Modern Dance I / Spring 2022

     I  Warm Up II     Theme and Variation     Water Study , Doris Humphrey   Choreography is presented and then repeated with changes, while still retaining enough of the theme that the original movement is recognizable. The significance of the original theme increases as it’s examined in its variations. Any number of tactics may be applied to the main phrase to create a variation, including:   • Altering the tempo, rhythm or direction in which the pattern is performed. • Applying another structural tactic to the movement, such as inversion. • Changing the style or mood. • Repeating or lengthening portions of the theme, while omitting others. • Modifying the number and placement of dancers. Example: Taking a phrase, then trying it at twice the speed, or with only the arms, or completely in reverse, or as small as you can possibly move. With any theme, begin with simple steps, so there are plenty of variation options....

 I   Warm Up Stretching  Posture II   Narrative/ Rhapsodic : 1. Narratives follow a story-line, and may convey specific meaning or concepts through that story. Example: Retelling a fairy tale, a classic, or following a story from your life.     Question 1 Mention an example of a narrative from childhood. Explain why is it important. 2. Dances that express pure feeling are “rhapsodies”—emotion is the tie that holds the composition together. Example: Conveying a sense of sadness or loss through movement.    Question 2   Compare a musical rhapsody with a movement/dance rhapsody.     III   Masterpieces: Rhapsodic— Dispute with God, Harald Kreutzberg, Lamentation , Martha Graham; Narrative— Jose Limon's Moor's Pavane   1  Narrative The Moors Pavane, Jose Limon   Question 3 What aspects of this dance piece make it a narrative?    2  Rhapsodic LINK:  Dispute with God, Kreutzberg, Harald ...

   I   Warm Up Stretching Posture   II   Rondo Phrase   RONDO PHRASE  The rondo (ABACADA) is an expansion of ABA form. It uses a recurring theme (like a musical chorus or refrain) to which the choreographer returns, interspersed with contrasting themes, all building to a conclusion. Source: http://www.artsalive.ca/en/dan/make/toolbox/formstructure.asp    Question 1 Based on what we have studied so far, which elements of the ABA form are present in the rondo form?     Question 2 What is appealing about the rondo compared to the ABA form?  ---------------  III Activity Students create a new group phrase using the rondo form and add it to their group dance (use one of your previous moves as A, one as B, and back to A) plus one of your previous moves as C, back to A, one of your previous moves as D and back to A.

 I   Warm Up   II  Stretching   III  Alignment   IV     Form & Structure Once the choreographer has conceived key movement phrases, he or she can combine, manipulate and organize them into longer sequences, paying attention to form and structure. Question 1 Based on what we have studied so far, which elements of dance would you be able to combine, manipulate and organize into longer sequences?     V    Form The form of a dance determines the way it is organized. This is similar to the way musical forms like the suite, symphony or concerto shape their overall contour or identity.    VI    Vocabulary Music Music suite :  a set of instrumental compositions, originally in dance style, to be played in succession. Music symphony : an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements, at least one of which is traditionally in sonata form. Th...

     I    Warm Up   II   Stretching Session   III   Stretching in Pairs   IV   Closing

 I    Warm Up II Stretching III    Concepts    Balance   Balance in dances means there is no force or torque supporting the dancer. In order to keep your balance, force is not needed because your momentum does not change and torque is not needed because your angular momentum does not change.  Question 1 How would you explain balance from a dancer's point of view? Balance is all about gravity and your center of gravity . In order to stay completely balanced you center of gravity must be directly above the area of contact you have with the floor.  Question 2  What needs to happen for the body to achieve balance? That’s why when you balance larger objects onto smaller objects, you tend to place that object in the middle so that it is equal on both sides meaning it is completely balanced. If you place one side of the larger object onto the small object, the larger object will fall showing that it is unbalanced. Thus,...