Dance
Specification: WJEC-GCSE-Dance
The WJEC GCSE Dance specification covers 3 topics with 0 learning objectives (WJEC-GCSE-Dance). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.
This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.
3
Topics
0
Objectives
29
Exam Tips
4
Pitfalls
Key Features
- Master key concepts
- Develop exam technique
- Apply knowledge effectively
About WJEC GCSE Dance
The WJEC GCSE Dance course invites students to explore dance as an art form through performance, choreography, and critical appreciation. It is designed to develop both creative and analytical skills, giving learners the confidence to perform, create, and evaluate their own and others' work. The specification encourages a practical, hands-on approach where you will build technical and expressive skills in a range of dance styles, including ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, and cultural forms such as bhangra and capoeira. Throughout the course, you will learn safe practice, choreographic devices, and how to analyse professional dance works, helping you become a well-rounded dancer and thinker.
The course is structured around two main units. Unit 1 (Performance and Choreography) is non-examined assessment (NEA) and makes up 60% of your final grade. In this unit, you will perform two solo or group dances and create your own choreography piece, demonstrating your ability to generate movement ideas and shape them into a complete work. Unit 2 (Critical Analysis of Dance) is a written examination worth 40% of the qualification. It tests your knowledge and understanding of dance appreciation, including the analysis of your own performance and choreography, as well as the study of professional repertoire from the four areas of study. This balanced structure ensures you are assessed fairly on your practical skills and your theoretical understanding.
Across the two years, you will engage with four key areas of study: ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, and cultural dance. Each area explores performance skills, choreographic approaches, and the contexts and features of professional works. For example, you might study a classical ballet like 'Swan Lake' and then compare it with a contemporary piece or a vibrant bhangra routine. The specification also places a strong emphasis on the choreographic process, from initial stimulus to final production, and on developing a critical eye for evaluating the effectiveness of dance works. By the end, you will have produced a portfolio of practical work and have the ability to articulate thoughtful responses in a formal exam setting.
Assessment Structure
The WJEC GCSE Dance qualification is assessed through two components. Unit 1: Performance and Choreography (60%) is internally assessed by your teacher and externally moderated by WJEC. It carries a total of 100 marks, split into 60 marks for two performance pieces (solo and group) and 40 marks for one choreography piece. Unit 2: Critical Analysis of Dance (40%) is a 1 hour 30 minute written examination worth 80 marks. The paper includes questions on your own performance and choreography, as well as on professional works from the four areas of study. Final grades are awarded based on the combined marks out of a total of 180, with grade boundaries set each year.
Why Choose WJEC?
- WJEC uniquely includes dedicated cultural dance styles, such as bhangra and capoeira, allowing you to explore vibrant, diverse movement traditions that are often overlooked by other exam boards. This broadens your dance vocabulary and cultural understanding.
- The specification offers a flexible approach to choreography, where you can respond to a stimulus of your own choice under teacher supervision, giving you creative freedom and the chance to showcase your individual strengths and interests as a choreographer.
- With a 60% practical weighting, WJEC places a strong emphasis on performance and choreography, making it ideal if you thrive in practical settings and want your dancing ability to heavily influence your final grade. The written paper also integrates analysis of your own work, making revision more personal and connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Assessment Objectives
Perform dance, reflecting choreographic intention through physical, technical and expressive skills
Create dance, including movement material and aural setting, to communicate choreographic intention
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
Critically appreciate own works and professional works, through making analytical, interpretive and evaluative judgements
What Gets Top Grades
Knowledge & Understanding
Demonstrates comprehensive and accurate knowledge
- Uses correct subject-specific terminology
- Shows detailed understanding of concepts
- Makes accurate connections between topics
- Demonstrates depth beyond surface-level knowledge
Application
Applies knowledge effectively to new contexts
- Selects relevant knowledge for the question
- Adapts understanding to unfamiliar scenarios
- Uses examples appropriately
- Shows awareness of context
Analysis & Evaluation
Develops sophisticated analytical arguments
- Constructs logical chains of reasoning
- Considers multiple perspectives
- Weighs evidence to reach justified conclusions
- Acknowledges limitations and nuances
Key Command Words
Give a single fact or term
Name, select, or recognise
Set out main features briefly
Give an account of what something is like or what happens
Give reasons with developed cause→effect chains
State similarities AND differences (both required)
Examine in detail showing cause→effect→consequence chains
Weigh up BOTH sides, reach JUSTIFIED conclusion
Make judgments about importance with justification
Show formula→substitution→calculation→answer with units
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Failing to link the movement material to the choreographer's specific intention
- •Describing the dance without explaining the 'why' behind the creative choices
- •Ignoring the influence of social, cultural, or historical contexts on the work
- •Confusing the choreographer's intention with the learner's own interpretation
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Ensure the artistic intent is clear and consistent throughout the piece
- •Consider the audience perspective when refining the final presentation of the choreography
- •Ensure the Reflective Log is maintained throughout the choreographic process rather than written only at the end.
- •Focus on the 'why' and 'how' of choreographic decisions, not just a description of what was done.
- •Use specific dance terminology when evaluating the effectiveness of choreographic devices and structures.
- •Ensure the choreographed piece is directly linked to the chosen stimulus set by WJEC
- •Use the exploration phase to broaden your understanding of different styles and contexts before finalising your artistic intentions
- •Ensure the choreography is a direct response to the WJEC-set stimulus.
Specification Topics
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