Elements of Dance
Name the 4 elements of dance
Space, Time, Dynamics, Relationships
Name two production elements used in dance.
lighting, performance space, aural elements (sound, e.g. music, spoken word, SFX, found sound, silence), costume, sets, props, technologies, camera angles
What is the choreographic device where a movement is repeated one after another?
Canon
Name two technical dance skills.
control, balance, strength, flexibility, alignment, spatial awareness
What does the cognitive verb identify require you to do?
Recognise and name.
What is a word used to describe short, accented dynamics?
Percussive
How can lighting enhance a performance?
Lighting can highlight specific dancers or areas of the stage, create mood or atmosphere, reinforce themes, or direct the audience’s focus to important moments in the choreography.
Define motif and explain its importance in structuring a dance.
A short movement or phrase that represents the meaning of the work. It is repeated and manipulated throughout the work.
Name two expressive dance skills.
musicality, focus (eyeline, concentration), projection of intent, facial expression, body expression/characterisation, confidence and energy.
What does the cognitive verb explain require you to do?
Make clear; give reasons.
"High, medium, low" is relevent to which aspect of space?
Level
What is the purpose of costuming in relation to character and theme?
Costumes help define character, setting, or time period. They visually reinforce the theme, support the intention of the dance, and contribute to audience understanding by enhancing mood or symbolism.
What is the difference between binary and ternary form?
Binary = AB; Ternary = ABA.
Why is safe dance practice important?
Prevent injury and maintain quality of line
What does the cognitive verb analyse require you to do?
Break into parts; show relationships.
"Open/closed" are words used to describe which aspect of space?
Shape
Give an example of how sound and set design can work together.
Up to teacher
How can contrast be used within a dance structure?
To highlight differences in use of Elements of Dance.
Explain the relationship between technical skills and expressive skills.
The relationship is that technical skills enable the body to execute movement correctly, while expressive skills layer meaning and artistry on top. Together, they ensure the movement is both clear and engaging for the audience.
What does the cognitive verb evaluate require you to do?
Make a judgement
metre, tempo, momentum, accent, duration, phrasing, rhythmic patterns, stillness and beat
Evaluate how production elements contribute to audience engagement.
Clarify meaning, create mood, immerse audience in performance.
Evaluate how repetition of a motif can enhance meaning in a dance.
Reinforces intention, builds unity, strengthens audience understanding.
Evaluate how technical and expressive skills combine to enhance performance quality.
When combined, they enhance performance quality because the dancer is both technically proficient and artistically communicative. For example, accurate execution of a turn (technical) combined with projection and focus (expressive) creates a performance that is both impressive and meaningful to watch.
Compare the difference between interpret and synthesise when responding to a stimulus.
Interpret = explain meaning; Synthesise = combine ideas.