Dance is a way of knowing and

communicating. All societies use dance to

communicate on both personal and
cultural levels and to meet physical and
spiritual needs.

Dance, as with all the arts, has its own

language. We need to learn this language in
order to fully understand and appreciate the
world of Dance.
 The Language of Dance

Elements: Time, Space and Force

Choreographic Forms: Theme and

Variations, Rondo and Narrative

Styles: (characteristics of)

Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern
 Elements
TIME: The relationship of one movement or part of a movement
to another. Includes pulse, speed (or tempo), duration, rhythm, and
phrases.
Pulse: the ongoing underlying beat
Tempo: The speed with which a movement is performed
Duration: the length of time a movement lasts: a long time, short
time or something in between
Rhythm: a flow of sound or movement having regular accented beats; a
movement or activity in which some action repeats regularly;
patterns made by arranging long and short sounds or strong and
light sounds
Syncopation: a temporary accenting of a normally weak beat in music to
vary the rhythm
Phrasing: a grouping and articulation of a group of notes
Accent: a movement or shape performed in such a way as to give
emphasis.
 Elements
• SPACE: the area of space occupied by the dancer’s body; includes
direction, size, pathways, levels and shapes.

• Direction: which way a dancer faces or moves; e.g., forward, backward,

sideways, up and down

• Size: magnitude of a body shape or movement; from small to large

movements

• Pathways: patterns made as a dancer moves through the air or on the floor
(straight, vertical, horizontal, zig-zag); can be made with locomotor or non-
locomotor movements, separately or in combination.

• Levels: the vertical distance from the floor. Movements take place on three
levels: high, middle or low and deep.

• Shapes: the form created by the body’s position in space. Aspects of shape
are open/closed, symmetrical/asymmetrical, angular and curved.
 Elements
• FORCE: (energy) degree of muscular tension and use of
energy while moving.

• Dynamics: how a movement is done

• Flow: continuity of movement (bound/free flowing)

• Weight: strength (force) lightness of movement

(heavy/light)
 Choreographic Forms
Choreography is the art of arranging dances

Theme: the basic idea of the play, which the author

dramatizes through the conflict of characters.

Rondo: a dance structure with three or more themes where

one theme is repeated. ABACAD

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.
 SPACE

• Pathways - curved lines, straight lines,

zigzags, circles, figure-eights, and many
more
• Shape - large, small, rounded, and angular
• Level - high, medium, low or on the floor
• Direction - forward, backwards, diagonally,
sideways
 All dance movements can be
labeled as locomotor or
nonlocomotor.
NONLOCOMOTOR-movements that do not
change location

LOCOMOTOR-movements
that travel

AH-E-2.1.31
 Locomotor Movements

Dancers using locomotor

movements may walk, run,
skip, hop, jump, slide,
leap, or gallop.. These
movements may be high
(possibly indicating joy),
medium, or low (possibly
indicating sadness.)

AH-E-2.1.31, 1.15, 2.23

 Non-locomotor Movements
Dancers are using non-locomotor movements when
they stay in one place but bend, stretch, twist, or
swing their body.
 Styles (characteristics)
Ballet: a classic form of dance growing out of the
French nobility. Its root is court dances.

It is known for its:

•standardized dance movements
•specialized leaps and lifts
•French terminology to describe each
standardized movement
•Pointe shoes for women
•slippers for men
•costumes---tights, tutus
 Styles (characteristics)
Tap: is a percussive dance form in which dancers
produce sound by wearing shoes to which metal taps
have been added. Tap dance, an American dance form
which concentrates on footwork and rhythm, has roots
in African, Irish and English clogging traditions. Its
roots lie in recreational dance (Irish Step dance, jig and
African steps).
It is known for:
•An emphasis on rhythm
•Tap shoes
•Costumes—formal to street wear
•Improvisation
 Styles (characteristics)

Jazz: American music marked by lively rhythms with unusual

accents and often including melodies made up by musicians as they
play. It’s roots are in social dances and early musical theatre dance.

It’s known for:

•Stylized movement
•Accents in hands, head, hips and feet
•English/French terminology to describe movements
•Jazz shoes or boots
•Costume related to theme of dance
•Improvisation
 Styles (characteristics)
Modern: a form of dance developed by dancers interested in
breaking from ballet traditions and expressing a more
liberating form of movement. It expresses complex emotions
and abstract ideas.

It is known for:
•Freedom of movement
•Usually barefoot but can use shoes based on theme
•Costume related to dance theme
•Improvisation used in the development of choreography
How is a dance created?

Dances are created by combining

locomotor and nonlocomotor
movements.
A dance, like a book,
has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

AH-M-2.1.34
 Dance has 3 main forms

• ceremonial (religion,
celebration, ritual)
• recreational (folk,
social dancing, aerobic
dance)
• artistic (ballet,
modern, narrative, tap,
lyrical).

AH-E-2.2.32
Culture and Dance

• Nearly all cultures

incorporate dance in
some way.
• Dance is a major
component of many
cultures.
• Dance is often used
to communicate or
celebrate.
 Some more about dance & culture
• Cultures use dance in ways that
are both social and personal.
• What are some examples of
culture and dance you can think
of? How do those cultures use
dance?

AH-E-2.2.33, A-HI-2.2.31, AH-M-2.2.32

 Dance is also representative
of time periods
What time period do you think of when you hear:

*Charleston,
*Virginia Reel,
*Swing,
*Disco,
*Break dancing, or
*Hip Hop?

Something to think about…

How are the dances of these time periods related to the politics of the time?

AH-H-2.3.31, AH-H-2.3.311
 Dance in History
• Dance has played an
important function in many
cultures throughout history.
• Dance styles, costumes,
and music often reflect the
political climate of the time.
• Dances such as the
“Locomotion”, “Macarena”,
and even the “Chicken
Dance” all perform a
function in our society –
they create a “group” of
dancers having fun!

AH-E-2.2.31, 1.15, 2.23, 2.25

 Is there anything else I
should know?
Dance allows the dancer or
choreographer to
communicate their ideas,
thoughts, and feelings
through movement. These
movements are structured
and repeatable, in that they
can be taught to others.

AH-E-2.1.14, 1.15, 2.22

Dance is often used to tell a story

Like a story or a book,

each dance has a
beginning, middle, and
an end. Dance is made
up “movement
materials”, connected
into “phrases” and put
together into a complete
dance.

AH-M-2.2.31, AH-2.2.32, AH-E.2.1.31