Elements of Dance
What are the 5 elements of dance
Body, Energy, Action, Space & Time
Describe a battement.
A kick with a straight leg. Typically higher than 45 degrees.
Explain why breathing is critical or necessary in modern/contemporary movement.
Helps you find the flow of movement.
Helps you bring oxygen to your muscles to increase range of movement.
Known as the starter of the rebellion of ballet
Used big pieces of fabric to show off her natural body movements.
Anything else?
This bone is the initiator of roll downs, the heaviest bone in our body.
Cranium
What element of dance consists of your anatomy, systems and how many dancers are on stage?
Body
What is the definition of a jazz square or box step?
four steps in the shape of a box. open, cross, back, back.
Describe a roll down.
A roll down starts with the cranium and moves forward articulating each piece of your spine.
Give us two facts about Alvin Ailey
Studied with Martha Graham
Started a dance company for minorities that is still operating today.
This bone has several pieces and is connected through the cranium and pelvis
Spine
What element consists of levels, pathways and formations?
Describe the grapevine
A four step movement that travels side to side in the order - open, cross, open, step
What is the difference between a roll down and a undulation.
Roll downs call for the cranium to fall forward
Undulations call for the cranium to fall backward.
The spine rolls forward in a roll down
The spine collapses forward in a undulation
Give us two facts about Katherine Dunham
Has her own technique that pulls from Afro/Caribbean styles.
Was also an anthropologist
This bone is at the center of your ribcage/chest. Used to initiate undulations.
Sternum
What element of dance includes: meter, accent, counts etc.
Time
Compare and contrast grapevine & a jazz square
Same amount of steps
jazz square stays in place
grapevine travels side to side
similar leg motions
Describe a contract and a release.
engaging the core vs. releasing the core.
Give us two facts about Martha Graham
Known for her dance "lamentations" fabric and a bench
Known for her own technique that uses contract and release.
This bone is the focus of undercurves and overcurves.
Pelvis
What element of dance refers to HOW a dancer or dancers are moving within a dance?
Energy
Describe a hitch kick and what movements are needed to complete it.
What bone is the focus of undercurve and overcurves.
pelvis and how it travels
Give us two facts about Lester Horton
Studied at Denishawn (Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn)
Has his own technique where flatbacks are used.
These bones are at the bottom of the pelvis and we sit on them and use them as anchors for floor work.
Sitz Bones