DANCE CONCEPTS

REVIEW
 SPACE
• SIZE: large, small
• LEVEL: high, mid-level, low
• SHAPE: curved, straight
• DIRECTIONS: forward, backward, sideways,
diagonal, upward, downward
• PATHWAY: straight, curved, circular, zig-zag
• RELATIONSHIPS: near, apart
• FOCUS: a central point or focus of attention; can
be single or multiple
 TIME

• SPEED OR TEMPO: slow, fast, acceleration,

deceleration

• BEAT: pulse (steady, accented or irregular)

 FORCE
The use of energy while moving

• CHOREOGRAPH: To compose a dance

• CHOREOGRAPHY: The art of arranging dances
• CONTRAST: Difference between related things
• TRANSITION: Passing from one action or place
to another
• PARTS OF EVERY DANCE: A beginning
shape, middle movements, a final shape
 FORCE, continued
LOCOMOTOR
•MOVEMENT FROM PLACE TO PLACE-TRAVELS
•Jump, hop, skip, walk, run, slide, leap, roll, crawl,
gallop

NON-LOCOMOTOR or AXIAL
•MOVEMENT IN PLACE
•Stretch, contract, turn, bend, balance, twist, shake,
gesture, push, pull, rise, fall, dodge, sway
 PURPOSES OF DANCE
CEREMONIAL: Of, relating to, or forming a
ceremony: Celebration, Initiation, Hunting,
Religious
RECREATIONAL: Way of refreshing mind or
body: Folk, Social
ARTISTIC: Characteristic of art or artists,
showing skill and imagination, for an audience,
expresses thoughts or feelings; Ballet, Jazz
 COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
• AB: perform one movement phrase or theme followed
by a different movement phrase or theme;
• ABA: Perform one movement phrase or theme followed
by a different movement phrase or theme, followed then
by a repetition of the first movement phrase or theme;
• CALL AND RESPONSE: A caller verbally directs
the actions to be performed and the dancers respond by
doing the action, or the music calls out and dancers
react or a voice calls out and voices respond or dancers
initiate and music responds. Often associated with
African music and dance but also used elsewhere.
 COLONIAL AMERICAN DANCE
• European origin
• Wealthy learned from Dancing Masters, others from
imitating;
• Posture – upright, straight, light
• Mostly feet moving
• Often in two lines facing. Men and women together.
Non-democratic. Top couple most important
• Most Recreational purpose
• A later dance KERA calls Colonial: Virginia Reel
• Music: fiddle, flute, sometimes piano. Occasional voice
as music.
 NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE
• Grounded (low level) – respecting Earth
• Learned from community or elders
• Posture – knees bent. Upper body sometimes upright, sometimes bent
over.
• Mostly feet moving
• Mostly Ceremonial purpose (today also Artistic and Recreational)
• Themes of nature, animals, spirits, initiation, hunting, life cycle events
• Call and Response: dancer responds to drum sounds
• Music – drums, rattles, voice. Traditionally flute only for courting
• Often in a circle
• Often women only or men only – different movements for each gender
• Women’s dances have meanings
• Men’s dances tell stories
• Examples: Friendship Dance, Round Dance, Bear Dance
 WEST AFRICAN DANCE
• Grounded (low level) – respecting Earth, occasional leaps
• Learned from community
• Posture – bent knees, many body parts move in isolation to different rhythms at the
same time. Often flat, bare feet
• Mostly Ceremonial purpose. But could be Artistic for dancing before the Chief or King
or could be Recreational.
• Themes of nature, animals, spirits, initiation, life cycle events, work
• Movements sharp, energetic, strong, big, free flow. Although often low, can be high.
• Call and Response: dancer responds to drum sounds, sometimes drum responds to
dancer, voices respond to each other. Dancers play the drum sounds with their
bodies.
• Music – drums, rattles, gourds, percussion voice. Often fast, use of pulse, pattern,
breath
• Often in a circle or line following a circular path with musicians in the center
• Sometimes tell stories through a dance
• Often women only or men only – different movements for each gender
• All dancers equal, but with a chance to solo supported by the community