MODERN DANCE VOCABULARY



MODERN DANCE VOCABULARY

ABSTRACT – to extract the essence or essential meaning of an idea apart from the realistic or literal image.

ACCENT – an increase in stress or intensity through application of additional force.

ALIGNMENT – body posture in which the various segments are placed or held efficiently close to the center line of gravity.

ARABESQUE – body is supported on one leg, free leg extended backward at a right angle.

ASYMMETRICAL – an unbalanced proportion in the design.

ATTITUDE – a pose in which the dancer balances on one leg while bending the other from 45-90 degrees. The pose can be done with leg held behind or in front of the body.

BEAT – the underlying pulse of a movement or a piece of music that is constant and regular.

BRUSH - a lifting action of the free leg forward, sideward, or backward.

CENTER OF GRAVITY – that point in the body where all weight balances.

CHOREOGRAPHY – the art of planning and arranging dance movements into a whole; the process of building a meaningful composition; a finished dance work.

COLLAPSE – a sinking movement involving the controlled release of tension of the entire body parts.

COMPOSITION – the arrangement of parts to produce a complete and unifying whole.

CONTRACTION – muscular tension that produces a foreshortening of body parts; a principle of the Graham technique.

DYNAMICS – shading in the amount of energy, intensity or power; subtle variations in the treatment of movement contrasts.

EFFORT – term used to refer to the shaping of human exertion.

ENERGY – term used for release and control of body power, the will to move, the effort people make in the performance of actions.

EXTENSION – a lengthening of the body parts.

FALL – the act of falling by force of gravity.

Flat Back - folding of body to "table top" position while standing - shoulders in line with hips

FLOOR PATTERN – imaginary outline of the path in space taken by a dancer as he/she moves from place to place.

FLOW – a continuous transfer of energy.

FOCUS – concentration on a fixed or moving point in space. Internal Focus refers to an intention to move which inspires or compels one to complete the action.

GALLOP – two steps performed in uneven rhythm. One foot always maintains the lead.

HINGE POSITION – from standing position, feet parallel, bend knees and kneel holding weight in the thighs.

HOP – jumping off and landing on the same foot.

IMPROVISATION – 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.

IMPULSE – a sudden impelling force that produces movement.

INTENSITY – the relative degree of force or strength; the depth of feeling or concentration.

KINESTHETIC – an internalized awareness of body placement and movement; an awareness of the relative force and range of movement.

LEAP – a movement of elevation from a push-off of one foot with a landing on the opposite foot.

LEVEL – the altitude of a movement in relationship to its distance to the floor.

MODERN DANCE – 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.

MOOD – the compelling temperament, state of emotion, or feeling tone of a movement.

PARALLEL – feet and knees facing forward.

PATTERN – the grouping of units into a unified design.

PERCUSSIVE – sharp, aggressive movement.

PHRASE – the development of a motif into a longer statement that comes to a temporary or permanent finish

PLIE – a bending of the knees; demi means small, grand means large

QUALITY OF MOVEMT - The result of the way in which energy of force is applied and withdrawn from movement. Rudolf von Laban analyzed movement and created the 8 qualities of movement.

RECOVERY – to regain posture from a fall or sustain or maintain balance.

RELEASE – the letting go of tension or energy; in Graham technique it usually follows an extension.

RELEVE – rising onto the balls of the feet.

RHYTHM - The steady, basic, continuous pulse (underlying beat) is felt or seen in recurrent groupings made by the regular repetition of accents.

RUN – an even rhythm pattern in which there is an alternate transfer of weight from one foot to the other. The ball of the foot strikes the floor first, followed by the heel, to absorb shock.

SKIP – uneven pattern of movement consisting of a hop and a step. It alternates from foot to foot.

SPACE – term that refers to actual area through which the dancing body moves as it designs wide and narrow paths, large and small gestures to and from a variety of reference points.

Spiral - to "turn around" or rotate on an axis

SUSPENDED - a quality of movement that creates the impression of defying gravity; floating, effortless movement.

SWINGING – a movement quality of a pendular nature involving an easy, natural movement of the body or of its parts at the axis of that part.

SYMMETRICAL – a balanced, even design; an even correspondence of design, space, rhythm, or position of the body.

TEMPO – the rate of speed at which a movement occurs.

Tilt - torso shift off vertical alignment; i.e.: "cartwheel" position

TIME - Sudden (sharp & percussive) vs. Sustained (slow and smooth)

TRANSITION – a movement or movement sequence that forms a connective bridge between two sections or parts of a composition.

TRIPLET – a three-step pattern with the accent usually on the first step.

TURN-OUT – an outward rotation of the legs, the action taking place at the hip joints.

WALK – transfer of weight from one foot to another without losing contact with the floor.

WEIGHT - Firm (strong & forceful) vs. Fine (delicate & light)

Properties of the 8 Qualities of Movement:

1) THRUSTING - SUDDEN, FIRM, DIRECT

Example: Stepping, jumping, punching, stomping

2) FLOATING - SUSTAINED, FINE TOUCH, INDIRECT (opposite of thrusting)

Example: Rippling of water, clouds, trees in the wind

3) SLASHING - SUDDEN, FIRM, INDIRECT

Example: Whipping action like karate movements

4) GLIDING - SUSTAINED, FINE TOUCH, DIRECT (opposite of slashing)

Example: Ice skating

5) WRINGING - SUSTAINED, FIRM, INDIRECT

Example: Cloth after being washed, twisting a bottle open

6) DABBING - SUDDEN, FINE TOUCH, DIRECT (opposite of wringing)

Example: Painter quickly touching canvas

7) PRESSING - SUSTAINED, FIRM, DIRECT

Example: Pressing clay together before used, hand to hand against each other

8) FLICKING - SUDDEN, FINE TOUCH, INDIRECT

Example: Scattered gestures, leaves blowing in the wind, bees from face

1st Position Parallel - Feet hip distance apart - toes forward

The Big 4 - Graham, Holm, Weidman, Duncan

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