NCEA L1 Performance Dance

Performance Dance is a subject in which dance and the arts are pivotal in providing a space where students can confidently navigate their cultural identity.

Dance is an embodied language. In dance education, ākonga learn to communicate through movement and interpret meaning from movement. Learning in Dance supports ākonga to expand the ways they express ideas, feelings, values, and beliefs, as well as how they understand those of others. Ākonga develop literacy in dance as they learn about, and extend their skills in movement, performance, and choreography.

Dance is a way of strengthening relationships. Personal experiences and identities are valid and valued components of learning in Dance, which supports whanaungatanga. Working as a collective emphasises core values of fa'aaloalo/faka’apa’apa, aro’a, tautua, and kuleana, which nurture vā in learning spaces. These values are fundamental to positive learning experiences that will support ākonga in Dance. Dance supports ākonga to develop relational skills they can take beyond the learning environment, such as collaboration, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. At the same time, ākonga will also develop confidence and a deeper awareness of their own identities.

Dance is always evolving as innovations develop from or alongside dance forms and practices. Dance can be seen as a social and historical artefact reflecting the culture from which it descends.