Dance Paper Help Sheet
A. Introduction – Describe what you see and hear. Identify the form/style of dance and music.
Briefly describe the costumes, lights, scenery, theatre setting. Describe performers. This is just
the introduction of the paper, don’t get carried away with details, give a general sense of the
performance here.
B. Analysis – Describe the dance elements. Analyze the movement that you see onstage.

USE OF BODY – body parts, shapes, groupings, partnering, stationary & travelling moves

USE OF SPACE- levels, directions, floor pathways, size of movement, focus

USE OF FORCE/ENERGY – quality of movement, flow(tight/bound), dynamics,
attack(sharp/smooth), weight(strong/light)

USE OF TIME – tempo, repetition, accents, stillness, pulse, momentum, rhythmic patterns
C. Interpretation/Evaluation – What was the choreographer trying to tell you through the dance?
Was there a literal theme or abstract ideas being portrayed? Were the performers successful in
carrying out the work? (Comment on performance ability) Do you feel the choreographer was
successful ? Even if you did not particularly understand the work, was it structured well and
creative in its choices? What affected you about the dances? Describe any feelings or thoughts
you had while watching each piece. Was it worth going to see and would you recommend it to
your friends?
You do not have to address ALL of these elements. Decide what stands out to you and elaborate on
those descriptions. Please follow length and formatting guidelines as detailed in the class syllabus.
Please check your work for spelling and grammar errors before turning in.
Don’t forget to staple your ticket stub and program to the paper.
Additional help for writing your dance paper…

Take notes on the concert program. This way when you get home and only have the afterimages
all intermingling together in your mind, you’ll have some concrete reminders written down
about each piece such as a costume or prop or particular movement that stood out to you about
each dance.




It is not necessary to write down every single detail of the entire concert. I am most interested
in the analysis of the choreography. A paper all about costumes, lighting and storylines will not
be accepted.
Write succinctly and intelligently.
Do not watch the concert with preconceived ideas of what you think you should be seeing.
Accept what you watch as pieces of art standing on their own merit.
Write a rough draft first. Go through and make sure your descriptions are detailed and clear.
Assume that the instructor has not seen the concert and you are trying to help me see it
through your descriptions.
Additional Movement Terminology
Pulse
Imagery
Combination
Mood
Tension
Force
Synchronized
Gesture
Transition
Interaction
Motivation
Linear
Continuity
Distinctive
Vivid
Resistance
Aesthetic
Focus
Articulation
Kinesthetic
Rhythm
Phrasing
Manipulation
Design
Tempo
Sagittal Plane
Artistry
Execution
Expression
Flow
Frontal Plane
Merging
Projection
Extension
Texture
Nuance
Heavy
Bound
Tight
Loose
Levels
Light
Sharp
Smooth
Horizontal Plane
Angular
Smooth
Dynamic
For Example…
1. The dancer entered. >can become>
The stout dancer rumbled onto the empty stage with a
heavy roll.
2. The dancer landed in first position. >can become>
The willowy dancer, with arms powerfully outspread, descended swiftly and landed in a clean first
position.
3. The group of dancers moved their pelvises and struck a pose. >can become>
The group of muscular dancers oozed along while gyrating their pelvises and jabbing their feet into
the floor, then suddenly froze into off-balance shapes.
4. The dancers moved quickly. >can become>
The expressive quartet darted rapidly along zigzag pathways.