrate their skill and knowledge. When studying the BTEC way, progress is measured throughout their course, allowing the student to gauge their own performance on a continuing basis, just like in a real workplace. Students are more engaged and motivated as a result, as they can see their own progress through the course rather than waiting to the end to sit an exam. For many learners, the BTEC route with all work assessed through the year and no final exams could be the better option.

What is a BTEC Extended Diploma in Dance?

Dance Facilities

Centre of Excellence Performing Arts

What will I do on this course?

You will participate in both practical and written assessments. You will explore a range of dance styles, giving you the best opportunities to follow a range of directions in dance once you have completed the course; whether that is University, Conservatoire or Dance School.

What will I learn on this course?

The course features four key elements— Jazz, Urban, Contemporary and Ballet. The theory elements will include Dance Appreciation, Performing Arts Business, The Healthy Dancer and Performing Arts Historical Context. Together this provides you with an excellent technical and creative programme which will also challenge your ideas of what dance is and what dance can be.

Why choose the college to study this course?

Cronton Sixth Form is a Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts, offering the best standard of dance education. This provides you with an excellent technical and creative programme which will challenge you and help you reach your full potential.

What enrichment opportunities does this course offer?

There are a wide variety of enrichment opportunities within the department, these include Street Dance, Gym sessions, Advanced Contemporary Dance (in the past year these have been taught by dancers from Rambert, Ludas Dance Company and The Royal Ballet) and First Aid.

What qualifications will I need?

5 GCSE’s at grade C including a C in English Language and audition.

How will I be assessed?

The course is made up of 18 units over two years. Throughout you will be assessed in a number of ways including Dance Performances, Workshops, Rehearsals, Essays and Creative Journals.

Are there any costs associated with the course?

Dance trips may incur some costs but you will be notified in advance. You will be required to purchase a dance kit, which you can get through the college.

What will this course lead onto?

Once you have completed the course you will be able to apply to University for study for a dance related degree. Past students have gone onto Liverpool John Moores University, Kingston University, East London University to study courses such as Contemporary Dance and Urban Dance Practice. Other students have found employment in dance related fields.

- www.youtube.com/user/RiversideBTECDance

BTEC Extended Diploma in Dance

Apply today—www.cronton.ac.uk

Facts and Figures A BTEC Extended Diploma is the equivalent to three A Levels. Meaning that students can apply for University to study for a degree in Dance. In fact, admissions to universities by BTEC students have soared 30% year-on-year to more than 100,000, according to research by

education giant Pearson. 2010/11—92% of students studying the BTEC Dance course at the college are progressing onto University. 100% of the students are continuing in education. 2010/11— 100% of students are predicted high grades (Triple Merit or above), with 90% working towards triple distinction. The BTEC Extended Diploma has a 100% high satisfaction rating from its students.

Ashlee Horrocks a current BTEC

Dance student said “Doing a

BTEC in Dance was the best

decision I ever made. The amount

of practical work we do is great

and the theory work also challenges us. I have been accepted

to my 1st choice university, which

is thanks to the hard work of the

teachers on the course”

Number 1 College in the area

100% pass rate for all Vocational Courses

BTEC Extended Diploma in Dance

Dancers—Stacey Curran and Leanne Cain University - Stacey—Edge Hill University (Contemporary and Aerial Dance) Leanne—Liverpool John Moores University (Contemporary Dance)

Creating Opportunities...

Whilst studying dance at Cronton Sixth Form College you will be taught by tutors who have both national and international links. It is extremely important to us that these links lead to opportunities for our dance students.

In the past year these opportunities have included - Performing at Liverpool John Moores University dance forum Working with Dance Dynamixs from Sky One’s Got to Dance Performing with Yael Flexor Dance Company Performing with Sankalpam Dance Company Working with Ludus Dance Company A trip to London to see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake

BTEC Dance and University In the past year our BTEC Dance students have been accepted to the following universities -

North West Universities Focus Liverpool John Moores University Contemporary Dance Edge Hill University Contemporary and Aerial Dance Manchester Metropolitan University Contemporary Dance Liverpool Hope University Dance and Education

London Universities Kingston University Urban Dance East London University Urban, Street and Jazz Dance

The Rest of the UK University of Leeds Contemporary Dance (Part of The Russell Group) Leeds Met @ Northern Ballet Contemporary Dance Derby University Contemporary Dance Cardiff University Contemporary Dance (Part of The Russell Group)

Leanne Cain—Student of the Year (Vocational Performing Arts) Student Profile High School—Saints Peter & Paul Course—BTEC Dance L3 Predicted Grade— Triple Distinction University—Liverpool John Moores University Course Comments— ‘I love everything about the course, from the practical work to the theory. It has really helped me improve as a dancer and the teachers have supported me throughout. If it wasn’t for this course I wouldn’t be going to such an amazing university.’

Dancers perform in a number of shows at the college. In the past these have included Charity Events, Musicals, Music Videos and a End of Year shows

Each student will

participate in a

professional photo shoot

in their second year to

help build a portfolio for

their industry work

Every year the dancers

work with the college’s

Media Make-Up Department for fashion shows and portfolio building

photo shoots.

Recently

, the co

urse has

had a guest

choreographer f

rom

LIPA and Wired

Aerial Theatre.

Recent trips include

Pineapple, The Northern School of

Contemporary Dance

and Merseyside Dance Initiative.

In the second

year all dancers

go on a small

dance tour to

local venues

Recent projects have

involved working

with Yeal Flexor

Dance Company and

Sankalpam Dance

Company

Meet your tutor...

Stephen Musa Programme Leader for BTEC Dance Focus—Contemporary Technique, Body Conditioning and Choreography.

Stephen graduated from the University of Leeds (Bretton Hall) in June of 2005 with a BA (Hons) in Dance. Before embarking on a teaching career, Stephen worked for a number of years for the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company as rehearsal teacher and education facilitator. In addition to this, Stephen has worked with Sally Martin from Rambert, Philmore James and Tracy Whity from Phoenix Dance Theatre and Fleur Darkin from Darkin Ensemble. In 2005 Stephen created Kismet Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance company. The company has toured nationally working with choreographer such as Louise McDowall and Balbir Singh. Stephen is currently studying for his Masters degree at the University of Malta and is the company choreographer for Halton Youth Company.

How do I apply for BTEC Dance?

If you are interested in applying for BTEC Dance or any of the other courses we offer at the college please complete the application for at -

www.cronton.ac.uk You will be asked to attend an interview with our interview team and then attend an audition. The auditions are run at various times in the year and consists of a fun and creative dance workshop. You will not be asked to prepare anything beforehand. If you would like more information about the course or to arrange a tour of the college facilities for the dance course, you can email- stephen.musa@crontonsixthform.ac.uk (Programme Leader for BTEC Dance)

Additional tutors include… Maxine Mealey—Head of School for Vocational Creative and Performing Arts. BA (Hons) Dance from Manchester Metropolitan Focus— Jazz, Improvisation, Performing Arts Business and Ballet. Kayleigh Wright—Dance Teacher. BA (Hons) Dance from Liverpool John Moores University. Focus—Street, Break and Urban Ben Stevens—Student Dance Teacher. BA (Hons) Dance from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and a dancer for Wired Aerial Theatre. Focus—Jazz, Contemporary and Ballet.

The BTEC Dance course has its own YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/user/RiversideBTECDance