Elements of Dance

How to Dance our…. (using the Elements of Dance) BEST Body Instrument Locomotor Non Locomotor Parts Movement Initiation Proximal Midlimb Distal Energy Quantity Quality Space Relationship Intimate Social General Levels Low Middle High Pathways Air Shape Flow Direct Indirect Floor Time Beat Accent Tempo Largo Adagio Moderato Allegro Presto Rhythm Phrase

How to Dance our…. (using the Elements of Dance) BEST How to Dance our…. (using the Elements of Dance)

Body Instrument Locomotor Non Locomotor Parts Movement Initiation Proximal Midlimb Distal

BODY Locomotor Movements TRAVEL Walk Run Roll Crawl Leap Slide Hop Jump Skip Gallop

BODY Non locomotor Movements-AXIAL DO NOT TRAVEL Swing Twist Stretch Shake Sway Turn Bend

BODY Non locomotor Movements-AXIAL- Defined 1.) Twist: The rotation of selected body parts around its long axis 2.) Bend: Moving of a joint 3.) Sway: Gradually shifting the center of gravity from one body part to another 4.) Stretch: Moving body parts away from the center of gravity 5.) Turn: Rotating the body along the axis 6.) Swing: Rhythmical, smooth motion of a body part resembling a pendulum 7.) Shake: Constant and quick movement of a body part

Gestures- A daily practical movement which accomplishes a task, indicates a need, or communicates information Theme- A compositional structure where a dance phrase is created Dance Phrase- A Dance idea composed of a series of connecting movements. Similar to a sentence in written form

Effort Quantity Quality

EFFORT “Effort” definition: The use of energy while moving Weight- heavy/light Attack- smooth/sharp Strength- tension/relaxation Flow- bound/free

EFFORT 6 Qualities of Movement Swinging- A movement quality of a pendular nature involving an easy natural movement of the body or its parts Suspension- A quality of movement that creates the impression of defying gravity: floating, effortless Sustained- A continuous, controlled movement quality. The amount of force is constant throughout

EFFORT Percussive- A movement quality of a ballistic, thrusting, aggressive nature. The quick checking of force of the impetus Vibratory- a movement quality of a staccato nature in which energy is applied to the movement in short, sporadic bursts Collapse- a sudden release of energy in the movement

Space Relationship Intimate Social General Levels Low Middle High Pathways Air Shape Flow Direct Indirect Floor

SPACE Level- body position relative to the ground 1) low- below the knees 2) middle- knee to the top of the head 3) high- above the head Shape- the forms and contours your body makes in space Bent, stretched, curved, twisted, horizontal, vertical Ex. Being punched in the stomach, hit on the side of the face Shape Flow- how we change directions in space Spokelike Arclike Carving Symmetrical (balanced) vs Assymetrical (unbalanced)

SPACE Direction Up, down, forward, backward, right, left Direct vs indirect Focus (gaze and concentration of your eyes through space) Pathways Patterns on the floor or in the air Straight or curved

Time Beat Accent Tempo Largo Adagio Moderato Allegro Presto Rhythm Phrase

TIME Beat-A steady reoccurring pulse. Accent- An emphasis or stress of the beat Rhythm- A pattern of accented and unaccented beats Tempo The speed of the beat How fast or slow the movement is Largo (40-60 bpm) Very slow, long Adagio (66-76 bpm) Slow, leisurely Moderato (76-108 bpm) Moderately slow, walking speed Allegro (120-139) Fast, lively Presto (168-200) Very fast