Exam 1 Flashcards
What is dance?
- a universal human phenomenon that has occurred in all ages and all cultures
- dance reveals the culture in which it exists
- it is more than a physical activity, it involves mental, social, and spiritual elements
What are the properties of dance?
- body movement
- unique rhythm (musical accompaniment or not)
- formations, use of space, locomotion
- reason, purpose, or message within
- style
What are the components of dance? (4 components that distinguish dance from non dance activities)
- dances have a purpose
- dances have intentional rhythm
- dances contain culturally patterned sequences
- dance has extraordinary nonverbal movement, which has value in and of itself
What World Dances have we done and where would you most likely see them performed?
- Hava Nagilah: Jewish celebrations (ex. weddings)
- Savila Se Bela Loza: forest???
- Hukilau: festive beach gathering
- Alunelul: festivals, celebrations
- Virginia Reel: barns, school houses, parties
Describe the steps to Hava Nagilah.
- step left, kick right
- step right, kick left
- grape vine (step front, step behind)
- arms straight
Describe the steps to Savila Se Bela Loza.
- start on right
- 19 runs, hop switch
- 19 rus, hop pivot
- 6 Schottische Steps (stepping behind first)
Describe the steps to Hukilau.
- 3 parts
- hips
- energy
Describe the steps to Alunelul.
- stomping one
- fists face forward
- step behind step behind step stomp stomp
- step behind step stomp
- step stomp step stomp step stomp stomp
Describe the steps to Virginia Reel.
- curtsy/bow
- right elbow swing
- left elbow swing
- 2 hand turn
- do-si-do
- gallop down and back
- reel the set
- cast off and follow the leader
- arch
What is hip hop?
- a culture in itself
- celebrates music and how the body responds to music
Where did hip hop come from?
- originated in New York areas (Harlem, the Bronx) in the 1970s-1980s
- predominantly danced by the African American Community
Who dances hip hop?
- been around for over 40 years
- began as a safe/creative outlet for youth to release their negative energy and stress
- today, all ethnicities, ages, and levels dance hip hop
What are hip hop “battles”?
- gatherings where individuals and dance crews could show their talent in a safe and constructive matter
- not just dance steps. Movement showed the emotion and social issues occurring at the time
Where did breakdancing originate?
New York, 1970s-1980s
What does hip hop refer to?
a culture of people in a specific area
What does breakdance refer to?
the break in the music and the moves that can be inserted there
Name 4 influential people in hip hop.
- Electric Boogaloos
- Michael Jackson
- tWitch
- Tabitha and Napoleon
Name 4 influential people in breakdancing.
- DJ Kool Herc
- Electric Boogaloos
- Quest Crew
- Jabbawockeez
Name 5 styles/moves in hip hop.
- vogueing
- house
- crump
- animation
- waacking
Name 5 styles/moves in breakdancing.
- power moves
- stalls
- popping
- locking
- 6 step
Where did vogueing originate?
- 1970s, Harlem
- underprivileged people
- prominent in the gay community
Why was vogueing popular?
able to be the most “royal”, “prestigious”, “greatest” thing in your own personal space
Name and describe the 3 static poses in vogueing.
- commercial: selling “face” (happy, mad, sad)
- catalogue: selling “stuff” (clothes, skin, make up)
- couture: selling “attitude”, “lifestyle”
Name and describe the 3 dynamic poses in vogueing.
- women’s runway: slow = powerful
- men’s Calvin Klein: triangle turn
- men’s Sean John: Harlem gangster, prison pose
Where did house originate?
in the club scene in Chicago and New York
House was highly influenced by what dances?
- disco
- latin dances
- waacking
- vogueing
- roller skate dancing
Describe house dance.
- social dance
- based on feeling
- movement comes from musical experimentation
Name and describe the 2 fundamental movements in house.
- the Jack: most commonly front or back, feeling of the body in relation to the music
- lofting: movement on the floor
What is stepping?
- form of percussive dance: entire body used as an instrument
- rhythms and sounds created through a mixture of footsteps, spoken words, hand claps
- often combines folk traditions with popular culture
Where was stepping used historically?
black fraternities and sororities (in the US) used stepping to celebrate “crossing over” into their respective organizations
How does hip hop, breakdancing, and stepping relate to sport?
- balance
- agility
- strength
- endurance
- coordination
- competition
- change of direction
- celebration
- battling
- unity/teamwork
Define choreography.
the art of creating and arranging dances
Name the 7 steps to building a dance.
- choose the theme/subject matter
- explore and select movement
- coordinate music and movement
- explore movement possibilities
- refine and memorize
- adding the finishing touches
- perform the dance
What does choosing the theme/subject matter involve?
- picking a theme, story, or topic
- play off the music or lyrics
- look everywhere for inspiration
What does exploring and selecting movement involve?
- movement can be created or learned
- brainstorm descriptive words that illustrate your ideas
- improvise
Name and describe the 2 types of improvisation?
- structured improvisation: there is an end product but no way to get there
- non-structured improvisation: there is no end product or guideline as to how to move
What does coordinating music and movement involve?
- trial and error
- add/subtract/rearrange movements to fit the music
- listen to the lyrics, beats, and musical interludes (breaks)
- do not overestimate physical abilities
What does exploring movement possibilities involve?
- trial and error
- accent different beats within the music
- do not overestimate physical abilities
- include variation (distance to audience, levels, speed)
What does refining and memorizing involve?
- practice
- stay within the original concept of the piece
- transitions help to move from one movement to the next
What does adding the finishing touches involve?
- costumes
- props
- set design
- lighting
- be sure that they relate to and enhance the theme
Name 6 choreography variations.
- canon
- ABA
- rhythm changes
- formation changes
- accumulation
- call and response
What are the 5 stage directions?
- upstage (away from audience)
- center
- stage right (left of audience)
- stage left (right of audience)
- downstage (closest to audience)
What is tap dance?
- a percussive American dance form, incorporating rhythm amplified sounds from the feet
- includes English, Irish, and African musical and dance traditions
- imitation, assimilation, transformation have helped the growth of tap dance in North America
Describe the evolution of tap dance.
- challenges (staged by masters), challenge dancers in Minstrel shows in clubs and on Vaudeville stages
- battles in clubs and on Vaudeville stages
- done for class rivalries
- tap was developed by listening, watching, stealing, sharing, reinventing, and mimicking technique
What is jigging?
- unknown why tap came from “jigging”
- jigging was rhythm created by their feet. Very syncopated with bursts of staccato notes
- Irish jig
Name the historical timeline of tap dance.
1920’s: European dances such as the Fox Trot
1930’s: Fox Trot replaced by jitterbug and windy (syncopated box step)
1940’s: Swing era faded
1945-1955: BLACKOUT with little to no dancing
1960’s: Lindy was replaced by the twist. Rock and Roll brought back popular dancing
- from then on, hips are involved
What did the blackout (1945-1955) result from?
new, “undanceable” jazz music (bop), and the disappearance of ballroom and the big bands that played them
When did kids begin dancing to Rock and Roll?
1955
Describe Rock and Roll.
- “race” music, or “rhythm and blues” was rebranded and tailored for the jukebox… very danceable
- saxophone with a major off beat feel (syncopation)
What did the Nicholas Brothers bring to the table for tap dance?
- movement had maturity and athleticism. Everything came as a surprise to the audience
- Stormy Weather: most famous performance
What did Bill “Bojangles” Robinson bring to the table for tap dance?
coined the term “Copasetic” (really good) in the 1940’s
Who were The Copasetics?
a men’s club of tap dancers, jazz musicians. Brought hoofing to the forefront
Who is Jimmy Slyde?
- master of rhythm tap dance
- intricate footwork, accentuating a distinct rhythm
- incorporated a smooth style allowing him to glide across the floor with minimal effort
How does tap before compare to tap today?
- historically, tap steps were not that difficult
- today: less stunts, show stopping moments, but very difficult patterns and steps
Name 3 historically influential people of tap dance.
- Bill “Bojangles” Robinson
- Jimmy Slyde
- Gregory Hines
Name 3 present day influential people of tap dance.
- Andrew Nemr
- Jason Janas
- Michelle Dorrance
