Dance Extension

​​Dance Extension is an Arts Signature program for students in years 7-10 that is entered via application and audition.  Students who successfully audition for dance extension cover all the content as outlined in the Australian Curriculum, however they are also provided with additional opportunities to extend their skills particularly in the area of performance.  

Through dance, extension students will be immersed in technique studies in styles including, but not limited to, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, commercial dance and musical theatre.  Through these studies, students will develop dance pieces for public performance.  They will learn to use these techniques to create their own dance works and will have opportunity to have these works presented within the wider community.  In Dance Extension students will learn how to write in dance and will analyse dance works to inform their own choreographic practice. 

In addition to this, Dance Extension students are provided an opportunity to join our Edge performance teams.  As part of a performance team, students will be given the opportunity to perform at a variety of different Eisteddfods throughout the year and will also be given opportunity to perform at Dance Night and other community events.  It is a valuable program that is a great addition to our Dance Extension class offering.  Please see Extra Curricular for more information about our Edge Dance programs.

There are three focus areas of which curriculum dance is based:

1. Performance – This is where students develop their technical and expressive skills.

2. Choreography – Students learn to apply choreographic devices to make meaningful pieces of dance as an artform.

3. Appreciation – This is where students respond to their own work and professional dance works. Students develop an understanding of dance analysis and apply this to evaluating choreography. ​

How to apply 

1. To apply to be part of this program, students/parents fill in the relevant questions on the 2024 Dance Extension Application Form​ 
2. Return the application form, along with a copy of the most recent school report to register for an audition. 
3. Students attend a short audition.  Visit the Scholarships page or Signature ​​Program page for application closing dates and audition dates. ​

The audition will consist of the following:

1. Aspirants will attend an audition where they will take part in teacher led activities such as a warm up and corner technique work.
2. The teacher will then lead students through 2 short choreography sequences in Jazz and Lyrical.
3. Students will perform the sequences in groups. ​
   

Signature Program Agreement

All students in our Signature Program are expected to adhere to the expectations outlined in our Students Agreement.  All students who are part of Dance Extension and Edge are required to have a current signed Students Agreement each year.  ​

Dance Edge

In addition to our curriculum offerings in dance, our Dance Extension students have the opportunity to be a part of our award-winning Edge Performance Teams. We offer opportunities for our dancers to be a part of Junior Edge (Years 7-9) and Senior Edge (10-12). We also give our Dance Extension students the chance to audition for multi-age group and small group performance teams at different times through the year. As part of one of our Edge teams, students will be given the opportunity to learn dances for public performance and competition at a variety of Dance Eisteddfods through the year. We are proud of all our dancers and their performances in these competitions with recent highlights including:

• Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod - First Place Senior Jazz, Third Place Senior Musical Theatre and Third Place Senior Contemporary 2023.
• Brisbane Eisteddfod – Frist place for Senior Musical Theatre category, Second place for Senior Jazz, Second Place Junior Lyrical and Third place Senior Contemporary 2023.
• Dance X Competition – Queensland National Champion Senior Jazz.
• TFT – Australian National Champions for Lyrical 2021.

Through our Edge Performance teams, we aim to give our students authentic performance experiences that will enhance their abilities as a dance artist. Through our program we have been able to provide our Edge students with opportunities to work with a range of professional guest artists to expend their performance skills and gain valuable industry connections that will benefit our dancers into the future. In previous years our students have been privileged to work with freelance choreographic artists including Lily Taylor, Kacie Hepner, Eliza Gorman, Josh Lammeretz, Kate Matti, Robby McMillan, Paige Wharton and many more. We look forward to continuing to providing our dancers with rich dance experiences and lots of exciting opportunities like this into the future.

As part of our goal of providing real life industry experience for our Dancers, we love to provide our students will leadership opportunities within the arts. Each year, after a formal interview process, we appoint Senior Edge Leaders who have a large role within our Edge program. Our Edge Leaders not only set a fantastic example for all dancers in our program, they are also responsible for choreographing dances for our Edge team. While it is our Edge Leaders who hold the official role in our Edge Performance team, all senior students as seen as leaders in our team.

Attendance

Dance Edge students are required to attend all of their scheduled rehearsals. If students are unable to attend a rehearsal, they should first speak with or email the relevant dance teacher to let them know of the absence and reason for missing rehearsal. It is expected that if the student is well enough to attend school they are also at rehearsal, even if it is just to watch or perform arm movements. This also applies to students who are injured.

Edge Uniform Requirements

All students in our Edge Performance Team are expected to wear our full Edge Uniform to competitions and class. This includes leggings, shirt, bike pants, jacket, costume bag and bag.  

Fees

It is a requirement that all students in the Dance Edge Signature Program have the Edge branded uniform. Orders for this will occur at the start of each year and families will be invoiced as required. Additionally, families will be invoiced to cover each costume and entry fee for dance competitions and eisteddfods. 

For more information please contact

Sammy Millach

sxmil14@eq.edu.au