rtsource ® A The Music Center’s Study Guide to the Performing Arts Table of Contents Dance • Glossary 1 – 15 • Tools to Use 16 • Eight Effort Actions 17 • Assessment and Rubric 18 – 20 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FROM THE DANCE SECTION Just as verbal and written language has an alphabet • Space: with words, punctuation and intonation as its base, Space is the unlimited area which extends in all dance has a vocabulary of movement terms, which directions and within which all things exist. We includes the dance elements, principles of design can describe space in terms of direction (forward, and technical terms. It is valuable to know some of backward, sideways, around), levels (high, low), these terms and to use them in the correct context and range (size, distance). Focus is also considered when teaching students. to be a factor in space because the focus of the dancer directs the viewer’s eye and can create The body is the instrument of the dancer. It distance, intimacy or self-absorption. There is also enables the dancer to convey ideas, thoughts and the concept that space can be positive (filled) or feelings, and to show relationships among people negative (empty). and between people and objects. • Shape: Dance differs from functional motion, which Dancers make shapes or poses with their bodies, people use in everyday life, because the movements both when they move and when they are still. used by a dancer are selected, developed, abstracted, Dancers can move separately, in pairs, trios and in combined in aesthetic ways and rehearsed. The groups to form designs. Moving designs can be created exception to this is pure improvisation. by movements which travel (locomotor) and Transformation also occurs when the dancer enters progress along a specific path on the floor, or by the a heightened state of sensitivity and expression. motion patterns performed in the space around the dancer (axial). The Elements of Dance: • Time: • Force: Time is an idea which helps us to organize activity. Another word for force is energy. Energy makes Movement can be fast or slow. Dancers must be dance exciting and interesting. Energy can be loose able to perceive and respond to different speeds or swinging, shaking or vibrating, smooth and (tempos). Time can be thought of musically, flowing, bursting and percussive. Energy is affected internally (kinesthetically), or mechanically. by body weight and the dancer’s relationship to gravity. Dancers use their weight and energy in a • Tempo: variety of ways, such as heavy, light, strong, weak, Tempo can be either the time, speed or rhythm of tight and loose. A dancer controls the flow of energy a piece of music or the pace of any movement or activity. in a variety of ways. (See ‘Tools to Use When Viewing Dance’ for more information.) • Rhythm: Rhythm in dance comes from three sources: Some Principles of Form: movement, music and emotions. Rhythm helps the dancer organize motion by providing a structure. • Contrast • Repetition It sets a pulse for the dancer and supports, • Variation • Unity contrasts and accents the movement. Rhythm can be even, uneven, simple or complex. 1 AB Form: Alternating: Form is the plan, design or procedure for the To arrange, perform or occur in turns, parts or theme and arrangement of a piece of music. AB sides (e.g. they were alternating between sound and form is a two part form. silence in their dance). Abstraction (Abstract is the action word): Ancient: Movement which represents feelings, ideas or Referring to times of early human history. images in a non-literal form. The elements of dance are used to change, simplify, or exaggerate Apache: movement to express the choreographer’s ideas or A member of a tribe of North American Indians imagination. inhabiting the Southwestern part of the United States. Accent: Appalachian: A strong movement, gesture or sound. Referring to the culture of people who live in and around the Appalachian Mountains, in Eastern Action/Reaction: North America. When used in dance, there is an action or move- ment which triggers or causes a second movement Archaeological Dig: which is a reaction to the first movement. An excavation of historically significant artifacts. Action Words: Architecture: Refers to movements which have a specific action The design or style of a building. such as running, twisting or jumping. Astronomy: Active Stillness: The scientific study of the stars and the planets and The state of being still in an energized shape rather their movements. than a relaxed one. Asymmetry (asymmetrical): Aesthetic: An uneven proportion in time, space, or energy, Something artistic, representing artistic point of opposed to conventional balance. Not symmetrical. view, intent or style. Axial Movement: Aesthetics: Movement which is stationary; done in place without A branch of philosophy dealing with the principles traveling. Examples are stretching, twisting, falling, and interpretation of the concept of beauty and turning in place, and gesturing. tastefulness. Bacteria: Allemande Left: A microscopic plant organism. Three cell types A round or square dance term indicating that include: cocci (round), bacilli (long and straw- ‘corners’ join left hands, turn around each other like), spirilla (corkscrew-shaped). and go back to place. 2 Balance: Call and Response: Balance can refer to either the balance of weight or An African musical tradition, where a leader sings the spatial arrangement. Weight or designs which or chants a line to which the groups responds by are evenly balanced on both sides of center is called singing a response or repeating the call. This can symmetrical and that which is balanced off-center also be a call given by the master drummer to indi- is called asymmetrical. cate that a new rhythm and/or dance step is to be done by the group. It can also refer to a dance Ballet: leader who calls out or demonstrates dance steps to A highly specialized form of dance spectacle which the group responds by repeating or per- combining the arts of music, choreography and forming the correct steps or combination. dancing to create an expressive work of art. Chance Dance: Base of Support: A dance made up with specific movement, elements The body part, or parts, of an individual or a or ideas that are created and/or performed in a connected group which is supporting weight. random way. Baskethold Position: Cantilever: Dancers stand in a circle or line and spread their A projecting beam supporting a balcony or similar own arms sideways in front of the persons on either structure. In dance, it is a counter-balanced position with side. Hands are joined with persons one beyond partners, trios or small groups the dancer on each side. The underneath arm corresponds to the traveling direction. (If the Celebration/Bravura: basket moves right the right arm is under.) A term used by the American Indian Dance Theatre to describe a category of Native American Big Circle: cultural dances which are done for the purpose of A large circle formation involving an unspecified celebration, challenge and competition. number of people, as contrasted with small circles composed of a specific number of dancers. Center In: A circle dance term meaning to move into the circle Break: and back out. A term used in African dance when the drummer plays a transition between movement combinations Changing Ceremony: and it is also used in tap dance as a combination of Refers to the ceremonies of the Native American steps which ends one section of choreography. cultural groups which mark the passage from childhood to adulthood. Butterfly Position: This is a partner position, in which the partners Chant: can be facing either front to front or back to back, A tune or monophonic song which is sometimes where the arms of both partners are spread widely spiritual in nature, or a rhythmic call or shout outward to both sides. which is repetitive, and often focuses on collectively saying a message or prayer. 3 Characteristic: Cinquain Poetry: A distinctive feature showing part person or thing. A Japanese form of poetry which has five lines. The first line is a one-word noun; the second line are Chassé: two action words; the third line has three words A ballet term describing a step in which one foot which are descriptive; the fourth line uses four lines literally chases the other foot out of its position; to tell some about the subject; the fifth line is a one- done in a series (similar to a gallop or slide). word synonym or simile for the subject of the poem. Choreograph: Classical: The process or action of creating a dance. Dance or music which is from a classic period and emphasizes a specific form and style of a culture Choreographer: and period. It is considered the highest level. A person who creates dances. Classical Ballet: Choreography: The style of ballet dancing that adheres strictly (Literally, ‘dance writing.’) The creation and to the traditions of ballet as developed by past composition of dances by arranging or inventing generations of choreographers and dancers. steps, movements and patterns of movement. Clockwise: Circle: A dance term which refers to moving in the direction A round figure used in a variety of ways in dance - indicated by the hands of a clock (to the left). it can refer to a formation of people forming a circle together or can refer to the path described by Clog Dance: a movement, as well as a body shape. A form of tap dance in which the dancer wears clogs - wooden shoes or shoes with thick wooden Circle Left: soles. It developed from folk dances common when A Big Circle or square dance term meaning to join peasants wore clogs.