Elements of Dance

ELEMENTS OF DANCE
• Define planned choreography and improvisation

choreography.
• Describe how the elements of dance are used in
class and in dance pieces.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the elements
of dance.
• Interpret a sequence movements of a dance
routine
• Perform sequence of movements of a dance
routine.
1.Why is it important for dancers and
choreographers to understand the
elements of dance?
2.How do I use the elements of dance to
create and perform?
Improvisation, in which a choreographer provides dancers
with a score (i.e., generalized directives) that serves as
guidelines for improvised movement and form.
Planned choreography, in which a choreographer dictates

motion and form in detail, leaving little or no opportunity
for the dancer to exercise personal interpretation.
The elements of dance are part of the
foundational concepts that dancers
understand and practice, and they
provide a way of framing and talking
about movement in any type of dance.
While different dance styles call for
specialized skills and stylization choices,
the underlying elements of dance—body,
action, space, time, and energy—are
visible in all dance experiences.
The art of dance takes place in and through
the human body.
In dance, the body is the mobile figure or
shape, felt by the dancer, seen by others.
The body is sometimes relatively still and
sometimes changing as the dancer moves in
place or travels through the dance area.
Dancers may emphasize specific parts of
their body in a dance phrase or their whole
body.
Action is any human movement included in the
act of dancing—it can include dance steps, facial
movements, lifts, carries, and catches, and even
everyday movements such as walking. Dancers
may choose movement that has been done
before, or they may add their own original
movements to the existing dance movement
vocabulary. Dancers may also revise or
embellish movement they have learned from
others.
Dance is made up of streams of movement and
pauses, so action refers not only to steps and
sequences, but also to pauses and moments of
relative stillness.
Dancers interact with space in a myriad
of ways. They may stay in one place and
move parts of their body or their whole
body, or they may travel from one place
to another. They may alter the direction,
level, size, and pathways of their
movements.
Human movement is naturally rhythmic in the broad
sense that we alternate activity and rest. Breath and
waves are examples of rhythms in nature that repeat,
but not as consistently as in a metered rhythm. Spoken
word and conversation have rhythm and dynamics, but
the patterns are characteristically more inconsistent
and unpredictable.
Time may also be organized in other ways including
clock time, sensed time, and event-sequence. Dancers
may take sight cues from each other to start the next
phrase or use a shared awareness of sensed time to
end a dance. They may even take cues from an event
such as a train whistle during an outdoor dance
performance. The inherent rhythms in our movement
and our aural landscape are a rich source of variation
in dance.
Energy is about how movement happens—it
refers to the dynamics of an action and can
mean both the physical and psychic energy
that drives and characterizes movement.
Energy is not a single dimension. IT HAS 3

DIMENSIONS
HEIGHT
WIDTH
DEPTH
https://www.kqed.org/artschool/571/the-five-elements-of-
dance
Dance Choreography Exercise
Verse: simple dance combination that fits the style of the song
Chorus: simple dance move that fits the style of the song
• Teach and practice the following dance combinations to any hip-hop
song.
• Each group may pick their own hip hop song.
Verse (32 counts total):

• Extend both arms to the left at shoulder height.
• Pull in right arm to bend at elbow.
• Swing both arms extended to the right side and pull back with the left
arm. Repeat.(8cts)
• Place one hand over your ear and the other hand is flat at waist height
pretending to “spin” a record. (8cts)
• Twist to the left, twist to the right, twist to the left and then jump.
(16cts)
Chorus:
• Travel forward, step-touch right, push hands up high (2cts), step-touch left,
push hands low (2cts).
• Move backward, step-touch right, push hands up high (2cts), step-touch
left, push hands low (2cts).
• Travel sideward right, step-touch right, push hands up high (2cts), step-
touch left, push hands low (2cts).
• Travel sideward left, step-touch right, push hands up high (2cts), step-touch
left, push hands low (2cts).
• Bend your right knee and lift it up to hip height as you hop up off your left
foot and brush the top of your right knee with your left hand (as if you're trying
to brush off some lint) (2cts).
• Step down quickly and repeat the move bending your left knee up,
hopping off your right foot, and brushing with your right hand. The accent of
this move is 'up' rather than down into the floor. (2cts) (alternately Right and
left 16 cts
Verse (32 counts total):
• Take 3 steps backwards and tap the left foot.

• Clap hands when tapping (4 counts) Then take 3 steps forward and tap
the right foot with a clap of the hands (4 counts)
• Make wave motion in front of body like an “s” shape with two dips.
Alternate arms, two on each side. Bend knees and bounce body slightly
with wave motion (8cts)
• Repeat (16cts)
DANCE INTERPRETATION
ELEMENTS OF DANCE CHECKLIST
45
Body Action Space Time Energy
Parts Of The Body Axial Focus Metered Height
Inner Self Travelling Direction Duration Weight
Body System Effort Level Timing Relationships Depth
Body Shape Free Flow Relationships Free Rhythm Quality
GROUP DANCE PERFORMANCE RUBRIC

Criterion Advanced (5) Proficient (4) Approaching Proficiency (3) Developing (2) Beginning (1) Score
SYNCHRONIZATION The actions of the group members are synchronized with each The actions of the group members are synchronized with The actions of the group members are synchronized The actions of the group members are The actions of the group members need
other throughout the performance. each other in most parts of the performance. with each other in at least half of the performance. synchronized with each other in a few parts to be synchronized with each other.
of the performance.
MASTERY The routine and execution of the moves are performed Most of the routine and execution of the moves are Performance from memory is established. The group Performance from memory is established in Performance from memory needs to be
completely from memory. The group demonstrate knowledge of performed from memory. The group demonstrate needs to sustain the skill until the end of the a few parts of the routine. established. The group does not
the choreography confidently and interdependently. knowledge of the choreography. performance. demonstrate knowledge of the
choreography.
CREATIVITY Group presentation models a high degree of creativity and Group presentation shows creativity and originality in the Group presentation shows creativity and originality in Group presentation is limited to the basics Group presentation needs to show
originality in the routine, execution, utilization of dance routine, execution and props. the routine and props. of the routine. Props are used to show creativity and originality in the routine,
elements and props creativity. execution, use of dance elements and
props.
EXECUTION Performers show projection of eye contact and cheerful facial The dancers are confident with movements, establish their The dancers are knowledgeable of the movements The dancers are knowledgeable of some of The dancers need to be knowledgeable
expressions. The dancers are precise and confident with character on stage and are able to engage the audience in establish their character on stage and are able to the movements, but they need to establish of the movements, and need to establish
movements and create a believable character on stage and are most parts of the performance. engage the audience. their character on stage and engage the eye contact and audience rapport.
able to engage the audience completely through their audience.
performance.
INTERPRETATION The group exhibits appropriate steps that goes in accordance The group exhibits steps that goes well with the music. The group is able to execute steps that goes well with The group needs to establish more steps The group relies on movements that are
with the music. Dance is performed with attention to quality of movement, the music. that can go well with the music. irrelevant to the music selected.
Dance is performed with great attention to quality of movement, body position, placement on stage and other details of Dance is performed with attention to quality of Dance is performed with little or no Dance is poorly performed and needs
body position, placement on stage and other details of dance. dance. The group demonstrate understanding of dance movement, body position, placement on stage and attention to quality of movement, body quality of movement, body position,
The group confidently demonstrate understanding of dance style. other details of dance. The group demonstrate position, placement on stage and other placement on stage and other details of
style. understanding of dance style. details of dance. The group needs to dance. The group does not demonstrate
demonstrate understanding of dance style. understanding of dance style.

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ELEMENTS OF DANCE

• Define planned choreography and improvisation

Planned choreography, in which a choreographer dictates

Energy is not a single dimension. IT HAS 3

Verse (32 counts total):

• Take 3 steps backwards and tap the left foot.

Body Shape Free Flow Relationships Free Rhythm Quality

GROUP DANCE PERFORMANCE RUBRIC

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