This unit applies to those who are consolidating their career in contexts where social dancing skills are required. They could be developing technique in preparation for performances in commercial or competition settings where they would usually be performing with a partner.
While supervision and guidance are provided in practice sessions and rehearsals, dancers are expected to display a high level of motivation and sense of responsibility for themselves and others when it comes to applying dance technique in a live performance context.
Not applicable.
1. Maintain a physical conditioning program | 1.1. In consultation with relevant personnel identify a range of techniques to improve stamina, strength and flexibility 1.2. Set realistic physical conditioning goals aimed at improving own dance technique 1.3. Identify risk factors that may inhibit the achievement of goals and seek professional advice as required 1.4. Take fatigue, personal limitations and boundaries into account when undertaking physical conditioning program 1.5. Always perform warm-up and cool-down activities in conjunction with dance activities 1.6. Ensure that clothing and footwear are appropriate for undertaking exercise regime and practising dance technique |
2. Use practice sessions to increase level of expertise in social dance techniques | 2.1. Follow safe dance practices at all times 2.2. Apply correct posture and body alignment appropriate to social dance styles being practised 2.3. Apply isolation and coordination of upper and lower body within complex movement sequences 2.4. Apply correct arm movement, positioning and transitioning flow in movement sequences 2.5. Apply correct hip action, leg and foot placement in movement sequences 2.6. Refine partnering skills to enable correct leading and following movements 2.7. Apply balance, flexibility, stamina, coordination and weight transfer skills, and control and articulation of individual body parts in an integrated manner in a range of complex techniques 2.8. Apply memory retention, control and attention to detail when performing complex phrases of dance movements 2.9. Incorporate well-developed understanding of musical elements |
3. Maintain expertise | 3.1. Continuously practise and refine combinations of complex movements 3.2. Develop and experiment with new routines involving different body movements and different combinations 3.3. Maintain and update knowledge of social dance terminology 3.4. Use feedback from teachers and mentors to identify and develop ways to improve own social dance performance skills 3.5. Regularly view performances by industry practitioners as a way of sourcing new ideas and trends, maintaining motivation, and improving own technique |
Required skills
communication skills to:
discuss dance and physical conditioning issues with relevant personnel
respond appropriately to feedback on own skill development
initiative and enterprise skills to:
work creatively with music and dance
dance with style and professionalism
communicate the mood or style of dances
maintain and develop own expertise
learning skills to:
develop strong social dance techniques through:
practising complex movements and routines
a positive attitude to dancing
develop and implement a personal physical conditioning program
develop a movement memory
listening skills to maintain musical sensitivity, awareness and phrasing in movement sequences
planning and organising skills to plan practice time
self-management skills to:
arrive punctually at classes
dress appropriately
observe dance discipline and follow direction
apply safe dance practices
teamwork skills to:
work closely with a partner in dance performances
work collaboratively with others involved in dance classes.
Required knowledge
principles underlying dance movements and techniques, such as:
relationship with gravity
spatial awareness
successional movement
use of breath
folding
extending
rotating
shifting weight
anatomical foundations, including:
articulation of the spine
engagement of the feet
bases of support, including feet, legs, hands, arms and torso
range of motion of the joints
differentiation of the legs and pelvis
importance of healthy food choices in relation to wellbeing and injury prevention, including five food groups and recommended daily amounts
social dance terminology
characteristics and history of chosen social dance styles
musical rhythms, including:
time signatures
beat
tempo
syncopation.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: consistently execute well-developed social dance technique execute dance sequences that demonstrate: a creative response to music partnering skills an ability to communicate the mood or style of dances respond appropriately to constructive feedback on own skills development follow safe dance practices. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: appropriate dance performance areas or spaces relevant resources and equipment. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance verbal or written questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and challenges that arise in the context of performing social dance evaluation of live or recorded performances direct observation of candidate in rehearsals and performances. Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling). |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUADAN401A Develop on-camera dance performance skills CUADAN407A Develop expertise in dance performance skills CUAPRF503A Prepare for and perform in a competitive environment. |
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Relevant personnel may include: | coaches colleagues family members medical practitioners mentors nutrition experts performers representatives of dance societies teachers. |
Risk factors may relate to: | body image and eating disorders consistency of a physical fitness regime expectations of others gender-appropriate performance techniques gender issues poor nutrition incorrectly fitting footwear injury-prevention strategies insufficient hydration own ambition. |
Warm-up and cool-down activities | aerobic activities anaerobic exercises body conditioning and strength development breathing techniques coordinated breathing activities flexibility exercises floor work isolation and mobility of all body parts joint-mobility exercises stretching. |
Safe dance practices | adjusting performance to venue breathing exercises correct execution of dance steps appropriate clothing and footwear doing exercises and performing routines on flooring appropriate to genre and style of dance, such as: sprung softwood tarkett sprung parquet tongue and groove hardwood logical sequencing of dance movements nutrition and diet spatial awareness understanding the body’s capabilities and limitations, including: alignment flexibility (mobility) strength (stability) cardiorespiratory endurance muscular endurance warm-up and cool-down activities. |
Posture refers to: | correct alignment of the torso, limbs, spine and shoulders in movements and poses. |
Body alignment refers to: | facing and backing line of dance position of foot in relation to the room. |
Social dance styles may | international standard, such as: foxtrot quickstep tango Viennese waltz waltz American standard Arthur Murray street Latin dance, such as: Argentine tango cha cha jive mambo paso doble rumba salsa. |
Complex techniques include: | body positions: promenade counter promenade open promenade open counter promenade tandem correct posture and alignment when in motion dancing in time with the music demonstrating an awareness of personal and general space when travelling and stationary demonstrating safe dance practices in jumping, falling and faster travelling steps execution of weight transfer techniques holds, such as: alternative holds for closed position alternative holds for open position improvisation locomotor techniques: chasse steps, including runaway, slip, twist and ronde leading of partner, including physical, visual and shaping precedes and follows non-locomotor techniques, such as: balance stillness turning techniques, including: turning movements and steps that include further extension different variants of turn, including ¾ turn. |
Phrases refer to: | the joining and sequencing of steps in line with musical phrasing. |
Musical elements may refer to: | beat correct timing musicality phrasing rhythm sensitivity tempo. |
Accompanying music may include: | instrumental music live or recorded music traditional or folk music vocal music. |
Routines | different formations of precedes and follows. |
Performing arts - dance
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.