Key terms Flashcards
What is posture? Why is it important in dance? How can you improve it?
The position that the body/body parts are in.
Correct posture helps prevent injury and enables movements to be performed correctly
Use of a mirror to check/improve posture
What is alignment? Why is important in dance? How can you improve it?
Placement of the body in a way that is physiologically correct - a straight line
Important to help prevent injury e.g. after a jump ensuring knees and ankles are in straight line will help prevent an ankle injury
Improvements: Yoga e.g. tree pose, practising jumps/balance in the mirror to check relevant body parts are in a straight line
What is coordination? Why is it important in dance? How can you improve it?
The ability to use different body parts together smoothly and efficiently
Important so that movements requiring different arm/leg actions can be performed correctly e.g. galloping/clapping sequence in ‘Find it’
Improvement: break the movement down performing parts separately then together gaining feedback (use of mirror/teacher)
What is balance? Why is it important in dance? How can you improve it?
Keeping the body in a steady position
Important to prevent injury (not falling over) Improved quality of movement
Improvement: yoga balances - tree pose/arabesque
What is strength? Why is it important in dance? How can you improve it?
The ability to exert force against a resistance (the ability to lift self or others)
Important so that dancer can be more in control of their movements. Dancer can perform more technically demanding skills. Can lift others safely
Improvement: Sit ups to develop core strength, press ups to develop arm strength, jumps to develop leg strength
What is stamina? Why is it important in dance? How can you improve it?
The ability of your heart and lungs to work for a long period of time
Important so that you can dance for a long period of time without affecting performance
Improvement: Repetition of whole dances, continuous corner work - running, leaping, ball changes etc
What is flexibility? Why is it important in dance? How can you improve it?
The range of movement around a joint
Important to help improve performance (perform more complex movements) and help prevent injury
Improvement: Stretching (be able to give specific examples)
What is mobility?
The ability to move freely and easily
What is control?
The ability to move your body in the way that you want to.
Identify the main technical/physical skills required in dance (9)
Posture Alignment Coordination Balance Strength Stamina Flexibility Mobility Control
Identify the main mental skills needed to be successful in dance (4)
Focus
Concentration
Confidence
Determination
Identify the main expressive skills needed to be successful in dance (6)
Focus Projection Sense of style Musicality Communication of choreographic intent Sensitivity to other dancers
Define ‘focus’
The dancers sightline. How and where the dancer looks
Define ‘projection’
The clarity, energy and power of the performance
Define ‘sense of style’
Sensitivity to the distinctive actions and qualities of the dance
