The aim of the Performing Arts department at Ormiston Victory Academy is to nurture and guide our students to become independent, creative individuals. There are so many situations and environments where the skills developed in performing arts are invaluable. It is our intention to help our learners develop a strong sense of self- worth, confidence and resilience – all of which are traits that will help our young people to thrive as the grow, no matter what their aspirations. Our department offers a wide range of opportunities, including theatre visits both locally and in the West End, workshops with professional practitioners and the opportunity to perform on a professional stage as part of our involvement with the annual RSC Regional Playmaking Festival. As part of the Ormiston Trust in the East, we have developed a partnership with Norwich Theatre Royal, working closely with their education department, which gives our students many local opportunities to work with the professional world. Regular performances are produced under our production company – Victory Façade and these include an annual full scale production and concerts.
In Year 7 – 9, Performing Arts lessons are taught twice per fortnight. Disciplines are divided into Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre. These are taught on a termly rotation. Music lessons are taught twice per fortnight.
Dance: Dancing Through the Decades – Students are introduced to key dance styles from 1920’s Swing, to 1970’s Disco through to 1990’s Hip Hop.
Drama: Greek Theatre: Students learn about the origins of theatre and performance. Students will get the opportunity to explore working with masks and being part of a Greek Chorus.
Silent Movies: Students will be studying the use of mime, slapstick comedy and melodrama, focusing on silent films from the 1920’s.
Musical Theatre: Matilda: Students will focus on characterisation through voice and movement. They will look at ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl and will perform short, scripted extracts from The RSC version of the musical, as well as creating their own choreography as part of a group, to the song ‘Bruce’.
Dance: Street Dance – Students will study Commercial, Break Dance and Hip Hip. Learning about the origins of each style and short phrases which they can use to choreograph their own dances.
Drama: Development of Theatre – Students will focus on Elizabethan Theatre and works by Shakespeare and Marlowe. This will be followed by Physical Theatre – Focusing on practitioners Frantic Assembly and Gecko and their signature features.
Musical Theatre: Focusing on sections of Mary Poppins. Acting through song, whilst expanding on prior learning of characterisation.
Stage Combat: With students learning various unarmed combat techniques. The unit covers all aspects of health and safety, blocking, timing, audience, spatial awareness and eye contact.
Dance: Students are introduced to World Dance. Focusing on Gumboot, African and Bhangra styles of Dance.
Drama: Working with a script: Understanding stage directions, using DNA by Dennis Kelly.
Devising – responding to a stimulus – Applying a range of knowledge gained over the year, students will devise or choreograph their own performances in response to a stimulus.
TIE/ Verbatim Theatre – Understanding how to create educational performances on a wide range of topics.Students will focus on key practitioner ‘The Paperbirds’ and create their own verbatim style performances, using their techniques.
Course Introduction: Students follow the BTEC Level 1 / 2 course in Performing Arts. Students can opt for which pathway they would like to take. The performance strands are: Acting, Dancing or Musical Theatre, and the production strands are: Costume, Props, Set Design, Lighting Design or Sound Design. The course is divided into three components.
The course delivery is as follows:
Year 10: Component 1 ( Exploring the Arts – Spring term)
Year 11: Component 2 ( Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts – Autumn term)
Year 11: Component 3 (Responding to a Brief – Spring Term)
Progression and Careers: Students can go on to study a vocational pathway such as the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Award in Performing Arts – which is offered here at Lord Nelson Sixth Form or Drama / Dance /Theatre Studies at A – Level. Students may wish to pursue a career as a performer, Arts Administrator, Community Arts Worker, Education Officer, Children’s Entertainer, a technical or production role. There are also many non-industry related careers which require a strong team player, an independent and critical thinker, an effective time manager and a confident speaker.
Course Introduction: The Cambridge Technical Award Diploma course in Performing Arts qualification is recognised as a two A – Level equivalent. Students have a variety of pathways available to them: Musical Theatre, Acting, Dancing and Stage Production.
Year 12 and 13 students are taught together, with units being rotated over the two-year course. Students complete four external units and internally assessed units, which differ spending on the chosen pathway.
Progression and Careers: The Diploma in Performing Arts provides students with practical experience to help them develop the skills and knowledge that will equip them for employment within this broad and competitive sector, whether they wish to pursue a career in performance or in theatre production. Destinations following this course may be Drama School, University or the performing arts industry.
Performing Arts Subject Progression Pathways