Dance and Gymnastics

Year 1 and 2                                                 
- Move with careful control and coordination.            
- Link two or more actions to perform a sequence.

- Choose movements to communicate a mood, feeling or idea.   
- Copy and remember actions.

- Move with some control and awareness of space.            
- Link two or more actions to make a sequence.

- Show contrasts (such as small/tall, straight/curved and wide/narrow).    
- Travel by rolling forwards, backwards and sideways.

- Hold a position whilst balancing on different points of the body.         
- Climb safely on equipment.

- Jump in a variety of ways and land with increasing control and balance.    
- Stretch and curl to develop flexibility.

Year 3 and 4

- Plan, perform and repeat sequences.                     
- Move in a clear, fluent and expressive manner.

- Refine movements into sequences.                        
- Swing and hang from equipment safely (using hands).

- Show changes of direction, speed and level during a performance.        
- Travel in a variety of ways, including flight, by transferring weight to generate power in movements.
- Show a kinesthetic sense in order to improve the placement and alignment of body parts (e.g. in balances experiment to find out how to get the centre of gravity successfully over base and organise body parts to create an interesting body shape).

Year 5 and 6

- Compose creative and imaginative dance sequences.               
- Express an idea in original and imaginative ways.

- Perform expressively and hold a precise and strong body posture.         
- Perform and create complex sequences.

- Use equipment to vault and to swing (remaining upright).                 
- Hold shapes that are strong, fluent and expressive.

- Demonstrate good kinesthetic awareness (placement and alignment of body parts is usually good in well-rehearsed actions).

- Include in a sequence set pieces, choosing the most appropriate linking elements.

- Plan to perform with high energy, slow grace or other themes and maintain this throughout a piece.

- Perform complex moves that combine strength and stamina gained through gymnastics activities (such as cartwheels or handstands).

- Create complex and well-executed sequences that include a full range of movements including: travelling - balances - swinging - springing – flight, vaults, inversions, rotations, bending, stretching and twisting.

- Vary speed, direction, level and body rotation during floor performances.
- Practise and refine the gymnastic techniques used in performances (listed above).