Record of changes for Dance
All changes made to the Dance syllabus are recorded here. Learn about these updates.
About the record of changes
This record details amendments to the syllabus, school-based assessment and exams for the course.
When amendments are published, they are also communicated via NESA official notices in the NESA News.
New Dance Stage 6 Course Prescriptions 2026–2027
(Official Notice NESA 44/24)
NESA has published a new course prescription in Core Appreciation for Dance Stage 6 for HSC 2026 –2027. All other Dance course prescriptions have been extended to HSC 2027.
Dance Stage 6 Course Prescriptions extended to HSC 2025
(Official Notice NESA 1/24)
The Dance Stage 6 Course Prescriptions have been extended for one year to HSC 2025.
New Stage 6 Dance course prescriptions: HSC 2022–2024
(Official Notice NESA 29/20)
Implementation of the new Dance course prescriptions will commence with the HSC 2022.
Video: HSC Advice for Dance Stage 6
Video: Dance Stage 6 Performance and Composition: Hear from teachers and students on studying dance as part of the HSC. Topics include the course structure, tips for success, and what to consider before you study dance at the HSC level.
New Stage 6 Dance course prescriptions: HSC 2019–2021
(Official Notice NESA 41/17)
Implementation of the new course prescriptions will commence with the HSC 2019.
The new prescriptions include a new prescribed work for Core Appreciation and publication details for all prescribed texts.
New Stage 6 school-based assessment requirements
(Official Notice NESA 29/17)
New school-based assessment requirements are to be implemented from Term 1, 2018 for Year 11 and Term 4, 2018 for Year 12. Course-specific assessment requirements are included in the Assessment and reporting materials. Sample assessment schedules for Year 11 and Year 12 are available.
Dance Stage 6 Course Prescriptions
(Official Notice NESA 11/17)
Effective immediately
The Dance Stage 6 Course Prescriptions for the Higher School Certificate period 2015–17 have been extended to include the 2018 Higher School Certificate exam.
Revised Dance Stage 6 Course Prescriptions for HSC exams from 2019 will be published later in 2017.
New Stage 6 Dance Course Prescriptions 2015–2017
The HSC course prescriptions should be read in conjunction with the Dance Stage 6 Syllabus and other support documents.
Schools are reminded that the study of works prescribed in any course for the Higher School Certificate exam may not begin before the completion of the Preliminary course. 'Study' of works does not apply to attending performances during the Preliminary course of dances prescribed as HSC works or to taking part in the production of those works.
Implementation of the new course prescriptions will commence Term 4, 2014 with the first HSC exam in 2015.
Stage 6 Dance Course Prescriptions 2010–2012
Schools are advised that the Stage 6 Dance Course Prescriptions 2010–2012 will be extended until the conclusion of the 2014 Higher School Certificate. Minor amendments to the Course Prescriptions will be published in late 2011.
Changes from current exam specifications
The expected length for the responses is included as a guide. It is presented as the approximate number of exam writing booklet pages (based on average-sized handwriting), and/or an approximate number of words. Students will not be penalised for responses of excess length: they may write less than or more than what is expected, and their responses will be marked on their merits.
- In Performance (Core and Major Study) that provision be made for an informal conversation between markers and students to allow students to briefly explain key features of their performance
- That students undertaking a Core Composition, Major Study Composition or a Major Study in the Dance and Technology components be required to submit to the examiners a 300 word rationale.