Dance Vocabulary

Question 1

The relationship of the skeleton to the line of gravity and base of support

Answer 1

Alignment

Question 2

A state of equilibrium referring to the balance of weight or the spatial arrangement of bodies. Designs may be balanced on both sides of center (symmetrical) or balanced off center (asymmetrical)

Answer 2

Balance

Question 3

A form of Western classical dance that originated in the Renaissance courts of Europe. The dance form was formally codified by the time of King Louis XIV (mid-1600s), who was an accomplished dancer, responsible for extensive notation as well as support for dance

Answer 3

Ballet

Question 4

Creation and composition of dances by arranging or inventing steps, movements, and pattern of movements

Answer 4

Choreography

Question 5

Movement selected and organized for aesthetic purposes or as a medium of expression rather than for its function

Answer 5

Dance

Question 6

Order in which a series of movements and shape occurs

Answer 6

Dance sequence

Question 7

Dance associated with a nationalistic purpose, usually performed today as a surviving portion of a traditional celebration and done for social gatherings or as recreation

Answer 7

Folk/traditional

Question 8

A particular kind or style of dance, such as ballet, jazz, modern folk, tap

Answer 8

Genre

Question 9

Movement of a body part or combination of parts, with emphasis on its expressive characteristics, including movements of the body not supporting weight

Answer 9

Gesture

Question 10

Movement created spontaneously, which ranges from freeform to highly structured environments, always including an element of chance

Answer 10

Improvisation

Question 11

Movement executed with one body part or a small part of the body. Examples are rolling the head, shrugging the shoulders, and rotating the pelvis.

Answer 11

Isolated movement

Question 12

Dance marked by movement isolations and complex, propulsive polyrhythms; an outgrowth of African-American ragtime, jazz, spirituals, blues, work songs, and so forth and is considered an American style of dance

Answer 12

Jazz dance

Question 13

Physics principles that govern motion, flow, and weight in time and space, including, for example, the law of gravity, balance, and centrifugal force

Answer 13

Kinesthetics

Question 14

A form of physical movement progressing from one place to another. Basic locomotion movements include walking, running, galloping

Answer 14

Locomotion

Question 15

A type of dance that began as a rebellion against steps and positions and values expressive and original or authentic movement. It is a twentieth century idiom

Answer 15

Modern dance

Question 16

A distinctive and recurring gesture used to provide a theme or unifying idea

Answer 16

Motif

Question 17

A dancer’s attention and responsiveness to musical elements

Answer 17

Musicality

Question 18

Skills requiring cooperation, coordination, and dependence, including imitation, lead and follow, echo, mirroring, and call and response

Answer 18

Partner/group skills

Question 19

The presence of unity, continuity (transitions), and variety (contrasts and repetition) in choreography

Answer 19

Principles of Composition

Question 20

A structure of movement patterns in time; a movement with a regular succession of string and weak elements; the pattern produced by emphasis and duration of notes in music

Answer 20

Rhythm

Question 21

A position of the body in space, such as curved, straight, angular, twisted, symmetrical, asymmetrical, etc.

Answer 21

Shape

Question 22

Technical abilities, specific movements, or combinations

Answer 22

Skills

Question 23

Dance performed in a social setting; traditionally referred to as ballroom dance, but including all popular social dances performed with or without partners

Answer 23

Social dance

Question 24

An element of dance that refers to the immediate spherical space surrounding the body in all directions. Use of space includes shape, direction, path, range, and level of movement. Space is also the location of a performed dance

Answer 24

Space

Question 25

A type of dance that concentrates on footwork and rhythm. This type of dance grew out of American popular dancing, with significant roots in African-American, Irish, and English clogging traditions

Answer 25

Tap dance

Question 26

Physical skills of a dancer that enable him or her to execute the steps and movements required in different dances. Different styles or genres of dance often have specific techniques

Answer 26

Technique

Question 27

The speed of music or a dance

Answer 27

Tempo

Question 28

An element of dance involving rhythm, phrasing, tempo, accent, and duration. Time can be metered, as in music, or based on body rhythms, such as breath, emotions, and heartbeat

Answer 28

Time

Question 29

When a movement, phrase, or section of a dance progresses into the next

Answer 29

Transition

Question 30

Movement that takes place at the same time in a group

Answer 30

Unison Dance

Question 31

A feeling of completion or wholeness in a dance achieved when all of the parts work well together

Answer 31

Unity

Question 32

A quantity or range of different things. To maintain audience interest, the choreographer must provide variety within the development of the dance. Contrasts in the use of space, force, and spatial designs as well as some repetition of movements and motifs provide variety

Answer 32

Variety

Question 33

A piece of choreography or a dance

Answer 33

Work