Axial vs Locomotor Movement in Dance

Axial Movement Axial movement refers to an element of dance in which dancers stay anchored to one place by a single body part while using available space in any direction. Axial movements involve bending, stretching, twisting, swinging, gesturing, rising, rotating and spinning. Axial movements tend to involve the spine as the focal point. Rather than moving from one place to another on stage, dancers rely on the space given to them to perform movements. Spinning is a prime example of axial motion, since the dancer is planted in the floor while moving in place. The body part connected to the floor can be a foot, leg, knee, hand, elbow, back or head. Movements involve arms, hips, knees, the head and the neck. Sometimes, axial motion is done between two dancers, as the point of movement is on another person rather than the floor. One dancer can use an arm or the hand of another person as an anchor point and perform movements in place. Axial movements can even be performed on apparatuses such as poles, bars, steps and ladders. Any stationary base works for axial motion as a dance element.

Examples of Axial Movements: Example Dance Steps Include: Pivot turn Pirouette Coupe Turn Shoulder Roll Penche Arabesque or Attitude Turn Rond de Jambe Tilt Illusion Layout

Locomotor Movement Locomotor movements are defined as movements that travel through space or carry weight from one location to another. The act of using movement to shift weight from one place to another is called locomotion. There are several locomotor movements that will successfully transfer weight from one location to another: Walking Running Leaping Jumping Hopping Galloping Sliding Skipping

Examples of Locomotor Movements: Examples Include: Chasse Jazz Walk Jete Saute Chat Straddle Leap Barrel Leap Chaine Turn Pas de Chat Lindy Step Pas de Bourree Triplets

Project Outline: Create a group of 4 – 6 people Put together a list of 10 axial dance steps and 10 locomotor dance steps Choose 5 steps from each list to use in your choreography Choreograph a dance combination that includes those 10 steps and shows how they are different. Your combination must have: A beginning pose A formation Follow an A – L - A – L pattern for all 10 steps May have connecting or in between steps that are not axial or locomotor An ending pose Must be counted in counts of 8, and must be at least 8 counts of 8 Grade: You will receive a group grade out of 65 possible points Working well in group: 15 pts Following directions: 10 pts List of 20 steps: 20 pts Choreography: 10 Presentation: 10