Choreography Glossary
Choreography: 1. The process of making a dance which involves the understanding of choreographic principles, processes, and structures. 2. The product that results from the process of choreography.
Choreographic structure: The specific compositional forms in which movement is structured to create a dance, such as theme, variation, canon, ABA, rondo, etc.
AB: A two-part compositional form with an A theme and a B theme; the binary form consists of two distinct, self-contained sections that share either a character or quality (such as the same tempo, movement quality, or style).
ABA: A three-part compositional form in which the second section contrasts with the first section. The third section is a restatement of the first section in a condensed, abbreviated, or extended form.
Abstract: To remove movement from a particular or representative context and, by manipulating it through the elements of space, time, and energy, create a new sequence or dance that retains the essence of the original.
-Accumulation: add on dancers- in unison with movement once added,
Repeating a sequence with the addition of one movement each time (e.g. 1, 12, 123, etc).
Aesthetic criteria: Standards on which to make judgments about the artistic merit of a work of art.
Call and Response: An African tradition which refers to a dance leader who calls out or demonstrates dance steps to which the group responds by repeating or performing the correct steps or combination.
-Canon: Movement which is performed identically but with multiple entry points.
Composition: 1. A dance which has been created. 2. The way in which the parts of a dance are put together to form a whole.
-Connected: physically touching
-Contrast: To compare or oppose two contrasting movements to show their differences. Movements might be different in terms of levels, facings/space, or time.
Design: The general form of arrangement of movement or technical elements.
Dynamics: The energy of movement expressed in varying intensity, accent, and quality.
-Echo: Copy cat effect, example- dancer 1 performs phrase and comes to a pause before dancer 2 starts
Ensemble: 1. A group of dancers. 2. A feeling of continuity or togetherness that exists in performing dance.
Flocking: A group activity that changes leaders as directions change.
Form: The overall structural organization of a dance composition (e.g. AB, ABA, Call and Response, etc).
Improvisation: Movement that is created spontaneously
Locomotor movement: Movement that travels from place to place, usually identified by weight transference. Basic locomotor movements are walk, run, leap, hop, jump, skip, slide, and gallop.
Non-locomotor/axial movement: Any movement that does not travel, but uses the available space in any direction or movement organized around the axis of the body (axial movement). Bending, twisting, stretching, and swinging are examples of axial movement.
Manipulation: A choreographic tool that helps to change and develop a movement or phrase.
-Mirroring: A mirror image,
A partnering activity that involves simultaneously following a leader's movement while facing that leader.
Narrative: A choreographic structure that is representational and in the form of a story.
Levels: The height of the dancer in relation to the floor. Levels in space are referred to as high, middle, and low.
Phrase: A brief sequence of related movements that have a sense of rhythmic completion.
*Retrograde: A compositional manipulation in which the movements in a phrase are performed from the end to the beginning as if rewinding the movements.
Rondo: A form based on alternation between a repeated section (A) and contrasting episodes (B, C, etc) i.e. ABACA.
Theme and variation: A form in which an initial theme is established and then followed by variations. The variations are excursions from or alternative treatments of this basic theme without altering its essential character.
Theme: The underlying idea/motif or intent used to create movement.
Transition: Organize connection between dance movements that maintains flow and continuity in the dance.
Unison: Movements which are performed simultaneously and identically by more than one dancer.
Unity: A feeling of wholeness in a dance which is achieved when all of the parts work well together.
Variation: Manipulation of the original movement without losing the intent and character.
Mirroring: Mirror image
*Transpose- mix up the measures (mix up the order of original phrase)(ex-which 1234 to 5678)
*Impose- change the rhythm/ a new rhythm to the same movement phrase
*Flatten- every note/movement is one beat
*Co-op- dancers work cooperatively with one another to complete a phrase (no one is doing the same counts, but the phrase is completed)
Body and Movement Glossary
Abduction: The movement of a body part away from the midline.
Adduction: The movement of a body part toward the midline.
Alignment: Proper anatomical placement.
Circumduction: The movement of a body part so that its end follows a circular pathway.
Effort actions: Press, flick, punch, float, slash, glide, wring, dab.
Effort: Actions, as defined by Rudolf Laban, that are analyzed in terms of weight, time, space, and flow factors.
Energy: The amount of tension or stress of a movement; the flow and control of force. It is defined by the degrees of impetus and follow through which are employed.
Extension: Increasing the angle of a joint.
Flexion: A bending or folding movement in which the angle of a joint decreases.
General space: A defined area of space through which dancers can travel using all the available space.
Genre: A type or category of dance (e.g. jazz, modern, ballet, etc).
Gesture: A movement of the body or a part of the body used to express an idea or emotion. Such movement could include a wave, handshake, head nod, shaking of the fist, etc. Ritual gestures may include gestures that are part of ceremonies or functional gestures such as brushing teeth or washing clothes.
Hyperextension: Extreme extension of a joint.
Improvisation: Movement that is created spontaneously, occurring within free or highly structured environments, but always with an element of chance. Provides the dancer with the opportunity to bring together elements quickly, and requires focus and concentration.
Kinesthetic awareness: The ability of the body's sensory organs in the muscles, tendons, and joints to respond to stimuli while dancing or viewing dance.
Labanotation: A symbolic notation for recording human and animal movement developed by Rudolph Laban.
Locomotor movement: Movement that travels from place to place, usually identified by weight transference. Basic locomotor movements are walk, run, leap, hop, jump, skip, slide, and gallop.
Negative space: The empty or open space created when the body makes a shape.
Non-locomotor/axial movement: Any movement that does not travel, but uses the available space in any direction or movement organized around the axis of the body (axial movement). Bending, twisting, stretching, and swinging are examples of axial movement.
Pathway: The path traced as movement proceeds through space. A pathway may be either on the floor or through the air and is constructed of straight and/or curved lines.
Pedestrian movement: Everyday movement that may be incorporated into a dance.
Performance: 1. To execute movements. 2. A presentation of dance choreography.
Personal space: The "space bubble" or the kinesphere that one occupies; it includes all levels, planes, and directions, both near and far from the body's center.
Positive space: The filled space created by the body when a shape is made in space.
Rhythm: A structure of movement patterns in time.
Rotation: The pivoting of a bone on its axis (internal-toward the body midline; external-away from the body midline).
Sequence: The continuation and order in which a series of movements and shapes occurs.
Shape: The spatial contour the body makes such as curved, angular, twisted, straight, symmetrical, or asymmetrical.
Space: The unlimited area which extends in all directions and within which all things exist. It involves use of level, pathway, shape, positive and negative space, general and personal space, size, focus, and direction.
Style: A distinctive manner of moving; the characteristic way dance is done, created, or performed that identifies the dance of a particular performer, choreographer, or period.
Technology: Electronic media that can be used in dance such as videotapes, camcorders, CD and cassette players, stage lighting and sound, cameras, and computer software and hardware.
Tempo: The speed of a movement such as fast, moderate, or slow.
Time: A concept which organizes movement; it encompasses tempo, rhythm, and duration.
Warm-up: Movements and/or movement phrases designed to raise the core body temperature, move the body through a preparatory range of movement, and bring the mind into focus for the dance.