GCSE Dance Workshop with Tory East

On Thursday 8th October, GCSE dance students had the opportunity to prepare for the first component of their course; performance, through participating in year group workshops with experienced dance practitioner, Tory East. Amongst many accolades and a lifetime of experience, Tory is an AQA approved, GCSE set phrase trainer.

In just half a day, Year 10 were challenged to learn two of the prescribed phrases, ‘Breathe,’ and ‘Shift’ which are performed to 105bpm! The phrases are renowned for testing a students’ ability to colour their performance as although the musical accompaniment provides a count to keep them in time, it is the responsibility of the individual to consider how they demonstrate phrasing and dynamic range.

Dance Teacher, Beth Butler reflected “Our Year 10 dancers now really understand the complexities of the action, space and dynamics involved. They have the fundamental shell of the phrases and now focus is towards how they are going to work on their own personal artistry in order to perform them for the final exam in Year 11. Tory commented on their professional attitude and the pace at which they had learnt the movement material.”

Having previously worked with Tory, Year 11 were delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate how they had developed their physical, technical and expressive skills since they first learnt the phrases with her last year. Tory was suitably impressed with how each student had taken ownership of these phrases, developing confidence and a secure movement memory.

Next year, our dancers look forward to sharing their set phrases with a larger audience in the annual, ‘Let’s Dance,’ performance.