Dance has a variety of purposes in life. Some people dance for rain and good crops. Some dance for a hobby, a job or to exercise. Some people dance to worship their god/s, to make a political statement whilst others dance for pure entertainment purposes. When people dance for artistic reasons, applying dance analysis becomes particularly useful because some dances are very complex. Essentially the choreographer would like us as the audience to be able to connect with some aspect of their life and experiences. The choreography creates visual images from which we are able to receive meaning.

Before we analyse a dance work it is essential that we have some understanding of the context within which a choreographer has existed, as this may or may not have an impact on their life experience and therefore the nature of their choreography. It is also important to develop an understanding of significant influences, cultural perspectives and the training of the choreographer.

You are required to view dance works from an educational perspective and have an understanding of dance as an art form. As the intended audience, your perspective would vary greatly to that of a critic, other cultural groups, teachers or the general public. The perception of each individual depends on their backgrounds, values, religious, cultural and social upbringing – their ‘world view’.