Leap forward for dance education in 2012

The Australian Curriculum: The Arts

This has been an important year in the evolution of the new national dance curriculum.

One of five arts subject with its own body of knowledge, teaching strategies and learning outcomes, dance is soon to take its place in The Australian Curriculum: The Arts.

We have continued to work with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) on various drafts of the curriculum throughout 2012, engaging with teachers where the tight timelines for consultation have allowed, and keeping dance educators up to date with regular email bulletins.

We understand the curriculum framework will now be finalised and placed online by ACARA for a brief 'last look' in February. It will then go to the ACARA board for approval before being signed off by State and Territory education ministers in April.

This has been a very tight time frame for ACARA to manage, and everyone has had to fit their own busy work schedules around it in order to provide the necessary feedback and suggestions for change.

Here is some additional information from ACARA to help bring you up to date with progress.

DEAS

With Ausdance Victoria, we are hoping to hold another Dance Education in Australian Schools (DEAS) roundtable in 2013, and should be in a position to provide details early in the new school year. We are keen to focus on ‘best practice’ in the classroom, and also to engage with professional dance companies offering dance education programs.

NAAE

The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) met last Monday, and heard from Linda Lorenza (ACARA), Brenda Cherednichenko (President of the Australian Council of Deans of Education) and Alison Hill (the Song Room). The NAAE is looking to form partnerships with several organisations in 2013 as it develops new implementation strategies to support the arts curriculum.

Our new CEO, Roslyn Dundas, will commence work on 14 January, and will continue our work with the NAAE and ACARA in the implementation phase of the Australian Curriculum: The Arts.

In the meantime we thank all those dedicated dance educators from across the country who have supported our endeavours, and we look forward to working with you again in the new year.