Pupils choose to study GCSE Dance to develop a range of valuable skills, including:

• Confidence and self-esteem – Gaining the ability to perform and express themselves.
• Teamwork – Working effectively with others in rehearsals and performances.
• Resilience – Overcoming challenges and striving for success.
• Physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle – Staying active and improving overall wellbeing.
• Creativity – Using imagination to develop choreography and interpret movement.
• Interpersonal and communication skills – Collaborating and expressing ideas clearly.
• Critical and analytical thinking – Evaluating performances and refining skills.
• A broader artistic experience – Exploring different styles and cultural influences in dance.
• Receiving and acting on feedback – Learning to take constructive criticism positively and use it for improvement.

GCSE Dance focuses on three core elements: Performance, Choreography, and Dance Appreciation.

Pupils are assessed on two key performance components:

• Solo Performance: Pupils perform two set phrases provided by the exam board, each lasting approximately one minute. These assess performance skills, accuracy, and technique.
• Duet/Trio Performance: Pupils perform in a duet or trio, with a maximum duration of five minutes. This piece is created collaboratively between the dancers and the teacher.

Pupils will create their own dance, which can be a solo or a group performance with up to five people. They have the option to either dance in their own choreography or not. The exam board provides five stimuli to choose from, and pupils select one as the starting point for their piece.

The written paper is 1.5 hours long and is divided into three sections. It assesses pupils' knowledge and understanding in the following areas: Section A focuses on choreographic processes and performance skills, Section B covers critical appreciation of their own work (including set phrases, choreography, and duet/trio performance), and Section C assesses the critical appreciation of professional works, with knowledge of six set works: The Emancipation of Expressionism, Within Her Eyes, Infra, Shadows, A Linha Curva, and Artificial Things.