Dance Glossary

Actions

What the body is doing. Includes locomotor and non-locomotor movements; for example, running, jumping, twisting, gesturing, turning.

Alignment

Body placement or posture; proper alignment lessens body strain and promotes dance skills.

Asymmetry

Uneven, irregular design.

Body bases

Body parts which support the rest of the body. For example, when standing, the feet are the body base; when kneeling, the knees are the body base.

Body parts

Arms, legs, head, torso, etc.

Body zones

Body areas of right side, left side, front, back, upper half, lower half

Binary form

Two-part structure; AB.

Chance form

A choreographic form which is determined randomly; for example, by the roll of dice.

Choreographic form

See form.

Collage form

A choreographic form which unifies assorted fragments into a whole.

Contrast

A principle of composition. See Foundational Objectives for detailed description.

Dance phrase

A logical sequence of movements with an observable beginning, middle and end.

Diorama

Small, three-dimensional representation of a scene.

Directions

Forward, backward, sideways, up and down.

Duration

The length of time needed to do a movement; very short to very long.

Dynamics

The dance element which relates to how a movement is done.

Even rhythm

Movements of equal duration; for example, walking.

Energy

Muscular tension used to move; ranges from a little to a lot.

Form

Structure of dance compositions.

General space

The dance area.

Kinesphere

See personal space.

Levels

Movements might take place on three levels: high level, middle level, and low or deep level.

Locomotor movements

Movements which travel from one location to another.

Maquette

Small preliminary model or sketch.

Metric rhythm

The grouping of beats in a recurring pattern.

Motif description

Symbol system which notates the outline of movement.

Movement sequence

Movements which are ordered in succession.

Movement vocabulary

All the actions the body can make.

Narrative form

A choreographic form which tells a story.

Non- locomotor movements

Also called axial; movements which do not travel; moving or balancing on the spot.

Notation

Method for recording movements and dances.

Organic form

A choreographic form in which the dance grows naturally out of itself.

Pathways

Patterns or designs created on the floor or in the air by movements of the body.

Personal space

Also called kinesphere; the space reached while stationary.

Principles of composition

Methods which help sequence movements into a whole.

Qualities

Characteristics of a movement.

Relationships

The body's position relative to something or someone.

RepetitionB

A principle of composition. See Foundational Objectives for detailed description.

Rondo form

A dance structure with three or more themes where one theme is repeated; ABACAD....

Sequencing

A principle of composition. See Foundational Objectives for a detailed description.

Shape

The design of a body's position.

Size

Magnitude of a body shape or movement; from small to large.

Speed

Velocity of movements; from slow to fast.

Symmetry

A balanced, even design.

Ternary form

Three-part structure; ABA.

Theme and variation

A-A1-A2-A3.... A choreographic form which begins with an original idea or theme and in following sections departs or deviates from the original, while still retaining some connection to the original.

Time signature

A symbol that denotes a metric rhythm; for example, 3/4, 4/4.

Transition

A principle of composition. See Foundational Objectives for a detailed description.

Uneven rhythms

Movements of unequal duration; for example, skipping.

Unity

A principle of composition. See Foundational Objectives for a detailed description.

Variety

A principle of composition. See Foundational Objectives for a detailed description.

Workshopping

A strategy where dance compositions are shown as works-in-progress for discussion and feedback before final refinement.