DANCE:
Offered in Option 8 as an extra subject
The subject Dance Studies encompasses dance technique, performance, choreography and dance theory. This includes health care, history and music for dance. Through Dance Studies, learners are encouraged to develop cognitive skills and entrepreneurial abilities. Dance Studies provides both individual and interactive challenges, contributing to personal maturation, social development and spiritual enrichment.
Dance Studies is constructed under the scope of choreography or composition. This is to ensure that dance techniques, theories and improvisations are ultimately directed towards the development of the learner's own artistic ideas. In this light, creativity, technical development or self-motivated research are all considered vital elements in the learner's experience of dance education.
Learners will be required to choose between Ballet and Contemporary dance as a major. These dance practices will be integrated with theory and the intention is to develop well-rounded, critical, creative and thinking dance enthusiasts. This will prepare learners for further dance training, and to open up a variety of possible career pathways.
This subject also allows for many performance opportunities, including the Eastern Cape Eisteddfod, the National Arts Festival and various school productions.
DSG/SAC Dance Tour to Cape Town:
This term (Term 1 2010) we were lucky to be able to take 16 Dance learners to Cape Town for a once in a life time experience. The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly hearing Li Cuxin, acclaimed author of Moa's Last Dancer, speak. He shared stories of his childhood, rise to fame and struggles he encountered on the way to freedom and to becoming one of the best dancers in history.The learners also attended African and Contemporary dance workshops at Elkanah House in Blouberg with learners from many Western Cape schools. They excelled in both classes even though the African style was unfamiliar and the Contemporary class was jam packed!Another highlight was attending a performance of La Sylphide and The Firebird at the beautiful outdoor theater, Maynardville. Besides seeing a spectacular performance the learners were able to meet Professor Elizabeth Triegaardt afterwards to ask questions about the Cape Town City Ballet Company and life as a professional dancer.The weekend was an incredible success and hopefully the grounding for more to come! Hermien Potgieter
First Physical Week at the Studio:
During the last week of July a shift in atmosphere was felt in the Dance Studio as The First Physical Theatre Company came to teach the contemporary dance learners and share some pointers and experiences. It was a refreshing change which focused on release and expression through the authenticity of movement, playing with emotion and exercising our "solar plexus" and "peripheral vision". This enhances creativity which leads to performing in a grasping manner. The teachers were the dancers of the company, Alan, Levern and Siya. Few of us were also privileged enough to get inspired by Artistic Director, Gary Gordon's stylistic and picturesque manner of teaching, forcing an inward interpretation, evidently beaming outwards. What an amazing experience! Many thanks are extended to the teachers, Gary Gordon and Juanita Finestone-Praeg for this unique opportunity.
Written by dance student, Caitlin Wale
