The Elements of Dance
The Elements of Dance
There are
3
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
dancer’s 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
st
• 1 soloist/group moves,
with the
nd
2 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