A NEW DANCE programme for secondary school students, called 'Taking a chance on dance', introduces enthusiasts to a variety of dance styles and techniques to enrich their understanding of the art form.
Starting in the autumn, the 180-hour course stretches over two academic years. It is open to all Form Four and Form Five students as an elective under the Education and Manpower Bureau's Career-Oriented Curriculum offerings.
Instruction will be provided by tutors from the Academy for Performing Arts at secondary schools or at the academy. Classes will be held on Saturdays or during the week, depending on the venue.
'We started a course in theatre arts last year and the response to that was very good. A lot of students were interested in dance, so we decided to launch the dance programme,' said Juliana Fung, the bureau's curriculum development officer.
The bureau performs a monitoring, quality assurance and supporting role in providing resources to students and teachers. The dance programme is designed to appeal to students who are seriously contemplating a career in dance, as well as those who simply want to dabble in the art.
Anna Chan, a lecturer in dance education at the academy who designed the secondary school dance programme, said: 'Students may be interested in dance even if they do not have the physique or ideal body shape. Some students may not necessarily become dancers, but they can explore the world of dance further. They can be teachers or managers of dance companies, for example.'