Choreographic Devices

Question 1

What is the acronym for the choreographic devices?

Answer 1

RAAM RAAT RIDE

Question 2

RAAM

Answer 2

R: repitition
A: augmentation
A: accumulation
M: motif

Question 3

RAAT

Answer 3

R: retrograde
A: abstraction
A: addition
T: transportation

Question 4

RIDE

Answer 4

R: rearrangement
I: inversion
D: distortion
E: embellishment

Question 5

Repetition

Answer 5

Repetition is a movement or phrase repeated in exactly the same way.

Question 6

Augmemtation

Answer 6

Augmentation is to make a movement or phrase larger in size.

Question 7

Accumulation

Answer 7

Accumulation is when you add movements onto a phrase. You begin with one move ‘A’ and then you repeat the ‘A’ and add another movement ‘B’ so the movement would be ‘A,B’ and then that continues, always going back to the beginning of the phrase and accumulating movements as you go.

Example: A, AB, ABC, ABCD

Question 8

Motif

Answer 8

A single movement or short movement phrase which is repeated and manipulated throughout a dance to emphasise or assist in the communication of the intention.

Question 9

Retrograde

Answer 9

Retrograde is where a movement or phrase is reversed.

Example: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Question 10

Abstraction

Answer 10

Abstraction is the ‘essence of the idea or feeling rather than the literal image.’

All dance is abstract in a sense. For example, a gesture such as waving to someone could be ‘abstracted’ as a hand that is shot up quickly in the air and moved in a way like a windscreen wiper.

Question 11

Addition

Answer 11

Addition is when you perform a distinctive action and add another body action to it: the original movement category must have been clearly seen on its own to establish that something has been added to it.

Question 12

Transportation

Answer 12

Transportation is where a movement is transferred to a different body part.

Example: circular shapes made with the pelvis, next transported to the neck to create circular head rolls.

Question 13

Rearrangement

Answer 13

Rearrangement is where movement is taken apart and reorganised into a different order.

Example:
(Existing): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
(Rearranged): 1.2.3, 1.2.3, 6.7.8, 5.6

Question 14

Inversion

Answer 14

Inversion is the reverse position of the body, like a mirror image.

Question 15

Distortion

Answer 15

To distort a shape is to bend or change the shape of the movement making it appear twisted out of shape, angular and deformed.

Question 16

Embellishment

Answer 16

To embellish is to add detail. Adding detail to a movement or a head movement can add interest to a dance phrase.