The Elements of Dance Space

No not outer space … Space is one of the three things that dancers and choreographers are able to manipulate to make movement more interesting. When discussing Space as it relates to dance you are focusing on two concepts: Personal Space Performance Space

Personal Space Personal space can be described as a bubble around yourself. Your personal space remains constant. When you move your personal space moves with you.

Manipulating Personal Space You can manipulate your personal space in a number of ways: Size Level Shape

SIZE How big or small your movement is. Think of making circles with your arms. You can make small circles or you can make large circles. The only thing you are changing is the SIZE of the movement.

LEVEL The relationship between the body and the ground. Levels can be described as LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH How would you describe: Someone standing on a chair Someone laying on the ground Someone jumping into the air Someone standing on the ground

SHAPE The design of the body as it exists in space. The body is capable of making a variety of shapes.

ASPECTS OF SHAPE Shapes can be classified in many ways. Shapes usually fit into one side of the following relationships Curved v. Angular Open v. Closed Symmetrical v. Asymmetrical However shapes can have aspects of different relationships (i.e. a shape can be curved and closed or open and asymmetrical)

CURVED v. ANGULAR Angular shapes have sides that meet in a point. Curved Shapes have rounded edges. No sharp points or angles. Angular shapes have sides that meet in a point.

OPEN v. CLOSED An open shape does not completely close in on itself The edges of a closed shape will all connect, leaving no gaps.

SYMMETRICAL v. ASYMMETRICAL Symmetrical shapes are those that you can cut in half and each half will be the mirror image of the other Asymmetrical shapes do not mirror each other in that way.

Performance Space Performance Space is the area in which a dance is performed. This space can be limited by the actual location or by parameters set by the choreographer. Consider these areas: The Performing Arts Center The Football Field

Manipulating Performance Space Performance Space can be manipulated in the following ways: Direction Pathway Formation

DIRECTION The relationship of the starting point and the ending point for a traveling movement. Examples: North, South, East, West, Forward, Backward, Sideways, Up, Down, Upstage, Downstage, Stage Left, Stage Right, Down Stage Right, Up Stage Left

PATHWAY The route taken to get from the starting point to the ending point. Pathways can be: Straight Curved Zig Zag

STRAIGHT PATHWAY A direct pathway from one point to another

CURVED PATHWAY An indirect path way with rounded edges. Direction is shifted but gradually.

ZIG ZAG PATHWAY An indirect pathway that combines multiple straight pathways. There are many “stops” along the way in which you change direction.

FORMATION The arrangement of multiple dancers within the performance space. You must have at least two dancers to create a formation. Like all the other aspects of space you can change the formation multiple times for effect. The number of formations possible is only limited by the number of dancers you have.

Formations: