DANCE CONCEPTS REVIEW

SPACE

• SIZE: large, small• LEVEL: high, mid-level, low• SHAPE: curved, straight• DIRECTIONS: forward, backward, sideways,

diagonal, upward, downward• PATHWAY: straight, curved, circular, zig-zag• RELATIONSHIPS: near, apart• FOCUS: a central point or focus of attention; can

be single or multiple

TIME

• SPEED OR TEMPO: slow, fast, acceleration, deceleration

• BEAT: pulse (steady, accented or irregular)

FORCEThe use of energy while moving

• CHOREOGRAPH: To compose a dance• CHOREOGRAPHY: The art of arranging dances• CONTRAST: Difference between related things• TRANSITION: Passing from one action or place

to another• PARTS OF EVERY DANCE: A beginning

shape, middle movements, a final shape

FORCE, continued

NON-LOCOMOTOR or AXIAL

•MOVEMENT IN PLACE

•Stretch, contract, turn, bend, balance, twist, shake, gesture, push, pull, rise, fall, dodge, sway

LOCOMOTOR•MOVEMENT FROM PLACE TO PLACE-TRAVELS•Jump, hop, skip, walk, run, slide, leap, roll, crawl,

gallop

PURPOSES OF DANCE

CEREMONIAL: Of, relating to, or forming a ceremony: Celebration, Initiation, Hunting, Religious

RECREATIONAL: Way of refreshing mind or body: Folk, Social

ARTISTIC: Characteristic of art or artists, showing skill and imagination, for an audience, expresses thoughts or feelings; Ballet, Jazz

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS

• AB: perform one movement phrase or theme followed by a different movement phrase or theme;

• ABA: Perform one movement phrase or theme followed by a different movement phrase or theme, followed then by a repetition of the first movement phrase or theme;

• CALL AND RESPONSE: A caller verbally directs the actions to be performed and the dancers respond by doing the action, or the music calls out and dancers react or a voice calls out and voices respond or dancers initiate and music responds. Often associated with African music and dance but also used elsewhere.

COLONIAL AMERICAN DANCE

• European origin• Wealthy learned from Dancing Masters, others from

imitating;• Posture – upright, straight, light• Mostly feet moving• Often in two lines facing. Men and women together.

Non-democratic. Top couple most important• Most Recreational purpose• A later dance KERA calls Colonial: Virginia Reel• Music: fiddle, flute, sometimes piano. Occasional voice

as music.

NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE

• Grounded (low level) – respecting Earth

• Learned from community or elders

• Posture – knees bent. Upper body sometimes upright, sometimes bent over.

• Mostly feet moving

• Mostly Ceremonial purpose (today also Artistic and Recreational)

• Themes of nature, animals, spirits, initiation, hunting, life cycle events

• Call and Response: dancer responds to drum sounds

• Music – drums, rattles, voice. Traditionally flute only for courting

• Often in a circle

• Often women only or men only – different movements for each gender

• Women’s dances have meanings

• Men’s dances tell stories

• Examples: Friendship Dance, Round Dance, Bear Dance

WEST AFRICAN DANCE

• Grounded (low level) – respecting Earth, occasional leaps• Learned from community• Posture – bent knees, many body parts move in isolation to different rhythms at the

same time. Often flat, bare feet• Mostly Ceremonial purpose. But could be Artistic for dancing before the Chief or King

or could be Recreational.• Themes of nature, animals, spirits, initiation, life cycle events, work• Movements sharp, energetic, strong, big, free flow. Although often low, can be high.• Call and Response: dancer responds to drum sounds, sometimes drum responds to

dancer, voices respond to each other. Dancers play the drum sounds with their bodies.

• Music – drums, rattles, gourds, percussion voice. Often fast, use of pulse, pattern, breath

• Often in a circle or line following a circular path with musicians in the center • Sometimes tell stories through a dance• Often women only or men only – different movements for each gender• All dancers equal, but with a chance to solo supported by the community