Energy & Dynamics
A sinking movement involving the controlled release of tension in the entire body parts
Collapse
Occurs front to back, side to side, in an upper or lower arc, in a circular path, and as an initiative to a fall, spiral or turn. This exercise is performed while standing and often in a series with a decreasing number of repetitions
Body Swinging
A balanced, even design; an even correspondence of design, space, rhythm, or position of the body
Symmetrical
The act of falling by force of gravity
Fall
A highly individualized artistic expression of dance. As a rejection of traditional ballet values, aesthetic, and technique, there is no single approach to technique, although there are various styles of dance
Modern Dance
The letting go of tension or energy; in the Graham technique, it usually follows an extension
Release
transfer of weight from one foot to another without losing contact with the floor
Walk
An unbalanced proportion in the design
Asymmetrical
The rate of speed at which a movement occurs
Tempo
Body is supported on one leg, free leg extended backward at a right angle
Arabesque
Curving of the torso into a concave shape. The action initiates from the pelvis, the abdominal muscles, the upper chest, or the entire torso
Contraction
A flow or current of curving motions without a break or pause in rhythm
Curved Movement
The arrangement of parts to produce Choreography
Composition
Sudden (sharp & percussive) vs. Sustained (slow and smooth)
Time
The compelling temperament, state of emotion, or feeling tone of a movement
Mood
Firm (strong & forceful) vs. Fine (delicate & light)
Weight
A quality of movement that creates the impression of defying gravity; floating, effortless movement
Suspended
An outward rotation of the legs, the action taking place at the hip joints
Turn Out
A term used to refer to the shaping of human exertion
Effort
“To chase.” A triple-step pattern in which the feet glide together step-by-step
Chasse
Shading in the amount of energy, intensity, or power; subtle variations in the treatment of movement contrasts
Dynamics
Concentration on a fixed or moving point in space.
Focus
The art of planning and arranging dance movements into a whole; the process of building a meaningful composition; a finished dance work
Choreography
A sudden impelling force that produces movement
Impulse
A way of tapping the subconscious without censorship, allowing spontaneous, simultaneous exploring, creating, and performing. Improvisation emerges as an inner-directed movement response to an image, idea, or a stimulus
Improvisation