Subject specific vocab Flashcards
Accessory
An additional item of costume, for example gloves
Actions
What a dancer does
Acceleration
Speeding up the movement
Accompaniment
The sound that you hear during a dance, for example: percussion
Accumulation
When a dancer performs a series of movements and others join in at different times until all perform in unsion
Air pattern
A design that is traced in the air by part of the body
Alignment
Correct placement of body parts in relation to each other
Appreciation
Recognition and understanding of the qualities of dance
Artistic intention
The aim of a dance; what the choreographer aims to communicate
Artistry
Creative skill
Auditory
Relating to sound
Aural setting
An audible accompaniment to the dance such as music, words, song and natural sound (or silence)
Balance
A steady or held position achieved by an even distribution of weight.
Binary
A composition in two parts or sections
Canon
When the same movements overlap in time
Choreographic approach
The way in which a choreographer makes the dance
Choreographic devices
Methods used to develop and vary material
Choreographic intentions
The aim of the dance; what the choreographer aims to communicate
Choreographic processes
Activities involved in creating dance such as improvisation, selection and development
Choreography
The art of creating dance
Climax
The most significant moment of the dance
Complementary
Perform actions or shapes that are similar to but not exactly the same as another dancer’s
Constituent features
Characteristics of choreography such as style, stimulus, subject matter, number/gender of dancers, action content, choreographic principles, form and structure, physical and aural settings
Contrast
Movements or shapes that have nothing in common
Control
The ability to start and stop movement, change directions and hold a shape efficiently
Coordination
The efficient combination of body parts
Costume
Clothing worn by dancers in performance
Counterpoint
When dancers perform different phrases simultaneously
Critical appreciation
Evaluation of dance based upon knowledge and understanding, including original insights
Dance films
Where dance and film are both integral to a work; this includes documentary, animation, dance for camera and a screen adaption of a stage work
Dance for camera
Where the choreographer collaborates with the film-maker; where the intention is to produce a dance work in a multi-media form that cannot be achieved in live performance
Dancewear
What the dancer wears for class and rehearsal
Deceleration
Slowing down the movement
Development
The way in which movement material is manipulated
Direction
The facing of a movement
Dynamics
The qualities of movement based upon variations in speed, strength and flow
Elements of dance
Actions, space, dynamics and relationships
Elevation
The action of “going up” without support, such as in a jump
End-stage
A performance space with the audience on one side; also known as “end-on”
Episodic
A choreography with several sections, linked by a theme
Execution
Carrying out actions with the required intentions
Expressive skills
Aspects that contribute to performance artistry and that engage the audience, such as focus and musicality
Extension
Lengthening one or more muscles or limbs
Facial expressions
Use of the face to show mood, feeling or character.
Features of productions
Lighting, set, properties, costume and aural setting
Flexiblity
The range of movement in the joints
Focus
Use of the eyes to enhance performances or interpretive qualities
Form
The overall shape and structure of a dance
Formations
Shapes or patterns created in space by dancers
Fragmentaion
Use of parts of a phrase or motif
Highlights
Important moments of a dance
Ideational
Relating to ideas or concepts
Improvisation
Exploration or generation of movement without planning
In-the-round
A performing area with the audience seated on all sides
Intentions
Aim or desired outcome
Interpretation
Finding the meaning that is in the movement or finding the movement that is in the idea
Isolation
An independent movement of part of the body
Kinaesthetic
Sensory perception of movement and position
Levels
Distance from the ground: low, medium or high
Lighting
The illumination of the performance area
Logical sequence
The flow of phrases or sections of a dance
Manipulation of number
How the number of dancers in a group is used
Mental rehearsal
Thinking through or visualising the dance
Mental skills
Commitment, confidence etc.
Mobility
The range of movement in a joint; the ability to move fluently from action to action
Motif
A movement phrase encapsulating an idea that is repeated and developed throughout the dance
Motif development
Ways in which a movement phrase can be varied
Movement material
The matter of dance: action, space, dynamics and relationships
Musicality
The ability to make the unique qualities of the accompaniment evident in performance
Narrative
Dance that tells a story
Pathways
Designs traced in space
Performance
The presentation of dance to an audience
Performance (personal)
Acquisition and development of physical and expressive skills
Performance environments
Different settings for dance such as in-the-round, proscenium arch and site sensitive
Phrase
A short sequence of linked movements
Phrasing
The way in which the energy is distributed in the execution of a movement or phrase
Physical skills
Aspects enabling effective performance such as posture, alignment, balance, coordination, control, flexibility, mobility, strength, stamina, extension and isolation
Posture
The way the body is held
Professional work
Original choreography by an individual or company that is recognised nationally and internationally.
Projection
The energy the dancer uses to connect with and draw in the audience
Prop
A portable object that is used in a dance, for example suitcase
Proscenium
The arch or opening that creates the effect of a picture frame and separates the stage from the auditorium
Rehearsal discipline
Attributes and skills required for refining performance such as commitment, systematic repetition, teamwork, responsibility and effective use of time
Repitition
Performing the same action or phrase again
Relationships
The ways in which dancers interact; the connections between dancers
Retrograde
Reversing a movement phrase
Rhythmic content
Repeated patterns of sound movement
Rondo
A music or dance from with alternating and repeating sections (ABACA)
Safe execution
Carrying out actions safley
Safe working practice
Personal care, respect for others, safe executions and preparation and recovery from dancing
Sensitivity to other dancers
Awareness of and connection to other dancers
Site sensitive
Dances that are designed for non-theatre spaces
Space
The “where” of movement such as levels, directions, pathways, shapes, designs and patterns
Spatial awareness
Consciousness of the surrounding space and its effective use
Staging/set
The presentation of dance in the performing space including set, furniture, props, projection and backdrop
Stamina
Ability to maintain physical and mental energy over periods of time
Stimulus
Inspiration for an idea or movement
Strength
Muscular power
Structure
The way in which material is organised to create the whole
Structuring devices
The ways in which a dance is made, built, ordered or organised
Style
Characteristic way of dancing
Style fusion
The combination of features of two or more styles
Tactile
Relating to the sense of touch
Technical skills
These include accuracy of actions, timing, dynamic, rhythmic and spatial content and the reproduction of movement in a stylistically accurate way
Ternary
A composition in three parts (ABA)
Timing
The use of time or counts when matching movements to sound and/or other dancers
Transitions
Links between dance phrases or sections
Types (of music)
Genres of music including orchestral, electronic, percussion, vocal and found sound
Unison
Two or more dancers performing the same movement at the same time
Unity
A sense of “wholeness” or harmony
Visual
Relating to sight
