IB Dance investigation: provisional structure and steps

Some details on this page are still being checked against the IB guide.

At a glance

This piece has 2 versions, each with its own structure below. Write the one for your session.

The structure, section by section: Standard level

Sessions: SL candidates in May 2027, November 2027 and May 2028.

1. Introduction and focus

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

The 2 dance styles, the culture or tradition of each, and the focus of the comparison.

1. Name the 2 dance styles and the culture or tradition of each.
2. Check that they come from different dance cultures or traditions.
3. State the focus of your comparison.

2. Context of each style

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

The cultural and historical context of each style.

1. Research each style's origins and context.
2. Keep only what your comparison uses.
3. Cite each source.

3. Comparative analysis

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

Similarities and differences, feature by feature.

1. Choose the features you will compare.
2. Compare the 2 styles feature by feature.
3. Support each point with evidence from performances or sources.

4. Conclusion

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

What the comparison shows.

1. Sum up the main similarities and differences.
2. State what the comparison shows.

5. List of sources

Common practice · Outside the word count

Every source used.

1. Log each source when you first use it.

The structure, section by section: Higher level

Sessions: HL candidates in May 2027, November 2027 and May 2028.

1. Introduction and focus

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

The 2 dance styles, the culture or tradition of each, and the focus of the comparison.

1. Name the 2 dance styles and the culture or tradition of each.
2. Check that they come from different dance cultures or traditions.
3. State the focus of your comparison.

2. Context of each style

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

The cultural and historical context of each style.

1. Research each style's origins and context.
2. Keep only what your comparison uses.
3. Cite each source.

3. Comparative analysis

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

Similarities and differences, feature by feature.

1. Choose the features you will compare.
2. Compare the 2 styles feature by feature.
3. Support each point with evidence from performances or sources.

4. Conclusion

Common practice (provisional until the IB criteria are confirmed)

What the comparison shows.

1. Sum up the main similarities and differences.
2. State what the comparison shows.

5. List of sources

Common practice · Outside the word count

Every source used.

1. Log each source when you first use it.

What counts toward the limit

Standard level (SL candidates in May 2027, November 2027 and May 2028)

Until the IB's rule is confirmed, the workspace leaves out the title, headings, captions, citations and the list of sources and counts the rest. Check what counts with your teacher.

The limit: 1,500 words at SL; what counts toward the limit and what happens over it are not confirmed.

Higher level (HL candidates in May 2027, November 2027 and May 2028)

Until the IB's rule is confirmed, the workspace leaves out the title, headings, captions, citations and the list of sources and counts the rest. Check what counts with your teacher.

The limit: 2,500 words at HL; what counts toward the limit and what happens over it are not confirmed.

Graphs and visuals

• Photographs of dancers or performances Image, occasional
  Caption with the dance, the performer or company, the date and the source. Frequency is inferred from the Extended essay guidance, which lists photographs as primary sources.
• Dance notation Drawn, occasional
  Label and reference it. Frequency is inferred from the Extended essay guidance, which lists notation as a primary source.

The frequencies are our estimates, from what the IB guide expects and what teachers advise. We did not count them in marked work.

Citations

The IB prescribes no style and no Dance-specific rule was found; MLA and Chicago are both common in dance writing.

The workspace keeps your sources and writes the bibliography in MLA 9th to start with. You can switch to APA 7th, Chicago author-date, Chicago notes (footnotes) or Harvard at any point.

Pitfalls

• Choosing 2 styles from the same dance culture or tradition, when the task asks for different ones.
• A report over the limit for your level: 1,500 words at SL and 2,500 words at HL.
• Using the 2029 Dance task: it covers 1 dance form, while this task compares 2 styles.

The workspace is free with an account, and it never writes or rewrites your text. What we will and will not do with your coursework →

Sources

• IB, Dance guide, online
• IB, Dance HL course outline
• IB, "Study dance" course page
• IB, Dance updates
• IB, "Dance updates" (last updated 6 March 2026)
• IB, "Read curriculum updates" (page last updated 24 March 2026)
• Extended essay guide, first assessment 2018 (published Feb 2016, updated May 2019), including subject-specific guidance

The IB documents behind this page, checked 29 October 2026. The linked ones are on ibo.org; the others are IB documents we read in copies hosted elsewhere, so we name them without a link. Everything above is in our own words: the official wording is in your subject guide, which your coordinator can give you. LimeAdmissions is independent of the International Baccalaureate Organization, which has not endorsed this page. Every coursework structure →