What is IB dance? All dance is expressive movement with intent, purpose and structure, which communicates through the body and gestures of the dancer. Dance is a vital and integral part of human life. It exists over time in many forms and styles and is practiced in all traditions and cultures, taking place in a range of contexts for various purposes. Dance functions as ritual, as artistic endeavour, as social discourse, as recreation and as education. Dance is always evolving, as innovations develop alongside or from traditional forms and practices. Dance works may be seen as social and historical texts reflecting the cultures from which they emerge. Often these works may be considered as emerging texts that shape and determine the direction in which culture is moving.
Dance is a unique medium for learning about self and the world. It is one essential component of artistic, aesthetic and cultural education, and develops creative potential through physical expression. In dance, the integration of body, mind and spirit helps participants learn skills that are transferable to other disciplines and to their daily lives.
Consistent with the educational philosophy of the IB, the Diploma Program dance curriculum aims for a holistic approach to dance, and embraces a variety of dance traditions and dance cultures—past, present and looking towards the future. Performance, creative and analytical skills are mutually developed and valued whether the students are writing papers or creating/performing dances. The curriculum provides students with a liberal arts orientation to dance. This orientation facilitates the development of students who may become choreographers, dance scholars, performers or those, more broadly, who seek life enrichment through dance.
IB Dance Students will… 1. Enjoy lifelong engagement with the arts 2. Become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in the arts 3. Understand the dynamic and changing nature of the arts 4. Explore and value the diversity of the arts across time, place and cultures 5. Express ideas with confidence and competence 6. Develop perceptual and analytical skills. 7. Understand dance as a set of practices with their own histories and theories, and to understand that these practices integrate physical, intellectual and emotional knowledge 8. Experience dance as an individual and collective exploration of the expressive possibilities of bodily movement 9. Understand and appreciate mastery in various dance styles, traditions and cultures familiar and unfamiliar 10. Recognize and use dance to create dialogue among the various traditions and cultures in their school environment, their society and the world at large.
What is a week like in IB Dance?
Monday- Jazz or Ballet Technique Class Tuesday- Ballet or Jazz Technique Class Wednesday- Student Choreography Assignment, Improvisation Activity or Dance Conditioning Thursday- Contemporary/Modern Technique or Rehearsal Friday-Rehearsal or Combo
The IB Exam:
Composition and Analysis Student creates one solo for themselves and a solo or duet for other students. Student writes an analytical statement explaining their choreographic process. World Dance Studies Student writes an essay comparing and contrasting two styles of dance, one classical style that the student is familiar with and one style from a different culture. Performance Internally assessed, externally moderated Student performs two dance pieces- one solo/duet and one group piece