A dancer moves through space and time with energy.
BODY
Who? A dancer...
Body Part-the part of the body or body zone being used or emphasized in a particular movement
Body Shape-the sculptural form of the body. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- E.g. Head, Legs, Arm, Toe, Elbow, Torso, Right Side, Left Side, Upper Body, Lower Body, Etc...
Body Shape-the sculptural form of the body. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- Rounded/Angular
- Twisted/Straight
- Symmetrical/Asymmetrical
- E.g. Angular may express militaristic, Symmetrical may express order, etc...
ACTION
Does what? moves...
Locomotor- movements that travel through the space.
Non-locomotor-movements that do not travel through the space.
- Walk, Run, Leap, Jump (2 feet), Hop (1 foot), Skip, Slide, Gallop
Non-locomotor-movements that do not travel through the space.
- Bend/Straighten, Push/Pull, Shake, Twist, Rise/Fall, Reach, Etc...
SPACE
Where? through space...
Place-the nine regions of a stage where movement may happen. From the dancer's point of view. May or may not be used to express meaning.
Direction- the orientation a dancer faces or travels. From the dancer's point of view. May or may not be used to express meaning.
Pathway-the imaginary line created by a movement traveling through space. May or may not be used to express meaning.
Level -Refers to the height of the movement or shape. May or may not be used to express meaning.
Spatial Relationships- the organization of bodies in space. Can be organic or geometric. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- E.g: downstage, downstage left, upstage, upstage right, stage left, stage right, center stage, etc...
- E.g. Downstage (close to audience) may seem more intimate and friendly, while upstage (away from audience) may seem distant or aloof. Being center stage may express importance, etc...
- Note: This is more commonly referred to as "Stage Directions" in both theatre and dance. In this class however, we use the term "place" to distinguish this concept from "directions". Also note that place and directions often work together.
Direction- the orientation a dancer faces or travels. From the dancer's point of view. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- E.g. backward, forward, diagonally, sideways, left, right
- E.g. traveling backward may express retreat or facing sideways may express distraction.
Pathway-the imaginary line created by a movement traveling through space. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- E.g. zig-zag, circle, straight, loops, random, etc..
- E.g. Straight lines may express single-mindedness, Zig-zags may express indecision, etc...
Level -Refers to the height of the movement or shape. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- High, Middle, Low
- E.g. High movements may express joy, Low movements may express surrender, etc...
Spatial Relationships- the organization of bodies in space. Can be organic or geometric. May or may not be used to express meaning.
- Geometric: Emphasising shapes and lines. Often symmetrical but not always.(E.g. Circle, Line, V, etc...)
- Organic: Emphasizing relationships between dancers. Often asymmetrical but not always.. (E.g. Clump, Near/Far, Over/Under, etc...)
- Note some spatial relationships have inherent connotations. (E.g. Circles may express community, Lines may express uniformity, Over/Under may express superiority)
- Note that the term "formation" is also used to describe spatial relationships, particularly those that are geometric.
TIME
When? and time...
Tempo- the speed of the movement. May or may not be used to express meaning.
Temporal Relationships
- Original=regular time, faster=double-time, slower=half-time.
- E.g. a phrase lasting 16 counts will be 8 counts if performed double time.
- E.g. fast movements may express urgency, slow movements may express laziness or calm
Temporal Relationships
- Unsion-same movement, at same time.
- Canon- a ripple effect created by different beginning and/or ending times. Includes: Overlapping, Non-overlapping, Ascending, Descending, and Continuous
Energy
How? with energy.
Dynamics- The amount of energy used to perform a movement.
Quality- The type of energy used. What kind of energy? There are six main energy qualities.
- E.g. High energy, Low energy
Quality- The type of energy used. What kind of energy? There are six main energy qualities.
- Swinging- pendular like
- Sustaining-smooth, continuous, unchanging
- Suspending-an momentary pause, the feel of hanging in the air
- Percussing-sharp and drumlike
- Vibrating-shaking
- Collapsing-fall, a release to gravity
Other Dance As Design Concepts
Elements of Dance- the building blocks of all dances
Choreographer-a person who uses the elements of dance to make dances. Often but not always choreographers are former dancers. They may or may not be in their own dances.
Choreographers' Intention-the reason a choreographer makes a dance.
Choreography-the art of making dances, unlike improvisation choreography is designed and rehearsed.
Phrase-the movement equivalent of a sentence. A thoughtful combination of locomotors, non-locomotors and body shapes. Phrases are combined and manipulated to create sections of dances and sections combine to become full dances.
Form-the structure and organization of a dance.
- Body, Action, Space, Time & Energy. Forms the acronym B.A.S.T.E.
- Note that all art forms have basic elements
- Dance shares many of the same elements as music and visual art because dance often uses music and visual design.
Choreographer-a person who uses the elements of dance to make dances. Often but not always choreographers are former dancers. They may or may not be in their own dances.
Choreographers' Intention-the reason a choreographer makes a dance.
- to create creative visual design through dance
- to express a mood, idea or feeling through dance
- May attempt to do both or only one.
Choreography-the art of making dances, unlike improvisation choreography is designed and rehearsed.
Phrase-the movement equivalent of a sentence. A thoughtful combination of locomotors, non-locomotors and body shapes. Phrases are combined and manipulated to create sections of dances and sections combine to become full dances.
Form-the structure and organization of a dance.
- E.g. AB, ABA, Theme & Variation