📝 Section B — Set Phrase · 6a.3
Physical Skills
Balance · Control · Strength · Stamina · Posture · Alignment · and more (MICS FAB PECS)
📚 What you'll learn on this page
- Know all 11 physical skills and what each one means
- Identify which physical skill is being demonstrated in a specific moment
- Structure a Level 3 answer covering 3+ physical skills with specific examples from Shift or Breathe
- Recognise the difference between a strong and a weak explanation
Physical skills are about what your body can do — and how well it does it. Every arabesque, floor transition, turn and travelling run in Shift and Breathe makes physical demands. A question about physical skills asks: how well did your body perform, and what did that quality contribute to the performance?
6a.3.1 The 11 physical skills — MICS FAB PECS
💪 All 11 physical skills — click any to expand
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All 11 physical skills apply to the solo set phrase. Use MICS FAB PECS to remember them.
🔄 Mobility▶
The range of movement in a joint and the ability to move fluently from one action to the next.
Why: Makes the dance appear smooth, effortless and seamless between sections.
🎯 Isolation▶
Independent movement of one part of the body — e.g. head turn, shoulder roll, knee pop.
Why: Adds sharp dynamic moments and is important for rhythmic accuracy in stylistic sections.
⚡ Control▶
The ability to start and stop movement, change direction and hold a shape efficiently.
Why: Essential for floor transitions and moments of stillness. Keeps movement intentional and safe.
💪 Strength▶
Muscle power — used to hold positions, land jumps and support body weight.
Why: Controls landings, supports balances and keeps demanding positions safe.
🌊 Flexibility▶
Range of movement in the joints — how far you can extend, lunge or stretch safely.
Why: Allows safe execution of lunges, arabesques and floor positions.
📐 Alignment▶
The correct placement of body parts in relation to each other — spine, hips, knees all in line.
Why: Prevents injury on landings, supports balances and creates strong, clear shapes.
⚖️ Balance▶
A steady or held position — maintaining weight over the supporting base.
Why: Creates moments of tension in the phrase and allows accurate timing on held shapes.
🧍 Posture▶
The way the body is held — upright, engaged and ready to perform.
Why: Shows confidence and presence on stage, and supports safe execution throughout.
↔️ Extension▶
Lengthening one or more limbs to their full reach — pointed feet, reaching fingers, long lines.
Why: Creates strong, confident shapes and communicates commitment to the movement.
🔗 Coordination▶
The efficient combination of body parts — arms and legs working together smoothly and accurately.
Why: Ensures precise, well-timed actions — especially in turn sequences and complex phrases.
🏃 Stamina▶
Endurance — the ability to maintain energy and physical quality throughout the full phrase.
Why: Without it, timing slips in the later sections and the ending loses its visual impact.
All 11 apply to the set phrase Unlike expressive and technical skills, there are no exclusions for physical skills in a solo set phrase. All 11 can be used in your answer.
6a.3.2 How to answer — PEE, 3+ skills
🔵 Structuring your answer with annotated model
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Use Method 1: PEE and aim for 3–4 different physical skills. Name each skill, describe a specific moment in Shift or Breathe, then explain what that skill achieved. Keep each one concise — 2 sentences per skill is enough. Tap the highlighted sections below for notes.
Annotated model — physical skills in Shift · tap any highlighted section
Balance was vital in bar 3 — on count 8 I sent my left leg into arabesque while supporting on a bent right leg, facing downstage right. This was effective because the held shape created a strong visual contrast after the fast travelling that came before it.
Control was needed in the floor section — in bar 5 on counts 7 and 8 I had to lower smoothly into the key position and hold it before the roll. This was important for safety and meant the floor work looked intentional rather than rushed.
Coordination was required in bar 2 — on counts 2, 3 and 4 I had to coordinate the step-hop sequence precisely with the simultaneous arm gestures, managing both at the same time without losing the rhythm. This was effective because the precise arm-and-footwork timing gave the travelling section a sharp, rhythmic quality rather than looking messy or out of sync.
Stamina was tested in the final section — moving at speed on the floor and rolling to the ending crouch in bars 6 and 7 required sustained energy throughout. Without it I would have lost the timing and missed the counts for the ending, which would have ruined the visual impact.
Control was needed in the floor section — in bar 5 on counts 7 and 8 I had to lower smoothly into the key position and hold it before the roll. This was important for safety and meant the floor work looked intentional rather than rushed.
Coordination was required in bar 2 — on counts 2, 3 and 4 I had to coordinate the step-hop sequence precisely with the simultaneous arm gestures, managing both at the same time without losing the rhythm. This was effective because the precise arm-and-footwork timing gave the travelling section a sharp, rhythmic quality rather than looking messy or out of sync.
Stamina was tested in the final section — moving at speed on the floor and rolling to the ending crouch in bars 6 and 7 required sustained energy throughout. Without it I would have lost the timing and missed the counts for the ending, which would have ruined the visual impact.
Point
Example
Explain
Examiner's Eye Notice "Without it I would have lost the timing and missed the counts" — this explains the effect specifically. It doesn't say "it looked good"; it says exactly what would have gone wrong without that stamina.
6a.3.3 Which Physical Skill?
🎯 Match the moment to the physical skill
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Read each movement description from Shift or Breathe. Click the physical skill it primarily demonstrates.
"On count 8 of bar 3 in Shift, I hold my left leg in arabesque position for one full count, supporting all my weight on a bent right leg."
"In bars 6 and 7 of Shift, I move at speed across the floor — rolling, changing shapes and driving to the final crouch — maintaining quality from start to finish."
"On count 4 of bar 1 in Shift I make a sharp, isolated head turn while my body stays completely still, facing forward."
"In bar 2 of Shift, I step and turn on counts 2, 3 and 4, coordinating my footwork precisely with my arm movements at the same time."
"On count 8 of bar 1 in Shift, I push back long and far with fully pointed feet, reaching through the whole leg to maximum length."
"In bar 5 of Shift on counts 7 and 8, I lower from standing to the floor position — reaching down gradually and landing without a crash or loss of shape."
6a.3.4 Question Bank
📝 Three questions — Level 1, 2 and 3 model answers
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Click each question to reveal three model answers. Focus on what moves a response from Level 2 to Level 3.
"Explain how you used physical skills in your performance of the set phrase."
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❌ Level 1 (1–2 marks)
"I used physical skills such as balance and strength in my performance of the set phrase."
🟡 Level 2 (3–4 marks)
"In Shift I used balance when I held the arabesque. I also needed strength for the push back on count 8 of bar 1. These physical skills helped me perform the set phrase accurately."
✅ Level 3 (5–6 marks)
"I performed the AQA set phrase Shift. Posture and alignment were needed at the start — I stood downstage facing diagonal, pulling up through the sternum into a high release, maintaining a curve in the spine. This was effective because it made me appear confident and projected my energy outward from the very first count. Balance was vital in bar 3 on count 8 — I sent my left leg into arabesque while supporting on a bent right leg. This was effective because the held shape created a clear visual contrast after the fast travelling that preceded it. Control was needed throughout the floor section — in bar 5 on counts 7 and 8 I had to lower smoothly into the key position. This was important for safety and meant the floor work looked intentional. Stamina was tested in bars 6 and 7 — moving at speed and rolling to the ending crouch required sustained energy. Without it I would have lost the timing and missed the counts at the end."
"Explain how balance and control contributed to the effectiveness of your performance."
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❌ Level 1 (1–2 marks)
"Balance and control are important physical skills that helped my performance."
🟡 Level 2 (3–4 marks)
"In Shift I used balance when I held the arabesque on count 8 of bar 3. I needed good control in the floor section so that the transitions were smooth. These skills made my performance look more in control."
✅ Level 3 (5–6 marks)
"I performed the AQA set phrase Shift. Balance was vital in bar 3 on count 8 — I sent my left leg into arabesque while holding my weight on a bent right leg, facing downstage right. This was effective because the held shape created a dramatic visual moment and showed the audience a clear, strong position. Flexibility was tested in bar 2 on count 5 — I lowered into the wide side lunge, requiring sufficient range of movement in my hip and inner thigh to reach the full depth of the position. This was effective because the full lunge gave the phrase its dynamic contrast against the upright sections. Control was essential throughout the floor section — in bar 5 I had to control the descent to the floor smoothly so it looked intentional rather than a collapse. This was important for safety and gave the floor work a clean, committed quality. Stamina was needed in bars 6 and 7 — sustaining quality and speed through the roll to the ending crouch required consistent energy. Without it the ending would have lost impact and looked rushed."
"Explain how you used physical skills to perform the set phrase safely."
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❌ Level 1 (1–2 marks)
"I used physical skills to stay safe and avoid injuries during the set phrase."
🟡 Level 2 (3–4 marks)
"In Shift I needed good alignment to keep my spine safe, especially during the floor section. I also needed flexibility for the side lunges. These skills helped me perform safely."
✅ Level 3 (5–6 marks)
"I performed the AQA set phrase Shift. Alignment was crucial for safety throughout — particularly at the start, pulling up through the sternum and spine during the high release. This was important because good alignment prevented strain on the neck and spine when performing the release position. Flexibility was needed safely in the side lunge in bar 2 on count 5 — I only lowered as far as my range of movement comfortably allowed, keeping my weight centred. Without adequate flexibility a forced lunge would have risked injury to the hip and inner thigh. Control was vital in the floor section — on counts 7 and 8 of bar 5 I controlled the descent to the floor rather than collapsing. This reduced the risk of impact injury and kept the movement looking intentional."
6a.3.5 Spot the Level
🎯 Place these four answers on the marking ladder
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All four are about physical skills in Shift or Breathe. Click Level 1, 2 or 3 for each.
"I used strength and flexibility in my performance of the set phrase."
"I performed the AQA set phrase Shift. Balance was vital in bar 3 on count 8 — I held my left leg in arabesque while supporting on a bent right leg. This was effective because the held shape created a visual contrast after the fast section before it, and gave the phrase a moment of tension."
"In Shift I used stamina in the floor section at the end of the phrase. I had to keep moving quickly on the floor to reach the ending position in time. Without stamina I might have been too tired to finish."
"Physical skills are important in dance. I used lots of physical skills in my performance."
6a.3.6 Fix the Explanation
🔧 Choose the explanation that would score — and say why
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Each answer below has a good Point and Example, but needs a better Explain. Click the explanation that would earn the most marks.
I used extension in the set phrase Shift. On count 8 of bar 1, I pushed back long and far, pointing both feet fully and reaching through the whole length of my legs. [Choose the best explanation below]
Which explanation scores highest?
I used posture and alignment at the start of Shift. I stood downstage facing diagonal, pulling up through the sternum and maintaining a long, lifted spine into the high release position. [Choose the best explanation below]
Which explanation scores highest?
I used stamina in the final section of Shift. In bars 6 and 7 I moved continuously at speed on the floor — rolling, changing shapes and driving to the ending crouch. [Choose the best explanation below]
Which explanation scores highest?
🧠 Revision Check
10 questions · Select one answer · Submit when ready
1. What is the mnemonic for physical skills?
2. What does "control" mean in physical skills?
3. Which physical skill is most relevant to a sharp, independent head turn in the set phrase?
4. "I used good balance and strength in my set phrase." Why is this Level 1?
5. Why is alignment important for safety in the set phrase?
6. Which of these is the best explanation for stamina in the floor section of Shift?
7. How many physical skills apply to the solo set phrase?
8. What does "extension" primarily contribute to a performance?
9. A student covers four physical skills, each with a specific example from Shift and a clear explanation of effect. What level is this likely to score?
10. Which physical skill is described as "a steady or held position"?
Take a screenshot of your score now and paste it into your ePortfolio document so your teacher can see your progress.
⚡ Revisit This — 6 key facts
11 skills, all applyMICS FAB PECS — Mobility, Isolation, Control, Strength, Flexibility, Alignment, Balance, Posture, Extension, Coordination, Stamina
Method: PEEAim for 3–4 skills. Name it → specific moment → explain the effect. 2 sentences per skill is enough.
Balance = tension"The held shape created visual contrast and tension" — not just "I balanced."
Stamina = timing"Without it I would have lost the timing and missed the counts" — connect stamina to the specific consequence.
Alignment = safetyGood alignment is a valid safety explanation — "prevented strain on the neck and spine" earns marks.
State the phraseStart your answer with "I performed the AQA set phrase Shift/Breathe" — this shows context.