Jazz Dance

Technical Exercises

A Jazz Dance examination can be conducted in either of the following ways:

PAA Suggested Technical Exercises

PAA has created a repertoire of Suggested Technical Exercises designed to challenge, build strength, technique and a strong sense and understanding of style and performance. The Suggested Technical Exercises can be used for the examination alongside the set PAA Jazz Dance Music.

OR

Teacher’s Arrangement

PAA promotes creativity and gives the teacher the flexibility to create and use their own Technical Exercises. The arrangement including the use of additional steps, arms and style can be choreographed by the teacher. Teachers must ensure their arrangements are at an appropriate level of technical difficulty for each grade.

Technical Exercises will include:

• The Warm Up
• Limbering and Mobilising
• Floor Strengthening
• Isolations
• Preparation for Pirouette at the Barre
• Elevation and Travel - Dance Combination

The Performance

The Performance is the final element to the examination and can include any style or variation of Jazz Dance. The music is of free choice and all candidates will dance together as a group. Costume and props are permitted if required. The Performance piece should give each candidate an equal opportunity to exhibit their dance skills at the appropriate level. Each candidate will be awarded a mark based on their individual performance within the group.

Grade 7 Dance Performance: Two contrasting performances approximately 3 minutes each

Assessment Criteria

Grading Criteria

LEARNING OUTCOME 1 (Technical Exercises)
The learner will be able to perform complex movement sequences showing an understanding and secure use of technique in Jazz Dance

LEARNING OUTCOME 2 (Technical Exercises)
The learner will able to perform complex movement sequences showing an understanding of musicality in Jazz Dance

LEARNING OUTCOME 3 (The Performance)
The learner will be able to present an assured performance in Jazz Dance

Supporting Video

Additional Information

The Value of RSL Qualifications

RSL advocates an open-access approach to qualifications, providing a range of syllabi, designed to accommodate a wide variety of candidates of different ages, experience and levels of achievement. RSL qualifications are listed on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in England and Northern Ireland by the Office of Qualifications and Examination Regulation (Ofqual). RSL is committed to maintaining and improving its reputation for excellence by providing high-quality education and training through its syllabi, examinations and resources.

RSL and UCAS

For students applying for work or University, many potential employers see Graded Performance Exams in a very positive way. Recognised qualifications demonstrate an ability to dedicate commitment to extra-curricular activities, providing evidence of versatility which many students find beneficial within UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) applications and for university entrance interviews. Our qualifications carry allocated points on the UCAS tariff.

Aims and Broad Objectives

The aim of the Jazz Dance qualification is to provide a flexible, progressive mastery approach to the knowledge, skills and understanding required for Jazz Dance. The purpose of RSL’s graded qualifications is to motivate and encourage candidates of all ages and levels through a system of progressive mastery to develop and enhance skills, knowledge and understanding in a safe and consistent way. The qualifications are beneficial for learners wishing to progress at their own pace through smaller steps of achievement.

Progression

Graded qualifications provide a flexible progression route for learners. They are a positive means of determining progress and enable learners to learn the necessary techniques to gain entry to FE and HE courses. Graded qualifications operate according to a well established methodology of ‘progressive mastery’. They tend to be more rigorous than other types of exams and for that reason industry professionals are confident that achievement at the highest level gained by candidates of graded qualifications will have the skills necessary to work in other areas of the business.

Qualification Structure

A graded qualification consists of a range of both practical and knowledge-based tasks which are based on detailed requirements outlined in the relevant syllabus. Therefore, requirements for each grade will be set out in detail in the Unit Specifications and the Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria for each unit will require knowledge, skills and understanding of these syllabus requirements to be demonstrated at the grade entered.

Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements for these qualifications. However, learners should be aware that the content at the higher grades will require a level of knowledge and understanding covered in previous qualifications.