The Elements of Dance

The Elements of Dance

There are

3
Elements of Dance.
The Elements of Dance

SPACE
The Elements of Dance

SPACE
TIME
The Elements of Dance

SPACE
TIME
FORCE
1st Element of Dance
SPACE
 1st Element of Dance
SPACE
Area surrounding a person in
which he/she is able to move.
 SPACE
• Shape:
 SPACE
• Shape: circles, squares,
triangles, etc. made with
parts of the body, the whole
body, with groups of people,
or by moving through space.
 SPACE
• Level:
 SPACE
• Level: The vertical distance
from the floor.
 SPACE
• Level: The vertical distance
from the floor. (High,
Medium, or Low)
 SPACE
• Direction:
 SPACE
• Direction: Where the body
moves.
 SPACE
• Direction: Where the body
moves.
• (e.g. Forward, backward, up,
down, sideways, diagonally,
etc.)
 SPACE
• Pathways:
 SPACE
• Pathways: Patterns we make
as we move through the air
or across the floor.
 SPACE
• Focus:
 SPACE
• Focus: Where the dancer’s
eyes look as he/she is
dancing.
 SPACE
• Size:
 SPACE
• Size: How large or small
movements.
 SPACE
• Shape
• Level
• Direction
• Pathways
• Focus
• Size
2nd Element of Dance
TIME
 2nd Element of Dance
TIME
The duration of the movement
 TIME
• Beat:
 TIME
• Beat: The on going
underlying pulse.
 TIME
• Tempo:
 TIME
• Tempo: How fast or slow the
movements.
 TIME
• Accent:
 TIME
• Accent: Strong beats that
usually occur at regular
intervals.
 TIME
• Rhythmic Patterns:
 TIME
• Rhythmic Patterns: Patterns
made by arranging long and
short movement or strong
and light movement.
 TIME
• Duration:
 TIME
• Duration: The length of time
the movement lasts.
 TIME
• Beat
• Tempo
• Accent
• Rhythmic Patterns
• Duration
3rd Element of Dance
FORCE
 3rd Element of Dance
FORCE
How the body uses energy
while moving.
 FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
 FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
• Heavy / Light
 FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
• Heavy / Light
• Sharp / Smooth
 FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
• Heavy / Light
• Sharp / Smooth
• Tensed / Relaxed
 FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
• Heavy / Light
• Sharp / Smooth
• Tensed / Relaxed
• Bound / Flowing
 FORCE
• Bound / Flowing
 FORCE
Bound = releasing energy in
a controlled, restrained
manner
 FORCE
Flowing = releasing energy
freely.
 Elements of Dance
• SPACE • TIME • FORCE
Shape Beat FORCE = ENERGY
Level Tempo
Heavy / Light,
Direction Accent
Sharp / Smooth,
Pathways Rhythmic Tensed / Relaxed
Focus Bound / Flowing
Size Patterns
Duration
MOVEMENTS
MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
&
Nonlocomotor
 MOVEMENTS
• Locomotor:
 MOVEMENTS
• Locomotor: Movements that
take the body from one point
to another.
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
• Examples:
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
• Examples:
Step
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
• Examples:
Step Hop
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
• Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
• Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
Polka
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
Polka Waltz
 MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
Polka Waltz Two-step
 MOVEMENTS
• Nonlocomotor:
 MOVEMENTS
• Nonlocomotor: Movements
that the body can do and still
stay in one place.
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
• Examples:
Push Pull Rise
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise
Fall
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise
Fall Dodge
 MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise
Fall Dodge Sway
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS

AB
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS

AB
• A dance with a 2-part
structure…
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
AB
• A dance with a 2-part
structure
• with the second part being
different from the first part.
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS

ABA
• A dance with a 3-part
structure…
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA
• A dance with a 3-part
structure…
• With the second part being
different from the first part…
 COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA
• A dance with a 3-part structure…
• With the second part being
different from the first part…
• And the last part being the same as
the first part.
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Call and Response
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Call and Response
• 1st soloist/group moves, with
the 2 nd

soloist/group moving in
“response”.
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
 COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
• A dance that tells a story
using only movement.
• NO WORDS!
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
Examples:
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
Examples: Ballets like…
The Nutcracker Cinderella
Swan Lake Sleeping
Beauty
COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
Examples:
and some FOLK DANCES
such as Native American
Dances or the Hula
SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Body Alignment:
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Body Alignment: Body
placement or posture, when
done properly, lessens body
strain and promotes dance
skills.
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Balance:
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Balance: An equal
distribution of weight, force,
or influence
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Isolation of body parts:
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Isolation of body parts: The
ability to move separate parts
of the body independently.
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Elevation:
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Elevation: Movement of the
body or parts of the body to a
higher level.
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Landing:
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Landing: The manner and
quality in which the body
returns to earth following an
action of elevation (e.g. leap,
hop, jump, etc.)
 SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
• Body Alignment
• Balance
• Isolation of Body Parts
• Elevation
• Landing
PURPOSES OF DANCE
PURPOSES OF DANCE
Ceremonial
 PURPOSES OF DANCE
Ceremonial
• Dance done by a dancer in
order to celebrate or
commemorate a special
occasion.
 PURPOSES OF DANCE

Ceremonial
• Perform a ritual such as an
initiation of members into a
group in some cultures.
PURPOSES OF DANCE
Recreational
 PURPOSES OF DANCE
Recreational
• Dance done by a dancer in
order to have FUN!
 PURPOSES OF DANCE
Recreational
Square Dancing
Tap Dancing
Social Dances
PURPOSES OF DANCE
~ ARTISTIC ~
 PURPOSES OF DANCE
~ ARTISTIC ~
• Dance done by a dancer so
that the viewer can
appreciate the artistry of the
dance.
PURPOSES OF DANCE

~ ARTISTIC ~
Ballet
Jazz
Modern
The Elements of Dance