Connecting students to a world of creative possibilities
Dance is a universal means of artistic expression, and our Dance Program provides an opportunity for all students to explore it. It caters to both male and female students, from beginners all the way to the elite level, encompassing Dance as a subject from Transition to Year 12, co-curricular Dance from Years 2 to 12 and the CUA30120 Certificate III in Dance qualification, delivered onsite, under an agreement with Australian Teachers of Dancing Limited (RTO 31624). Our Dance Program is guided by the Australian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 10, followed by SACE Stage 1 and 2 Dance. Experienced students may be extended from Year 8 onward through the Advanced Dance stream, studying SACE Stage 2 Dance in Year 11 and the Certificate III in Dance qualification in Year 12.
Curricular Dance
Studying Dance as a subject, students have access to our two purpose-built studios as they hone their technical skills in the genres of contemporary dance and jazz. Additionally, they are given opportunities to experience and analyse a range of Australian and international choreographic works and perspectives through excursions to performances at the Adelaide Festival.
As part of the Program, students develop their own specific voice, responding through movement to composition tasks and following independent choreographic processes to create and evaluate their own dance works. An annual highlight is the opportunity to perform in one or more of the four curriculum productions held every year at the Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts, our School’s 800-seat on-site theatre.
Co-Curricular Dance
Our co-curricular Dance Program includes 18 weekly classes and an annual performance showcase. Over 200 students take part, with the schedule running before and after the school day. This affords them practical experience and training from specialist tutors across a broad range of genres. From Years 2 to 6, Preparatory students are involved in Creative Dance Classes, where they develop technical and composition skills. Students from Years 7 to 12 are offered ballet, jazz, acro, and tap across a range of levels from beginner to advanced. The co-curricular Dance Program also offers Indigenous students an opportunity to connect with a First Nations Dance Artist and explore their culture through the Contemporary Indigenous Dance class.
An appreciation for performance is a key aspect of Dance at Westminster. Our Dance Collective, for example, is an audition-based ensemble that produces exceptional contemporary works throughout the year. We also have a long history of offering tours to New York as well as a platform to connect with the local and national professional dance world. Many students continue their studies in Dance at tertiary institutions around Australia, and we are proud to enjoy their ongoing connection with our Program well into the future as they make their mark on the dance industry.
