Qualities of Movement
Learning Intention:
➢ Using movement as an expressive medium.
➢ Trying out different qualities of movement and creating reflective artworks to explore
personality and movement behaviour connections - mindful concentration on ourselves
to help build self-awareness.
Art Mediums
(You may use any of the following, whichever is suitable and available to you):
● Paper, cardboard, or canvas.
● Drawing and coloured pencils
● Watercolours
● Paints
● Oil pastels
● Soft pastels
● Coloured markers
● Gel pens
● Collage materials
Learning Outline:
1. Choose a space in your room, or outside (if you can) where you feel safe to move
around.
2. Using the music links provided, explore all of the movements in the list below. Spend
1-2 mins on each movement:
https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
a) Strong and Fast: boxing hands, kicking legs, punching the air in many
directions, strength, assertiveness, exhilaration. High energy movements to
strong, high energy music - e.g. drums, rock and roll, etc.
Music Example: ‘High Octane’ - https://www.bensound.com/royalty-freemusic/6
b) Fast and Light: flicking arms and legs, easy swaying, fluid, easy movements,
to light, quick, easy-going music. E.g. fast pop songs.
Music Example: ‘Ukelele’ - https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
c) Slow and Easy: fluid sustained movements, slow motion
i.e. Tai Chi ‘esq’ movements. How slow can you go? Inner self, focus in and
out. Experiment with your eyes line of sight - do they follow the movement, or
look elsewhere - active or static/still eye movement?
Use music which is steady with little beat. E.g. soft movie
soundtracks/instrumentals or relaxation music.
Music Example: ‘Slow Motion’ - https://www.bensound.com/royalty-freemusic/2
d) Slow and Strong: strong pushing and pulling movements with different limbs
and whole body involved.
i.e. Straight and strong torso, curved torso, wide stance with legs. Inner power.
Be mindful of where your eyes are looking again - do they follow the movement
or look elsewhere - active or static/still eye movement?
Use music which is full and strong. E.g. Soundtracks/instrumentals but not fast
or pulsating.
Music Example: ‘Epic’ - https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/2
Remember, this is NOT about being a good dancer, but about the responding to the music
with movement that builds awareness of feeling the *kinesthetic experience, and reflecting this
in your artwork. Try to relax and have fun.
(*kinesthetic: relating to a person's awareness of the position and movement of the parts of the body by means of
sensory organs (proprioceptors) in the muscles and joints.)
3. Think about, and write a reflective response to the following questions:
➢ How does motion and movement relate to our emotions (for us)?
➢ What images come to mind when we think of a particular stance or movement?
➢ What feelings or emotions can we attach to each of these movements? E.g.
Joy, anger, frustration, sadness, excitement, etc.
4. Create an artwork in response to your exploration of movement with the music. In
your artwork, reflect on any thoughts, feelings, or sensations had during the
exploration.
➢ Was it strange, easy, or just different to do?
➢ What ideas, sensations, images, and/or feelings do you most remember, no
matter how small?
➢ Your artwork can be colourful, include words and symbols, be textured,
abstract, figurative, etc. Respond however works best for you.