The Elements of Dance

2009 Perpich Center for Arts EducationAdapted from Dance Education Initiative Curriculum Guide(1996; Revised 2004) and the ACE Dance Program 2004 2006May be reproduced for classroom use by teachers

Ask: Who?A dancer

does what?moves

where?through space

when?and time

how?with energy.

B.A.S.T.E. BODY ACTION SPACE TIME ENERGY

These arejust someof the waysto describeeach danceelement. . .there aremany morepossibilitiesfor eachelement.

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Parts of the body:Head, eyes, torso, shoulders,fingers, legs, feet

Initiation: core, distal, mid-limb, body parts

Patterns: upper/lower body,homologous, contralateral,midline .

Body shapes:Symmetrical/asymmetricalroundedtwistedangulararabesque

Body systems:musclesbonesorgansbreathbalancereflexes

Inner self:sensesperceptionsemotionsthoughtsintentionimagination

Non-locomotor (axial):stretchbendtwistturnrisefallswing rocktipshakesuspend

Locomotor (traveling):slidewalkhopsomersaultrun skip jumpdo-si-doleaprollcrawlgallopchain turns

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 zig-zag random

Relationships: in front besidebehind over under alone/connected near/farindividual & group proximity toobject

Metered:pulsetempoaccentrhythmic pattern

Free Rhythm:breathopen scoresensed timeimprovisationcued

Clock Time:secondsminutes hours

Timing relationships:beforeafterunisonsooner thanfaster than

Attack:sharp/smoothsudden/sustained

Weight:Strength: push, horizontal, impactedLightness: resist the down, initiate upResiliency: rebound, even up and down

Flow:free,boundbalancedneutral

Quality:flowingtightloosesharpswingingswayingsuspendedcollapsedsmooth