Choreography Quiz #3 2.0

Choreographic Devices

ways of developing nuggets of movement, thereby enriching and extending an initial movement in order to build a greater body of choreographic material

Compositional structures

models having sequential patterns gleaned from the natural world that have been found to work well artistically.

Narrative

a good story, a standard plot

Chance

a process whereby a choreographer decides to give up his own self will and, to some extent, leave decisions in the hands of fate.

Indeterminacy

when chance is used in the performance itself.

Suite

Pieces that could stand alone, but that together make a complete piece.

Layering

Starting with one piece of material, then adding another. Creating a tapestry of material

Counterpoint

the layering of at least two pieces of material so that some kind of harmonic connection between them is formed.

Define instrumentation

When one body part does something, and then another body part does the same thing: the head draws a circle, and then the foot draws a circle.

List seven (7) motif variation tools. (Hint, there are 19 possibilities.)

Repetition

Retrograde

Inversion

Size

Tempo

Rhythm

Effort Quality

Instrumentation

Force

Background

Staging

Embellishment

Change of levels / planes

Additive / Incorporate

Fragmentation

Combination

Seven R's of Repetition

Reiterate

Restate

Recall

Reinforce

Revise

Re-echo

Recapitulate

Reiterate

stresses the fact of repetition, may be several continuous repetitions.

Restate

say exactly the same thing

Recall

bring back into memory, remind the viewer what came before.

Reinforce

repeat highlighting important moments

Revise

go over again in detail make clearer

Re-echo

some part of the material returns in new content

Recapitulate

statements occur again, shortening or telescoping the content

True or false: The most powerful "facing" of the body is the downstage corner.

False: Straight forward is most powerful because the body and the whole dynamic of the dance make direct communication.

Which stage pathway gives the most powerful visual and psychological impact?

Upstage Right to Downstage Left

True or false: Theme can be defined as a clear movement sequence that can be used as a basic structure for different variations.

True

True or False: Motif can be defined as a movement sequence that needs variety and interest in directions and level. Motifs keep the same sequence of time and movement as original theme, but have their own character, color, and flavor.

False

When identifying plagiarism in dance, what are two of the five questions you could ask yourself?

1. How many of the same steps are you using/ length of the phrase?

2. How many similar movement phrases from the original appear in your piece?

3. Are the transitions from one step to another unique?

4. Do you use different formations?

5. Have you given it your own personal twist?

Theme

A clear movement sequence that can be used as a basic structure for different variations (a theme is varied). The movement sequence needs variety and interest in directions and level, and there should be be any repeats in the theme. Variations keep the same sequence of time and movement as in the original theme, but have their own character, color, and flavor. The result of a theme and variation is a sequence consisting of a movement phrase repeated a number of times with different shadings

Motif

A single movement or short movement phrase that is used as a source or a spark of development.

16 ways to develop a motif or theme

-Repetition

-Retrograde

-Inversion

-Size

-Tempo

-Rhythm

-Quality

-Instrumentation

-Force

-Background

-Staging

-Embellishment

-Change of planes/levels

-Additive/Incorporate

-Fragmentation

-Combination

AB

A theme and contrasting theme

ABA

An extension of the AB form, a modified version where you return to the original theme

Rondo

A further extension of the AB form, ABACADA - has a basic theme that keeps returning in a pure or modified form. The "B", "C", and "D" sections are referred to as episodes

Collage

A work of art consisting of bits and pieces of assorted materials that are brought together to create a whole

Highlighting

Certain instants (movements or events) stand out more than others

Unity-Variety-Contrast

About "something" then shown in a different way, then contrasted to make stronger

Minimal movement

The use of small and isolated movements or part of the body that takes on primary significance

Canon

A single theme executed at different times

Abstraction

To remove, separate from, condense, distill the essence of...

Theme and Variation

Theme is a clear movement sequence that can be used as a basic structure for different variations

Fragmentation

Taking the phrase apart and using the bits independently

Retrograde

Doing the phrase backward, even the movement material. A way to extend a phrase into a section

Sandwiching

Inserting a second kind of material into an established phrase

Style

The signature of an individual, group, or entire culture at a specific period in time

The 5 questions to see if plagiarism has occurred

-If you are emulating a phrase of movement, how many of the same steps are you using? How long is the phrase?

-How many similar phrases from the original appear in your piece?

-Do you use different formations?

-Are the transitions from one step to another unique?

-When you look objectively at your piece, do you have the sense that you are copying it, or having you given it your own personal twist?