Space, Levels, Directions

 

 

Unit: Elements of Dance

Theme: Place

 

I

 

Introduction

The elements of dance are the foundational concepts and vocabulary used to help students develop the necessary movement skills to create their own dances.  In addition, the elements of dance allow students to experience modern dance as a sustainable artistic practice that can last a life time.



II


Learning Objectives


  • Understand the element of dance, place
  • Experience place as an element for the dancer to share or claim space
  • Gain awareness of the richness that levels and directions add to creative movement.
  • Experience expressive movement through the creation of a phrase
  • Reflect on the overall experience


III


Main Lesson 
 

 1 


Warm Up


2


TODAY'S MOVEMENT CONCEPTS


Elements of Dance

 

SPACE

Space: refers to the space through which the dancer's body moves(general or personal space, level, size, direction, pathway, focus). 


Levels:  high, middle, low


Direction: forward, backward, right, left, up, down, diagonal 


. 

Qualities of Levels and Directions

Levels bring our bodies closer or further from gravity.

Directions allow our bodies to move multi-dimensionally across the space.


 

IV

 

A Note to Remember

 
Place is an important aspect of dance practice. Place includes self-space and general space, but it also requires a safe space where dancers can feel free to move creatively. Modern dance is primarily about freedom to move, to feel, to express and to take risks.
 
 

V

Case Studies
 


VI
 

Discussion Questions


1. Mention one instance in which you use directions when moving on a daily basis.

2. Mention one instance in which you use levels when moving on a daily basis.

3, Mention once instance in which you combine the two elements when moving on a daily basis.

 
VII
 

Activity

  • Gather in groups (ensembles) and create an eight movement phrase using 4 directions and 3 levels.
  • Share their phrases and are witnessed by the rest of the students in class.
  • Repeat phrases with music to see how the perception of the movement (before and after the music) changes.


Alex and Aubrey Woods perform Christian Asplund's: Choreutics (2018)

 

 

VIII

Journaling

Go to Discussion Board and reflect on your experience today.


IX

Glossary

 


X

 

Students' Work

 

Group 1


Mafer, Colin, Kelsey, Kara, Yihan, Claire

 

 

 Group 2



Benita, Joao, Yuehan, Cory, Yuehan Concong

 

Comments

  1. JunhaoAugust 28, 2023 at 9:59 AM

    In the last class, the teacher led us to walk quickly in the classroom. With his command, we had to quickly change the direction or body shape and do the same thing in different sizes of space.

    During this process, I think my attention is constantly focused, and my mind is constantly changing rapidly with the command. Because I keep walking, the blood in my body also speeds up the circulation, making my whole state gradually better. This is very good practice. For me, during the performance, I think our body will move with the rhythm of the music, and the brain should also change with the change of the rhythm of the conductor, which allows me to make decisions faster.

    ReplyDelete

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