Choreographic devices Flashcards
What are the 7 choreographic devices that are easiest to talk about?
Motifs and motif development, highlights, climax, contrast, canon, unison and repetition.
Define motif and motif development.
A movement or phrase of movements that embody the intentions of the dance and which can be manipulated, repeated or developed. It is the central theme and signature of the dance.
Define highlights.
A moment of great visual note in a dance, a memorable moment that will communicate with the audience and capture their attention.
Define climax.
The main highpoint of dance, the peak, the most significant moment. It will only happen once and it will be the most dramatic event or visually exciting occurrence.
Define contrast.
When something completely different happens in a dance, this may be new dynamics, movement, number of dancers etc. It is something that will have been previously unseen or drastic change in the constituent features.
Define canon.
When the dancers in a group perform the same movement but start the movement with a time delay or alternative sequencing. Different types include reverting, accumulative, simultaneous and loose.
Define unison.
When all the dancers on the stage are performing the exact same movement at the same time. There should be complete synchronisation between everyone dancing.
Define repetition.
When a motif or movement is presented again in exactly the same form with no alterations.
Give an example of motif development.
- Instrumentation
- fragmentation
- dynamics
- size
- addition
- incorporation
- quality
- tempo
- rhythm
- retrograde
- levels and planes
Give examples of highlights.
- At the start of Falling Angels when the dancers walk in to their formation in silence
- The play with fire section from Rooster
- Section three from Flesh and Blood
- In hurricane, when the Italian theatre character is being portrayed
Give examples of climaxes.
- Section 7 from ‘Still Life’, Brazillian Woolly Monkey
- Sympathy for the devil, the final section from Rooster
Give an example of contrast.
The contrast between the natural and manmade movement in the Zebra section of ‘Still Life’. The zebra performs free flowing, African inspired movents using the vertebrae which contrasts to the bound, stiff, linear pedestrian movements performed by the models.
Give an example of canon.
In falling Angels when the dancers are stood in their asymetric formation. The dancers stand up sharply, throwing their arms to an open fifth on different counts, one after the other.
Give an example of unison.
In Falling Angels the dancers cross their hands over various body parts (legs, stomach, chest and face) in complete unison. This shows how despite being individuals, they all face the same expectations of perfection from society.
Give an example of repetition.
In Sympathy for the Devil, the dancers perform movements that they already performed from previous sections. For example, the Rooster Strut.
