Dance Characteristics Quiz

Dance Characteristics

• MET #2 Dance Characteristics is a topic within Physical Education and Health.
• Smallest units of form are created when multiple movements are merged.
• Phrases are the arrangement or combination of ideas and elements into a coherent pattern. The pattern ends in harmony and continuity, which is important to a good dance.
• Successful choreography has a concept, which can be a short action or gesture. This action expresses the style and meaning of the dance. Dance actions can be reproduced, modified, or augmented by altering the dance elements.
• Motifs are a repeated design or pattern.

Characteristics of a Good Dance

• Unity: Separate movements must fit or flow together, and contribute to the whole dance. Phrases not essential to the concept should be removed.
• Continuity and Development: Movements should progress naturally from one phrase to the next, creating a continuous flow, sweeping the audience along.
• Variety and Contrast: Dance content can be re-used but in a new way, like with a different style or mood, to add variety and contrast. This introduction of new material to a dance helps provide contrast to the existing elements.
• Transition: A transition is the connection between movements, phrases, and sections of a dance. It ensures a smooth flow.
• Repetition: This emphasizes important movements and phrases, creating a sense of closure to a piece.
• Climax: This is the peak of energy in the dance. The climax can show fast energy and action or a quiet exit that marks the end of the dance.

Dance Elements

• Form: The orderly arrangement and purpose of a dance
• Space: Position, movement in space, choreography or staging
• Timing: The rhythm, beat, tempo of the dance
• Energy: Forcefulness of the movement, actions
• Bodily & Group Shape: Physical positioning and formation in the dance
• Phrases: Sections of the dance
• Motif: Repeated design or pattern within a dance