RIVERSIDE SECONDARY PE 10 DANCE UNIT
Elements of Dance
A Dancer Moves Through Space and Time with Energy
Who? A dancer
Body: Parts of the body: head, eyes, torso, shoulders, fingers, legs, feet… Initiation: core, distal, mid-limb, body parts Patterns: upper/lower body, homologous, contra lateral, midline. Body Shapes: symmetrical/asymmetrical, rounded, twisted, angular, arabesque Body Systems: muscles, bones, organs, breadth, balance, reflexes Inner self: senses, perceptions, emotions, thoughts, intention, imagination
Does what? moves
Action: Non-locomotor (axial): stretch, bend, twist, turn, rise, fall, swing, rock, tip, shake, suspend Locomotor (traveling): slide, walk, hop, somersault, run, skip, jump, do-si-do, leap, roll, crawl, gallop, chaine turns
Where? through space
Space: Size: large, small, narrow, wide Level: high//medium//low Place: on the spot (personal space) through the space (general space) upstage/downstage Direction: forward/backward, sideways, diagonal, right/left Orientation: facing Pathway: curved/straight, zigzag, random Relationships: in front, beside, behind, over/under, alone/connected, rear/far, individual & group proximity to object
When? and time
Time: Metered: pulse, tempo, accent, rhythmic pattern Free rhythm: breadth, open score, sensed time, improvisation, cued Clock Time: seconds, minutes, hours Timing relationships: before, after, unison, sooner than, faster than
How? with energy
Energy: Attack: sharp/smooth, sudden/sustained Weight: strength: push, horizontal, impacted; lightness: resist the down, initiate up, resiliency: rebound, even up and down Flow: free, bound, balanced, neutral Quality: flowing, tight, loose, sharp, swinging, swaying, suspended, collapsed, smooth
(adapted from Perpich Center for Arts Education, 2009: http://www.mcae.k12.mn.us/