Professional dancers train for many years to make their bodies flexible and responsive, able to assume long lines that are straight or curved, or jagged, angular contours. This has a lyrical feel, like a skip: 1 and a, 2, Country pas de basque in 2/4 time: 1+2 1+2 1+2 1+2, Balancé waltz in 3/4 time: 123 223 323 423. Dancers sense metre as a recurring rhythmic underpinning. W3 Awards: 2008 Silver Winner, 2010 Award of Distinction My goal is to better my craft of teaching through learning and reflection. In small-scale actions, the limbs and torso are drawn inward: they contract, flex, fold and bend. Step hops syncopated (1 u2 u3 u 4 u5 u6 u7 u8 u). Energy (active/passive, strong/gentle, movement qualities) a. Laban defined four basic components of effort: The weight factor reflects how the dancer actively uses his or her body mass, on a continuum from strong to light. We can describe these as high-middle-low or vertical-horizontal-oblique. When a dance is performed in silence or to a soundscape, its movements embody their own rhythm. Not on spot - Sp/CoSp, StaLi. Four elements of dance - Body, space, time and Energy, First element in dance. symmetrical asymmetrical. Element is innovative and / OR creative 2 9. We often describe it as the quality of movement, the intangible factor that adds uniqueness, richness and power. A free movement proceeds unopposed and unrestrained. Perfect to display in classrooms or laminated for a table based resource. A section of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Foi is performed to a sound collage. Canon. Dynamics how a movement is done ; Flow continuity of movement (bound/free flowing) Weight strength (force) lightness of movement (heavy/light) 7 Choreographic Forms Choreography is the art of arranging dances Theme the basic idea of the play, which the A strong action has the full mass of the body behind it; it's rooted and grounded. While ballet commonly uses regular time signatures, modern dance often uses irregular ones like 5/4 (" 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 ") ; 7/4 (" 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3 ") ; and also changing metres. Study the choreography of dances from the same genre. Swinging Movement (ex. Classical ballet positions most often use elongated lines and curves, whereas modern dance includes a range of shapes from contracted to extended. For example, slow, sustained movements are called adage, while quick, light jumps are called allegro. It's rather a feeling of having all the time in the world to indulge in a sustained movement, or sensing an urgency to complete a sudden one. Steps hops done evenly (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+); Speed across the ice maintained or accelerated during the Element 1 7. The dancer’s waltz movements take on a different quality with this contemporary soundscape. Narrative: choreographic structure that follows a specific story line to convey specific information through a dance Variations: contrasts in the use of the dance elements, repetitions . Waltz music gives this phrase a lyrical feel. The body moves in space and in time with force. This is not "clock time" in the sense of seconds versus hours or fast versus slow. There's a lot to discover! the same tempo, movement quality, or style. First element in dance. As dancers move through space, their bodies create patterns on the floor and Choreograph definition is - to compose the choreography of. The instrument is the body. By contrast, an asymmetric position is different on the right and left sides of the body. A canon is commonly referred to as a “round” in the musical world. The space factor reflects how the dancer moves in space on a continuum from direct to indirect. A3 Choreographic Devices poster. A two part choreographic structure with an A theme and a B theme (AB). Space. The diagonal line from upstage left to downstage right makes the longest line on stage and is also a strong path. Create a Movement Sequence Choreographers are like architects who build dynamic structures with human bodies. Direct actions take the shortest path to their destination whereas indirect actions detour and meander en route. The notation of dance, however, is a work of analysis and reporting, performed generally by people other than the choreographer, in language or signs that may well not be understood by the creator. Step-hops in 6/8 time. We'll show you how. The upstage dancer’s arms move with two steady drum beats. The time factor reveals the dancer's attitude to time on a continuum from sustained to sudden. This form is effective with children of all ages due to its familiarity. It is the medium of dance. This excerpt from The Holy Body Tattoo Our brief eternity shows dancers moving at slow, medium and high speed. A bound movement is one of careful precision; it's highly controlled and can be stopped at any moment. The third element of dance. Rhythm refers to the pattern and emphasis of beats and sub-beats in a phrase. Some, like the Montréal-based Cirque du Soleil, use platforms and scaffolds to extend the vertical range of spatial design. Choreographers use these devices to evoke strong or weak dramatic effects. A light action has the body moving in a lifted and rarefied way. In rehearsals, practices and classes, teachers and choreographers teach combinations to music. ABACAD Theme : the basic idea of the play, which the author dramatizes through the conflict of characters. A choreographic sequence is a required element for the figure skating in all international competitions. Think of actions that are unstable, lopsided or unbalanced. Students form groups of eight or more. I first encountered Laban work while I was training at the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre. In addition to horizontal patterns along the stage floor, choreographers explore vertical space through movements like lifts and jumps. The smallest part is the motif. (Education Website) Communicator Awards. I'm an Aussie from Tasmania currently teaching in Singapore. Look at a building. The separation among concepts Danceis an art form focused on creating a performance that's impermanent and fluid. BASIC ELEMENTS OF CHOREOGRAPHY. Choreography is the art of arranging dances 8. How do they do that? Many ballet movements are categorized by their characteristic tempo. Otherwise the element will be Laban's theory combines the three elements of weight-space-time to produce eight basic effort actions. The choreographer arranges dancers on the stage and plans their travel around the available space to create visual interest and dramatic effect. How would you know? Percussion accompaniment best emphasizes the rhythmic element in dance. Spatial patterns, like body shapes, may display symmetry or asymmetry, suggesting stability and equilibrium versus irregularity and imbalance. angular twisted. Shape . Dancing Character Traits ~ Grade 5 ~ 1 Class Period by Chelsea Francis: Students learn to understand a novel's characters while analyzing and performing action verbs from the text. DANCE FORM (Choreographic Forms)–call and response, AB and ABA, narrative. This is the Disney Songbook Table of Elements. As the level changes, the dancer can support himself or herself on different body parts to create different effects. Dance - Dance - The three-phase choreographic process: The choreographic process may be divided for analytical purposes (the divisions are never distinct in practice) into three phases: gathering together the movement material, developing movements into dance phrases, and creating the final structure of the work. This has an even feel: 1+2+, 1+2. They take the movements and create an art form. But what about dancers? Flow-related action words: constrained, guarded versus uninhibited, unconstrained. Choreographic Forms. In large-scale actions, they extend and stretch out to their fullest length. A phrase in 5/4 time: 1,2,3,4,5; 1,2,3,4,5. Basic time signatures include: 2/4 (" 1, 2 ") ; 3/4 (" 1, 2, 3 ") ; 4/4 (" 1, 2, 3, 4 ") ; and 6/8 (" 1 and a, 2 and a "). The samples also illustrate how the achievement chart varies – particularly with respect to the examples provided for the criteria in each category – to reflect the nature of the particular subject or discipline. However, other ingredients also contribute to dance composition. Choreographers may work with the musical rhythm to accentuate the shape of a dance phrase, or against it to juxtapose aural and visual effects. One section that I find myself referring to over and over discusses the choreographic devices used to develop movement. An arm gesture might be free flowing or easily stopped, and it may be powerful or gentle, tight or loose, heavy or light. physical capabilities and execution including coordination, balance. With the third element of dance composition, timing, we'll look at: Tempo or speed may be described in musical terms like adagio, moderato and allegro, or in phrases like slow motion, medium or moderate speed, and fast or high speed. The fourth element of dance - tempo, accents, length of music, There are three levels in dance - high, medium and low, The directions a dancer travels in - forward, backward, up, down, left, right, diagonal, etc, The groups and positions that dancers stand in - straight line, V shape, windows, etc, The activities that the body performs - click, clap, turn, leap, etc, The space that the dancer performs in - stage, dance room, etc. They may create movements that correspond with the start and end of a musical or sound phrase, or those that cross phrases. With the creative and choreographic processes in mind, the next step is to survey your ingredients for making a dance. Think of a pyramid, the Buddha or a mirror image. Activity 4.2 Explore. Staging: the flow of the formation of the dancers in relation to the set they are on. Though, using the intellect (and conceptual elements for dance composition, like the ones described in this page) to observe or create your choreography, allows you to have another degree of consciousness about what you are doing; by that it can contribute to the whole process with alternative ideas or issues. You can also find live performances in your home town. For example, placing a dancer at the centre of centre stage makes a strong impact, as does moving a dancer along a straight line from upstage centre to downstage centre. W3 Awards: 2008 Silver Winner, Best Cultural Institution Website Metre refers to the organization of beats into bars with strong accents on the downbeat followed by lighter accents. The latest edition of Choreography has these additions: • A new student web resource that includes 23 video clips that reinforce the book's content, show the creative and choreographic processes presented in the book, and help students apply the choreographic elements to their own work. The binary form consists of two distinct self-contained sections that share either a character or quality i.e. It suggests mobility and potential loss of balance. The Elements of Dance: Dance Concepts The elements of movement are space, time, and force (energy). Choreographers vary and contrast dynamic qualities to add excitement and retain audience interest. The fourth factor describes the flow of movement on a continuum from free to bound. Fluctuations in flow produce oscillating, vibratory motion. FORCE (energy) degree of muscular tension and use of energy while moving. Positions and movements can be performed on a small to large scale. When “Row, row, row your boat” is sung as a round, one group sings this first line while another group is … Each group chooses one element, one device and one structure, and uses these as the basis for making a dance. Notice how does this gentle soundscape affects your perception of the movement. Think of threading a needle. Think of action words that capture the essence of each quality: If a dance phrase uses any one effort for too long it loses impact and becomes monotonous. In dance we talk of movement phrases, which dancers may or may not count in musical beats corresponding to bars. Delve into engaging information on the performing arts. Though first in line, it’s usually the last element added. By breaking a dance into smaller pieces, a choreographer can focus on making each part interesting. This is the most complex component since it encompasses all the other elements. When participating in dance, all elements of dance are integrated all the time. Physical evidence. Elements that make up well rounded choreography include but are not limited to: Musicality: the way the music influenced or did not influence movement. They take movements and put them to music. Study the people illustrations in the chart and the words next to them. If there is an illegal element(s)/movement(s) during the execution of any element (excluding Choreographic Elements), the deduction for an illegal element(s)/movement(s) will apply and the element will receive Level 1 if the requirements for at least Level 1 are fulfilled. The motion of the pendulum in a Grandfather’s clock) b. European choreographer and movement theorist Rudolf von Laban was the first to describe a coherent theory of dance, incorporating an analysis of "Antrieb," often translated as energy or effort. Weight-related action words: force, power versus delicacy, finesse. The next element of composition is design in space: the paths and patterns the dancer traces in the performance area. Elements of a service blueprint. For full treatment, see dance: Choreography; dance, Western. 2011 .CA Impact Awards, Best Cultural Institution Website • Once the base value is determined, the judges assign the element a grade of execution (GOE) Structures that a choreographer uses in the creation of a dance such as AB (binary), ABA (ternary), rondo (ABACA), theme and variation (A, A1, A2, A3), and narrative. They practice manipulating different dance elements (action, space, time, energy) and choreographic structures to help portray meaning. Painters and sculptors also utilize these compositional elements, and musicians have compositional elements of their own. For a long time Laban movement was primarily used for dancers and dance choreography to discover new ways to move. on-balance off-balance. The composition of dance is creative in the same way in which the composition of music is. Here are three shape concepts to explore: Movements can be performed at different levels. 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