space
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Space. The Elements of Dance. No not outer space …. Space is one of the three things that dancers and choreographers are able to manipulate to make movement more interesting. When discussing Space as it relates to dance you are focusing on two concepts: Personal Space Performance Space. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SpaceThe Elements of Dance
No not outer space …• Space is one of the three things that
dancers and choreographers are able to manipulate to make movement more interesting. When discussing Space as it relates to dance you are focusing on two concepts:– Personal Space– Performance Space
Personal Space• Personal space can
be described as a bubble around yourself.
• Your personal space remains constant. When you move your personal space moves with you.
Manipulating Personal Space
• You can manipulate your personal space in a number of ways:– Size– Level– Shape
SIZE• How big or small your movement is.• Think of making circles with your
arms. You can make small circles or you can make large circles. The only thing you are changing is the SIZE of the movement.
LEVEL• The relationship between the body and
the ground.• Levels can be described as LOW,
MEDIUM or HIGH• How would you describe:– Someone standing on a chair– Someone laying on the ground– Someone jumping into the air– Someone standing on the ground
SHAPE• The design of the
body as it exists in space.
• The body is capable of making a variety of shapes.
ASPECTS OF SHAPE• Shapes can be classified in many ways. • Shapes usually fit into one side of the
following relationships– Curved v. Angular– Open v. Closed– Symmetrical v. Asymmetrical
• However shapes can have aspects of different relationships (i.e. a shape can be curved and closed or open and asymmetrical)
CURVED v. ANGULARCurved Shapes have rounded edges. No sharp points or angles.
Angular shapes have sides that meet in a point.
OPEN v. CLOSEDAn open shape does not completely close in on itself
The edges of a closed shape will all connect, leaving no gaps.
SYMMETRICAL v. ASYMMETRICAL
Symmetrical shapes are those that you can cut in half and each half will be the mirror image of the other
Asymmetrical shapes do not mirror each other in that way.
Performance Space• Performance Space is the area in
which a dance is performed. This space can be limited by the actual location or by parameters set by the choreographer.
• Consider these areas:– The Performing Arts Center– The Football Field
Manipulating Performance Space
• Performance Space can be manipulated in the following ways:– Direction– Pathway– Formation
DIRECTION• The relationship of the starting point
and the ending point for a traveling movement.
• Examples: North, South, East, West, Forward, Backward, Sideways, Up, Down, Upstage, Downstage, Stage Left, Stage Right, Down Stage Right, Up Stage Left
PATHWAY• The route taken to get from the
starting point to the ending point.• Pathways can be:– Straight– Curved– Zig Zag
STRAIGHT PATHWAY• A direct pathway
from one point to another
CURVED PATHWAY• An indirect path
way with rounded edges. Direction is shifted but gradually.
ZIG ZAG PATHWAY• An indirect
pathway that combines multiple straight pathways. There are many “stops” along the way in which you change direction.
FORMATION• The arrangement of multiple dancers within
the performance space.• You must have at least two dancers to
create a formation.• Like all the other aspects of space you can
change the formation multiple times for effect.
• The number of formations possible is only limited by the number of dancers you have.
Formations: