D15: Professional Dance Works Overview
Introduction to the AQA set professional works and their choreographers
Professional Dance Works Overview
Introduction to the AQA set professional works and their choreographers
Key Fact: AQA 8236 requires students to study specific set professional works for the written exam
Key Fact: The set professional works are 'Within Her Eyes' by James Cousins, 'Artificial Things' by Lucy Bennett and 'Emancipation of Expressionism' by Kenrick H2O Sandy
Key Fact: Each work has a distinct choreographic intention, style and set of features that must be understood in detail
Key Fact: Professional works are assessed in Section C of the written exam, worth 25 marks
Key Fact: You must know the choreographer, company, intention, stimulus, movement content, structure and design elements for each work
Key Fact: James Cousins created 'Within Her Eyes' as a duet exploring love, loss and memory
Key Fact: Lucy Bennett created 'Artificial Things' for Stopgap Dance Company, featuring integrated disabled and non-disabled dancers
Key Fact: Kenrick H2O Sandy choreographed 'Emancipation of Expressionism' for Boy Blue Entertainment, blending hip-hop with contemporary influences
Key Fact: Understanding the context of each work — when, where and why it was made — enriches your analysis
Key Fact: Each work uses different choreographic approaches, structures and design elements that reflect its intention
Key Fact: Comparing the works helps identify similarities and differences in choreographic approach and intention
Key Fact: AQA expects detailed, specific knowledge — vague general answers about professional works score poorly
📋 Key Vocabulary and Concepts
For Professional Dance Works Overview, you must know:
- Set professional work: A dance work specified by AQA that students must study in detail for the written exam
- Choreographer: The person who creates and designs the movement, structure and overall artistic vision of a dance work
- Dance company: A group of dancers who perform together under a shared artistic identity, often led by a choreographer
- Stopgap Dance Company: An integrated dance company of disabled and non-disabled dancers, for whom 'Artificial Things' was created
- Boy Blue Entertainment: Kenrick H2O Sandy's hip-hop dance company, creators of 'Emancipation of Expressionism'
- Choreographic context: The background and circumstances in which a dance work was created, including purpose, venue and artistic influences
❓ Practice Questions
Q: Name the three AQA set professional works and their choreographers.
Q: Which professional work was created for an integrated dance company?
Q: In which section of the written exam are professional works assessed?
Q: What must you know about each set professional work for the exam?
Q: Why is it helpful to compare the set professional works?
✅ Answers
- 'Within Her Eyes' by James Cousins, 'Artificial Things' by Lucy Bennett and 'Emancipation of Expressionism' by Kenrick H2O Sandy.
- 'Artificial Things' by Lucy Bennett, created for Stopgap Dance Company which features both disabled and non-disabled dancers.
- Section C of the AQA 8236 written exam, worth 25 marks.
- The choreographer, company, intention, stimulus, movement content, structure and design elements including costume, lighting, set and aural setting.
- Comparing works highlights similarities and differences in choreographic approach, intention, style and features, deepening understanding of each.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Learn the basic facts for each work cold: choreographer, company, year, intention, stimulus and structure
- In Section C, always name the specific work and choreographer — do not write vaguely about 'the dance'
- Prepare detailed notes on movement content, design elements and choreographic features for each work
- Practise comparing works — exam questions may ask you to discuss more than one work
- Use specific examples from each work rather than general statements — detail scores marks
📝 Exam Technique
GCSE Dance Exam Tips — Professional Dance Works Overview:
1. For Professional Dance Works Overview questions, identify the relevant area of law and state the legal principles clearly
2. Apply legal rules to the facts of the scenario — don't just state the law
3. When evaluating, consider both the effectiveness and fairness of legal rules
4. Reference relevant cases and statutes when discussing Professional Dance Works Overview
5. Consider reform proposals and alternative approaches where relevant
1. For Professional Dance Works Overview questions, identify the relevant area of law and state the legal principles clearly
2. Apply legal rules to the facts of the scenario — don't just state the law
3. When evaluating, consider both the effectiveness and fairness of legal rules
4. Reference relevant cases and statutes when discussing Professional Dance Works Overview
5. Consider reform proposals and alternative approaches where relevant
⚠️ Common Errors
✗ You only need to know one professional work for the exam. ✓ AQA requires detailed knowledge of all three set professional works — exam questions may ask about any or all of them.
✗ The choreographer's name is not important for the exam. ✓ Naming the choreographer correctly is essential — it shows precise knowledge and is expected in every professional works answer.
✗ All three works have the same choreographic style. ✓ Each work has a distinct style: 'Within Her Eyes' is contemporary duet, 'Artificial Things' is inclusive contemporary, and 'Emancipation of Expressionism' is hip-hop influenced — they are very different.
✗ Design elements are not needed when writing about professional works. ✓ Costume, lighting, set and aural setting are integral to each work and must be included in your analysis — they contribute to meaning and effect.
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Briefly introduce each of the three AQA set professional works, naming the choreographer, company and choreographic intention for each. [6 marks]
'Within Her Eyes' was choreographed by James Cousins and is performed as a duet. The choreographic intention is to explore the themes of love, loss and memory through an intimate male-female partnership, where the woman is never placed on the floor — she is always supported, representing the weight of emotional dependence. 'Artificial Things' was choreographed by Lucy Bennett for Stopgap Dance Company, an integrated company of disabled and non-disabled dancers. The intention is to explore human relationships and the idea of finding joy and connection despite limitations, celebrating difference and collaboration. 'Emancipation of Expressionism' was choreographed by Kenrick H2O Sandy for Boy Blue Entertainment, a hip-hop dance company. The intention is to demonstrate the power of expression through hip-hop dance, showing how movement can communicate emotion, energy and freedom, and how hip-hop serves as a form of artistic liberation. Each work has a distinct style and purpose, but all three explore the communicative power of dance through different choreographic approaches and contexts.
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Analysis
AO1 (Performance): Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of professional dance works overview, including choreographic processes, performing skills and dance appreciation relevant to AQA 8236.
AO2 (Choreography): Apply knowledge and understanding of professional dance works overview through the creative process of choreography, selecting and using movement material and choreographic devices.
AO3 (Appreciation): Analyse, evaluate and critique aspects of professional dance works overview, including professional works, performance quality and choreographic intention, constructing supported arguments.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
🎬 Video Resources
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