1. The Elements of Dance
Space

2. 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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. 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)

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

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

14. 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

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

16. STRAIGHT PATHWAY
A direct pathway from one point to another

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

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

19. 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.

20. Formations: