Dance education in New South Wales focuses on the three components of the artform - performance, composition and appreciation. However, historically there has been a prescribed emphasis on performance on the assumption that performance informs composition and appreciation. In preliminary investigations, data gained via questionnaires to students; examination markers' reports; and examination results, showed the above assumption to be erroneous. It is hypothesised that, although in NSW teachers choreograph the dances performed for assessment, the emphasis on skill acquisition to achieve the highest level of performance possible mitigates against making connections between these dances and the composition components in the syllabuses. This research aimed to develop, test, and evaluate new methods of teaching these dances to simultaneously enhance students' knowledge, understanding and skill in dance composition and appreciation. The resultant Exemplar-Apprentice model -a development of the traditional master-apprentice system with the teacher functioning in concurrent roles as an exemplar-artist and as a teacher-pedagogue - is recommended because the students, as apprentices, have access to the exemplar-artist's knowledge, intuition, experience and creativity and through the teacher-pedagogue this develops a more holistic appreciation of dance as an artform. Ninety-three students from Years 10 to 12 (ages 14-17) at one sample school participated in six interventions to test the exemplar-apprentice methodology. Appropriate analytical frameworks and qualitative research instruments were employed to establish internal validity within this action research project. Analysis of the data collected supports the proposition that the Exemplar-Apprentice model can enhance knowledge, understanding and skills in dance composition and appreciation, as well as in performance. Although claims for external validity of the model are proposed, a Resource Template is offered to facilitate use of it in contexts beyond the research site. Such testing, further adaptations and applications of the Exemplar-Apprentice model by other dance teachers will extend and enhance the teaching of dance performance in NSW and across the world.