BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Performing Arts
Exam board: BTEC
Subject Leader: Miss S Davis

The BTEC Extended Certificate in Performing Arts enables students to study Dance through topic areas such as developing skills and techniques for live performance, group performance and investigating practitioners’ work. The Extended Certificate is for students who are interested in learning about the performing arts sector, with a Dance focus, and gives a broad introduction to the performing arts sector with an emphasis on core knowledge and fundamental skills which are transferable across other sectors (including communication, presentation, physical and creative skills).

How is the course organised and assessed?

The Level 3 BTEC Extended Certificate in Performing Arts is a suitable course for those who have completed the BTEC Level 2 in Performing Arts or those who have already decided that Dance is the area they want to focus on and gain a career in. It is assessed through a mixture of internally assessed coursework and external assessments (a mixture of theory and practical).

The three mandatory units focus on:

• Research, critical analysis and extended writing skills that aim to support learners’ progression to higher education. Learners will gain a good understanding of the work of influential practitioners to inform their own work and practice.

• An introduction to the performing arts where learners will develop the appropriate skills and techniques in the performance discipline of Dance.

• Group performance, where learners will develop the essential psychomotor and affective skills essential for the performing arts. They will develop physical techniques as well as wider transferable skills, such as being able to work collaboratively, personal management and organisation (rehearsals, time-management), being able to give and take direction, confidence in front of an audience, problem solving (refining the process) and teamwork (essential when dancing as a group).

Learners will understand different audiences in different environments and will learn to adapt a performance to engage the target audience.

In addition to the performing arts sector-specific content, this qualification provides learners with the opportunity to develop all-round performance skills and transferable skills such as self-confidence, self-presentation, personal discipline, time management and organisational skills which are highly regarded by higher education and employers.

What's next?

This course is equivalent to one A Level and is recognised by a wide range of higher education establishments. It is an excellent base for further study or to build a career in Dance or within the performing arts industry from, whether you are a talented dancer, or you want to get a qualification studying a subject you enjoy, this is the course for you.