The structure of a dance is how the total work is put together. All elements combine to produce a whole work of art, with three main sections: To convey the overall mood, atmosphere and message, the choreographer sequences movement sections in a variety of ways.
The choreography will gradually reveal a story or idea. The movement content is sequentially arranged into section A B C and so on to advance and communicate the idea or story. To allow the story to flow naturally, the choreographer should give careful consideration to linking each section in a logical sequence.
A two part choreographic structure with an A theme and a B theme (AB). The binary form consists of two distinct self-contained sections that share either a character or quality i.e. the same tempo, movement quality, or style.
A conventional and satisfying form because going back to the beginning ‘rounds it off’. The return to section A can be achieved by exact repetition of the initial section, or by reversing, highlighting parts, changing a few elements and changing the order of the elements. They must be closely linked, while section B forms the contrast.
This provides the choreographer with a verse and chorus framework that gives room for variation in the verses and development in the chorus. Variation can produce something new each time, but it must still have enough of the original to be considered a related part to the whole. Development can recall the original in many ways without changing the essence. This is a satisfying form to watch, as the viewer can quickly identify the chorus movement and enjoy its repetition — it becomes a ‘joining-in’ process.
Theme and variation format can be described as a dance phrase or section of a dance with subsequent dance phrases or sections being variations of the original. This would be A, A1, A2, A3.
Collage is a choreographic form that consists of a series of movement phrases that are often unrelated but have been brought together to create a single dance with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
A choreography with many sections linked by the theme. This structure is found in literature, through connected and progressive sections, chapters or episodes. Each section reveals more of the plot. It can provide a narrative story to follow throughout the dance; however, there are also dances in which an episodic structure is used but not to create a narrative. Christopher Bruce used episodic structure in Sergeant Early's Dream (1984). The different episodes in this work do not tell a story but present different scenes from one community.
In this section of your review you must ensure the structure (complex for higher) is described and the explanation relates this to the intention(s) of the choreography clearly and in detail.
Think about why you choose your structure over others?
Why does this best suit your theme and intentions?
Example
The structure I have chosen for my choreography is Episodic. A Episodic structure allows my develop my choreography with many sections linked by my theme of Bullying. This structure is found in literature, through connected and progressive sections, chapters or episodes. Each section reveals more of the plot. It can provide a narrative story to follow throughout the dance; however, there are also dances in which an episodic structure is used but not to create a narrative. Christopher Bruce used episodic structure in Sergeant Early's Dream (1984).
Within my choreography I used different episodes to communicate themes of bullying and the deterioration of mental health of a victim as the bullying worsens with time. I have chose this particular structure over others as I wished to create a progressive and unfolding story which could also be viewed as stand alone thematic episode to show various aspects of bullying.
Episode A - Social exclusion
Within this episode I explore the theme of social exclusion. Social Exclusion is now recognized as a sub group of bullying. This means that idea of excluding someone repeatedly, aggressively and on purpose with the intent to cause emotional harm to them, is right up there with verbal, physical and cyber bullying. Social exclusion is bullying when a child feels alone or left out because of the manipulation of their peer relationships and social status (Defeat the label, 2023). In this episode we see the beginnings of bullying. In the start of the episode we see 4 friends, as the episode develops we see one dancer (the victim) start to experience social exclusion which is one of the first forms of bulling. I found that social exclusion was a common starting point for bullies and thought this was an appropriate way to introduce my theme.
Episode B- Verbal Bullying
This Episode shown the theme of verbal bullying. My research showed that It is not uncommon for people to experience some form of verbal bullying (being called names or insulted) at some point in their lives. Many young people we speak to hear insults on a daily basis when they are in school or socially (Family Lives, 2023) Within this episode we start to see the bullying escalate, the actions of the perpetrators have developed. We can now see how verbal bullying can impact a victim's wellbeing.
Episode C- Physical Bullying
Within this episode we start to see the bullying escalate further to become physical. My research showed that "
We can also see a change in behaviour from two of the bullies not conducting the violent physical bullying showing how witnessing bulling can also effect those that see it.
Episode D- Long term Effect of Bullying
Even after bullying has stopped the long term effects can affect victims later into their lives effecting mental health and resulting in behaviours such as interpersonal violence, substance use, sexual violence, poor social functioning, and poor performance found in my research.
References
Defeat the Label (2023). Is social exclusion bullying. [online] Available at: https://defeatthelabel.com/is-social-exclusion-bullying/
Positive Action (2021). What Is Physical Bullying and How to Prevent It? | Positive Action. [online] www.positiveaction.net. Available at: https://www.positiveaction.net/blog/physical-bullying.
Family Lives (2023). Verbal bullying | Family Lives. [online] Available at: https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying/general-advice/verbal-bullying