Foundational Elements of Dance Flashcards
What are the six shapes of dance?
- linear
- angular
- curved
- twisted
- symmetrical
- asymmetrical
Any shape that does NOT bend at a joint. Straight, clean, clear, crisp lines with the arms, legs, and/or torso. It might give off the impression of power, strength, rigidity, cleanliness, etc., to the audience.
LINEAR
Any shape that DOES bend at a joint in the arms, legs, and/or torso. It is any shape where the body appears to create angles. Angular shapes are seen as clean and clearly defined; they give the impression of strength, tenacity, energy, tension, distortion, etc.
ANGULAR
any shape that appears curved or circular in the arms, legs, and/or torso - for example, a contracted back. This shape can give the audience a feeling of weakness, fragility, softness, perhaps fear, a lack of energy or confidence, of being mournful, etc.
CURVED
Any shape twisted or contorted around the spine or limbs. All spirals are twisted shapes. This shape can create feelings of awkwardness, fear, pain, strangeness, frustration, comedic moments, etc. and are often used as accents in choreography to help draw out a feeling, emotion, or element in the choreographer’s story.
TWISTED
Any shape that is equal on both sides of the centre of a dancer’s body - for example, standing in a neutral position with the arms by one’s side or with both arms outstretched parallel to the floor. Gives impression of unity or sameness when a group of dancers come together to do this shape.
SYMMETRICAL
Any shape that is NOT equal on both sides of the center of a dancer’s body. It is more common to see dancers’ bodies moving through asymmetrical shapes; they can be seen in many ways but can reflect individuality, uniqueness, beauty, contrast, etc.
ASYMMETRICAL
What are the five elements of space?
- low
- medium
- high
- negative space
- space between dancers (large/small)
When a dancer remains close to the floor; for example, rolling, crawling, creating shapes, etc., low to the ground. To the audience, the dancer may appear sad, creepy, powerless, mournful, etc.
Low Level (Space)
When a dancer’s body is moving within a mid-level of the stage; for example, standing with arms down, bent knees or bent over, or on their knees reaching up.
Medium Level (Space)
A dancer can be considered to be using high space any time they are standing while reaching up, on a rise, in a lift, or jumping. High space is identified as any action using the upper limits of the space above the stage floor.
High Level (Space)
any space on, around, or above the stage not occupied by a dancer’s body, a light element, or a prop.
Negative Space
the spaces between the dancers, which can be large (using whole stage, free, energetic, chaotic, powerful) or small (restriction, conflict, calmness)
Spaces Between Dancers
What are the four travel patterns?
- Horizontal Travel Pattern
- Vertical Travel Pattern
- Diagonal Travel Pattern
- Circular Travel Pattern
Any time the dancer(s) move ACROSS the stage from side to side. This can be used practically when you have many dancers to put on the stage; it can also create the feeling of a crowd or give a more pedestrian/street feeling to a piece.
Horizontal Travel Patterns
Any time the dancer(s) move back or forth, from upstage to downstage. Dancers at the front of the stage often appear to have more power than those at the back of the stage. Movement from back to front can seem like a “gaining of power” or from the front to the back as a “loss of power.”
Vertical Travel Patterns
Any time the dancer(s) move diagonally across the stage or in a zigzag pattern. On a diagonal, the distance from one corner to the other is the farthest distance dancers can consistently travel on stage from one point to another.
Diagonal Travel Patterns
When dancers cover the stage using a curved or circular pattern. It can demonstrate unity (moving in a circle) or chaos (using multiple circular patterns or continuous curved patterns, playing with tempo, etc.)
Circular Travel Patterns
What are the seven elements of timing?
- Speed/Tempo (fast, medium, slow)
- Retrogade
- Pause
- Repetition
- Unison
- Sequential
- Random
- Fast Speed - Dancers moving quickly through space
- Medium Speed - Dancers moving at a medium tempo through space
- Slow Speed - Dancers moving slowly through space
Speed/Tempo (timing)
Taking choreography and moving through it backwards, like rewinding a video. This is both an interesting way to return to the themes that have already been explored and a means to create longer stretches of choreography that carry on with the same theme or intention.
Retrograde (timing)
taking a moment in the choreography where there is no movement. This can cause moments to pop out to the audience and reset their attention to the preceding choreography.
Pause (timing)
When a dancer repeats the same sequence, series of movements, or single movement a number of times. This can be used to place emphasis on an emotion, feeling, moment, or idea.
Repetition (timing)
Dancers are all moving through the same choreography at the same time.
Unison (timing)
Dancers are all moving the same way but at different times. This can be very complex and make use of many counts of 8 or phrases of movement, OR it can be as simple as a “cannon” or “follow-up” where only one or two identical movements are performed at different times.
Sequential (timing)
Dancers perform different movement sequences with different timing.
Random Timing
What are the 6 basic types of motion?
- Percussive
- Sustained
- Suspended
- Collapse
- Swing
- Vibratory
Any movement that has a clear beginning and end. It is typically recognized as being strong, fast and sharp-looking.
Percussive Motion
Any movement without a defined/clear beginning and end.even-looking and moves at the same speed throughout. It can be viewed as soft or flowy, where one movement melts into the next. Too much of this motion can become dull, unclear, or boring to an audience.
Sustained Motion
any movement ‘poised on the edge of balance.’ Any balance on the feet or hands is considered a suspension (e.g. a dancer on relevé or doing a handstand). Includes all jumps and lifts
Suspended Motion
any movement where gravity acts upon the whole body or a body part. t looks like someone has ‘cut the strings’ holding the dancer’s body (or part of their body) up, and it just falls in a loose, relaxed way.
Collapse Motion
Any motion that swings or sways back and forth. Includes spins, can be big and swooping and include the whole body, or it can be small and include a body part
Swing Motion
Any motion that shakes or shimmies. It can involve the whole body or a body part. It is small and fast. It is used mainly as an accent (choreographers rarely use it as a dance’s main element).
Vibratory Motion
