Section B · Duet / Trio Performance
What Section B Asks You To Do
Understanding the question, the marking ladder, and the one thing you must always say first
What you'll learn
- What Section B expects from duet and trio performances
- Why you must state your dance intention at the start of every answer
- The key differences between Section B set phrase and Section B own work
- How the marking ladder works for 1-, 3- and 6-mark questions
Section B is about your performance. Unlike the set phrase, there's no fixed choreography — you and your group created the work, and you chose what it means. That intention is central to every answer you write. Before you describe a single skill, the examiner needs to know who you were and what you were communicating. That's what dance intention does.
The Section B Question
📋 What does the question look like?
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Section B questions follow a consistent pattern. They ask you to explain how you used a specific skill group in your duet or trio performance. You'll see questions like:
- "Explain how you used technical skills in your duet/trio performance." (6 marks)
- "Explain how you used expressive skills in your duet/trio performance." (6 marks)
- "Explain how you used physical skills in your duet/trio performance." (6 marks)
- "Explain one safe working practice you used during rehearsals." (3 marks)
- "Identify one mental skill you used." (1 mark)
Examiner's Eye
The command word is Explain — not describe, not list. You need to name the skill, show where and how you used it, and say why it mattered. A list of skill names scores nothing above Level 1.
Dance Intention — Your First Sentence
🎭 What is dance intention and why does it matter?
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Your dance intention is the idea, theme, or concept your group set out to communicate through the performance. Every school and group chooses their own — that's what makes Section B personal. There's no single right answer.
In the exam, your very first sentence must establish this intention. It tells the examiner the context for everything that follows. Without it, your skill explanations have no anchor — the examiner doesn't know what you were trying to communicate or why those skills mattered.
A River
"Our intention was to explore the journey of a river and its changing emotional states — from calm and still to turbulent and unstoppable."
PTSD
"Our intention was to portray soldiers living with PTSD — the fragmented memories, psychological conflict, and the struggle to find stillness."
Peaky Blinders
"Our intention was to create a jazz-influenced piece inspired by the world of Peaky Blinders — power, danger, and sharp precision."
Your opening sentence formula
"I performed in a [duet/trio]. Our intention was to [your intention here]."
That's it. Two sentences. The rest of your answer can now connect everything back to that intention.
That's it. Two sentences. The rest of your answer can now connect everything back to that intention.
How Duet/Trio Differs from Set Phrase
🔄 What's different compared to the set phrase question?
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| Feature | Set Phrase | Duet / Trio |
|---|---|---|
| Choreography | Fixed — Shift or Breathe | Your own — created by you and your group |
| Opening sentence | "I performed the AQA set phrase Shift/Breathe." | "I performed in a duet/trio. Our intention was…" |
| Examples | Specific bars and counts (e.g. bar 3, count 8) | Specific moments from your own piece (e.g. the opening section, the climax) |
| Technical skills | No Relationships (solo) | Includes Relationships — lead/follow, contact, mirroring etc. |
| Expressive skills | No Musicality or Sensitivity to other dancers (solo, metronome) | Includes Musicality, Sensitivity to Other Dancers, Spatial Awareness |
| Intention | Not required — set phrase has no personal intention | Essential — everything connects back to your intention |
Common mistake
Students who did set phrase answers forget to state their intention when writing duet/trio answers. If you skip it, you lose the context that earns you the higher marks. Always write intention first — every time.
The Marking Ladder
📊 How are answers marked?
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The 6-mark question uses three mark levels. The examiner reads your answer and decides which level it fits overall — they're not ticking one mark per skill.
| Level 3 (5–6) | Detailed and explained. Names 3–4 skills, links each to a specific moment in your performance, explains why each skill was important and how it served your intention. Uses accurate dance vocabulary. |
|---|---|
| Level 2 (3–4) | Some detail. Names 2–3 skills, references some moments but explanation is thin or missing for at least one skill. Limited connection to intention. |
| Level 1 (1–2) | Basic. Names skills only — no moments, no explanation, no connection to intention. |
| 0 | No relevant content. |
The Level 3 formula
State intention → Name skill → Specific moment → How you used it → Why it served your intention.
Repeat 3–4 times. That's 5–6 marks.
Repeat 3–4 times. That's 5–6 marks.
Mini Test
10 questions on Section B basics. Answer all, then submit. 📸 Screenshot your score.
📸 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
First sentence — always"I performed in a [duet/trio]. Our intention was…" — no exceptions.
Intention = contextEverything you write about skills should connect back to what you were trying to communicate.
Extra skills in duet/trioRelationships (technical), Sensitivity to Other Dancers and Musicality (expressive) — not available in set phrase.
L3 needs 3–4 skillsEach with a named moment, an explanation, and a link to intention. Not a list.
Command word: ExplainNot describe, not list. Explain = skill + moment + why it mattered.
Your moments, your examplesYou reference YOUR choreography, not Shift or Breathe. Be specific about what happened in your piece.