The Western Cape Education Department has a number of primary schools that offer dance as a Grade 7 Creative Arts Subject. Various high schools offer Creative Arts: Dance for Grade 8 and 9 as well and some high schools even have Dance Studies as a subject until matric. The dance tuition that is offered at these schools is according to the Western Cape Education Department Dance CAPS Curriculum.
The senior phase curriculum is as follows:
Each term is divided into 3 topics:
Topic 1: Dance Performance
Topic 2: Dance Improvisation and Choreography
Topic 3: Dance Theory
The dance genre taught at De Kuilen Primary is influenced by a mixture of the Royal Academy of Dance style of ballet together with contemporary dance elements and is created to meet the requirements of the WCED dance curriculum.
The grade 7 Creative Arts: DANCE learners have one class scheduled during school hours and one class that takes place in the afternoon. The learners have a formal practical assessment towards the end of each term. The learners also have work books or flip files along with a textbook for dance, and so, cover a certain amount of theory per term. A written exam for dance takes place during the June and November examinations. Their mark is reflected on their school report as Creative Arts.
De Kuilen Primary School also offers ballet as an extra-curricular activity in the afternoons for grade 3 to 6. The ballet taught to these learners is based on the Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabus. These learners are assessed twice a year in June and November and receive a separate ballet report for these assessments.
Dance items are entered annually into the Tygerberg International Eisteddfod. We also look forward to other dance festivals, school performances as well as the occasional cultural outing. There is a dance concert which is held once every three years which is enjoyed by all who are involved.
All learners, boys and girls, taking part in the dance classes find that they benefit from this opportunity immensely.
