key terminology Flashcards
what is the definition of an action ?
what a dancer does.
examples of an action
travelling, turning, elevation, gesture, stillness, use of body parts, floor-work and the transference of weight.
what is acceleration
speeding up of the movement
what is accumulation
when a dancer performs a series of movements and others join in at different times until all person in unison
what is accompaniment
the sound that you hear during a dance for example percussion
what is air pattern
a design that is traced in the air by a part of the body
what is alignment
correct placement of body parts in relation to each other
artistic intention
the aim of a dance; what the choreographer aims to communicate
what is aural setting
an audible accompaniment to the dance such as music, words, song and natural sounds (or silence).
what is balance
a steady or held position achieved by an even distribution of weight
what is canon
when the same movements overlap in time
what is the choreographic approach
the way in which a choreographer makes the dance
what is a choreographic device
methods used to develop and vary material
what is a choreographic intention
the aim of a dance; what the choreographer aims to communicate
what is a choreographic process
activities involved in creating dance such as improvisation, selection and development
what is a climax
the most significant moment of a dance
what is complementary
performs actions or shapes that are similar to but not exactly the same as another dancers
what does constituent features mean
characteristics of choreography such as style, stimulus, action content, form and structure, physical and aural settings
what does contrast mean
movements or shapes that have nothing in common
what does control mean
the ability to start and stop movements, change direction and hold a sharp effectively
what does coordination mean
the efficient combination of body parts
what does counterpoint mean
when dancers perform different phases simultaneously.
what is deceleration ?
slowing down the movement.
what does dynamics mean ?
the qualities of movement based upon variations in speed, strength and flow.
what does elevation mean ?
the action of ‘going up’ without support, such as in a jump.
what does episodic ?
a choreography with several sections, linked by a theme.
what does expressive skills mean ?
Aspects that contribute to performance artistry and that engage the audience, such as couch’s and musicality.
what does extension mean ?
lengthening one or more muscles or limbs.
what is flexibility ?
the range of movement in the joints (involving muscles, tendons and ligaments).
what is focus ?
use of the eyes to enhance performance or interpretative qualities.
what is formation ?
shapes or patterns created in space by dancer.
what is highlights ?
important moments of a dance.
what does in the round mean ?
a performing area with the audience seated on all sides.
what does isolation mean ?
an independent movement of part of the body.
what is kinaesthetic ?
sensory perception (or awareness) of movement and position.
what are mental skills ?
these include commitment, concentration, confidence, movement memory, systematic repetition, mental rehearsal, rehearsal discipline, planning of rehearsal, response to feedback and capacity to improve.
what is mobility ?
the range of movement in a joint; the ability to move fluently from action to action.
what is a motif ?
a movement phrase encapsulating an idea that is repeated and developed throughout the dance.
what is musicality ?
the ability to make the unique qualities of the accompaniment evident in performance.
what is narrative ?
dance that tells a story.
what does performance environment mean ?
different settings for dance such as in-the-round, proscenium and site-sensitive.
what is a phrase ?
a short sequence of linked movements.
what is phrasing ?
the way in which the energy is distributed in the execution of a movement phrase.
what are physical skills ?
aspects enabling effective performance such as posture, alignment, balance, coordination, control, flexibility, mobility, strength, stamina, extension and isolation.
what is posture ?
the way the body is held.
what is professional work ?
original choreography by an individual or company that is recognised nationally or internationally.
what is projection ?
the energy that dancer uses to connect with and draw in the audience.
what is a prop/property ?
a portable object that is used in a dance, for example a suitcase.
what is a proscenium ?
the arch or opening that creates the effect of a picture frame and separates the stage from the auditorium.
what is rehearsal discipline ?
attributes and skills required for refining performance such as commitment, systematic repetition, teamwork, responsibility and effective use of time.
what are relationships ?
the ways in which dancers interact; the connections between dancers.
what is a retrograde ?
reversing a movement phrase.
what is rhythmic content ?
repeated patterns of sound or movement.
what is a rondo ?
a music or dance form with alternating and repeating sections eg verse or chorus.
what is safe execution ?
carrying out actions safely.
what is safe working practice ?
personal care, respect for others, safe execution and preparation and recovery from dancing.
what is space ?
the “where” of movement such as levels, directions, pathways, shapes, designs and patterns.
what is spatial awareness ?
consciousness of the surrounding space and it’s effective use.
what is spatial design ?
the way that elements of space have been considered, utilised and designed (can be personal space and general space).
what is staging/set ?
the presentation of dance in the performing space including set, furniture, props, projection and backdrop.
what is stamina ?
ability to maintain physical and mental energy over periods of time.
what is a stimulus ?
inspiration for an idea or movement.
what is strength ?
muscular power.
what is style ?
characteristic way of dancing.
what is style fusion ?
the combination of features of two or more styles.
what is systematic repetition ?
repeating something in an arranged or ordered way.
what does tactile mean ?
relating to the sense of touch.
what does ternary mean ?
a composition in the three parts.
what is ment by transitions ?
links between dance phrases or sections.
what is ment by timings ?
the use of time or counts when matching movements to sound and/or other dancers.
what are technical skills ?
these include accuracy or action, timing, dynamic, rhythmic and spatial content and the reproduction of movement in a stylistically accurate way.
what is unison ?
two or more dancers performing the same movement at the same time.
what is unity ?
a sense of “wholeness” or harmony.
