Dance and Movement
Just like the alphabet has consonants and vowels, and we string them together to make words and phrases, dance also has its own components.
Knowing how to use each component can make your performances more interesting and help you create better choreographies!
These building blocks of expressive movement are the same, regardless of the style chosen -- so, from ballet to hip hop, the elements remain the same.
Learning about dance will help you not only a better dancer, but also a more confident person, able to use the body to express your inner feelings in a constructive way.
So, let's get started!
1. First, get some paper to take notes and watch the video below:
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2. Get your notes and discuss each element with your table mates.
Which element is the most important, in your opinion?
You have two minutes do talk about the elements and share with the classroom!
Each table group will share the element they believe to be the most important, and explain why.
3. Individually, use your notes to create a graphic organizer like the one to the right and organize your thoughts regarding the six elements of dance.
YES, 6! :)
Body, Action, Space, Time, Energy ...
... and Relationship!
How could you define the first five elements?
What do you think relationship entails?
Make sure to put your name on your organizer and return it to Mrs. J for a mark.
Now think of an acronym you can create with the first six letters of these words.
Can you make something easy to remember?
Body
Body is the first element of dance we usually focus on.
"Body" represents the dancer; it is the person who is creating the movement.
The body element can involve parts of the body (like the head, the torso, shoulders, fingers, feet, etc.)
It can incorporate the whole body, usually with one part leading the movement, followed by the core of the body and ending on the distal, or opposite end of the body.
Body movements can form patterns, form different body shapes (with symmetrical or asymmetrical movement, rounded movements, twisted or angular).
Body movements are also guided by the breath and balance.
Finally, your inner self -- your thoughts, emotions, confidence or lack thereof -- all are expressed when you use your body.
Watch the first portion of the video below (until the 3 minute mark). Your task is to watch our for the BODY element. One of the techniques used in this choreography is called ISOLATION. This is a very common technique in hip hop as well as other dances, such as Middle Eastern traditional dances. An isolation occurs when the entire body is still, except for one very specific movement.
Can you find some examples in this video? Why are they effective to the story that is being created?
Discuss -- how is the element BODY being used to help convey the story?
Now, watch the rest of the video and listen to what the judges have to say.
What is the symbolism of the isolation at 3:05?
Why is this a key moment in the story?
How does the choreography work with the music?
How does it fit with the title and the lyrics of the song used?
This type of isolation is called popping. Can you guess why?
A specific kind of popping is called puppeting. Can you find it on the choreography above? How do you know?
NOW YOU DO IT!!!
Everyone, get up from your chairs and let's try to do some chest pops!
Action
Action is any human movement included in the act of dancing.
It can be axial (in the same place), like bends, twists and turns, rises and falls, stretching, open and close.
It can be a punch, a glide, a press, a flick, a sashay, a slash, etc.
It can be a travelling step, such as a roll, a crawl, a slide, a turn, a walk or a run, a hop or a skip, a turn, etc.
It can also cause a sound (percussion movements) such as a clap, a stomp, a snap, or using special props (or dancing shoes!)
Actions can be prepared and rehearsed, but they can also be improvised, in which the dancer feels the music and creates the dance on the spot (just like improv!)
The video below shows a style of dance called "salsa". As you watch, write on your notes any specific actions you may notice, that makes this type of dance different than others. Look at their hands, legs and feet; if you don't know the names of the movements, just describe them!
Salsa is usually a dance done in duets. It is a partner dance in which one of the dancer leads and the other follows.
The music has four beats per measure, but the dancers only take steps on 3 of the beats and pause for one beat.
This causes the dance to feel like:
Quick, Quick, Sloow! Quick, Quick, Sloow!
Notice the hips of both man and woman; they are always moving. Salsa relies heavily on hip movements and footwork.
NOW, jump off the chair and try it yourself! Move chairs and pile them on a corner if needed -- it's time to salsa!!!
Space
Space refers to the way a dancer utilizes the area in which it moves through.
Space can be used in an axial way (around the body, almost in place) or in a travelling way. It can be a small space, not much bigger than the dancer themselves, or a very large space, such as a stage on a theatre.
Space can involve different levels; it is not just about going horizontally around the stage, but also jumping, crouching, going to the floor or anything the dancer can incorporate in their dance.
Dancing can incorporate space by moving through it back and forward (like salsa), upward and downward (like some ballet moves), in a line (like a conga), rotating (like some pirouettes), and more.
The pathway of travel also defines the space used. There is a different feel when you leap across a stage diagonally than when you run across it in a zigzag manner; you can give the audience different feelings by changing the way space is used.
Different dances utilize space in different ways; perhaps the dance which utilizes space in the most dramatic way would be the ballet.
Ballet doesn't have to be traditional, either; in fact, one of my favourite types of dance, the modern dance, comes directly from ballet and utilizes many of the same moves.
In fact, MANY dances nowadays take influence and moves from ballet!
Watch the following video and look for ballet moves -- which ones do you recognize?
How is the space used in this choreography?
How do you think the dancers can achieve such heights?
Why do you think they keep their toes pointed? (This makes their legs look longer, which in turn makes the line the body makes longer; this also helps engage the muscles of the leg at all times.)
One of the moves you may have noticed is called entrechat, when the dancer "beat" their feet in midair. Guess what -- Irish dancing uses the same move! Watch the video below to see the entrechat as done in Irish dancing.
Many professional football players actually study ballet. Why do you think this could be a useful thing for them?
​Let's see what the answer is by visiting this page!
NOW you do it!!!! Let's learn the basic positions of ballet!
Time
Before we discuss the element of time, let's take a look at this video:
Why do you think this would be a good example of the element of time in dancing?
Why do you think timing might be particularly important for tapping when comparing to other kinds of dancing?
How often are the dancers glancing at each other, and why do you think they do this?
Let's re-watch the video and look for repeating patterns. Why do you think they happen?
Timing is an important part of dance. Sometimes when the dancer doesn't use a particularly strong beat to create an accent, then it feels as if they missed the beat; this just goes to show you how important the timing is for dance.
Time determines the length of each section of the dance -- brief or long.
The speed (or tempo) of the dance can be fast or slow; the beat also changes during the dance; it can start off steady and change to uneven, for instance.
The dance can have accents, which are dependant on time. You can have one single accent, or a series of accents on one particular beat. These accents are tied to time as they follow the musical accents too. Accents can be predictable or unpredictable, depending on the dancer's choice.
Time determines patterns within the dance. It also can determine "events" -- when movements repeat depending of the timing, then they create an expectation. You know that when the foot of the dancer goes forward, then their hips will swing right after, and when the drum hits a certain way, you start to expect a dance accent.
Now, you do it! Let's try to learn the basic steps of tap dancing together.
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Finally, watch the video below and notice how the dancers "catch" each beat.
What can you tell about their timing?
​Can you see differences between the female and the male dancer?
Energy
Energy determines how the movement happens.
There are many choices a dancer can make regarding the energy of a piece. You can have variations of movement flow (a more controlled movement, or more free), or use variations of force (strong or gentle), tension (how are the muscles engaged at the beginning of the movement, tight or loose), attack (how does the dancer begin the movement, sharp or smooth) or weight (heavy and grounded or light and airy).
The quality of energy can also be vigorous, furious, melting, wild, droopy, proud, sneaky, smooth, sharp, aggressive, playful, etc.
Saying that a dance has "a lot of energy" is misleading; every dance uses the element of energy, but sometimes it is purposefully slow, indirect or low-key, which looks very different from the punchy, high speed energy of a fast tempo dance.
Let's compare two styles of dance to see the difference between the levels of energy they have.
Why do you think Travis compares this style with King Kong?
How is this style different from others we have studied so far?
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Now, let's watch Modern Contemporary dance and compare the two.
Do you see any similarities between these two pieces?
Think back at ballet. How is contemporary dance similar to it?
Let's watch the contemporary dance video again. What words would you use to describe different sections? (stop video to check different areas out)
Does the energy in different sections stay pretty much the same?
How about the crumping video, would you say the energy varies throughout the choreography?
Is energy the same as effort?
Relationship
Let's watch a couple of videos to understand relationship a little bit.
How are these performances the same?
How are they different?
How does changing one of the dancers affect performance? How is this important when looking at the relationship element of dance?
How are props used in this performance? Why is this effective?​
Let's take a look at one more video; pay attention to the relationships between the dancers. What do you observe?
Finally, let's take a look at Dubstep.
What elements of dance are most important for this type of dance, in your opinion?
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As a group of 3-5, select a song you like and create a choreography for it.
Analyze the three most important elements of dance on your performance and complete a short description for every one of them.
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Deliver the choreography as well as the sheet with the analysis of your dance elements.
Criteria:
20 points - Your choreography uses the elements of dance in a pleasing way
20 points - Your analysis of the elements of dance for your performance are correct
10 points - Your song choice and your choreography are a good match