MODULE 2: DANCE ELEMENTS PT.

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MODULE 1: • AFTER THIS MODULE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:
DANCE • UNDERSTAND BASIC DANCE COMPOSITION PRINCIPLES AND

ELEMENTS TERMINOLOGY.
• KNOW AND IDENTIFY THE ELEMENTS OF DANCE.
OBJECTIVES • DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ELEMENTS OF
DANCE AND BASIC CHOREOGRAPHIC TOOLS.
 THE CHOREOGRAPHER

• WHAT DOES THE CHOREOGRAPHER DO?

• A CHOREOGRAPHER IS A PERSON WHO USES THE MEDIUM
OF DANCE OR MOVEMENT TO MAKE THEIR ART.
• CHOREOGRAPHERS CREATE WORK TO COMMUNICATE
SOMETHING. EX: THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, STORIES, ABSTRACT
IDEAS ETC..
• CONCEPTS CAN BE ABSTRACT OR “MOVEMENT FOR
MOVEMENT’S SAKE”- THIS IS WHERE MOVEMENT IS THE
FOCUS OVER STORYLINE
 • TRAINING CAN INVOLVE YEARS OF DANCE TECHNIQUE
BECOMING A AND COMPOSITION CLASSES.

CHOREOGRAPHER • CREATING MOVEMENT REQUIRES AN ALREADY PRESENT

INSTINCTIVE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND MOVEMENT
QUALITY AND ENVISION MULTIPLE POSSIBILITIES FOR
SHAPING CONTENT.
• REGARDLESS OF THE GENRE OF DANCE, PRACTICAL
KNOWLEDGE OF THAT TECHNIQUE IS NECESSARY TO
ENSURE SAFETY FOR THE MOVERS AND REACHING A
DESIRABLE OUTCOME.
• ADDITIONAL TRAITS INCLUDE: PASSION,
DEDICATION/COMMITMENT, PATIENCE, SENSITIVITY AND
RESPECT.
RUDOLF VON LABAN (1897-1958)

• RUDOLF VON LABAN WAS A DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER,

PHILOSOPHER, SCIENTIST, AND EDUCATOR.
• WORKED IN EUROPE IN THE EARLY 20TH C. AND DEVELOPED
A SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING MOVEMENT- LABAN
MOVEMENT ANALYSIS.
• HE ALSO DEVELOPED A METHOD FOR USING ABSTRACT
VISUAL SYMBOLS TO WRITE MOVEMENT DOWN-
LABANOTATION.
There are multiple ways a choreographer goes
about developing a work. All are unique to that
individual.

It’s a process of development, change and

evolution. CREATIVE
PROCESS
Think of choreographing like writing a paper
then editing it over and over again!

What are some patterns a choreographer

might follow when creating a new work?
 PROCESS OF CREATING MOVEMENT

Collaboration: this can Planned phrases v. Flow:

Music: selected before be with the dancers, choreography can be
movement or after previously mapped out
choreography is taught. composers, visual artists in great detail or a
etc…
more organic approach.
 THE ELEMENTS OF DANCE

In addition to developing a unique Being conscious of these elements as

choreographic process, attention to an active audience member will help
the elements of dance help to inform in understanding and appreciating
and expand the movement quality. the performance

There are 5 Elements of dance- Body, Action, Space, Time and Energy
(B.A.S.T.E)
 BODY
Parts of the body=
This can include : head, eyes, torso,
shoulders, legs, arms,
feet etc.

Initiation points= Patterns=

core, distal, body upper/lower body,
parts etc. contralateral, midline
etc.

Body Shapes=
symmetrical,
asymmetrical,
rounded, twisted,
angular etc.
ACTION
This can include:

Non- locomotor (axial)= stretch, bend,

twist, turn, rise, fall, shake etc.

Locomotor =slide, walk, hop, skip, jump,

leap, crawl, run etc.
axial= stationary Locomotor =
movement traveling movement
SPACE • THIS CAN INCLUDE:
• SIZE= LARGE, SMALL, NARROW WIDE
• LEVEL= HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW
• PLACE= ON THE SPOT (PERSONAL
SPACE) THROUGH THE SPACE
(GENERAL SPACE) UPSTAGE,
DOWNSTAGE ETC. (STAGE LINGO
• DIRECTION/PATHWAY= FORWARD,
BACKWARD, SIDEWAYS, DIAGONAL,
LEFT, RIGHT, CURVED
• ORIENTATION= FACING
• RELATIONSHIPS= IN FRONT, BEHIND,
BESIDE, ALONE, CONNECTED, OVER,
UNDER ETC.
• FOCUS= INWARD, OUTWARD
• *NEGATIVE SPACE= UNOCCUPIED OR
EMPTY SPACE
• *POSITIVE SPACE= WHERE THE
DANCER IS LOCATED
 TIME
This can include:

Metered= pulse, tempo, accent, rhythmic

pattern
Free rhythm= breath, open score, sensed
time, improvisation, cued
Clock time= seconds, minutes, hours

Timing relationships= before, after, unison,

faster than
ENERGY
This can include:

Attack= sharp, smooth, sudden,

sustained

Weight= strength (push, impacted)

lightness (resistance) resiliency
(rebound, even)

Flow= free, bound, balanced, neutral

Quality= flowing, tight, loose, swinging,

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