DANC 1800 THE CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHER

BASIC CHOREOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS AND TOOLS

Space
Size/range of movement
Levels: low, medium, high, aerial
Dimension: Depth/Width/Height
Body design: curved, angular, symmetrical, asymmetrical
Pathway
Direction
Facing
Proximity
Focus
Location in the space/on the stage

Time
Speed (Tempo): quick, moderate, slow, stillness
Meter and subdivisions: Pulse, Rhythm, Traditional Time Signature (3/4, 4/4, 6/8, etc.) Mixed Meter
Phrasing
Duration
Accelerating/Decelerating
Non-metered/Personal Time/Breath phrasing
Attitude about time (wanting to accelerate, or speed up time, or wanting to decelerate, or slow time down--Laban, etc., called it "Effort.")

Dynamics/Energy
Force: Dynamic range
Quality: Sudden, Sustained, Delicate, Strong, Free/Bound Flow, Contrast, Swinging, Vibrating, Suspending

Form and Structure
Motif
Repetition
Theme and Variation (A, A1, A2, A3, etc.)
Simple Contrast (ABA)
Rondo (A.B.A.C.A.D.A, etc.)
Narrative (tells a story with a clear beginning, development or change, and ending)
Tradition dramatic form: introduction, development, conflict, climax, resolution.
Chance