Elements of Dance

Practice flashcards covering the five fundamental elements of dance and their sub-elements according to the lecture notes.

Elements of Dance

The fundamental building blocks that make up all human movement, compared to how a painter uses color, line, and texture.

Space

The area that the performers occupy and where they move in and around, divided into four different aspects known as spatial elements.

Direction

A spatial element where movements travel forward, sideward, backward, diagonal, circular, or where performers face during a movement.

Size

A spatial element where movements are varied by doing larger or smaller actions.

Level

A spatial element where movements are performed in a high, medium, or low position.

Focus

A spatial element where performers change where they are looking by looking in different directions.

Timing

The execution of movements at varying tempos or speeds, often following an underlying sound known as the beat or pulse.

Beat (Pulse)

The underlying sound that performers move with, which can be used to generate rhythmic patterns through variations in speed or the addition of silences.

Rhythmic patterns

Patterns generated when a sequence of movement or group of phrases is done in varying tempos, including the addition of silences or pauses.

Dance Energies

The energy or force that propels, initiates, or stops an action; varied use minimizes monotony in performance.

Sustained

A quality of dance energy where movements are done smoothly, continuously, and with flow and control, having no clear beginning and ending.

Percussive

A quality of dance energy where movements are explosive or sharp, accented with a thrust of energy, and have a clear beginning and ending.

Vibratory

A quality of dance energy consisting of trembling or shaking, described as a faster version of percussive movements that produce a jittery effect.

Swinging

A quality of dance energy where movements trace a curved line or an arc in space, being relaxed on the downward motion followed by an upward application of energy.

Suspended

A quality of dance energy where movements are perched in space or hanging on air, such as holding a raised leg in direction.

Collapsing

A quality of dance energy where movements are released in tension and give in to gravity, letting the body descend to the floor in a melting or oozing action.

Bodily Shapes

How the entire body is molded in space or the configuration of body parts, which can be rounded, angular, wide, narrow, high, low, symmetrical, or asymmetrical.

Symmetrical

A balanced bodily shape where movements are practically identical or similar on both sides.

Asymmetrical

An unbalanced bodily shape where the two sides of the body do not match or are completely different from each other.

Group Shapes

Movements performed by a group of dancers arranged in ways such as wide, narrow, rounded, or angular, viewed together as a total arrangement within a picture frame.