Composing Dances

Dance Composition Stimulus

Types of Dances Improvisation

Motif Elements of Dance composition

Choreographic Devices Compositional Structures

Final Composition

“To compose a dance is to create a work of art”

Stimulus

• idea, inspiration, starting point

• Basic impulse • Often SEVERAL stimuli

work collectively to influence the dance

OR: • Can accompany the

dance (music, set, text)

• Most dances are symbolic presentations of stimulus

Examples:AuditoryVisualKinestheticTactileIdeational

Types of Dances

A) Classified by GenreSome examples:• Ballet• Tap• Jazz• World Dances

(African, Belly Dancing, Irish step Dancing)

• Modern

B) Terms of how they are choreographed• Pure Dance• Abstract or Non-

Narrative• Narrative

Dance/Dramatic Dance

• Comic Dance

Improvisation

So far choreographer has done:• Chosen stimulus• Decided on how stimulus presented• Decided on style and type of dance• Next Step:• IMPROVISATION• WHY?????

Improvisation

• experimentation with movement

• new ideas evolve• spontaneous,

transient creation –not fixed, not formed.

• movement ‘feels right’• can be selected and

refined• Never over, used

throughout

• Movement then must have:

Have meaning Relevance to the

idea of the dance Interesting and

original in action, dynamics, and spatial patterning

Potential for development

Motif and Development

MOTIF: movement or short movement phrase that forms the basis of the structure of a dance.It can:a) convey the theme / idea of the dance in physical formb) mark a recurring feature of the accompaniment, e.g., chorus of the musicc) convey a characterd) reflect the initial visual stimulus, e.g., pose from a picture, photograph, Sculpture etc

16 Ways to Manipulate a Motif

1. Repetition2. Retrograde3. Inversion4. Size5. Tempo6. Rhythm7. Quality of

Movement8. Instrumentation

9. Force10. Background11. Staging12. Embellishment13. Change of planes/levels14. Additive/Incorporative15. Fragmentation16. Combination

Elements of Composition• Space

– Levels– Geometry

(Direction, dimension, plane)

– Shape– Floor Pattern– Design in space– Personal space– Active space– Performance Space

• Time– Tempo– Duration– Momentum– Regular or irregular– Accent– Metre– Natural rythms– Stillness

• Energy – tension vs. release– seven qualities of

movement– Weight or force

Choreographic Structures & Devices

• AB• ABA• Rondo (ABACADA)• Theme and Variation• Narrative Form• Canon• Chance Method• Collage• Mirroring

Final Composition

• Changes constantly• Includes:

Stimulus Types of Dances Improvisation

Motif Elements of Dance composition

Choreographic Devices Compositional Structures

Final Composition

• Relates to the motif• Work of Art