Visual and Performing Arts: Dance Glossary
The dance terms defined in this section include only those terms that are blue text in the standards. The meaning of the terms is specific to their use in the standards and the artistic discipline. The definitions included here are not meant to be an exhaustive list or used as curriculum.
The following defined terms are commonly accepted definitions, most of which are provided by the National Coalition for Core Arts at https://www.nationalartsstandards.org/content/glossary. aesthetic: A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty.
alignment: The process of positioning the skeletal and muscular system to support effective functionality. alternative performance venue: A performance site other than a standard Western-style theater (for example, classroom, site-specific venue, or natural environment). anatomical principles: The way the human body’s skeletal, muscular, and vascular systems work separately and in coordination. artistic criteria: Aspects of craft and skill used to fulfill artistic intent. artistic expression: The manifestations of artistic intent though dance, drama, music, poetry, fiction, painting, sculpture, or other artistic media. In dance, this involves the dance and the dancers within a context. artistic intent: The purpose, main idea, and expressive or communicative goals(s) of a dance composition, study, work, or performance. artistic statement: An artist’s verbal or written introduction of their work from their own perspective to convey the deeper meaning or purpose. body patterning: Neuromuscular patterns (for example, core-distal, head-tail, homologous [upper-lower], homo-lateral [same-side], cross-lateral [crossing the body midline]).
body-use: The ways in which movement patterns and body parts are used in movement and dance practice; descriptive method of identifying patterns. bound flow movement: An “effort element” from Laban Movement Analysis in which energy flow is constricted. Capstone Project: A culminating performance-based assessment that determines what twelfth graders should know and be able to do in various educational disciplines; usually based on research and the development of a major product or project that is an extension of the research.
choreographic devices: Manipulation of dance movement, sequences, or phrases (e.g., repetition, inversion, accumulation, cannon, etc.). codified movement: Common motion or motions set in a particular style that often have specific names and expectations associated with it. context cues: Information obtained from the dance that helps one understand or comprehend meaning and intent from a movement, group of movements, or a dance as a whole; requires seeing relationships between movements and making inferences about the meaning or intent often gleaned from visual, auditory, or sensory stimuli. contrapuntal: An adjective that describes the noun counterpoint; music that has at least two melodic lines (voices) played simultaneously against each other; in dance, at least two movement patterns, sequences, or phrases danced simultaneously using different body parts or performed by different dancers cultural movement practice: Physical movements of a dance that are associated with a particular country, community, or people. dance literacy: The total experience of dance learning that includes the doing and knowing about dance: dance skills and techniques, dance making, knowledge and understanding of dance vocabulary, dance history, dance from different cultures, dance genres, repertory, performers and choreographers, dance companies, and dance notation and preservation.
dance movement principles: Fundamentals related to the craft and skill with which dance movement is performed (for example, the use of dynamic alignment, breath support, core support, rotation, initiation and sequencing, weight shift, etc.). dance phrase: A brief sequence of related movements that have a sense of continuity and artistic or rhythmic completion. dance structures: The organization of choreography and movement to fulfill the artistic intent of a dance or dance study (for example, AB, ABA or theme and variation); often referred to as choreographic form. dance study: A short dance that is comprised of several dance phrases based on an artistic idea. dance techniques: The tools and skills needed to produce a particular style of movement. dance terminology: Vocabulary used to describe dance and dance experiences. - simple dance terminology (Tier 1 / PreK–2): basic pedestrian language (for example, locomotor words such as walk, run, march, slither; and nonlocomotor words such as bend, twist, turn, etc.). - basic dance terminology (Tier 2 / grades 3–5): vocabulary used to describe dance movement techniques, structures, works, and experiences that are widely shared in the field of dance (for example, stage terminology, compositional vocabulary, language-defining dance structures and devices, anatomical references, etc.). - genre-specific dance terminology (Tier 3 / grades 6 and up): words used to describe movement within specific dance forms such as ballet, contemporary, culturally-specific dance, hip-hop, jazz, modern, tap, and others. dance work: A complete dance that has a beginning, middle (development), and end. dynamics: The qualities or characteristics of movement which lend expression and style; also called “efforts,” or “energy” (for example, lyrical, sustained, quick, light, or strong). |
elements of dance: The key components of movement; movement of the body using space, time, and energy; often referred to as the elements of movement.
embody: To physicalize a movement, concept, or idea through the body. energy: The dynamic quality, force, attack, weight, and flow of movement. evaluative criteria: The definition of values and characteristics with which dance can be assessed; factors to be considered to attain an aesthetically satisfying dance composition or performance. explore: Investigate multiple movement possibilities to learn more about an idea. free flowing movement: An “effort element” from Laban Movement Analysis in which energy is continuous.
functional alignment: The organization of the skeleton and musculature in a relationship to gravity that supports safe and efficient movement while dancing. general space: Spatial orientation that is not focused towards one area of a studio or stage.
genre: A category of dance characterized by similarities in form, style, purpose, or subject matter (for example, African, ballet, ballroom, hip hop, modern, Polynesian, etc.). kinesthetic awareness: Pertaining to sensations and understanding of bodily movement. locomotor: Movement that travels from one location to another or in a pathway through space (for example, in PreK, walk, run, tip-toe, slither, roll, crawl, jump, march, or gallop; in Kindergarten, the addition of prance, hop, skip, slide, or leap). mind–body principles: Concepts explored and/or employed to support body–mind connections (for example, breath, awareness of the environment, grounding, movement initiation, use of imagery, intention, inner–outer, stability–mobility).
movement characteristics: The qualities, elements, or dynamics that describe or define a movement. movement phrase: A brief sequence of related movements that have a sense of continuity and artistic or rhythmic completion. movement problem: A specific focus that requires one find a solution and complete a task; gives direction and exploration in composition. movement vocabulary: Codified or personal movement characteristics that define a movement style. negative space: The area (space) around and between the dancer(s) or dance images(s) in a dance.
nonlocomotor: Movement that remains in place; movement that does not travel from one location to another or in a pathway through space for example, in PreK, bend, twist, turn, open, or close; in Kindergarten, swing, sway, spin, reach, or pull). performance etiquette: Performance values and expected behaviors when rehearsing or performing (for instance, no talking while the dance is in progress, no chewing gum, neat and appropriate appearance, and dancers do not call out to audience members who are friends).
performance practices: Commonly accepted behaviors and practices when rehearsing and performing on stage (for example, production order is technical rehearsal, dress rehearsal, then performance; dancers warm up on stage and must leave when the stage manager tells them; or when “places” are called, dancers must be ready to enter the performing space). personal space: The area of space directly surrounding one’s body extending as far as a person can reach; also called the kinesphere. polyrhythmic: In music, several rhythms layered on top of one another and played simultaneously; in dance, embodying several rhythms simultaneously in different body parts. production elements: Aspects of performance that produce theatrical effects (for example, costumes, makeup, sound, lighting, media, props, and scenery). production terminology: Words commonly used to refer to the stage, performance setting, or theatrical aspects of dance presentation. project: A confident presentation of one’s body and energy to communicate movement and meaning vividly to an audience. rhythm: The patterning or structuring of time through movement or sound.
sound environment: Sound accompaniment for dancing other than music (for example, street noise, ocean surf, bird calls, or spoken word).
space: Components of dance involving direction, pathways, facings, levels, shapes, and design; the location where a dance takes place; or the element of dance referring to the cubic area of a room, on a stage, or in other environments. spatial design: Pre-determined use of directions, levels, pathways, formations, and body shapes. stimuli: A thing or event that inspires action, feeling, or thought. style: Dance that has specific movement characteristics, qualities, or principles that give it distinctive identity (for example, Graham technique is a style of Modern Dance; rhythm tap is a style of Percussive Dance; Macedonian folk dance is a style of International Folk dance; and Congolese dance is a style of African Dance). technical dance skills: The degree of physical proficiency a dancer achieves within a dance style or technique (for example, coordination, form, strength, speed, and range).
tempi: Different paces or speeds of music, or underlying beats or pulses, used in a dance work or composition (singular: tempo). tempo: The pace or speed of a pulse or beat underlying music or movement (plural: tempi or tempos). theme: A dance idea that is stated choreographically. |