LESSON 1: MOVEMENT

Action is any human movement included in the act of dancing— it can include dance steps, facial movements, partner lifts, gestures, and even everyday movements such as walking. Dance is made up of streams of movement and pauses, so action refers not only to steps and sequences, but also to pauses and moments of relative stillness.

Dancers may use movements that have been choreographed or traditional dances taught by others who know the dances. Depending on the dance style or the choreographer's decision, dancers may also revise or embellish movement they have learned from others.

Movement can also be improvised, meaning that the dancers make it up "on the spot" as they spontaneously dance. Movement that travels through space is broadly called locomotor movement in contrast to axial movement, which occurs in one spot.

Understanding and discussing action does not require extensive dance terminology since movement can be categorized and described according to its qualities. For example, while a “sashay” in American Square Dance might be called a “chassé” in Ballet or an “undercurve” in Modern Dance technique, we can also describe it as a “slide” since that essential characteristic is present in all those steps. 

MOVEMENT

- any action or a change of position in the body which is either done in place or from one place to another. 

TYPES OF MOVEMENT:

1. Axial or Non-Locomotor movements - these are movements done in place.

Example:

a. Flexion - the action of bending or the condition of being bent, especially the bending of a limb or joint.

* half-knees bend * full knees-bend

* trunk bending forward * trunk bending sideward

* arms bending forward * head bending forward

* head bending sideward * elbow bend

b. Extension - a part that is added to something to enlarge or prolong it; a continuation.

* head twist

* trunk twist

c. Pendular - being or resembling the movement of a pendulum.

* arms swinging sideward

* arms swinging overhead

* body swaying right and left

d. Percussive - relating to or produced by striking.

* arms strike with closed fist * arms strikes with open fist

* hit with one hand * hit with both hands

* push with one arm or both arms * pull with one arm or both arms

e. Rotation/Circling - the action of rotating around an axis or center.

* right arm circling forward

* left arm circle forward

f. Suspension - the action of suspending someone or something or the condition of being suspended, in particular.

* both arms circle swing three or four times counter-clockwise and stop movement with arms diagonally forward, upward

g. Sustained - continuing for an extended period or without interruption.

* arm swinging continuously from side to side.

* arms moving laterally to right and left sides in continuous pattern.

h. Vibratory - relating to or causing vibration.

* shake arms and hand rhythmically

* shake hips and shoulder to rhythmic pattern

2. Locomotor movements - these are movements that bring a performer from one place to another.

Example:

a. Walk - series of steps done in any direction.

b. Run - faster than walk and the strides are longer.

c. Hop - a spring on one foot landing on the same foot.

d. Jump - a spring on both feet landing on both feet.

e. Leap - a spring on one foot landing on the other foot.

f. Skip - a step-hop movement.

g. Galop/Gallop - series of cut step done sideways.

h. Slide - gliding of the foot smoothly along the floor.

DIRECTIONS OF MOVEMENT:

1. Forward

2. Backward

3. Upward

4. Downward

5. Sideward/Sideways/Right or Left

6. Diagonal/Oblique/Slanting

7. Clockwise

8. Counter-clockwise

THE HUMAN BODY:

Division:

1. HEAD

2. TRUNK

- chest region

- waist

- abdominal region

- hip region

- buttocks

- back (upper and lower)

3. UPPER EXTREMITIES/UPPER LIMBS/ARMS

- hands (fingers and palm)

- wrist

- arm (forearm and elbow)

- shoulder girdle

4. LOWER EXTREMITIES/LOWER LIMBS/LEGS

- feet (toes and heels)

- ankles

- legs (thigh, hamstrings, lower legs and knees)