Dance Definitions Flashcards
Artistry
The degree of expressive execution of movement vocabulary by the dancer when performing a dance work.
Arranging
The process of manipulation of movement vocabulary and choreographic devices to express the intention of the dance maker.
Asymmetry
Unbalanced proportion within the spatial design of either the body itself or the place met of groupings within the performance area judged by diving the space into even sections horizontally, vertically and diagonally.
Body actions
Gesture Locomotion Elevation Falling Turning Stillness
Canon
A minor successive time difference.
This can be one movement put unto canon by two or more dancers or a phrase of movements put into canon
Choreography
The planning and arranging of dance sections to make a unified composition.
The process of improvising, selecting and refining of movements.
Choreographic devices
Application of the elements of movement, aspects of dance design, dance making methodology, spatial organisation and group structures within dance compositions.
OR
Specific ways of manipulating movement to generate movement material and form such as: augmentation, accumulation, abstraction, distortion, embellishment, inversion, insertion, repetition, retrograde, rearrangement.
Composition
The process of improvisation, selection and refining of movement into a dance that has a beginning, development and resolution.
Dance design
The expressive intention, form and movement vocabulary within the dance (all interrelated).
Dance making
Creating movement works through exploration of ideas, themes or observations and experiences of movement itself.
It is the practical translation of the initial intention, content, idea, motif, theme, story.
Dance making process
The making of dances through the use of improvisation, selection, arrangement, refinement and evaluation. (ISARE)
Movement creation; use of choreographic devices, rehearsal practices, pre performance practices and performance practices.
Dimension
Size of both the personal shape size and group size (height, width, depth)
Direction
The line of locomotor movement.
The direction of movement of the dancer’s total body or body parts upwards, downwards, sideways, forwards, backwards, diagonally and circular.
Dynamic qualities
The use of the movement qualities of suspending, sustaining, swinging, percussive, vibratory and collapsing. (SSSPVC)
The changes in energy force and effort flow needed to execute the desired movement or phrase.
Elements of dance design
Expressive intention, form, movement vocabulary (all interrelated).
Elements of movement
Time, space and energy (all interrelated)
Evaluation
The oral and written reflections on the processes of rehearsing and performing learnt dance works and of composing one’s own dance.
Analysis of the use of choreographic devices by the dance maker.
Expressive intention
The central concern that guides the formulation of the dance. The purpose, idea, emotion or theme of the dance.
Form
The structure of the dance by selecting, arranging and refining movement phrases into a unified composition.
Formal structures
The manipulation of elements of movement; the creation of movements phrases and linking of phrases into sections.
Binary (AB)
Ternary/sequential (ABA)
Rondo (ABACA)
Theme and variation (A A1 A2 A3)
Group structures
Two or more dancers interacting together through the use of the choreographic devices of unison, canon and contrast. Through groupings of dancers placed either symmetrically or asymmetrically.
Improvisation (free)
A spontaneous movement response without preplanning. The key elements are concentration and spontaneity. By it’s very nature, improvisation will not be unified.
Structured improvisation
To improvise spontaneously and imaginatively within a given framework.
Eg: using props, interpret dance in reaction to colours, listen to music beforehand and improvise movement.
Influences
Those factors which affect the choices made by the choreographer/dance maker- the economic, political, philosophical, religious, social and/or environmental background of the idea (expressive intention).
Interpretation
To aim to bring out the stated meanings, emotions, subtleties and nuances of gestures when learning and performing another choreographer’s dance works.
Learnt works
A dance work made by another person and transferred to the student through imitation and repetition in order to reproduce exactly that person’s choreography.
Level
An spect of height dimension which includes the variety of working heights from prone to as high as one can jump or even higher by taking into account a prop or stairs.
Modes of dance making
- Structured improvisation
- Own composition
- Learnt works
Motif
A brief movement or movement phrase with an obvious characteristic, often repeated at intervals during a dance. The motif can be explore through the use of manipulation by choreographic devices.
Movement creation process
The use of improvisation, selection, arranging, refining and evaluating (ISARE)
Movement memory
The acquiring of the ability to commit to memory movement phrases and sections in order to develop the power to retain and reproduce dances exactly as originally set by the choreographer.
Movement qualities
Variations do suspending, sustaining, swinging, percussive, vibratory and collapsing (SSSPVC) that leads to variations in force and flow.
Movement vocabulary
A range of movement skills.
Organisation
One of the necessary stages in making a dance.
The intellectual choice and ordering of the movement vocabulary and/or the form of the dance.
Performance practices
The processes used I the final preparation for the performance of a dance work.
Eg: a run through in the space.
Phrase
The linking of two or more single movements.
The linking of two or more measures of music.
Physical skills
Movements of the body in space practiced regularly in order to gain balance, correct alignment, flexibility, muscular strength, control, stamina, transference of weight and transitions between movements.
Production aspects
Lighting Scenery Props Costumes Performance space Make-up Mechanical and digital devices
Quality of movement
Refining of selected movement skills.
Rehearsal practices
This process is involved in the refining of the dance work after the initial creation of the movements, phrases and sections,
Refining
The dance makers process of editing of their dance work’s initial form and movement vocabulary in order to make a more succinct, polished dance statement.
Safe dance practice
Fundamental understanding of anatomical dats that leads to the safe use and care of the dancer’s body.
Spatial design
Relationship/interaction of dancers in a group.
The floor and air patterns created by the dancer/s in space.
The dimension, direction, focus and levels contained in a made dance.
Spatial organisation
The arrangement of the dancer/’s within the performance area.
This can include:
The use and manipulation of direction, level, dimension and focus.
Groups structures of symmetry and asymmetry.
Interaction in unison, contrast and canon form.
Symmetry
Balanced, even position of the body shape itself, or of the placement of groups within the performance space.
Unified composition
A dance which has a beginning, development and resolution of the initial intention, idea, motif, emotion, theme etc. The relationship between the three area can e complimentary or contrasting.
Unison
Dancers moving exactly alike.
Warm-down (cool down)
Essential light movements and gentle stretching, undertaken at the end of an of an activity session, which are designed to flush out toxins that gather during the heavier physical section of the dance class.
Warm-up
Initial light movements designed to prepare muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints for heavier physical activity. These are normally of 15-20 minutes in duration.
Spatial orientation
The awareness of where one is within the performance area.
The relationship of the dancer to other performers within the performance area.
