MATSEC SEC Dance study plan

Map the full SEC Dance syllabus content areas (performance, choreography, appreciation/analysis, and safe dance practice) into a one-page checklist with every assessed component listed

Define and physically rehearse the core technical vocabulary for your chosen genre (alignment, turnout, plié, tendu, elevation, coordination) and record which terms you can demonstrate cleanly versus which need work

Set up a weekly practice log template that captures date, warm-up duration, technique focus, repertoire time, and cool-down

Establish a safe-practice baseline by writing your personal warm-up and cool-down routine with timings and the muscle groups each part targets

Drill alignment and core stability in every practice session, filming two short clips (front and side) to compare against correct postural description

Build stamina by completing three 20-minute continuous technique sessions and logging perceived exertion after each

Identify and correct two recurring technical faults by writing the cause, the correction cue, and a repetition plan for each

Rehearse one set study or short phrase to performance tempo without stopping, noting the exact bar or count where errors occur

Compose an original 45-60 second solo phrase using at least three deliberate choreographic devices (repetition, canon, level change, dynamic contrast)

Apply motif-and-development technique by writing a motif of four counts and generating three distinct variations from it

Count and notate your phrase in a simple written score (counts, directions, formations) so another dancer could learn it

Rehearse the phrase to full performance energy three times and record each run to check consistency of timing

Analyse a recorded dance work using a structured framework covering action, space, dynamics, relationships, and accompaniment, writing at least one specific observation for each element

Compare two contrasting works or styles and articulate three concrete differences in technique, intent, and staging

Practise timed written responses to analysis-style questions under exam conditions (no notes, fixed time limit)

Self-mark those responses against the elements checklist and list every point you missed

Refine the solo by incorporating feedback from week 3's recording, changing at least two moments and justifying each change in writing

Increase technical demand by adding one travelling sequence and one controlled balance or elevation moment

Rehearse performance quality deliberately: run the phrase three times each with a different intended dynamic (sharp, sustained, lyrical) and judge which reads best

Rehearse under performance conditions including entrance, bow, and full costume or practice wear

Consolidate safe-dance knowledge by writing correct answers, from memory, on warm-up purpose, injury prevention, hydration, and studio hazards

Demonstrate knowledge of anatomy in context by naming the joints and muscle groups active in three specific movements from your solo

Build a 10-question self-quiz on safe practice and score it, re-studying any item answered incorrectly

Review the syllabus checklist from week 1 and mark every component as secure, shaky, or untouched

Rehearse the solo under full exam timing five times across the week, recording each run and tracking stamina and accuracy

Write and memorise programme notes for the solo covering title, accompaniment, choreographic intent, and the devices used

Answer three timed theory papers or question sets covering technique, choreography, and appreciation, then mark them strictly

Target the two weakest syllabus areas identified in week 6 with focused 30-minute study blocks

Perform a full mock exam: solo performance, spoken programme notes, and a timed written paper in one sitting

Run a final error audit by listing every remaining fault and deciding which are fixable this week versus acceptable to leave

Consolidate theory with spaced recall, writing key definitions and analysis points from memory without notes

Taper by reducing rehearsal intensity in the final three days while maintaining daily light technique and mental rehearsal