GCSE Dance Topics by Exam Board: Full List

Choosing GCSE Dance means you're signing up for an exciting mix of performing, creating, and understanding professional dance. But what will you actually study? What dance pieces will you need to know inside out?

This guide breaks down the GCSE Dance topics by exam board for you. Most students in England take AQA, whilst students in Wales follow WJEC. We'll cover both so you know precisely what topics you'll be tackling.

Key Takeaways

• GCSE Dance combines practical work with written theory 

• AQA is the main board in England, covering Performance, Choreography, and Critical Appreciation

• All AQA students study six professional dance works including Emancipation of Expressionism and Infra

• WJEC students offers a "Made for Wales" specification starting in 2026 with different set works

What Is Covered in GCSE Dance?

GCSE Dance brings together the practical side of dance with understanding how professionals create their work. You'll spend time in the studio and the classroom, developing skills as a performer, choreographer, and critic.

Both AQA and WJEC follow a similar structure with three main areas: 

• Performance (dancing yourself) 

• Choreography(creating your own pieces)

• Appreciation (analysing professional works)

The balance shifts slightly between boards, but you'll always do a mix of practical dance and written work.

The course runs over two years with around 120-140 hours of lessons. Most assessment happens through practical work completed during the course, plus there's a written exam testing your knowledge of dance terminology, techniques, and professional works.

Check out our article on what GCSE Dance is for more information. 

AQA GCSE Dance Topics

AQA (opens in a new tab) is the main exam board for GCSE Dance in England. Here's what you'll study.

Component 1: Performance and Choreography (60%, 80 marks)

This is the practical bit – where you dance and create. It’s a non-exam assessment: your teacher marks it, then AQA checks the marking. 

Performance (30%, 40 marks): You'll perform two dance pieces.

• One solo (1 min)  and one duet/trio (3-5 mins)

• You'll learn AQA's set phrases – short choreographed sequences you must perform exactly

• Total performance time: at least 3.5 minutes

• You're marked on physical skills (strength, flexibility), technical skills (posture, coordination), and expressive skills (musicality, communication)

Choreography (30%, 40 marks): Create your own dance lasting 2-4 minutes.

• Pick from AQA's yearly stimuli (starting points like themes or images)

• Use choreographic devices like repetition, canon, and unison

• Choose your style, music, staging, and lighting

• You don't have to perform in it yourself

• Write a short programme note (120-150 words) explaining your choices

Component 2: Dance Appreciation (40%, 80 marks)

This is your written exam – 1 hour 30 minutes of analysing professional dance.

The AQA Dance Anthology: Every AQA student studies these six professional works:

1. Emancipation of Expressionism (2007) – Hip-hop piece by Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy exploring freedom and emotions with seven dancers

2. A Linha Curva (2017) – Samba-contemporary fusion by Itzik Galili celebrating Brazilian culture with 16 dancers

3. Infra (2008) – Contemporary ballet by Wayne McGregor examining human relationships with 12 dancers

4. Within Her Eyes (2016) – Contemporary duet by James Cousins telling a tragic love story on film

5. Artificial Things (2017) – Contemporary piece by Lucy Bennett exploring isolation with able-bodied and disabled dancers

6. Shadows (2014) – Neo-classical work by Christopher Bruce depicting a family's poverty struggle

For each work, you'll study:

• The choreographer's intention and message

• Movement style and content

• Physical setting (costume, lighting, staging, set)

• Aural setting (music, sound, silence)

• Context (when made, influences, social background)

• Choreographic devices and structures used

In the exam:

• Multiple-choice and short-answer questions

• Longer essay-style responses about the anthology works

• You'll identify movements, explain techniques, compare works, and evaluate choreographic choices

Key Topics with AQA

Choreographic Devices and Processes: Motif development, repetition, canon, unison, retrograde, tempo changes

Structuring Devices: Binary (AB), ternary (ABA), rondo (ABACADA), narrative

Dance Actions: Travel, turn, jumps, gesture, stillness, floor work, weight transfer

Performance Skills: Physical (stamina, flexibility, strength), technical (posture, alignment, control), expressive (musicality, dynamics)

Safe Practice: Warm-ups, injury prevention, appropriate clothing

We have plenty of AQA GCSE Dance revision resources to help you on your journey.

WJEC GCSE Dance Topics

WJEC offers a new "Made for Wales" specification (opens in a new tab) starting September 2026 (first exams 2028). This is only for Welsh students – it's not available in England.

Quick note: Eduqas is WJEC's brand name for qualifications outside Wales. There's currently no separate Eduqas GCSE Dance – English students take AQA.

WJEC Structure (From 2026)

Unit 1: Choreography (40%, 96 marks)

This is a non-exam assessment, marked by your centre and moderated by the board.

• Create original dance responding to WJEC's stimuli

• Solo (1.5-2 minutes) or group (2-4 minutes for 2-5 dancers)

• Keep a reflective log of your process

• Choose whether to perform in it

• Use choreographic devices and structures

Unit 2: Performance (30%, 72 marks)

This is a non-exam assessment, marked by your centre and moderated by the board.

• Perform two pieces from different styles

• One solo plus one solo or group

• Must be professional choreography (not your own)

• Can't use the Unit 3 set works

• Show physical, technical, and expressive skills

Unit 3: Dance Appreciation (30%, 72 marks)

• Digital exam lasting 1 hour 45 minutes

• Study three set works: one compulsory plus two chosen from options

• Mixture of short and extended answers

WJEC Set Works:

Compulsory:

• "Rygbi: Annwyl (Dear)" by Fearghus Ó Conchúir for National Dance Company Wales

Choose one longer work:

• Mad Hatter's Tea Party by ZooNation

• Fagin's Twist by Avant Garde Dance

• Pinocchio by Jasmin Vardimon

Choose one shorter work:

• Dust by Akram Khan

• Ripple by Xie Xin

• Henge by Motionhouse

You'll analyse movements, relationships, physical settings, creative ideas, and choreographic techniques in both set works and unseen works.

How to Use GCSE Dance Topic Lists for Revision

• Make a checklist: Tick off topics as you revise them. This shows your progress and stops you missing anything.

• Know your strengths: Be honest about what you're good at and what needs work. Focus revision time where you need it most.

• Balance practical and theory: Don't just dance or just read notes. Your grade needs both. Rehearse your performances but also study the anthology works.

• Watch actively: View professional works multiple times, focusing on different elements each time – costume, then devices, then context.

• Practice exam questions: Work through past papers under timed conditions. Learn to structure longer answers properly.

• Film yourself: Record your dancing (with permission). Watching back helps you spot improvements needed.

• Create resources: Make flashcards for terminology, mind maps for devices, or comparison tables for anthology works.

• Use the right resources: Save My Exams provides past papers, mark schemes, and Smart Mark tool to give you personalised feedback.

If you’re selecting your GCSEs we have plenty more advice on choosing your GCSEs and a full list of GCSE options at Save My Exams, along with all of our tailored learning resources. If you are revising, our GCSE Dance revision resources will help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between AQA and WJEC Dance?

• Availability: AQA is for England, WJEC is for Wales only. 

• Set works: You'll study completely different professional pieces depending on your board.

• Weightings: AQA splits 60% practical / 40% written. WJEC gives choreography 40%, with performance and appreciation at 30% each.

• Format: AQA uses paper exams; WJEC uses digital exams.

• Structure: AQA uses set phrases you must learn. WJEC gives more freedom in choosing performance pieces.

Check out the GCSE Dance specifications at Save My Exams. The core skills are similar – performing, choreographing, analysing – but the specific content and assessment differ.

How Is Practical Work Assessed in GCSE Dance?

Your teacher marks your practical work using exam board mark schemes. Your performances and choreography are filmed. The exam board then checks a sample of students' videos to ensure fair marking across all schools.

You're assessed on physical skills (technique, strength, control), expressive skills (communication, interpretation), and in choreography, your creative ideas and how effectively you communicate meaning.

This process ensures everyone's assessed against the same national standards, regardless of school facilities.

Is There a Written Exam in GCSE Dance?

Yes! GCSE Dance includes a substantial written exam.

• AQA: 1 hour 30 minutes, worth 40% of your grade. Answer questions on the six anthology works including multiple-choice, short answers, and longer essays.

• WJEC: 1 hour 45 minutes digital exam, worth 30%. Answer questions on your three set works plus unseen dance pieces.

The exam tests choreographic devices, physical settings, context, meaning, and your ability to analyse dance using proper terminology.

You can't cram for this the night before – you need to study set works throughout the course and practice writing about dance regularly.

Final Thoughts

Understanding what you'll study in GCSE Dance is your first step towards success. You now have a clear picture of the practical components, theory work, and professional pieces you'll analyse.

GCSE Dance demands both physical skill and academic understanding. You'll train your body through regular practice whilst training your mind to analyse and evaluate. This combination makes Dance challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Use this breakdown to plan strategically. Don't wait until the last minute to learn anthology works or practice set phrases. Students who achieve top grades engage deeply with all aspects throughout the two years.

Make sure you're clear about which exam board you're taking and access the specific resources for that board. Take ownership of your learning and know exactly what's expected – that's how you'll achieve your target grade.

Good luck with your GCSE Dance studies!

References

• AQA Specification (opens in a new tab)

• WJEC specification (opens in a new tab)