Vocabulary List

Choreographic Devices

The tools a choreographer selects and uses to communicate ideas including motif development, canon, repetition, variation, and unison.

Canon - Two or more dancers dancing the same or similar movement one after another.

Simple - strict order,sensitive timing and an awareness of others.

Simultaneous - dancers doing the same movements at the same time but starting from different points.

Cumulative - each dancer joins in with the lead dancer and all finish at the same time.

Repetition - complete repeat of a movement or phrase.

Physical Skills

The movements one needs to be able to complete an activity. In dance these include Balance, Flexability, Alignment, Control/Coordination, Transference of weight, Strength and Stamina.

Contraction - tightening of the muscles.

Isolation - Moving one body part without any other part of the body moving.

Rotation - turning out from the hips to create turned out position.

Muscular Strength - Is the capacity to exert a muscle contraction agains resistance.

Transference of Weight - movement so that their weight is moved from one supporting foot (or supporting limb/body part) to another one fully or partially.

Posture - correct placement of the joints of the body. Weight evenly on the feet, knees bend over toes, back has curves but not forces, shoulders relaxed.

Balance - Being stable whilst being still and during movement. Using centre to manage weight placement.

Technical Skills

These are the abilities (in terms of physical and physiological knowledge) to execute dance movements precisely, with their correct dynamics and shapes.

Battment Tendu - an extension of the working leg away from the supporting leg, in other words a kick, stretching from first or fifth position along the floor and into the air. Can be performed en avant (infront) a la seconde (to the side) or en arriere (behind).

Pirouette - a spin or turn of the body performed on one leg. Pirouettes may be performed en dehors (turning away from the supporting leg) or en dedans (turning toward the supporting leg).

Tours Chaines Deboules - a series of quick 360 degree complete rotation turns on alternating feet with progression, or chain, along a straight line or circle.

Elements of Movement

The ways in which the body performs movement. These include Space/Shape, Time and Energy.

Space/Shape - where the movement is performed. please refer to link provided.

Time - when the movement is performed. please refer to link provided.

Energy - how the movement is performed. please refer to link provided.

Body Actions

Are what are used to communicate the expressive intention.

Gesture: is a characteristic movement, such as a hand wave, brushing a fly away, stop sign with your hand, tapping of the foot in frustration, clapping, etc.
Locomotion: is any type of travelling, across the floor, through the space.
Elevation: is any way of rising, lifting, jumping, etc.
Falling: is any drop of a body part or whole body.
Turning: refers to any rotation of the body.
Stillness: means a holding of a body position or shape.

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