remaning section A

Aural settings + impacts on choreographic outcome

• Song: structure of song for dance sections, singer’s voice inspires movement quality

• Instrument: layering of sounds inspires textures, different instruments evoke different feelings and movements

• Orchestral: grandeur may inspire dramatic movements, layering of instruments can suggest intricate group work

• Spoken word: speaker’s tone of voice may dictate emotional quality of movement, natural pauses translated into movement

• Silence: builds suspense, shapes and lines become precise, draw attention to dancer’s breathing

• Natural sound (e.g. rain, birds): provide setting for dance, creates a specific mood

• Percussion: allows for intricate rhythmic patterns, direct connection between dancers and sounds produced

What does aural setting impact?

• Mood and atmosphere

• Contrast and variety

• Structure

• Relationship to theme / idea

Choreographic intent + definitions

• Mood: the emotional atmosphere / feeling you want to create for the audience

• Meaning: a specific message or narrative you want to convey

• Idea: an exploration of a concept or abstract thought, rather than a direct story or feeling

• Theme: the broader topic that the dance revolves around, often linked to the meaning / idea

• Style: the genre of dance (e.g. ballet, jazz, etc)

• Style fusion: combining elements from multiple different dance styles

Choreographic processes + definitions

• Researching: investigating ideas, themes, music or existing dance works for inspiration

• Improvising: spontaneous movement exploration to generate raw material

• Generating: creating specific movements based on research and improvisation

• Selecting: choosing the most effective and relevant movements

• Developing: manipulating and expanding selected movements to create phrases (motif development)

• Structuring: arranging dance phrases into a form (e.g. rondo, ternary)

• Refining and synthesising: perfecting the dance, working on timing, spatial accuracy, and performance quality

Performance environments + definitions

• Proscenium Arch: traditional ‘picture frame’ stage with audience facing directly forwards, has fly tower and wings

• Site-sensitive / site-specific: non-theatre space that becomes an influential part of the performance (e.g. parks / rooftops)

• End Stage: simpler version of a PAS and often found in community theatres

• In-the-Round: audience seated 360° around the centre stage, dancers exit / enter through aisles between seating

Performance environments + impacts on dance

• Proscenium Arch: clear front-on view for all, allows for elaborate props / backdrops

• Site-sensitive / site-specific: uses the environment, unpredictable elements (e.g. weather / sounds) can become part of performance, minimal production

• End Stage: more adaptable than a fixed PAS, less hidden space such as wings, clear view for audience

• In-the-Round: choreography must be viewed from all angles, close and immersive, minimal set / props to prevent blocked view

How can a motif be developed?

Change one of the following: Action, Dynamics, Space, or Relationships (ADSR).

Other Techniques:

• Retrograde: performing a movement backwards

• Climax: building up motif

• Highlights: emphasises certain movements

Safety in the dance space

• No obstructions

• Ideal temp between 18-24°C

• Sprung floor which is clean and non-slip

Personal safety

• Short trousers to avoid slipping, no zips / buttons

• Appropriate footwear if any

• No jewellery, hair tied up

• Layers worn so dancer can add / remove as needed

Safe dance practice: warm-ups

• Should include focusing activities, mobility, pulse raising, and stretching

• Prepares dancers mentally and physically

• Improves performance + reduces injury risk

• Increases heart rate, body temp, and coordination

• Mobilises joints

Safe dance practice: cool downs

• Heart rate + respiration need to return to normal to prevent blood pooling - could cause dizziness and fainting

• Increase in waste products (e.g. lactic acid) can cause stiffness and soreness

How can dancers prevent injury?

• Making sure they’re fit for activity

• Correct technique

• Performing movements at the right level for you

• Warm-up and cool down

• No hazards in dance area

What are the common dance injuries?

• Sprains: injury to ligament at a joint. Result of sudden wrenching movement which tears the tissues surrounding the joint. Symptoms include pain, swelling and bruising.

• Fractures: open fractures are when the bone is cracked but skin undamaged, and closed fractures means the skin is damaged so the bone may stick out. Symptoms: snap sound, tenderness and pain, swelling

• Dislocations: bone pulled out it’s normal position, caused by violent twisting.

• Cramp: when muscle fibres don’t relax and their blood supply is cut off causing pain

• Strained or pulled muscle / tendon: caused by violent overstretching

What should you do after administering first aid to an injury?

• Protect injury from more damage

• Rest injury

• Ice it to reduce pain and inflammation

• Compress through a bandage to reduce swelling

• Elevate it to drain swelling

• Diagnosis by professional

What food groups do we need and why?

• Proteins: repair and growth of muscle (e.g. meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans)

• Carbohydrates: provide energy to muscles

• Complex carbohydrates: better for dancers, contain macronutrients (e.g. pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, fruit, beans)

• Simple carbohydrates: give the body energy but lack macronutrients so not sustained (e.g. cake, chocolate, doughnuts)

• Fats: used for endurance, insulate the body, needed for vitamin absorption (e.g. olive oil, nuts, nut oils, avocados)

• Vitamins and minerals: regulate bodily function, each used for a variety of functions, eat 5-a-day for these or take supplements

Why is it important to stay hydrated when dancing?

• When you dance you sweat more, losing water + salts

• We must replace these, otherwise we can get cramps