Dance 8 encourages students to trust themselves and others, reflect on thoughts and experiences, and explore creative expression. Risk taking, personal awareness, and dance etiquette are emphasized. Students are introduced to dance terminology, movement elements, various genres, as well as dance history.Students will take part in a daily warm-up and cross-floor sequences to build rhythm, strength, flexibility, co-ordination, and dance technique. Throughout the course, students are involved in the creation of a piece of choreography that they perform at the end of the semester.

In Dance 9, students increase technical dance skills, rhythm and body awareness. Dance technique and risk-taking plays an increasingly important role during warm-up, cross-floor, and choreography. Collaboration, personal awareness, and dance etiquette are emphasized. Throughout the course, students are actively involved in the creation of a piece of choreography that they perform in the end of semester Dance show.

This performance-based course continues to extend and develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to study dance at an intermediate level. Students will continue to strengthen and expand dance technique, terminology, creative expression, and style. All levels of dancers are encouraged to take this course. Dance Performance 10 consists of a daily warm-up, cross-floor exercises, and choreography. Throughout the course, students are involved in the creation of a piece of choreography that they perform in the end of semester Dance Show.

This grade 10 Dance Course is designed for students who wish to take two dance courses at the grade 10 level. Students participate in daily warm-up and cross-floor exercises, with an increased emphasis on dance technique. Throughout the course, students are involved in the creation of a piece of choreography that they perform as a class in the end of semester Dance show.

*Note: Taken as a second grade 10 dance course.

Dance Performance 11 is a performance-based course suitable for beginner to advanced dancers. Throughout the semester, students work to increase dance technique, stamina, flexibility, knowledge of proper dance terminology and history, as well as artistic and creative expression. Each class includes warm-up, cross-floor combinations, and choreography. Throughout the course, students are involved in the creation of a piece of choreography that they perform in the end of semester Dance Show.

Dance Performance 12 is a performance-based course suitable for beginner to advanced dancers. All levels of committed, hard-working, determined, students are encouraged to take this class. Students work daily on choreography, technical skills, flexibility, and artistic expression. Each class includes warm-up, cross-floor combinations, and choreography. Throughout the course, students are very involved in the creation of a piece of choreography that they perform in the end of semester Dance Show.

Dance Choreography 11/12 is intended to give dedicated dancers the opportunity to begin exploring their own creative potential. In this class students will learn the foundations of dance composition. Students in this course will create choreography and participate in our dance informal, as well as have the opportunity to audition their pieces for our end of semester Dance Show.

*Note: Choreography may only be taken as a second Grade 11/Grade 12 dance course.

Dance Conditioning is designed for beginner to advanced dancers. This course gives students tools they need to become more technically proficient dancers and movers. Elements of yoga, Pilates and floor barre, along with the use of exercise equipment are incorporated into the class. Students will gain the strength, flexibility and physical awareness necessary to take their own dancing or movement to the next level. They will develop and consistently apply healthy, efficient movement patterns that improve dance technique and help prevent injury. The course also includes a unit on anatomy to increase students’ understanding and ability to communicate specifically about muscles, bones and movement. Projects include working in partners to develop and teach stretch, warm-up and strengthening sequences as well as keeping a personal progress journal.

Dance Leadership 11/12 is a highly specialized course for advanced dance students. In this course, students work with a junior grade 8 or 9 dance class as a mentor and choreographer. Students are challenged to lead warm-up and cross-floor activities, as well as through creative exploration, choreograph a piece that the junior students will perform in the end of the semester Festival of the Arts and Dance Celebration performance. Dance Leadership encourages highly motivated students to bring their knowledge and skills into the shared space with other dancers, while encouraging them to effectively communicate and problem solve. In addition, this course aims to expose students to potential career options in the vast and varied professional dance industry and creates increased autonomy as they consider their future experiences in dance.

*Note: This is a specialized course. If you are interested in this course, please speak to your Dance teacher.

This advanced course consists of classes in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance. Students work alone and in groups to create, explore, and refine movement and choreography. Together with the teacher, students create a repertoire of dances in a variety of genres. Grade 12 students work as captains to mentor and support grade 9, 10 and 11 students.

Auditions for this course occur in May only. This course occurs after school from 3:00 to 5:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the entire school year. Extra rehearsals are required close to performance time. Students in this course perform in the school’s Festival of the Arts and Dance Celebration performance at the end of both semesters, the Burnaby Dance Festival, and at several other venues throughout the year.

*Note: Admission by audition