
Dance Revision
Comprehensive Dance curriculum covering all key topics.
Starting A-Level Dance this term? Every topic on your spec is here.
What is Dance?
Studying Dance at GCSE or A-Level is an exciting blend of physical practice and intellectual exploration. You will develop performance skills in a range of styles, including contemporary, ballet, and jazz, while also learning how to create and structure your own choreography. The course delves into the critical appreciation of professional dance works, examining how choreographers use movement, music, and design to convey meaning. This combination of doing, creating, and analysing makes Dance a uniquely dynamic subject that engages both body and mind.
Throughout the course, you will cultivate a wide array of transferable skills. Physical fitness, coordination, and stamina are developed alongside creativity, teamwork, and self-discipline. You will learn to evaluate your own and others’ work constructively, building strong analytical and communication skills. The collaborative nature of dance also nurtures empathy and resilience, as you perform in groups and respond to feedback. These competencies are highly valued by employers and universities alike, making Dance a rigorous academic subject that extends far beyond the studio.
Dance links naturally to further education and a variety of careers. Post-16, you can study A-Level Dance, BTEC Performing Arts, or vocational qualifications at conservatoires, paving the way for university degrees in dance, choreography, or dance science. Careers in the arts include professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, or arts administrator, but the subject also opens doors to physiotherapy, therapy, and even business roles where presentation and creativity are prized. Studying Dance demonstrates commitment, artistic sensibility, and the ability to think critically—traits that stand out on UCAS applications and CVs.
Why Study Dance?
What You'll Learn
Dance at a Glance
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exam boards
Exam Boards & Specifications
We cover Dance across all major UK exam boards. Select a board to explore topics, or view the official specification.
AQA
AQA-A-Level-Dance
OCR
OCR-A-Level-Dance
WJEC
WJEC-A-Level-Dance
Pearson Edexcel
Pearson-A-Level-Dance
Coming Soon
Curriculum data for this subject is being prepared.
Where Dance Can Take You
Career paths and opportunities for Dance students
Professional Dancer
Dance GCSE/A-Level builds technical proficiency, stamina, and artistry, which are essential for auditions and vocational training at conservatoires. Studying diverse styles and performance skills prepares you for the competitive industry, while developing the discipline and resilience needed to sustain a professional career in dance companies, musical theatre, or commercial entertainment.
Choreographer
Through creating and critiquing dance works, you learn choreographic principles, structure, and how to convey meaning through movement. This subject nurtures creative vision and the ability to work with dancers, leading to careers in live performance, film, television, and events, as well as the opportunity to set your own artistic projects.
Dance Teacher
Gaining deep knowledge of technique, safe practice, and pedagogical approaches equips you to teach in schools, studios, or community settings. The subject builds the communication and leadership skills needed to instruct and inspire others, and with further training you can specialise in areas like early years dance or inclusive practice.
Arts Administrator
Understanding the dance industry, production processes, and project management from your studies equips you for behind-the-scenes roles in arts organisations. Dance develops organisational, marketing, and budgeting skills crucial for running venues, festivals, or funding projects, making you valuable to companies like Sadler's Wells or the Place.
Dance Movement Psychotherapist
With postgraduate study, the body-mind connection and expressive focus of dance provide a foundation for using movement to support mental health. Your training in interpreting movement and creating safe spaces for self-expression can lead to a rewarding career in healthcare, schools, or private practice helping people through non-verbal therapy.
University Courses
Subjects That Pair Well with Dance
These subjects complement Dance and are often studied together
Frequently Asked Questions
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