The Right Moves

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday June 16, 2008

Writer: Deidhre Wauchop is senior curriculum adviser, Curriculum K-12 Directorate, NSW Department of Education and Training. She has been an HSC Marker for both practical and theory components in dance.

Practise in front of an audience for your practical exam, but don't forget about the written exam.

Dance students have two examination periods to prepare for: the practical examination beginning August 11, 2008, and the written examination.

Practical examinations

You will be doing a core practical examination in performance and composition. If you have elected a major study in performance, composition or dance and technology you will also have a practical examination for this. Practical exams can occur at any time within the two-week period. Make sure you understand the practical examination specifications. These can be found on the Board of Studies website at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/syllabus2000_listd.html#dance (look under Specimen HSC Examination Resources).

Composition

In composition, examiners are looking for a clear connection between the intent of your work, your motif(s) and phrases, the decisions you make about using and manipulating the elements of dance, and the overall structure of the work. Marks are allocated to the generation of personalised movement organised into motif(s) and phrases, and to howyou form the work by organising movements, motifs, phrases and sections.

Performance

The marking guidelines for core and major-study performance give equal weighting to dance technique and performance quality. You should work on consistent alignment, strength, endurance and co-ordination in your performance. You must also demonstrate a range of body skills, and control and vary the elements of dance.

Using music that has varied rhythms and instrumentation can assist your demonstration of these elements. In major-study performance your interpretation of the choreography is an important aspect of your work.

Focus, commitment and projection are also important features of your performance in both examinations.

Dance and technology

The areas of study for composition are integral to both options within this major study. Therefore, you need to demonstrate that you can compose personalised movement in motif(s) and phrases, which are then structured into a work either in a virtual space (Choreographing the Virtual Body) or on video (Film and Video). Make sure that your intention is clear in both the way that you have generated and organised movement and in the way that you have manipulated the work through video or animation software.

Viva Voce

In order to maximise your viva voce marks, you need to have an in-depth understanding of the syllabus Areas of Study, which are found in the syllabus (p20-44). Use correct terminology and definitions, and show that you can apply the key aspects of the question to the areas of study and your dance/work.

Some tips for the practical exam

Perform in front of an audience as often as possible and ask for feedback on your work.

Ensure your composition is appropriate to the abilities of your dancer (or dancers if you are doing Major Study Composition).

If you or your dancers are wearing costume (Major Study Performance and Major Study Composition only), rehearse in the costume to develop confidence.

Arrive for your examination in plenty of time to warm up and gather your thoughts.

Ensure you have a backup of your musical accompaniment, or your video or virtual dance (Dance and Technology only).

Use your preparation time for the viva voce to identify key aspects of the question and address all components of the viva voce question equally.

Demonstrate (physically) your understanding and use relevant examples from your work to illustrate your answer in the viva.

For further information on preparation for performance, composition and dance and technology examinations, refer to the articles on NSW HSC Online at hsc.csu.edu.au/dance.

Written examinations

You will be doing a core examination in appreciation and a second written paper if you have elected Major Study Appreciation. The course prescriptions for Appreciation are available on the Board of Studies website at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/syllabus2000_listd.html#dance.

Some tips for the written exam

Practise structuring responses to sample questions (outline how you would answer

the question).

Practise writing responses within examination time limits.

Use relevant quotes and examples from works to support your answer.

Build and revise dance terminology used to describe, analyse and interpret works.

For further information on prescribed works refer to the Appreciation section on HSC Online at hsc.csu.edu.au/dance/core/appreciation/choreographers/prescribechoreogroverview.html.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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