Critical Response
| Grade | Work Samples |
|---|---|
| End of Stage 5 (end of Year 10) | |
| Grade D | Courtney |
- New Work Samples
- Frances
Description of activity
The class will observe an excerpt of a dance work of art on video several times. Students are to take notes in class and then write a critical response that must be at least two typed A4 pages. In their response they must comment on:
- their first impressions of the work
- their initial reaction
- what they liked/disliked
- a description of the work
- the visual aspects/setting/music - what effects were achieved
- the movement content
- how the body is used in space
- use of shape: angular, curved, open, closed, symmetrical, asymmetrical
- use of levels, direction, pathways, performance space
- evaluation of the work
- Was it successful? Did it communicate an idea? Was the movement material interesting and relevant?
Students are to draw on experiences and dance terminology learned from previous units in Performance and Composition to describe the dance work.
Context
Prior to this unit students have acquired a basic movement vocabulary and knowledge of the elements of dance through their learning experiences in performing and composing in previous units. They have also engaged in reflective practice that requires them to describe orally and in written form the body and how it moves through space, in time and with dynamics in relation to their classroom activities. In this unit students develop their skills of analysis. Class activities centre on selected dance works of art. They observe and describe dance works on video and the work of their peers in class. They perform appropriate excerpts of dance works, and engage in composition activities that relate to the works of art they observe. Students are given a handout and discuss how to write a critical response which they practise orally in class with the teacher. This activity is the first written task where students write a critical response; it provides an opportunity for students to apply concepts learned through discussion and demonstration to develop analytical skills.
Areas for Assessment
Outcomes
A student:
5.3.1 describes and analyses dance as the communication of ideas within a context
5.3.2 identifies and analyses the link between their performances and compositions and dance works of art.
Criteria for assessing learning
(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their:
- response to the dance work of art, including:
- first impression: initial reaction, what they liked/disliked
- description of the work: visual aspects, setting, music, movement content
- description of how the body is used in space, eg use of shape, levels, direction, pathways, performance space
- evaluation of the work: is it successful, interesting; communication of an idea
- understanding and application of the language of dance:
- appropriate dance terminology to describe the dance work and the body in space.