The Technical &
Expressive
Nature of Dance
Dynamics
Dynamics – How we move
The use of differing graduations of energy to
perform a movement is often described as
adding dynamic quality to movement.
You have to be able to describe movements in
terms of dynamics
The SIX dynamic qualities
• Sustained = slow, smooth, continuous, even
• Percussive = sudden, sharp, choppy, jagged
• Swinging = sway, to & fro, pendulum,
undercurve
• Suspended = stillness, balance, high point
• Collapsed = fall, release, relax
• Vibratory = shake, tremble, wiggle
Practical Bit!!
Walking with Dynamic Qualities
• Get in to twos
• Create a series of walks up to 16
counts (basic)
• Add a slow, lyrical style to the series
(Heavenly)
• Add a quick, rhythmic style to it
(Groove Potion)
• Try mixing the lyrical with the quick
(??)
Features of Dynamics
• Rudolph Laban defined 4 main
features of dynamics
• Each feature has two extremes
• Combine the first three of these
features brings about a particular
action (EFFORT ACTION)
• The last feature describes how you
can dance the effort action (bound or
free)
Laban’s Features of
Dynamics
Factor
Qualities
Basic
Vocabulary
Time
Sudden
>
Sustained
Quickly > Slowly
Weight
Firm
>
Fine Touch
Strongly
>
Gently
Space
Direct
>
Flexible
Straight
>
Winding
Flow
Bound >
Free
Tight
>
Loose
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
These actions can be done in a tight, controlled & bound manner
Or in a loose, wild or free way, giving them a sense of flow
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Sudden
Fine Touch
Direct
Dab, tap, pad, skip, hop
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Sudden
Fine Touch
Direct
Dab, tap, pad, skip, hop
Sudden
Fine Touch
Flexible
Flick, swirl
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Sudden
Fine Touch
Direct
Dab, tap, pad, skip, hop
Sudden
Fine Touch
Flexible
Flick, swirl
Direct
Press, pull, push, contract
Sustained Firm
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Sudden
Fine Touch
Direct
Dab, tap, pad, skip, hop
Sudden
Fine Touch
Flexible
Flick, swirl
Sustained Firm
Direct
Press, pull, push, contract
Sustained Firm
Flexible
Wring, spiral
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Sudden
Fine Touch
Direct
Dab, tap, pad, skip, hop
Sudden
Fine Touch
Flexible
Flick, swirl
Sustained Firm
Direct
Press, pull, push, contract
Sustained Firm
Flexible
Wring, spiral
Sustained Fine Touch
Direct
Glide, stroke, release, creep
Laban’s Effort Actions
Time
Weight
Space
Actions
Sudden
Firm
Direct
Punch, kick, slice, grab, slap,
stamp, dig, gallop, leap
Sudden
Firm
Flexible
Whip, whisk, turning jump
Sudden
Fine Touch
Direct
Dab, tap, pad, skip, hop
Sudden
Fine Touch
Flexible
Flick, swirl
Sustained Firm
Direct
Press, pull, push, contract
Sustained Firm
Flexible
Wring, spiral
Sustained Fine Touch
Direct
Glide, stroke, release, creep
Sustained Fine Touch
Flexible
Float, drift, sway, hover, weave
Dynamics of a Jump
• Jumps can be danced
• Quickly, strongly,with a directly
aimed kick in the air
• Small, tight shunt with a strong,
direct & sudden, sharp landing
• Series of quick, delicate hops and
skips which skim the floor on a
winding path
Arm Gestures
• The arm reaching forward can be danced with
(let’s all do this…!)
• The wrist flexed and pressing the air forward
(strongly), in a straight line forward
• The palm faces the floor and the fingertips lead
the gesture with a fine touch (delicately) and
slowly gliding over the air
• The tension & energy can be different – switch
the actions around as described below
• Use force & strength
• Use softness & gentleness
Paintings & Dynamics
• Look at paintings & see how they can
help you “see” dynamics in dance
• The colours in the painting can
HIGHLIGHT an image
• Strong colours (Red, black, brown)
• Delicate colours (white, blue, yellow)
• Colour Paintings vs Black & White
Paintings
Colour Paintings by
Kandinsky
Colour Paintings by
Kandinsky
Colour Paintings by
Kandinsky
Colour Paintings by
Kandinsky
Picasso’s Geurnica
Paintings as Inspiration
• Colourful paintings can give rise to
• Many varied characters in a dance, each
with their own identity
• Or many dancers with similar movements
• Black & White paintings are stark in
contrast
• Convey a different atmosphere, mood and
theme
• The width & length of lines (and whether
repeated) could be compared to a dance
sequence
What could these steps be?
•A
What could these steps be?
•A
•B
What could these steps be?
•A
•B
•C
What could these sequences be?
•A
•B
•C
•D
Dynamics - Homework
• Discuss the
dynamic
qualities you
can see in the
photographs
opposite
A
C
B
D
Reading – to do
• From “Dance” Textbook by Pam
Howard
• Read Page 57
• Copy down & learn the Dynamics
Vocabulary
• This vocabulary will give you the
words required to describe how a
movement action is being performed
DVD to watch
Please choose a DVD and watch it
• Give a BRIEF synopsis of the DVD
(story line/content/Choreographer/Music etc)
• A description of one of the dances &
comment on the use of the dynamics