Application of Safer Dance Practice - Level 4 Certificate 

Qualification summary

The Level 4 Certificate Application of Safer Dance Practice is a single unit qualification which requires you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and effective dance practice in relation to your chosen participants and context.

Prior knowledge and skills

There are no mandatory pre-requisites for entering for this qualification. You may wish to take the Level 2 Risk Assessment for Participatory Artists and / or Level 3 Award Introduction to Safer Dance Practice in order to establish initial skills and knowledge in this area. Candidates are expected to have some prior knowledge of one or more dance genres of their choice and experience of delivering or participating in dance activities taking place in participatory or community contexts.

Qualification structure

This is a single unit qualification. Candidates successfully passing the assessment will be awarded the qualification.

Progression routes

This qualification can be taken as a stand-alone Certificate or may be combined with other qualifications as part of the Level 4 Diploma: Approaches to leading dance in community contexts.

Qualification aim

The qualification aims to develop dancers’ knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and effective practice in relation to dance in community or participatory contexts with a specified group or individual.

It will cover:

Basic anatomy, physiology and biomechanical principles, dance leader safety, risk assessment, hydration, nutrition, fatigue, overwork and active rest, population appropriate warm up and cool down, physiological, psychological and emotional care and preparation, environmental factors, minimising injury risk and managing injury, identifying health issues.

Learning outcomes

At the successful completion of this qualification you will be able to:

• 1. Demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding through the application of safe and effective dance practice in participatory contexts
• 1.1 Understand basic anatomical and physiological principles relevant to dance activities with a specific dance style
• 1.2 Apply the principles of safer dance practice during warm up and cool down
• 1.3 Understand nutrition and hydration issues relevant to dance in participatory contexts
• 1.4 Apply mechanisms for preventing injury and managing incidents
• 1.5 Adapt practice to accommodate differing physical, cognitive and emotional development needs of individual dance participants
• 1.6 Prepare and manage the dance environment to facilitate safe practice
• 1.7 Conduct and record a risk assessment relating to the environment, your selected population and dance practice.

Topics that need to be covered (indicative content)

The following provides guidance about the areas that someone preparing to undertake assessment in this qualification will need to cover:

• Basic anatomy, physiology and biomechanical principles
• Dance leader safety
• Risk assessment
• Hydration & nutrition
• Fatigue, overwork and active rest
• Identifying participant’s health issues and adapting material accordingly
• Population appropriate warm up and cool down
• Physiological, psychological and emotional care and preparation
• Environmental considerations
• Insurance
• Minimising injury risk and managing incidents
• Administrative requirements and procedures.
• Accident and emergency procedures.

Time needed to prepare for assessment (Total Qualification Time)

The total qualification time (TQT) for this Certificate is 125 hours. This includes time spent with a tutor (guided learning) and self-directed study, preparation and assessment time needed to complete this qualification.

The time needed will depend on your level of experience. If you have been working in this field for some time and keep up to date with professional requirements related to this area of work you may need less time to prepare for assessment than someone who is new to the sector.

This qualification awards 12 credits at Level 4. This is generally seen as equal to 120 hours of learning. This could be through previous professional practice or experience, or as a result of learning acquired specifically for this qualification which might be broken down into 24 taught hours (guided learning hours) and 101 hours of self-directed study or a mix of the above.

Assessment method

There are two assessment task for this qualification. You must pass both tasks in order to gain the qualification.

Example Task 1 (90%)

You will submit a film (minimum 15 minutes, maximum 20 minutes) which demonstrates your approach to EITHER a progressive safe warm up OR a progressive safe cool down tailored to the needs of a specific population group of your choice. Your film will include a verbal explanation, which provides a rationale for the content and order of the activities, together with the intended physiological and anatomical effects of the movement. Your film will also include physical demonstrations of the activities to illustrate your points. The demonstration may be performed by you or another. Your film will be accompanied by a cover note (maximum 500 words) setting out the following:

• Brief background information about the intended participant group
• The context in which the dancing takes place
• An overview of the aim of the dance session to which the filmed activity pertains
• Information about the main dance style used within the filmed session.

Example Task 2 (10%)

You will submit a completed risk assessment relating to the dance session to which the filmed activity pertains. The risk assessment should address environmental and population-specific factors as well as issues relating to the dance content.

Attainment bands

There are four attainment bands for the qualification: Fail, Pass, Merit and Distinction. The pass mark for this qualification is 60%.

Attainment level descriptors

The following shows how the assessors use the marks in relation to the learning outcomes set out above to determine your level of achievement.

Attainment bands and descriptor

• Fail: 59% or under You will demonstrate limited knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and effective practice in relation dance in community or participatory contexts
• Pass: 60% to 74% You will demonstrate competent knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and effective practice in relation dance in community or participatory contexts Merit: 75% to 89% You will demonstrate an assured knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and effective practice in relation dance in community or participatory contexts
• Distinction: 90% or above You will demonstrate an authoritative level of knowledge, skills and understanding of safe and effective practice in relation dance in community or participatory contexts.

Suggested resources

• Beck, S., De'Ath, S., Aujla, I., Nordin-Bates, S., & Redding, E. (2013). Injury tracking in prevocational dancers: findings from the UK Centres for Advanced Training. Poster session presented at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Dance Medicine & Science, Seattle, WA
• Blakey, P. 1992. The Muscle Book. Stafford: Bibliotek Books Ltd
• Blazy L, & Amstell S. NRG2 Youth Dance and Health Research Report. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. 2010
• Brinson, P and Dick, F (1996). Fit to dance? London: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
• Buckroyd, J. 2000. The Student Dancer. Alton: Dance Books
• Dyke, S. 1999. The Dancer’s Survival Guide. Dance UK; FCD; Place Dance Services
• Mastin, Z. 2009. Nutrition for the Dancer. Alton: Dance Books
• People Dancing, 2024, Safer Community Dance Practice (online course)
• Quin, E., Rafferty, S. and Tomlinson, C. 2015. Safe Dance Practice: An Applied Dance Science Perspective. Champaign: Human Kinetics
• Quin, E., & Redding, E. (2010). Dance Injury Prevention Strategies: Injury risk identification, education and prehabilitation at Laban. A Dance Science Perspective
• Sanders, L. (ed.) 2016. Dance Teaching and Learning: Shaping Practice. London: One Dance UK
• Solomon, J. and Cerny Minton, S. 2005. Preventing Dance Injuries. (2nd edition) Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Websites:

• communitydance.org.uk
• iadms.org
• nidms.co.uk
• onedanceuk.org
• safeindance.com

This information is available as a downloadable PDF below

PLEASE READ THIS GUIDANCE BEFORE ACCESSING THE ASSESSMENT

This guidance has been devised to support candidates who wish to take the assessment for the People Dancing Professional Qualification Level 4 Certificate Application of Safer Dance Practice.

One time only

You will only be able to submit work for assessment once so please ensure you are ready before selecting the 'Assessment' option on the left of this web page.

Assessment method

There are two assessment tasks for this qualification. Task 1 carried 90% of the overall mark and Task 2 carries 10% of the overall mark. You must pass both tasks in order to gain the qualification. The pass mark for the qualification is 60%.

Task 1 (Minimum 15 minute / maximum 20 minute film plus max. 500 word cover note)

You will submit a film (minimum 15 minutes, maximum 20 minutes) which demonstrates your approach to EITHER a progressive safe warm up OR a progressive safe cool down tailored to the needs of a specific population group of your choice. Your film will include a verbal explanation, which provides a rationale for the content and order of the activities, together with the intended physiological and anatomical effects of the movement. Your film will also include physical demonstrations of the activities to illustrate your points. The demonstration may be performed by you or another. Your film will be accompanied by a cover note (maximum 500 words) setting out the following:

• Brief background information about the intended participant group
• The context in which the dancing takes place
• An overview of the aim of the dance session to which the filmed activity pertains
• Information about the main dance style used within the filmed session.

Task 2 (Max 500 words OR two minute film)

You will submit a completed risk assessment relating to the dance session to which the filmed activity pertains. The risk assessment should address environmental and population-specific factors as well as issues pertaining to the dance content.

Submission format

You must submit your answer to Task 1 in filmed format (plus cover note) and must submit your answer to Task 2 in written or filmed format.

Written format

Accepted file types are:

• .odt
• .pdf
• .docx
• .doc

Files saved in other formats will not be accepted.

You also have the option to type your answers directly in to the text box in the assessment, however be aware that this will take you more time than uploading a pre-prepared document.

Filmed format

For answers submitted in filmed format you should upload your film to a reliable video channel such as YouTube or Vimeo, and provide the full URL link AND the password (if appropriate) into the box below the question on the assessment page.

You should NOT attempt to upload film files directly to the assessment site.

Naming your files

You should use your Unique Candidate Number (UCN), followed by the task number, as your file name (eg 1210001Task2).

Deleting or replacing files

You can delete any file that you have uploaded and reload prior to submitting your work.

Preparation

You should prepare your answers (either in written or filmed format) prior to going to the assessment page.

Regulatory compliance

In order to comply with People Dancing's academic regulations the work you submit must be your own. You should:

• Read the academic regulations and ensure understanding of them
• Confirm that the submitted materials are all your own work
• Acknowledge any sources of information used to answer questions by stating the source of the original information fully (see 'Referencing' in the Academic Regulations).

Additional support

If you have additional needs and need support in order to access the assessment please email qualifications@communitydance.org.uk before visiting the assessment pages.

Time limit

Once you open the assessment page you will continue to have access to it for a maximum of 2 hours. This is considerably longer than you are likely to need as your only task will be to upload your files OR paste the URL location of your filmed submission and password (if appropriate) in to the box below each question.

If you have not submitted your work at the end of the two-hour period the system will automatically submit the material you have provided (if any) and you will not be able to open the assessment again.

Submitting your work

When you have attached your files or provided a link to your film you should select the 'Finish attempt' button. The system will ask you if you are sure you wish to submit. You can either select the 'Return to attempt' button or, if you are sure that you want to submit the documents you can click the 'Submit all and finish' button.

Once the 'Submit all and finish' has been selected it will ask you to confirm your decision. When you have finally submitted your work a message saying 'Done. Assessment submitted' will appear on the screen.

You will not be able to revisit assessment pages once the Submit button has been clicked for the second time.

Results

The results of your assessment will be emailed to you within three weeks of submission.

This information is available as a downloadable PDF below