Why study Dance?

Dance allows you to express yourself in a creative and practical way. It's fun, physical and very demanding! It can improve your fitness, self-esteem and confidence, as well as introducing you to a wide range of different dance styles.

It will appeal to you if you love dancing, telling stories or expressing emotions using rhythm and movement. It also helps if you are determined and energetic with plenty of stamina.

Dance helps you to develop important skills such as: communication, planning, critical thinking, teamwork and self-management.

These skills are valuable in a wide range of careers, including: choreography, community dance work, dance performance (from ballet to salsa), health and fitness instruction, dance teaching and dance movement therapy.

Career Pathways

To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:

Performing Arts

Sport

What do I need to get in?

Entry is at the discretion of the school or college. You would normally be expected to have:

• equivalent qualifications and/or dance experience.
• National 5 Dance

What will I study?

You will develop technical and choreographic skills, and learn to analyse the work of dance practitioners and how to use this knowledge to inform and influence your own creative thinking and performance.

The course consists of two areas of study.

Choreography

You will:

• explore choreographic principles to enhance your creativity and develop the skills and knowledge you will need to plan and create a group choreography for three or more dancers or a solo choreography
• gain knowledge and understanding of theme and/or stimulus, complex structures, choreographic devices and spatial elements
• explore the use of theatre arts in choreography and develop creative, organisational, problem-solving and evaluation skills.

Technical skills

You will:

• explore a minimum of two contrasting dance styles through structured technique classes and apply these dance techniques in tutor-choreographed solos
• develop knowledge and apply safe dance practice
• develop your understanding of the social and cultural factors influencing dance, and apply critical-thinking skills through studying contrasting dance styles, dance history and influential choreographers and practitioners.

How will I be assessed?

The course assessment has three components totalling 180 marks:

• Component 1: question paper – worth 40 marks
• Component 2: practical activity – worth 70 marks
• Component 3: performance – worth 70 marks.

For the practical activity component, you will be asked to create a group choreography for a minimum of three dancers, or a solo for one dancer, excluding self, and evaluate the process.

For the performance component, you will perform two tutor choreographed solo performances in two contrasting dance styles, where you will be assessed on the application of technique and performance skills.

The practical components are set by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and assessed by both an SQA visiting assessor and SQA centre assessor collaboratively.

The performance component is set by centres within SQA guidelines and assessed by an SQA visiting assessor.

The question papers will be set and externally marked by SQA.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.

The course assessment is graded A-D.

Study Materials

• SQA Past Papers Dance Higher
• SQA Specimen Paper Dance Higher
• SQA Understanding Standards Dance
• BBC Bitesize Dance Higher

What can I go on to next?

Further study, training or employment in:

• Dance
• Performing Arts
• Sport

Which jobs are related to this subject?

• Dance - Related Careers