How to Look at Dance

1. How To Look
At Dance
Dance History 100

2. What The Movement Is
 Actions
examples- turning, jumping, rolling, running,
walking, reaching
 Levels
How close or far a dancer is from the floor.
High, middle, low

3. What The Movement Is
 Gesture
a movement of a specific isolated body part that
can contain meaning
Commonly used is the hand, arm, and head
 Pedestrian
everyday movement from ordinary life
examples- running, sitting , walking, reaching
movements look human and ordinary

4. What The Movement Is
 Physical Contact
Called “Partnering” in dance
Dancers are somehow touching each other
2 dancers is a duet
3 dancers are a trio
4 dancers are a quartet
5 or more is a group
Describe the partnering?

5. How The Movement Is
Performed
 Space
The area in which the dance
is performed.
The directions/pathways
created by the bodies moving through
space. Can be direct and indirect.
 Time
Duration, tempo, speed
Fast, slow, quick, sustained
Stillness
 Weight
Quality of weight in the body
and movements
Heavy or light?
Pull away or give in to gravity
 Flow
The continuity of the
movement
Does is start and stop?
Does it all run together?
 Focus
How the dancers use their
eyes and face
Where are they looking?

6.  Music, Sound, Text
What the audience
hears while the dance is being
performed
 Costumes
What the dancers are
wearing
 Lighting
The lights on the
performance space
Colors? Light or dark?
Patterns or texture?
 Performance
Environment
The space where the
performance takes place
A set or props?
Supporting
Elements

7. Time to Practice!!