Dance Terms

Fall & Recovery

Giving into gravity.

Trust in Dance

Trust is important because you as a dancer need to know how to move your body in your own personal space and the need to train your awareness of and amongst other dancers. Dance is a communal activity, therefore you need to be aware of others space and tr

What does the term Improvisation mean in Dance?

Improvisation is spontaneous movement using a stimulus to inspire new movement. It is when you make up movements without having planned or prepared them beforehand.

Spacial Awareness in Dance

Spacial awareness is the space shared by other people or the personal space your body takes up while you are moving or still. You as a dancer need to be considerate of your movements and ensure you do not collide or bump into other dancers.

Personal space

The space that your body occupies.

General space

The space you share with other dancers.

Choreography

The act of designing a dance. It involves choosing steps, music, costumes and a performance space.

Abstract dance

This is a dance piece with no plot or story line. Most of the work you will be doing will be abstract. Abstract dance may, however, have a central theme, emotion or message.

Narrative dance

A dance that has a storyline or plot.

Canon

Two or more dancers dance the same movement phrase but each dancer begins at a different time or at a different point in the phrase. The audience therefore sees the same phrase in different states simultaneously.

Unison

Two or more dancers perform the same movement phrase at the same time with no variation.

Repetition

A movement phrase or a part of a movement phrase may be repeated directly after its first use for effect or later in the dance.

Motif

This is a particular part of a movement phrase, sometimes just one step. It is a recognisable pattern that reoccurs. Often, developing a single step as the 'signature' of a piece and seeing how many different ways it can be used is very interesting. A mot

Question and Answer

One dancer or group of dancers offers a "question" in movement followed by a reply from another dancer or group of dancers with a related movement.

Floor patterns

The route travelled by a dancer is called a floor pattern. Dancers can travel in a circle, a straight line, a diagonal or even a butterfly design.

Directions

This may include the direction of travel, the direction a dancer is facing or the direction a movement is in. Groups may work in the same or different directions.

Levels

This is the use of horizontal space. Movements or poses may be high in the air or low on the ground. Groups may dance at different levels simultaneously.

Symmetry and Asymmetry

Symmetry, when both sides of an image are equal, creates balance, predictability, control and authority. Asymmetry, when sides are not balanced or equal, produces tension, excitement and contrast. Symmetry or asymmetry may be created in a still or moving

Non- locomotor movements

Axial movements move around or along the central column of the spine, the axis of the body.
They include: twist,whirl,rise,drop,wiggle,lunge,bend,expand,rock,
flop,sway,uncurl,curl,spin,fall,stretch,turn,tumble,
swing and lean.

Locomotor movements

Locomotor movements travel from one place to another. There are eight basic locomotor movements from which all others extend.
They are: Walk, run, leap,hop, jump, skip and gallop
These locomotor movements can be modified by changing the direction, speed,