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.
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Download ATP HereCreative Arts (Dance) Grade 9 ATP 2026
The Annual Teaching Plan is divided into four terms, balancing physical conditioning, artistic composition, and theoretical understanding.
Download: Creative Arts (Dance) Grade 9 ATP 2026 PDF
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, arm swings, lunges, and side bends.
- Conditioning: Core stability exercises for back and abdominal muscles.
- Joint Mobility: Knee bends and rises in parallel and turned-out positions.
- Improvisation and Composition:
- Gestures: Exploration of natural gestures, varying them through exaggeration, slow motion, and repetition.
- Structure: Creating sequences with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Theory:
- Code of conduct, class discipline, and the importance of good posture/alignment.
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 steps and styles of a specific Indigenous South African dance.
- Technique: High brushes, kicks, and turns on the spot with eye focus (spotting).
- Improvisation and Composition:
- Relationships: Working in pairs to explore meeting and parting, call and response, and weight sharing.
- Unison and Canon: Understanding how to move together or in delayed timing.
- Assessment:
- Practical: Indigenous dance group performance.
- Written: Formal Test covering 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: Combinations of large motor movements including jumps, leaps, and gallops.
- Technique: Circular movements from the hips and developing fluidity in the arms.
- Sequence: Learning a short, fast dance sequence with quick footwork.
- Improvisation and Composition:
- Stimuli: Composing movement sequences based on props, music, poetry, or pictures.
- Dynamics: Exploring contrasting dynamics (speed and energy).
- Theory:
- Comparison between two different dance forms in South Africa (origin, culture, and movements).
Term 4: Mastery and Final Performance
Focus: The final term is dedicated to consolidating all techniques learned throughout the year and preparing for the final practical and written examinations.
- Dance Performance:
- Mastery: Attention to detail, correct posture, alignment, and safe landings from aerial movements.
- Performance Quality: Focus on musicality, spatial awareness, and commitment to movement.
- Improvisation and Composition:
- Final Composition: Creating a movement sequence (individual or group) using a theme with a prop, poem, or rap.
- Assessment:
- End-of-Year Examination:
- Practical: Performance of a short dance sequence and improvisation.
- Written: Theory paper covering content from Terms 3 and 4.
- End-of-Year Examination:
FAQ: Creative Arts (Dance) Grade 9
Q: What type of dance is done in Term 2? A: Term 2 specifically focuses on an Indigenous South African dance. The specific style (e.g., Indlamu, Tswana, Zulu) depends on what the teacher selects, but it must be rooted in local culture.
Q: Is there a written exam in Dance? A: Yes. Dance is not just practical. There is a written test in Term 2 and a final written examination in Term 4 that tests knowledge of dance terminology, history, and health/safety.
Q: What is the difference between Unison and Canon in Term 2? A: Unison means all dancers doing the same movement at the same time. Canon is when dancers perform the same movement one after another (like a ripple effect).