Creative Arts (Dance) Grade 9 ATP 2026

Grade 9 Creative Arts (Dance) is a year of refinement and exploration. It moves beyond basic movement into specific dance techniques, the study of indigenous cultures, and complex improvisation. To ensure you stay on track with your practical assessments and theory, it is essential to consult the full Grade 9 Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs).

This article outlines the 2026 Creative Arts (Dance) Grade 9 ATP, breaking down the weekly focus areas for teachers and learners, covering everything from Spinal Warm-ups and Indigenous Dance to the final Performance Examinations.

Download ATP Here in pdf format

Download ATP Here

Creative Arts (Dance) Grade 9 ATP 2026

The Annual Teaching Plan is divided into four terms, balancing physical conditioning, artistic composition, and theoretical understanding.

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Term 1: Technique and Gestures

Focus: The first term focuses on establishing discipline, core stability, and exploring natural gestures as a basis for dance composition.

Dance Performance (Technique):
- Warm-up: Focus on spinal warm-ups and arm swings/reaches.
- Conditioning: Core stability exercises for back and abdominal muscles, including rounding and lengthening of the spine and side bends.
- Joint Mobility: Add knee bends and rises in parallel and turned-out positions.
Improvisation and Composition:
- Gestures: Exploration of natural gestures (like reaches and swings).
- Structure: Composing a sequence in partners based on gestures with a clear beginning and ending.
Theory:
- Importance of good posture and alignment and discussion of dance conventions and terminology.

Term 2: Indigenous Dance and Relationships

Focus: Term 2 introduces specific cultural knowledge through Indigenous South African dance and explores how dancers interact with one another in space.

Dance Performance:
- Indigenous Dance: Learning dance steps and style of an Indigenous South African dance.
- Technique: Turns on the spot with eye focus (spotting).
- Floor Work: Revise core stability and floor movements, and add lunges and steps in all directions.
  - Improvisation and Composition:
- Relationships: Exploration of relationships in dance (e.g., meeting and parting, call and response, giving and receiving weight).
- Composition Structures: Introducing transitions between movements, unison, and canon.
Assessment: Formal Practical Assessment: Dance group performance of an Indigenous South African dance (25 marks). Written Formal Assessment (25 marks) on Term 1 and 2 theory.

Term 3: Stamina and Stimuli

Focus: Term 3 is high-energy, focusing on building physical stamina through jumps and using various stimuli to inspire creativity.

Dance Performance:
- Stamina: Building stamina through jumps, leaps, and gallops (large motor movements).
- Technique: Adding circular leg movements and kicks with hand coordination.
- Sequence: Learning a short, fast dance sequence focusing on teamwork.
  - Improvisation and Composition:
- Stimuli: Composing a movement sequence based on various stimuli (e.g., props, music, poetry, pictures) to explore ideas and moods.
- Dynamics: Exploring contrasting dynamics (speed, energy, and force).
Theory:
- Dance Careers: Research and presentations on dance and related careers.
- Dance Forms: Comparison between two different dance forms in South Africa.

Term 4: Mastery and Final Examination

Focus: The final term is dedicated to consolidating knowledge, achieving mastery of technique, and preparing for the end-of-year practical and written examinations.

Dance Performance:
- Mastery: Attention to detail, correct posture and alignment, and safe landings from aerial movements.
- Performance Quality: Focus on commitment to movement, focus, musicality, and spatial awareness.
Improvisation and Composition:
- Composition of a movement sequence (individual, partner, or group) based on a theme with a prop.
Assessment:
- Practical Examination: Individual/group performance of a dance sequence (25 marks).
- Written Examination: Theory paper (25 marks) covering Term 3 and 4 work.
- Cognitive levels for assessment are divided into Lower Order (30%), Middle Order (40%), and Higher Order (30%).

FAQ: Creative Arts (Dance) Grade 9

Q: What is the main focus of the practical exam in Term 2? A: The main practical focus in Term 2 is a dance group performance of an Indigenous South African dance style.