The Elements of Dance

The Elements of Dance

There are

Elements of
Dance.

The Elements of Dance

SPACE

The Elements of Dance

SPACE
TIME

The Elements of Dance

SPACE
TIME
FORCE

1st Element of Dance

SPACE

1st Element of Dance

SPACE
Area surrounding a
person in which he/she
is able to move.

SPACE
Shape:

SPACE
Shape: circles, squares,
triangles, etc. made
with parts of the body,
the whole body, with
groups of people, or by
moving through space.

SPACE
Level:

SPACE
Level: The vertical
distance from the floor.

SPACE
Level: The vertical
distance from the floor.
(High, Medium, or
Low)

SPACE
Direction:

SPACE
Direction: Where the
body moves.

SPACE
Direction: Where the
body moves.
(e.g. Forward,
backward, up, down,
sideways, diagonally,
etc.)

SPACE
Pathways:

SPACE
Pathways: Patterns we
make as we move
through the air or
across the floor.

SPACE
Focus:

SPACE
Focus: Where the
dancers eyes look as
he/she is dancing.

SPACE
Size:

SPACE
Size: How large or
small movements.

SPACE
Shape
Level
Direction
Pathways
Focus
Size

2nd Element of Dance

TIME

2nd Element of Dance

TIME
The duration of the
movement

TIME
Beat:

TIME
Beat: The on going
underlying pulse.

TIME
Tempo:

TIME
Tempo: How fast or
slow the movements.

TIME
Accent:

TIME
Accent: Strong beats
that usually occur at
regular intervals.

TIME
Rhythmic Patterns:

TIME
Rhythmic Patterns:
Patterns made by
arranging long and
short movement or
strong and light
movement.

TIME
Duration:

TIME
Duration: The length of
time the movement
lasts.

TIME
Beat
Tempo
Accent
Rhythmic Patterns
Duration

3rd Element of Dance

FORCE

3rd Element of Dance

FORCE
How the body uses
energy while moving.

FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY

FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
Heavy / Light

FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
Heavy / Light
Sharp / Smooth

FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
Heavy / Light
Sharp / Smooth
Tensed / Relaxed

FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
Heavy / Light
Sharp / Smooth
Tensed / Relaxed
Bound / Flowing

FORCE
Bound / Flowing

FORCE
Bound = releasing
energy in a controlled,
restrained manner

FORCE
Flowing = releasing
energy freely.

Elements of Dance
SPACE
Shape
Level
Direction
Pathways
Focus
Size

TIME
Beat
Tempo
Accent
Rhythmic
Patterns
Duration

FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
Heavy / Light,
Sharp / Smooth,
Tensed / Relaxed
Bound / Flowing

MOVEMENTS

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
&
Nonlocomotor

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor:

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor: Movements
that take the body
from one point to
another.

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
Polka

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
Polka Waltz

MOVEMENTS
Locomotor
Examples:
Step Hop Grapevine
Polka Waltz Two-step

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor:

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor:
Movements that the
body can do and still
stay in one place.

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise
Fall

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise
Fall Dodge

MOVEMENTS
Nonlocomotor
Examples:
Push Pull Rise Fall
Dodge
Sway

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
AB

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
AB
A dance with a 2-part
structure

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
AB
A dance with a 2-part
structure
with the second part
being different from
the first part.

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA
A dance with a 3-part
structure

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA
A dance with a 3-part
structure
With the second part
being different from
the first part

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
ABA
A dance with a 3-part
structure
With the second part being
different from the first
part
And the last part being the
same as the first part.

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Call and Response

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Call and Response
1st soloist/group
moves, with the
2nd
soloist/group moving in
response.

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
A dance that tells a
story using only
movement.
NO WORDS!

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
Examples:

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
Examples: Ballets like
The Nutcracker
Cinderella
Swan Lake
Sleeping
Beauty

COMPOSITIONAL FORMS
Narrative
Examples:
and some FOLK
DANCES such as Native
American Dances or the
Hula

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Body Alignment:

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Body Alignment: Body
placement or posture,
when done properly,
lessens body strain and
promotes dance skills.

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Balance:

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Balance: An equal
distribution of weight,
force, or influence

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Isolation of body parts:

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Isolation of body parts:
The ability to move
separate parts of the
body independently.

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Elevation:

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Elevation: Movement of
the body or parts of
the body to a higher
level.

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Landing:

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Landing: The manner and
quality in which the body
returns to earth following
an action of elevation
(e.g. leap, hop, jump,
etc.)

SKILLS OF BODY
ALIGNMENT
Body Alignment
Balance
Isolation of Body Parts
Elevation
Landing

PURPOSES OF DANCE

PURPOSES OF DANCE

Ceremonial

PURPOSES OF DANCE

Ceremonial
Dance done by a
dancer in order to
celebrate or
commemorate a
special occasion.

PURPOSES OF DANCE

Ceremonial
Perform a ritual such as
an initiation of
members into a group
in some cultures.

PURPOSES OF DANCE

Recreational

PURPOSES OF DANCE

Recreational
Dance done by a
dancer in order to have

FUN!

PURPOSES OF DANCE

Recreational
Square Dancing
Tap Dancing
Social Dances

PURPOSES OF DANCE

~ ARTISTIC ~

PURPOSES OF DANCE

~ ARTISTIC ~
Dance done by a
dancer so that the
viewer can appreciate
the artistry of the
dance.

PURPOSES OF DANCE

~ ARTISTIC ~
Ballet
Jazz
Modern

The Elements of Dance