Energy & Dynamics
A balanced, even design; an even correspondence of design, space, rhythm, or position of the body
Symmetrical
A sinking movement involving the controlled release of tension in the entire body parts
Collapse
An outward rotation of the legs, the action taking place at the hip joints
Turn Out
A flow or current of curving motions without a break or pause in rhythm
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
Firm (strong & forceful) vs. Fine (delicate & light)
Weight
The act of falling by force of gravity
Fall
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
“To chase.” A triple-step pattern in which the feet glide together step-by-step
Chasse
A quality of movement that creates the impression of defying gravity; floating, effortless movement
Suspended
The rate of speed at which a movement occurs
Tempo
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
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
The arrangement of parts to produce Choreography
Composition
Sudden (sharp & percussive) vs. Sustained (slow and smooth)
Time
A term used to refer to the shaping of human exertion
Effort
The art of planning and arranging dance movements into a whole; the process of building a meaningful composition; a finished dance work
Choreography
The compelling temperament, state of emotion, or feeling tone of a movement
Mood
A sudden impelling force that produces movement
Impulse
Body is supported on one leg, free leg extended backward at a right angle
Arabesque
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
An unbalanced proportion in the design
Asymmetrical
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